Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 14th August 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The primary aim of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025 is to tackle ongoing delays in the insolvency process and enhance stakeholder value, aligning India's insolvency framework with global best practices. This bill aims to reform admission procedures, introduce out-of-court resolution methods, implement group and cross-border insolvency mechanisms, and enhance the overall efficiency and transparency of the insolvency resolution process in India.

The primary purpose of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Program, as outlined in the text, is to manage stray dog populations and reduce the incidence of rabies. This program follows a "Catch–sterilise–vaccinate–release" model, emphasizing the humane control of stray dog populations without resorting to relocation or culling. By sterilizing a minimum of 70% of stray dogs in an area within a reproductive cycle and focusing on female sterilization, the program aims to address both the population issue and rabies control effectively.

Statement-I is accurate as it reflects the government's consideration of raising the parental income limits for SC/ST scholarships to enhance accessibility, as mentioned in the provided content. Statement-II is also correct because returning sterilized dogs to their original locations is highlighted as crucial for the success of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in controlling stray dog populations, according to the information given. Thus, both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains the importance and relevance of Statement-I in their respective contexts.

- Statement 1 is correct. The current annual parental income limit for SC/ST scholarships is indeed Rs. 2.5 lakh. This is the existing threshold for eligibility under these scholarship schemes.

- Statement 2 is correct. There is a proposal to raise the income limit for ST scholarships to Rs. 4.5 lakh for both pre-matric and post-matric scholarships starting from FY 2026-27. The intention behind this revision is to broaden access to these scholarships by including more families from the ST community.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The budgetary allocation for ST scholarships does not constitute over 50% of the Tribal Affairs Ministry's total budget. In fact, ST scholarships account for 18.6% of the Tribal Affairs Ministry's budget, as indicated in the text.

Therefore, the correct statements are 1 and 2, making Option B the correct answer.

Statement I: In India, income from allied agricultural activities like poultry farming and wool rearing in rural areas is exempted from any tax.

• This is not correct.
• Under the Income-tax Act, 1961, only income derived from agricultural land by agricultural operations is fully exempt.
• Activities like poultry farming, dairy, bee-keeping, or wool rearing are treated as business income, not agricultural income, and are therefore taxable.

Statement II: In India, rural agricultural land is not considered a capital asset under the provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961.

• This is correct.
• Section 2(14)(iii) of the Income-tax Act excludes rural agricultural land from the definition of "capital asset".
• Therefore, the sale of such land does not attract capital gains tax.

Correct Answer: (b) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct.

Statement-I correctly highlights the key objectives of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, focusing on the introduction of group and cross-border insolvency mechanisms to improve the insolvency process. On the other hand, Statement-II accurately reflects the core issues driving the African nations' resistance against Chinese mining projects, emphasizing concerns related to environmental degradation and the absence of local value addition. However, these two statements address distinct topics and do not inherently explain or relate to each other, making option B the correct choice.

The primary concern associated with the Lieutenant-Governor's authority to nominate members to the Assembly without the "aid and advice" of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir is the risk of undermining the constitutional guarantee of representative governance. This situation raises questions about the balance of power and democratic accountability in the politically sensitive Union Territory, where such nominations could significantly influence governance stability and potentially distort the democratic mandate.

- Statement 1 is correct. The ABC Program requires that a minimum of 70% of stray dogs in an area must be sterilized within one reproductive cycle, which is approximately 6 months. This is a key target to ensure effective population control and reduction in rabies cases.

- Statement 2 is correct. The Supreme Court has recently mandated the relocation of sterilized stray dogs to shelters, deeming the previous practice of returning them to the streets as unreasonable. This aligns with the current legal and humane considerations for the welfare of stray dogs.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, do not permit the culling of stray dogs. The program is based on a "Catch–sterilise–vaccinate–release" model, which prohibits both relocation (except to shelters as per recent Supreme Court directives) and culling. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, legally protects stray dogs from mass relocation or killing.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Catch–sterilise–vaccinate–release - This pair is incorrectly matched. The ABC Program’s model prohibits both relocation and culling of stray dogs, aiming instead to manage populations through sterilization and vaccination.

2. Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) - This pair is correctly matched. The AWBI is responsible for recognizing organizations authorized to implement the ABC Program.

3. Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 - This pair is correctly matched. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, indeed update the legal framework from the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001.

4. Sterilization Target - This pair is incorrectly matched. The sterilization target is at least 70% of stray dogs in an area within one reproductive cycle, not 50%.

The correctly matched pairs are 2 and 3.

1. Pre-Matric Scholarships - Available for students from Classes I to X: Incorrect. Pre-Matric Scholarships are available for students in Classes IX and X, with specific provisions for SCs from Classes I to X if their parents are engaged in "unclean or hazardous" occupations. Therefore, this pair is not correctly matched.

2. Post-Matric Scholarships - Supported jointly by Union and State governments in a 60:40 ratio: Correct. Post-Matric Scholarships are indeed funded by the Union and State governments in a 60:40 ratio (90:10 for Northeastern states), making this pair correctly matched.

3. MQ-9B Reapers - Acquired by India to enhance maritime surveillance: Correct. India acquired 31 MQ-9B Reapers, including SkyGuardian and SeaGuardian variants, primarily to enhance maritime surveillance and strategic partnerships. This pair is correctly matched.

4. UAV Procurement Strategy - Involves exclusive collaboration with American suppliers: Incorrect. India's UAV procurement strategy involves prioritizing American components but not exclusive collaboration. India also engages with Israeli and select European suppliers, making this pair incorrectly matched.

Out of the four pairs, two pairs (Post-Matric Scholarships and MQ-9B Reapers) are correctly matched. Hence, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.