February 06, 2025 Current Affairs (English)

February 06, 2025 Current Affairs (English)

1. What is the primary reason for the Indian government transitioning from fiscal deficit to the Debt-to-GDP ratio as the primary fiscal anchor starting from FY 2026-27?

a) To increase government borrowing
b) To ensure long-term financial sustainability and align with global best practices
c) To eliminate all forms of government debt
d) To replace GDP growth as a key economic indicator

Answer: b) To ensure long-term financial sustainability and align with global best practices

2. What does a high Debt-to-GDP ratio indicate?

a) The economy is experiencing high levels of inflation
b) The government has strong fiscal management
c) The country has high borrowings, raising concerns about repayment capacity
d) The country is debt-free and has surplus reserves

Answer: c) The country has high borrowings, raising concerns about repayment capacity

3. Which of the following is NOT a limitation of the Debt-to-GDP ratio?

a) It does not differentiate between internal and external debt
b) It does not reflect the efficiency of fiscal policy
c) It directly correlates with a country’s default risk
d) It does not capture whether government spending is productive or wasteful

Answer: c) It directly correlates with a country’s default risk

4. Why is it important to control the fiscal deficit?

a) To increase inflation and government borrowing
b) To improve credit ratings and attract investors
c) To eliminate all government expenditures
d) To reduce GDP growth

Answer: b) To improve credit ratings and attract investors

5. What is the primary aim of the Nuclear Energy Mission for Viksit Bharat?

a) To phase out nuclear energy in India
b) To enhance domestic nuclear capabilities and promote private sector participation
c) To focus only on research and not deployment of nuclear reactors
d) To replace coal-based power plants entirely by 2026

Answer: b) To enhance domestic nuclear capabilities and promote private sector participation

6. What is a key advantage of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) over traditional nuclear reactors?

a) SMRs require refueling every 6 months
b) SMRs are larger and more expensive to construct
c) SMRs have inbuilt passive safety provisions reducing the risk of radioactive leaks
d) SMRs can only be installed in existing nuclear power plants

Answer: c) SMRs have inbuilt passive safety provisions reducing the risk of radioactive leaks

7. How is the Indian government facilitating private sector participation in nuclear energy?

a) By privatizing all existing nuclear power plants
b) By amending the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act
c) By allowing private companies to control nuclear fuel supply
d) By eliminating government oversight on nuclear energy projects

Answer: b) By amending the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damages Act

8. Where was the Golden-headed Cisticola recently spotted in India after a long gap?

a) Eravikulam National Park
b) Mathikettan Shola National Park
c) Silent Valley National Park
d) Bandipur National Park

Answer: b) Mathikettan Shola National Park

9. Which of the following characteristics is true for the Golden-headed Cisticola?

a) It primarily feeds only on fruits and seeds
b) It belongs to the family Cisticolidae
c) It is classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List
d) It is found only in India

Answer: b) It belongs to the family Cisticolidae

10. What makes Mathikettan Shola National Park ecologically significant?

a) It is the only national park in the Western Ghats
b) It is the last remnant of the original forests of the Cardamom Hill Reserve
c) It is a desert ecosystem with scarce vegetation
d) It is entirely located within Tamil Nadu

Answer: b) It is the last remnant of the original forests of the Cardamom Hill Reserve

11. What is the primary goal of the Ethanol Blending Program (EBP)?

a) To replace petrol with 100% ethanol in all vehicles
b) To achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26
c) To increase diesel consumption in India
d) To restrict ethanol production to sugarcane only

Answer: b) To achieve 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025-26

12. Which of the following is NOT a primary feedstock for ethanol production in India?

a) Sugar & high-grade molasses
b) FCI rice
c) Maize
d) Coal

Answer: d) Coal

13. What is the function of the PM JI-VAN Yojana in ethanol production?

a) It promotes the use of coal for ethanol production
b) It provides financial support for developing second-generation ethanol projects
c) It restricts ethanol production only to sugar-based sources
d) It reduces government incentives for biofuel projects

Answer: b) It provides financial support for developing second-generation ethanol projects

14. Why did the Supreme Court direct the Union government to examine the need for a separate law for domestic workers?

a) To increase employment opportunities for domestic workers
b) To address issues such as exploitation, low wages, and lack of social security
c) To eliminate domestic work as a profession
d) To provide tax exemptions for employers hiring domestic workers

Answer: b) To address issues such as exploitation, low wages, and lack of social security

15. Which of the following laws currently provides some form of protection to domestic workers in India?

a) Minimum Wages Act, 1948
b) Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013
c) Code on Social Security, 2020
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

16. What is the primary reason for the vulnerability of domestic workers in India?

a) High wages and strong legal protection
b) Lack of comprehensive central legislation and weak enforcement of existing laws
c) Strong representation by trade unions
d) Government subsidies for domestic workers

Answer: b) Lack of comprehensive central legislation and weak enforcement of existing laws

17. What is the primary objective of the Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) initiative?

a) To provide quality education to tribal students in remote areas
b) To replace traditional tribal education systems with modern urban schooling
c) To establish boarding schools for all children irrespective of caste and tribe
d) To promote vocational training exclusively for tribal adults

Answer: a) To provide quality education to tribal students in remote areas

18. Which of the following schemes focuses on the saturation of infrastructural gaps in tribal-majority villages?

a) Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission
b) Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana
c) Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan
d) National Rural Health Mission

Answer: c) Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan

19. Under which article of the Indian Constitution are grants-in-aid provided to states for tribal welfare and administration in Scheduled Areas?

a) Article 275(1)
b) Article 330
c) Article 243D
d) Article 16(4A)

Answer: a) Article 275(1)

20. What is the primary focus of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Jatiya Vikas Mission (PMJVM)?

a) Strengthening tribal entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood opportunities
b) Providing direct cash transfers to all tribal families
c) Creating new urban settlements for displaced tribal populations
d) Replacing traditional tribal governance structures with panchayats

Answer: a) Strengthening tribal entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood opportunities