February 19, 2025 Current Affairs (English)

February 19, 2025, Current Affairs (English)

1. What is the primary goal of the India-Qatar Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in 2025?

A) To establish a military alliance between India and Qatar
B) To enhance cooperation in trade, investment, security, and innovation
C) To reduce diplomatic ties between the two nations
D) To restrict labor migration between India and Qatar

Answer: B) To enhance cooperation in trade, investment, security, and innovation

2. What major energy deal was signed between India and Qatar as part of their 2025 partnership?

A) A 10-year contract for crude oil supply
B) A 20-year LNG supply deal between Qatar Energy and Petronet LNG
C) A short-term gas agreement for seasonal demand
D) A deal to import Qatari coal for Indian power plants

Answer: B) A 20-year LNG supply deal between Qatar Energy and Petronet LNG

3. How is India strengthening financial integration with Qatar under the 2025 agreement?

A) By adopting the Qatari Riyal as an official currency in India
B) By implementing the nationwide rollout of UPI in Qatar
C) By increasing import duties on Qatari goods
D) By restricting investments from Qatar in India’s banking sector

Answer: B) By implementing the nationwide rollout of UPI in Qatar

4. What is the target textile export value India aims to achieve by 2030?

A) ₹5 lakh crore
B) ₹7 lakh crore
C) ₹9 lakh crore
D) ₹12 lakh crore

Answer: C) ₹9 lakh crore

5. Which government scheme aims to establish seven mega textile parks in India?

A) Samarth Scheme
B) PM MITRA Scheme
C) Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS)
D) National Handloom Development Programme (NHDP)

Answer: B) PM MITRA Scheme

6. Which of the following is a key challenge faced by India’s textile industry?

A) Surplus availability of raw materials
B) Lack of skilled workforce in technical textiles
C) No competition from other countries
D) High dependency on handloom products

Answer: B) Lack of skilled workforce in technical textiles

7. What percentage of India’s textile exports go to the USA and EU?

A) 35%
B) 47%
C) 55%
D) 60%

Answer: B) 47%

8. In which case did the Supreme Court establish the ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine for awarding the death penalty in India?

A) Jagmohan Singh vs. State of Uttar Pradesh (1972)
B) Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab (1980)
C) Mithu vs. State of Punjab (1983)
D) Machhi Singh vs. State of Punjab (1983)

Answer: B) Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab (1980)

9. Which of the following is NOT one of the five factors laid down in Machhi Singh vs. State of Punjab (1983) to determine the ‘rarest of rare’ cases?

A) Manner of Crime
B) Victim’s Socioeconomic Status
C) Motive of Crime
D) Magnitude of the Crime

Answer: B) Victim’s Socioeconomic Status

10. What was the significance of Mithu vs. State of Punjab (1983) regarding the death penalty?

A) It upheld the mandatory death penalty under Section 303 IPC.
B) It struck down the mandatory death penalty for life convicts under Section 303 IPC.
C) It established new criteria for awarding the death penalty.
D) It abolished the death penalty in India.

Answer: B) It struck down the mandatory death penalty for life convicts under Section 303 IPC.

11. According to the ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine, which of the following would most likely justify awarding the death penalty?

A) A financial fraud case causing heavy losses to investors
B) A single case of theft with no physical harm involved
C) A brutal multiple murder causing mass outrage
D) A property dispute between two neighbors

Answer: C) A brutal multiple murder causing mass outrage

12. What is the primary purpose of TrailGuard AI in protected forests?

A) To track tourist movements in national parks
B) To provide real-time surveillance and combat poaching
C) To assist in scientific research on animal behavior
D) To generate reports on climate change impact

Answer: B) To provide real-time surveillance and combat poaching

13. Which technology is used by TrailGuard AI to detect movement and classify objects?

A) GPS Tracking
B) Infrared Scanners
C) AI-powered Object Recognition
D) Drone Surveillance

Answer: C) AI-powered Object Recognition

14. What is the estimated reduction in poaching incidents after the implementation of TrailGuard AI in Similipal Tiger Reserve?

A) 50%
B) 60%
C) 80%
D) 90%

Answer: C) 80%

15. What is the primary objective of the NAKSHA project?

A) To conduct a nationwide census of urban populations
B) To modernize and digitalize urban land records for transparency and accuracy
C) To develop smart cities with AI-based surveillance systems
D) To track real estate market prices in urban areas

Answer: B) To modernize and digitalize urban land records for transparency and accuracy

16. Which ministry is responsible for implementing the NAKSHA project?

A) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
B) Ministry of Science and Technology
C) Ministry of Rural Development
D) Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer: C) Ministry of Rural Development

17. What technology is being used in the NAKSHA project for land surveying?

A) Satellite Imaging
B) Blockchain Technology
C) Drone-Based Land Survey
D) Ground Penetrating Radar

Answer: C) Drone-Based Land Survey

18. Which seismic zone does Delhi fall under, making it highly susceptible to strong earthquakes?

A) Zone 2
B) Zone 3
C) Zone 4
D) Zone 5

Answer: C) Zone 4

19. Which scale is used to measure the magnitude (energy released) of an earthquake?

A) Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik (MSK) Scale
B) Modified Mercalli Scale (MMS)
C) Richter Scale
D) Beaufort Scale

Answer: C) Richter Scale

20. What is the primary cause of earthquakes in Delhi-NCR?

A) Volcanic eruptions
B) Seismic faults like the Delhi-Hardwar Ridge and Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fault
C) Excessive groundwater extraction
D) Climate change

Answer: B) Seismic faults like the Delhi-Hardwar Ridge and Mahendragarh-Dehradun Fault