Daily Current Affairs Quiz March 17, 2025
Daily Current Affairs Quiz
1. Consider the following statements about the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES):
It was established as a direct outcome of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Its Global Assessment Report (2024) highlighted that nearly 1 million species face extinction within decades.
Unlike the IPCC, it focuses exclusively on biodiversity without addressing ecosystem services.
It operates under the administrative umbrella of UNESCO rather than UNEP.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 only
c) 2 and 4 only
d) 1, 2 and 4 only
2. The “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” is associated with which of the following international conventions/organizations?
a) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
b) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
c) United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
d) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
3. Which of the following organizations publishes the “Living Planet Report”?
a) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
b) World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)
c) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
d) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
4. With reference to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), consider the following statements:
It serves as a financial mechanism for five major international environmental conventions.
The World Bank serves as the GEF Trustee, administering the GEF Trust Fund.
India is among the top recipients of GEF funding for biodiversity conservation projects.
The GEF Assembly meets once every two years to review and evaluate its policies and operations.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
5. The ‘PM-JANMAN’ scheme launched by the Government of India aims at:
a) Providing comprehensive development assistance to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
b) Developing basic infrastructure in rural areas through community participation
c) Integrating traditional knowledge systems with modern science and technology
d) Promoting entrepreneurship among women in disadvantaged communities
6. Consider the following statements about the ‘Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana’:
It aims to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households.
Beneficiaries will receive free electricity up to 300 units every month.
The scheme focuses primarily on urban areas with high electricity consumption.
It is implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 4 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1, 2 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
7. Which of the following schemes focuses on promoting innovation and entrepreneurship through incubation centers in higher educational institutions?
a) YUVA 2.0 (Young, Upcoming and Versatile Authors)
b) RISE (Revitalizing Infrastructure and Systems in Education)
c) ASPIRE (A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship)
d) TEFLAS (Technology Enabled Financing and Learning Advancement Scheme)
8. The recently launched ‘Bharat Vishwabandhu Initiative’ is primarily aimed at:
a) Building diplomatic relations with neighboring countries through cultural exchanges
b) Promoting international collaboration in higher education and research
c) Establishing India as a preferred destination for international students
d) Creating a network of Indian diaspora professionals to contribute to nation-building
9. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of African countries from North to South based on their latitudinal positions?
a) Tunisia – Mali – Ethiopia – Tanzania – Angola
b) Ethiopia – Mali – Tunisia – Angola – Tanzania
c) Mali – Tunisia – Ethiopia – Angola – Tanzania
d) Tunisia – Ethiopia – Mali – Tanzania – Angola
10. Which of the following represents the correct sequence of seas in the Arctic Ocean bordering Russia, from East to West?
a) Chukchi Sea – East Siberian Sea – Laptev Sea – Kara Sea – Barents Sea
b) Bering Sea – Chukchi Sea – Beaufort Sea – Laptev Sea – Kara Sea
c) East Siberian Sea – Chukchi Sea – Laptev Sea – Barents Sea – Kara Sea
d) Laptev Sea – East Siberian Sea – Chukchi Sea – Kara Sea – Barents Sea
Answer Key and Explanations
Answer 1: b) 2 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: IPBES was established in 2012, well before the Paris Climate Agreement (2015). It was established as an independent intergovernmental body following a United Nations General Assembly Resolution.
Statement 2 is correct: The IPBES Global Assessment Report did highlight that around 1 million species face extinction within decades due to human activities.
Statement 3 is incorrect: IPBES specifically addresses both biodiversity and ecosystem services, as indicated in its name.
Statement 4 is incorrect: IPBES operates under the administrative umbrella of UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), not UNESCO.
Answer 2: b) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Explanation:
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022. It replaced the previous Aichi Biodiversity Targets and set out new goals and targets for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for the period up to 2030 and beyond. The framework includes 23 targets to be achieved by 2030, including the protection of 30% of the Earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas, and inland waters.
Answer 3: b) World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)
Explanation:
The Living Planet Report is published biennially by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). It provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of the planet and the impact of human activity on wildlife populations. The report includes the Living Planet Index, which measures biodiversity by tracking the abundance of thousands of vertebrate species around the world.
Answer 4: c) 1, 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: GEF serves as a financial mechanism for five major international environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Statement 2 is correct: The World Bank does serve as the GEF Trustee, administering the GEF Trust Fund.
Statement 3 is correct: India is among the top recipients of GEF funding for various environmental projects, including significant support for biodiversity conservation initiatives.
Statement 4 is incorrect: The GEF Assembly meets once every four years (not two years) to review and evaluate its policies and operations.
Answer 5: a) Providing comprehensive development assistance to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
Explanation:
The PM-JANMAN (Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan) was launched to improve socio-economic conditions of PVTGs by providing comprehensive development with a focus on basic facilities like road connectivity, housing, clean drinking water, healthcare, education, and sustainable livelihoods. The scheme aims at saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities and services.
Answer 6: a) 1 and 4 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: The Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana aims to install rooftop solar systems in one crore households across India.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The scheme doesn’t guarantee free electricity up to 300 units. Instead, it allows households to generate their own electricity and potentially sell surplus to the grid.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The scheme focuses on both urban and rural areas, with special emphasis on reaching households in rural and semi-urban areas.
Statement 4 is correct: The scheme is indeed implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy in coordination with state governments and distribution companies.
Answer 7: c) ASPIRE (A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship)
Explanation:
ASPIRE (A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industries and Entrepreneurship) is designed to set up a network of technology centers and incubation centers to accelerate entrepreneurship and promote start-ups for innovation and entrepreneurship in rural and agricultural industries. YUVA 2.0 is related to mentoring young authors, RISE focuses on infrastructure in education, and TEFLAS (fictional in this context) is not an actual government scheme.
Answer 8: c) Establishing India as a preferred destination for international students
Explanation:
The Bharat Vishwabandhu Initiative is aimed at positioning India as a preferred destination for higher education by attracting international students. The initiative includes measures like streamlined admission processes, internationalization of curricula, enhanced scholarship schemes, and improved on-campus support systems for international students. It aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s goal of promoting India as a global study destination.
Answer 9: a) Tunisia – Mali – Ethiopia – Tanzania – Angola
Explanation:
This option correctly represents the sequence of African countries from North to South based on their latitudinal positions:
Tunisia: Located in North Africa at approximately 33°N latitude
Mali: Located in West Africa at approximately 17°N latitude
Ethiopia: Located in East Africa at approximately 9°N latitude
Tanzania: Located in East Africa at approximately 6°S latitude (crosses the equator into the southern hemisphere)
Angola: Located in Southern Africa at approximately 12°S latitude
Answer 10: a) Chukchi Sea – East Siberian Sea – Laptev Sea – Kara Sea – Barents Sea
Explanation:
The correct sequence of seas in the Arctic Ocean bordering Russia from East to West is: Chukchi Sea (easternmost, bordering Alaska), East Siberian Sea, Laptev Sea, Kara Sea, and Barents Sea (westernmost, bordering Norway). This geographical sequence follows Russia’s northern coastline from the Bering Strait westward toward Europe.