Daily Current Affairs Quiz March 7, 2025
Daily Current Affairs Quiz
Question Paper
1. Consider the following pairs of seas and their bordering countries:
Adriatic Sea – Albania
Black Sea – Croatia
Caspian Sea – Kazakhstan
Mediterranean Sea – Morocco
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
2. Which of the following statements about Pangong Tso, recently in news, is correct?
(a) It is a freshwater lake located entirely within Indian territory
(b) It is a brackish water lake shared between India and China
(c) It is a saltwater lake located in Pakistan near the Indian border
(d) It is an artificial reservoir created by damming Brahmaputra river
3. The term “Nuku’alofa” recently seen in news is related to:
(a) A volcanic island in Indonesia that recently erupted
(b) The capital of Tonga where the Pacific Islands Forum meeting was held
(c) A new marine conservation zone established in the South Pacific
(d) A traditional fishing practice being revived in Pacific island communities
4. With reference to the NPS Vatsalya scheme, consider the following statements:
It is an extension of the National Pension Scheme focused on senior citizens
The minimum annual contribution required is ₹1,000
Up to 25% of the corpus can be withdrawn after three years for specific purposes
On attaining the age of majority, the entire corpus must be withdrawn immediately
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
5. “Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas,” recently seen in news, refers to:
(a) A joint military exercise between India and neighboring countries
(b) A mock drill on pandemic preparedness conducted under the National One Health Mission
(c) A simulation exercise to test India’s cyber defense capabilities
(d) A naval exercise conducted in the Arabian Sea to counter piracy
6. Which of the following areas are covered under the Priority Sector Lending scheme?
Small-scale industrial loans
Small road and water transport operators
Professional and self-employed persons
Housing loans
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
7. With reference to the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), consider the following statements:
Russia, Australia, India, and Japan are members of Quad
The Quad countries share common concerns about climate change
Military dominance is a core principle of Quad
It is primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific region
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
8. Consider the following statements about the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF):
It was established in 1971
China and the United States are full members of the forum
It operates under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism
The Pacific Resilience Facility is an initiative under PIF to support climate resilience
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 3 and 4 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
9. Which of the following Indian ports has recently been designated as a “green port” for implementing comprehensive sustainability measures including solar power generation, waste management systems, and reduced carbon emissions?
(a) Kandla Port, Gujarat
(b) Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Maharashtra
(c) Visakhapatnam Port, Andhra Pradesh
(d) Chennai Port, Tamil Nadu
10. With reference to the PM E-DRIVE (PM Electric Drive Vehicle Infrastructure and Enhancement) scheme, consider the following statements:
It aims to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in India
The scheme provides subsidies only for private electric four-wheelers
It includes development of charging infrastructure across national highways
State transport undertakings are eligible for subsidies to purchase electric buses
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer Key with Explanations
1. (b) 1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation: Albania does border the Adriatic Sea. Kazakhstan borders the Caspian Sea. Morocco borders the Mediterranean Sea. However, Croatia borders the Adriatic Sea, not the Black Sea. Countries that border the Black Sea include Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
2. (b) It is a brackish water lake shared between India and China
Explanation: Pangong Tso is a high-altitude endorheic (closed drainage) lake that extends from India to China. It is situated at an elevation of about 4,350 meters and is 134 km long. The lake is brackish in nature (contains more salinity than freshwater but less than seawater). Approximately two-thirds of the lake’s length is in China. The lake has been a point of contention between India and China, particularly during the 2020 border standoff.
3. (b) The capital of Tonga where the Pacific Islands Forum meeting was held
Explanation: Nuku’alofa is the capital city of Tonga, a Polynesian kingdom in the South Pacific. It has been in the news as a venue for Pacific Islands Forum meetings. The Pacific Islands Forum is a regional intergovernmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation between countries in the Pacific Ocean, focusing on issues such as climate change, maritime security, and regional development.
4. (b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation: NPS Vatsalya is a pension scheme designed for children, not senior citizens (Statement 1 is incorrect). The minimum annual contribution required is indeed ₹1,000 (Statement 2 is correct). Up to 25% of the corpus can be withdrawn after three years for specific purposes like higher education (Statement 3 is correct). Upon attaining majority, the subscriber can continue with the account (Statement 4 is incorrect) and is not required to immediately withdraw the entire corpus.
5. (b) A mock drill on pandemic preparedness conducted under the National One Health Mission
Explanation: “Vishanu Yuddh Abhyas” is a pandemic preparedness mock drill organized under India’s National One Health Mission. The exercise is designed to test and enhance India’s readiness to respond to viral outbreaks and epidemics by simulating various scenarios and coordinating responses between different government departments, healthcare facilities, and emergency services.
6. (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: Priority Sector Lending (PSL) is a mechanism used by the Reserve Bank of India to ensure that adequate institutional credit reaches certain sectors of the economy. All four areas mentioned are included under PSL: small-scale industrial loans, small road and water transport operators, loans to professional and self-employed persons, and housing loans. Other sectors under PSL include agriculture, micro, small and medium enterprises, export credit, education, social infrastructure, and renewable energy.
7. (c) Only three
Explanation: The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) consists of the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, not Russia (Statement 1 is incorrect). The Quad countries do share common concerns about climate change (Statement 2 is correct). While the Quad has security dimensions, military dominance is not a core principle; rather, it focuses on maintaining a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific (Statement 3 is incorrect). It is indeed primarily focused on the Indo-Pacific region (Statement 4 is correct). Thus, only statements 2 and 4 are correct.
8. (a) 1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation: The Pacific Islands Forum was established in 1971 (Statement 1 is correct). China and the United States are dialogue partners, not full members (Statement 2 is incorrect). The forum does operate under the Framework for Pacific Regionalism, which was adopted in 2014 to strengthen regional cooperation and integration (Statement 3 is correct). The Pacific Resilience Facility is an initiative under PIF to support climate resilience in the region (Statement 4 is correct).
9. (b) Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Maharashtra
Explanation: Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) in Maharashtra has been recognized as a “green port” for implementing comprehensive sustainability measures. These include solar power generation facilities, efficient waste management systems, water recycling initiatives, and measures to reduce carbon emissions. JNPT has been working toward environmental sustainability by adopting various green technologies and practices to minimize its ecological footprint.
10. (c) 1, 3 and 4 only
Explanation: The PM E-DRIVE scheme aims to promote the adoption of electric vehicles in India (Statement 1 is correct). It provides subsidies for various types of electric vehicles, not just private four-wheelers (Statement 2 is incorrect). The scheme includes the development of charging infrastructure across national highways (Statement 3 is correct). State transport undertakings are eligible for subsidies to purchase electric buses under the scheme (Statement 4 is correct).
