March 20 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Temple:
  • Maharashtra’s first temple dedicated to Shivaji Maharaj was inaugurated in Bhiwandi.
  • First in Maharashtra and the second in India (first in Srisailam, Telangana), dedicated to Shivaji Maharaj.
  • Central Figure: Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji stands at 6.5 feet and is sculpted by artist Arun Yogiraj.
  • Foundation & Construction: Laid in 2017, built by Shivkranti Pratishthan using reinforced concrete, bricks, and real stone for durability.
  • Design: The main entrance (sabha mandap) is 42 ft high, with a teakwood gate. Includes circular bastions with intricately carved pillars, 5 spires & decorative temple arches (mahirap).

Statements 2 and 3 are correct

• Murals & Historical Displays: 36 murals (9×6 ft) depict Shivaji Maharaj’s life, alongside a museum of historical weapons and a scenic garden.
• Architectural Inspiration: Modeled after Shivaji’s forts, featuring bastions, fortifications, grand entrance.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The Muzhara Movement, commemorated on March 19, was a tenant farmers’ struggle in Punjab for land ownership since the 1930s.
• Muzhara Movement:
  • Biswedari System (1870s): Maharaja of Patiala introduced a feudal system where biswedars (landlords) controlled villages and land, reducing original landowners to tenant farmers.
  • Exploitative Practices: Muzharas had to surrender a significant share of their produce to landlords, who further paid revenue to the Maharaja and British authorities.
  • Forced Tenancy: Some small farmers lost their land and became tenants under British rule.

Answer: (b) Biswedari Movement; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

All statements are correct

• Patharughat Uprising:
  • Also called Patharughat Peasant Revolt, was a significant but lesser-known freedom struggle that took place on January 28, 1894, in Assam’s Darrang district.
  • Unfair Taxation: It was a protest by farmers against unfair British taxation. Between 1826 and 1893, land revenue rates were enhanced several times, crippling peasant economy.
    • Tax policy was framed with a dual strategy to increase public revenue resources & to squeeze peasantry so much that they would be forced to give up their traditional occupation to join labour market.
  • British Response: British police opened fire on unarmed protesters, killing over 140 farmers.
  • The uprising is often compared with the Jallianwala Bagh massacre (1919).
  • Krishak Swahid Diwas: Every year on January 28, the government and local people pay respects to the martyrs in an official function.
• Doli-Puran:
  • Doli-Puran: A historical ballad in Assamese. Composed by Narrottam Das, it narrates events related to the Patharughat Peasant Resistance of 1894.
  • Narottam was an eyewitness to the uprising and described the events in his songs Doli (earth/soil).

Answer: (c) All three; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

• Future of Free Speech, a U.S.-based think tank releases Future of the Free Speech Index.
• Components: The index is a composite measure based on answers to 8 questions about willingness to allow controversial speech, criticism of government, media freedom, and open Internet.
• Countries: It is based on surveys of individuals from 33 countries from different regions of the world.
• India ranked 24th with a score of 62.6, between South Africa (66.9) and Lebanon (61.8).
• While a majority of Indians consider it very important to speak freely without government censorship, support for criticism of government policies was below the global average.
• Nations that are more supportive of free speech tend to enjoy more freedom of expression in practice and vice versa. But India was an exception to this pattern.
• Actual protection of free speech is very low compared to the popular support.

Answer: (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Audible Enclaves are small pockets of sound that remain undisturbed by surrounding noise.
• It is designed to allow only specific individuals to hear a sound privately, even in crowded spaces.
• It is based on precise sound wave manipulation, ensuring selective auditory perception.
• Applications of Audible Enclaves
  • Privacy & Security: Enables confidential communication in public spaces.
  • Virtual Reality & Gaming: Enhances immersive audio experiences.
  • Smart Cities, Public Announcement: Deliver targeted messages without background noise interference.
  • Museums & Heritage Sites: Provides localised audio guides without disturbing others.
  • Conservation & Nature Reserves: Preserves natural soundscapes, allowing selective audio playback.
• Technology Behind Audible Enclaves
  • Parametric Array Loudspeakers: Use high-frequency waves modulated with an audio signal to create focused sound beams.
  • Advanced Technique: When two high-frequency waves of different frequencies (which are inaudible on their own) intersect, non-linear interactions generate a sound wave audible only at that precise location.
  • Controlled Sound Projection: Only individuals within the defined zone can hear the transmitted sound.

Answer: (c) All five; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 4 is correct, but Statements 1, 2 and 3 are incorrect

• Ana Sagar Lake is an artificial lake in Ajmer, Rajasthan, spread over 13 km, formed by damming the Luni (Lavanavari) River.
• Built By: Arnoraja Chauhan (Anaji), grandfather of Prithviraj Chauhan (1135-1150 AD).
• Island: Located in the center, accessible by boat.
• Seasonal Impact: Dries up every summer.
• Historical Additions to the Lake on its Surroundings:
  • Khobra Behroon temple
  • Baradari Pavilions (1637 AD): Built by Shah Jahan.
  • Daulat Bagh Gardens: Constructed by Jehangir on the banks.
  • British Residency: Now a circuit house on a nearby hill.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statement 2 is correct, but Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Scientific Name of the Areca nut is Areca catechu.
• Common Names: Supari, Betel Nut, Areca Palm.
• Best Climate: 14ºC to 36ºC (affected below 10ºC & above 40ºC); ideal rainfall of 750mm to 4500mm.
• Soil: Best in gravelly laterite, red clay loam soils; unsuitable in sandy or calcareous soils.
• Harvest Season: June to December.
• India is the largest producer and consumer of areca nut.
• Karnataka: Leads with 40% of total production.
• Other Major Producers: Kerala (25%), Assam (20%), Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, West Bengal.
• Geographical Indication Tag for Arecanut
  • ‘Sirsi Supari’ (Karnataka) received a GI tag for its unique shape, texture, and hardness.
  • Tirthahalli Arecanut (Karnataka): Known for high-grade nuts used in premium markets.

Answer: (b) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect, but statements 2 and 4 are correct

• The Vernal Equinox on 20th March marks the official start of astronomical spring in the Northern Hemisphere and astronomical autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
• The term vernal means “spring,” signifying the transition from winter to longer, warmer days in the north, while the south experiences the shift towards cooler autumn nights.
• On this day, the Sun crosses the celestial equator, signalling seasonal change.
• According to NASA, the length of day and night is not exactly equal on this date. The precise balance of daylight and darkness varies depending on geographic location.
• An equinox occurs twice a year – once in March and once in September – when the centre of the Sun aligns with Earth’s equatorial plane.
  • March Equinox: Brings longer, warmer days in the Northern Hemisphere (spring) and shorter, cooler days in the Southern Hemisphere (autumn).
  • September (Autumnal) Equinox: Brings shorter, cooler days in the Northern Hemisphere (autumn) and longer, warmer days in the Southern Hemisphere (spring).
• NASA explains that on the day of an equinox:
  • Observers at the equator see the Sun directly overhead at noon. Both hemispheres receive nearly equal sunlight, making day and night approximately equal, with slight variations due to latitude and atmospheric effects.
  • Following the March Equinox, the Sun continues moving northward in the sky each day until the June Solstice, after which it starts moving south again.
  • During the September Equinox, the Sun crosses the equatorial plane and continues moving southward until the December Solstice before heading northward again.
• Because of this movement, the March Equinox is sometimes called the Northward Equinox, while the September Equinox is referred to as the Southward Equinox.
• Earth’s orbit is slightly elliptical, but it is the constant axial till (not its distance from the Sun) – that determines equinoxes and solstices. Equinoxes mark points of balance in this journey, while solstices represent the extremes.
• This tilt causes the Sun’s rays to hit Earth at varying angles throughout the year. Direct rays concentrate energy in summer, increasing warmth, while slanted rays spread energy over a larger area in winter, leading to cooler temperatures.
• During both equinoxes, the Sun illuminates the Northern and Southern Hemispheres equally. This unique alignment means that for a brief moment, both Earth’s North and South Poles receive sunlight at the same time—a phenomenon that only happens twice a year!

Answer: (a) 1 and 3; Difficulty Level: Easy