March 22 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Pairs 2, 3 and 4 are incorrect

Answer: (c) Only three; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• World Happiness Report: Annual report, published by Wellbeing Research Centre at University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup and UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
• Six Parameters: Healthy life expectancy, GDP per capita, Social support, Freedom, Generosity and Perception of corruption.

Statement 1 is correct

• Happiest Countries: Finland ranked 1st as (happiest country) for 8th consecutive year and followed by other Nordic countries Denmark (2nd), Iceland (3rd) and Sweden (4th).
• Unhappiest Countries: Afghanistan ranked 147th as unhappiest country. Sierra Leone and Lebanon ranked 146th and 145th, respectively.

Statement 2 is correct

• India ranked 118th up from the 126th position in the previous year.
• India’s Neighbourhood:
  • Ahead of India: China 68th, Nepal 92nd and Pakistan 109th rank remained much ahead of India.
  • Behind India: Sri Lanka 133rd and Bangladesh 134th.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option 2 is not correct

• Jordan has a coastline on the Gulf of Aqaba, which is a northern extension of the Red Sea, but not directly on the main body of the Red Sea.

All other options are correct

• To easily remember the countries bordering the Red Sea, use the mnemonic “DESSEY” where D=Djibouti, E=Egypt, S=Sudan, S=Saudi Arabia, Y=Yemen, E=Eritrea.

Answer: (c) Only three; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Indian Space Research Organisation is organising a special programme for School Children called “Young Scientist Programme” “YUva VIgyani KAryakram”, YUVIKA, to impart basic knowledge on Space Technology, Space Science and Space Applications.
• Target Group: Open to 9th-grade students (as of January 1 of the election year), with a preference for rural students.
• ISRO Initiative: Designed to “Catch them young” & create awareness about emerging trends in sci&tech.
• Selection Criteria: Based on academic performance, participation in science fairs, Olympiads, and extracurricular activities, with priority given to younger candidates in case of a tie.
• Participation: Three students from each state/UT are selected, covering CBSE, ICSE, and state boards, ensuring nationwide representation.
• Program Structure: A two-week residential training with hands-on sessions, expert talks, facility visits, and interactive discussions with scientists.
• Significance: Encourages students to pursue careers in Science, Tech, Engineering & Maths (STEM).

Answer: (a) A space education initiative for school students by ISRO to impart basic knowledge in Space Science and Technology; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (b) is the correct answer

• The Global Citizenship and Residency Program Index is published by Henley & Partners, a citizenship advisory firm.
• It is a comprehensive benchmarking of the world’s most important residence programs enabling investors to select the factors that matter most to them and their families.
• Published each year in the Investment Migration Programs report, the index is revised annually by leading academic researchers, country risk specialists, economists, independent expert immigration and citizenship lawyers, and other specialists.
• According to the latest rankings, European countries dominate the top positions, with Malta and Greece emerging as prominent leaders in the 2025 Global Citizenship and Residency Programs.
• In the residency category, Greece takes the top spot for the first time overtaking Portugal.

Answer: (b) Henley & Partners; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• NPDD is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2014, aimed at strengthening the dairy sector in India.
• Revised NPDD: Focuses on modernising and expanding dairy infrastructure, ensuring the sector’s sustained growth and productivity.
• Outlay: Enhanced with an additional Rs.1000 crore, bringing the total budget to Rs.2790 crore for a period of the 15th Finance Commission cycle (2021-22 to 2025-26).
• Scheme Consists of Two Key Components:
  1. Component A:
     • It is dedicated to improving essential dairy infrastructure, such as milk chilling plants, advanced milk testing laboratories, and certification systems.
     • Supports the formation of village dairy cooperative societies and strengthens milk procurement and processing in the North Eastern Region (NER), hilly regions, remote and backward areas, etc.
  2. Component B:
     • Known as “Dairying through Cooperatives“, it will continue to foster dairy development through cooperation with the Government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as per agreements signed.
     • Focuses on sustainable development of dairy cooperatives, improving production, processing, and marketing infrastructure in 9 States (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal).

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Objectives:
  • Establish 10,000 new Dairy Cooperative Societies, processing in the North Eastern Region (NER).
  • Strengthening milk procurement and processing in the North Eastern Region (NER).
  • Formation of 2 Milk Producer Companies (MPCs) with dedicated grant support in addition to the ongoing projects of NPDD.
  • To generate an additional 3.2 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities, particularly benefiting women, which constitute 70% of the dairy workforce.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Implementation: The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

Answer: (c) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Both statements are correct

• Anti-trust is a phenomenon arising when firms gain excessive market power, leading to monopolies, reduced competition, or unfair pricing.
• Antitrust Laws:
  • Purpose: Antitrust laws promote competition by preventing monopolies, restrictive mergers, and anti-competitive practices like price fixing.
  • The Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act form the foundation of antitrust regulation.
• Antitrust Laws in India are governed by the Competition Commission Act, 2002. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established in 2003 under this act which became fully operational by 2009, operating under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• CCI’s primary functions: preventing anti-competitive practices, ensuring free trade, regulating mergers and safeguarding consumer interests.
• Google’s $32 billion acquisition of Wiz includes a $3 billion + breakup fee, one of the highest ever, raising concerns over its impact on M&A (Mergers and Acquisitions) deals.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• ILP was implemented under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) in 1873.
• ILP is an official travel document that allows inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected/restricted area, restricting non-residents’ stay beyond a specific period.
• This Act was enacted during the British era to protect the Crown’s commercial interests by preventing ‘British subjects’ (Indians) from trading within these regions.
• In 1950, the Indian government replaced ‘British subjects’ with ‘Citizen of India’.
• Only applicable to 4 North-Eastern States: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.
• The concerned state government issues it, and it can be issued solely for travel purposes.
• Foreigners need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to visit tourist places, which differs from domestic tourists’ required ILPs.

Answer: (c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Easy