Daily Current Affairs UPSC: News Based MCQs Quiz | 23rd August 2025

Answer: (B) 2 only

Detailed Explanation

Answer: (A) 1 only

Detailed Explanation

• IT Act 1961 stands repealed and the New Income Tax Act has been given the assent of the President of India.
• The number of chapters in the IT Act 2025 have been reduced to 23 from 47 and the number of sections have been reduced to 536 from 819.

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Detailed Explanation

• The Treaty of Sugauli (1816) defined the western border of Nepal as the Kali River, but it did not include a precise map, leading to disputes, particularly over the source of the Kali River.
• India claims the boundary originates from the Kalapani area, while Nepal claims it originates further west at the Limpiyadhura pass.
• Subsequent British maps initially showed the source of the Kali River in the Limpiyadhura area but later shifted it to the east, near Kalapani, a change that has persisted as the basis for the current India-Nepal border and a source of ongoing bilateral disputes.
• Key Aspects of the Treaty and its Border
• River Kali as the Western Boundary: The treaty stipulated that the river Kali (or Mahakali) would form the western border between British India and Nepal.
• Ceding of Territory: Nepal ceded large territories, including the kingdoms of Kumaon and Garhwal, and the Terai region to the British East India Company.
• Lack of a Definitive Map: The original treaty itself did not feature a map to clearly define the boundary, leading to later interpretations and disputes.

The Source of the Conflict

• Dispute over the Kali River’s Source: The primary disagreement lies in identifying the exact origin of the Kali River.
• Nepal’s Claim: Nepal argues that the Limpiyadhura pass is the true source of the Kali River, placing the territory administered by India (the Kalapani-Limpiyadhura-Lipulekh region) within Nepal.
• India’s Claim: India maintains that the border originates from the Kalapani area, which is now under its administration.

Historical Development of the Boundary

• Early British Maps: Some early British maps, drawn after the Sugauli Treaty, depicted the source of the Kali River as being at the Limpiyadhura pass.
• Shift in Boundaries: Over time, British cartographers, possibly for strategic or economic reasons, shifted the boundary line to the east of Kalapani.
• Persistent Dispute: This shift in the river’s source, which was unilateral and without Nepal’s agreement, has become the de facto border and remains a significant point of contention between India and Nepal to this day.

Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

Detailed Explanation

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have one UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve: the Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve, designated in 2013, which protects the rich tropical evergreen forests and unique biodiversity of the Great Nicobar island. It covers approximately 85% of the island and includes two national parks, Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park, focusing on balancing human activities with nature conservation and sustainable development.
• Designation: Declared a biosphere reserve in 2013.
• Location: Covers about 85% of the Great Nicobar island within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
• Ecosystems: Primarily consists of tropical evergreen forests.
• Protected Areas: Encompasses the Campbell Bay National Park in the north and Galathea National Park in the south.
• Biodiversity: Home to a rich array of species, including endemic plants and animals, with over 650 species of plants and over 1,800 species of fauna recorded.
• Purpose: As part of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, the reserve aims to foster harmony between people and nature, ensuring sustainable development through research and education.

Answer: (A) Corn

Detailed Explanation

• Examples of cash crops include food crops such as rice, wheat, corn, bananas, and fruits, and non-food crops like cotton, tobacco, coffee, tea, rubber, and jute. These agricultural products are grown specifically for their commercial value, meaning they are grown for profit and sale in the market rather than for the farmer’s own consumption.
• Examples of Cash Crops

Food Cash Crops:

• Rice
• Wheat
• Corn
• Bananas
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Soybeans
• Potatoes

Non-Food Cash Crops:

• Cotton
• Tobacco
• Coffee
• Tea
• Sugarcane
• Jute
• Rubber
• Coconut
• Oilseeds

Answer: (A) 1 only

Detailed Explanation