Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (01 December 2022)

Current Affairs MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams

Date: 01 December 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language:

1. It was set up in 1976 under the Official Languages Act, of 1963.
2. The committee is chaired by the Union Home Minister.
3. The committee has 22 members - 15 MPs from Lok Sabha and 7 MPs from Rajya Sabha.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • The Committee of Parliament on Official Languages was set up in 1976 under Section 4 of The Official Languages Act, of 1963. So, statement 1 is correct.
  • The Committee is chaired by the Union Home Minister, and has, by the provisions of the 1963 Act, 30 members — 20 MPs from Lok Sabha and 10 MPs from Rajya Sabha. So, statement 2 is correct and statement 3 is incorrect.

So, option (a) is correct.

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to reduce short lived climate pollutants is a unique initiative of the G20 group of countries.
2. Short-lived climate pollutants have an overall warming influence on climate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and six countries—Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States—in 2012. Hence, the statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) are agents that have a relatively short lifetime in the atmosphere – a few days to a few decades – and a warming influence on climate. The main short-lived climate pollutants are black carbon, methane and tropospheric ozone, which are the most important contributors to the human enhancement of the global greenhouse effect after CO2. Hence statement 2 is correct.

Q3. Consider the following Statements regarding the Foreign Reserve of India.

1. Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies, which can include bonds, treasury bills and other government securities.
2. India’s Forex Reserve includes Foreign Currency Assets, Gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights and Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
3. SDR is an international currency created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries’ official reserves.

Select the correct Statement(s) using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Foreign exchange reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies, which can include bonds, treasury bills and other government securities. In India, RBI has the responsibility of maintaining Foreign exchange Reserve. So Statement 1 is correct.
  • India’s Forex Reserve includes Foreign Currency Assets, Gold reserves, Special Drawing Rights and Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Hence statement 2 is also correct.
  • The SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries’ official reserves. It is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF. Thus statement 3 is not correct.

Q4. Consider the following Statements regarding the Demographic Dividend in India.

1. It is the potential for economic gains when the share of the working-age population (15 years – 64 years) is higher than the non-working age group.
2. India has one of the youngest populations in an aging world.
3. India has approx 63% of its population in the age group of 15-59 years.

Select the correct Statement(s) using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • Demographic dividend is the potential for economic gains when the share of the working-age population (15 years - 64 years) is higher than the non-working age group. statement 1 is correct.
  • The median age in India is 28 years, compared to 38 in China and the US, 43 in Western Europe, and 48 in Japan. Hence statement 2 is also correct.
  • India has approx 63% of its population in the age group of 15-59 years. Thus statement 3 is correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Public Interest Litigation:

1. The concept of PIL is suited to the principles enshrined in Article 39A of the Constitution of India.
2. It is a relaxation of the traditional rule of locus standi i.e. even people not directly involved in the case may bring matter to the court.
3. Citizens have the right to get their PILs heard in the Court.

Choose the correct option below:

a) 1 and 2 Only
b) 1 and 3 Only
c) 2 and 3 Only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

Public Interest Litigation

  • PIL refers to litigation undertaken to secure public interest and demonstrates the availability of justice to socially-disadvantaged parties and was introduced by Justice P. N. Bhagwati.
  • Before the 1980s, the judiciary and the Supreme Court of India entertained litigation only from parties affected directly or indirectly by the defendant. It heard and decided cases only under its original and appellate jurisdictions.
  • However, the Supreme Court began permitting cases on the grounds of public interest litigation, which means that even people who are not directly involved in the case may bring matters of public interest to the court. Thus, it is a relaxation of the traditional rule of locus standi. (Hence statement 2 is correct)
  • It is the court's privilege to entertain the application for the PIL. (Hence statement 3 is incorrect)
  • The concept of PIL is suited to the principles enshrined in Article 39A of the Constitution of India to protect and deliver prompt social justice with the help of law. (Hence statement 1 is correct)