Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (01 May 2023)

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

Date: 01 May 2023

Q1. Consider the following Statements regarding the “National Education Policy 2020”.

1. It is the 3rd national education policy which is drafted by a committee headed by Dr. K. Kasturirangan.
2. 5+3+3+4 Curricular framework will be followed in school education.
3. Adult Education Curriculum Framework will be developed by a new and well-supported constituent body of the NCERT.

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:

  • The first National Education Policy was promulgated by the Government of India by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1968, the second by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1986, and the third by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2020.
  • It was prepared by Dr K. Kasturirangan Committee.
  • Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • In this new policy, there will be a 5+3+3+4 structure which comprises 12 years of school and 3 years of Anganwadi/ pre-school replacing the old 10+2 structure.
  • Hence statement 2 is also correct.
  • As per NEP 2020, adult education curriculum framework will be developed by a new and well-supported constituent body of the NCERT.
  • Therefore, statement 3 is also correct.

Q2. Which of the following best explains the reason behind the imposition of a price cap on Russian crude oil purchases by the G7 and other Western countries?

(a) To ensure that the prices of Russian crude oil are lower than the prices of other crude oils in the global market
(b) To prevent Russia from earning high profits from oil exports and punish it for invading Ukraine
(c) To completely stop the flow of Russian crude oil into the global market
(d) To provide subsidies to Western countries for purchasing Russian crude oil

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Western nations, led by the G-7, wanted to punish Russia for having invaded Ukraine and rein in the profits accruing to Russia from oil exports. But they also wanted to keep some oil from Russia flowing globally so that supply is not significantly affected, which could push up energy prices. Thus, option (b) best explains the price cap imposition.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. India's current market share in the medical devices category is more than 10 per cent in the world.
2. The US has the biggest share (40%) of the global medical device market, with Europe in second place (25%) and Japan in third place (15%).

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • India's current market share in the medical devices category is 1.5% of the global space or $11 billion (₹90,000 crore) in 2020. Statement 1 is not correct.
  • The policy aims to achieve a 10-12% global market share in the next 25 years, with the immediate short-term goal being a $50 billion industry by 2030.
  • The US dominates the global market with a 40% market share, followed by Europe and Japan at 25% and 15% respectively. Statement 2 is correct.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding India’s healthcare sector.

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a number of three nurses for every 1,000 people.
2. India currently has more than four nurses for every 1,000 people in the country.
3. More than 40% of nursing colleges in India are located in southern states such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

India’s Healthcare Crisis

  1. This figure is far below the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended number of three nurses for every 1,000 people. (Hence, statement 1 is correct.)
  2. India's healthcare professionals are severely under-resourced. According to official estimates, India currently has less than two nurses for every 1,000 people in the country. (Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.)
  3. However, this figure is a conservative estimate, and the number of allied healthcare professionals needs to increase eight times to meet the country's needs over the next 25 years.

The Skew in Nursing Education:

  • More than 40% of nursing colleges in India are located in southern states such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, which has created a significant skew in the distribution of nursing education. (Hence, statement 3 is correct.)
  • This issue has been addressed to some extent by the allotment of new nursing colleges to Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

As only 1st and 3rd statements are correct, the correct option is (A).