Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (03 February 2023)

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

Date: 03 February 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET).

1. The iCET is a partnership between India and the US to work together in developing important and new technologies.
2. It was announced at the Tokyo summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) in May 2022.
3. It will boost India’s technological capabilities with access to cutting-edge technology and expertise in areas that are critical and emerging in nature.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • The iCET is a partnership between India and the US to work together in developing important and new technologies including quantum computing, semiconductors, 5G and 6G wireless infrastructure, and civilian space projects such as lunar exploration. Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • During the Tokyo summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) in May 2022, US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the iCET. Hence statement 2 is also correct.
  • The iCET will boost India’s technological capabilities with access to cutting-edge technology and expertise in areas that are critical and emerging in nature. Thus statement 3 is also correct.

Q2. Consider the following statements about.

1. Effective revenue spending share in GDP is budgeted to fall in fiscal 2024 as compared to fiscal 2023.
2. Total central government budgeted capital expenditure has been decreased.
3. The dependency on off-Budget Borrowings has been increased.

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

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) All of the above

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Effective revenue spending share in GDP is budgeted to fall to 10.4 per cent in fiscal 2024 from 11.5 per cent in fiscal 2023 as the subsidy burden comes down. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The share of budgetary capex has been increased to 4.5 percent from 3.9 per cent Total central government budgeted capex growth has risen to 30 percent from 26 percent this fiscal. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • By reducing dependence on off-Budget, below-the-line items, it maintains its tilt towards transparency. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Q3. The Agriculture Accelerator Fund, announced in Budget 2023, is to be set up to:

a) Provide crop insurance
b) Increase the number of agricultural start-ups
c) Increase the infrastructure to reduce post-harvest losses.
d) Provide input cost subsidies to farmers.

Answer: (A)

Explanation: An Agriculture Accelerator Fund (announced in Budget 2023) will be set up to encourage agri-startups by young entrepreneurs in rural areas. The fund will aim at bringing innovative and affordable solutions for challenges faced by farmers. So, option (b) is correct.

Q4. Consider the following statements about the India China Border Dispute:

1. The border between India and China is not clearly demarcated throughout. However both have a mutually agreed Line of Actual Control (LAC) as a temporary border.
2. The disputed boundary in the Eastern Sector of the India-China border is over the Radcliffe Line.

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

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • The border between India and China is not clearly demarcated throughout. Along certain stretches of its 3,488-km length, there is no mutually agreed Line of Actual Control (LAC) India, following Independence, believed it had inherited firm boundaries from the British, but this was contrary to China’s view. China felt the British had left behind a disputed legacy on the boundary between the two newly formed republics. (Option 1 is incorrect).
  • The India-China border is divided into three sectors, viz. Western, Middle and Eastern. The disputed boundary in the Eastern Sector of the India-China border is over the MacMahon Line. (Option 2 is incorrect).

Solution: As Both the statements are incorrect so the correct option is (c).

Q5. Consider following statements about Healthcare system in India:

1. India has among the highest out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures of all countries in the world.
2. Over 80% of India’s population is not covered by health insurance.
3. The budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for FY24 has decreased as compared to FY23.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • India has among the highest out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures of all countries in the world- 62% of the total health expenditure in India is OOP. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • Over 80% of India’s population is not covered by health insurance forcing the patients to pay for expensive treatment from their own pockets. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • The budgetary allocation for the ministry of health and family welfare for FY24 is at ₹86,175, compared to ₹76,370 crore for 2022-23. Hence statement 3 is not correct.