Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (04 August 2023)

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

Date: 04 August 2023

1. “Naya Savera scheme” often seen in news is related to which of the following?

(a) Scheme for financial support for minority students clearing prelims stage of UPSC, SSC, and State PCS.
(b) Scheme for development of women belonging to minority communities.
(c) Scheme for free coaching to the minority students for various competitive exams.
(d) Scheme for formal school education & skilling of school dropouts.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Naya Savera Scheme is a government initiative that offers free coaching and support to students for minority communities. Its objective is to provide special coaching for minority students to qualify for professional courses & government competitive exams (Group ‘A’, ‘B’, & ‘C’ services). Hence, option (c) is correct.

2. With reference to Sovereign credit ratings, consider the following statements:

1. Sovereign credit rating is an independent assessment of a country's creditworthiness, indicating its ability to repay debt without default.
2. CRISIL is an international credit rating agency.
3. Loss of Biodiversity will downgrade the sovereign credit ratings of countries.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • Sovereign credit rating is an independent assessment of a country's creditworthiness, indicating its ability to repay debt without default. Governments issue debt instruments like bonds to raise funds, and creditworthiness reflects the government's repayment capability. These ratings help investors gauge risk when investing in a country's debt instruments, considering factors like political stability. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Credit assessment and evaluation for companies and governments is generally done by a credit rating agency such as S&P Global, Moody’s, or Fitch Ratings. These rating agencies are paid by the entity that is seeking a credit rating for itself or one of its debt issues. CRISIL is India's first credit rating agency. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • Loss of biodiversity will downgrade the credit ratings of several countries, including India, increasing their bankruptcy risk, according to a study by British economists. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

3. Consider the following statements, with reference to PEHCHAN scheme:

1. It was launched in 2021 to provide new identity to handicraft artisans.
2. Pehchan card holders can avail the benefits of all the handicrafts schemes implemented by Ministry of Textiles.

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:

  • PEHCHAN scheme was launched in 2016 to provide new identity to handicraft artisans so that the benefits of various schemes are provided to the deserving artisans. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Pehchan card holders can avail the benefits of all the handicrafts schemes implemented by Ministry of Textiles. The scheme includes:
  • National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) and Comprehensive
  • Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS).

Hence, statement 2 is correct.

4. Consider the following statements, with reference to the Kuril Islands:

1. The Kuril Islands are a group of four islands located between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean.
2. They are administered as part of the Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East.
3. These islands are claimed by Russia but occupied by Japan.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • These are a set of four islands situated between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean near the north of Japan's northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido. Japan refers to them as Northern territories, Russia calls them the Kuril Islands and South Korea named them as Dokdo islands. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The Kuril Islands dispute between Russia and Japan has gained attention amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Kuril Islands are a volcanic archipelago administered as part of the Sakhalin Oblast in the Russian Far East. The islands stretch approximately 1,300 km northeast from Hokkaido in Japan to Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • These islands are claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia as the successor state of the Soviet Union. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

5. Aadi Perukku festival, recently seen in news, is celebrated in which of the following states?

(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Kerala
(c) Karnataka
(d) Andhra Pradesh

Answer: (A)

Explanation: The Tamil Cultural community celebrates Aadi Perukku, also known as Pathinettam Perukku, as an auspicious festival to honor the monsoon season and the fertility of the soil. Aadi Perukku is celebrated on August 3rd, coinciding with the 18th day of the Tamil month of Aadi. Traditionally observed in late July or early August, this festivity centers around expressing gratitude to water bodies, as the entire month of Aadi is considered to herald the onset of the monsoon season. Hence, option (a) is correct.