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

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

Date: 04 October 2023

1. Consider the following statements:

1. TRAFFIC is an organization established by WWF and IUCN to administer wildlife trade.
2. Odisha is the highest-ranked node in the tortoise and hard-shell turtle trafficking network.

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: (A)

Explanation: TRAFFIC is an organization that was established in 1976 by WWF and IUCN. It is a wildlife trade monitoring network to undertake data collection, analysis, and provision of recommendations to inform decision making on wildlife trade. TRAFFIC became an independent non-profit organization in 2017, with WWF and IUCN sitting on its Board of Directors along with independent Board members. Chennai is the highest-ranked node in the tortoise and hard-shell turtle trafficking network fuelling the global pet trade. The most frequent trafficking links in the soft-shell turtle trafficking network were from Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh to unspecified districts in West Bengal and from North 24 Parganas to unspecified districts in Bangladesh. Asian turtle crisis is a term often used to describe the current state of tortoises and freshwater turtles (TFTs) in the largest continent on earth. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

2. Consider the following statements:

1. The Moscow format is one of the several dialogue platforms on Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover of Kabul.
2. Both China and India are part of the Moscow Format.
3. The Kazan Declaration deals with the well-being of the Afghan People.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The Moscow format is one of the several dialogue platforms on Afghanistan, which began before the Taliban takeover of Kabul. It consists of Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and India. As part of its initiatives to encourage a peaceful conclusion to the violence and instability in Afghanistan, the Russian government initially started it in 2017.

The key objective of the Moscow format of consultations is to facilitate the national reconciliation process in Afghanistan to establish peace. The Kazan Declaration is a document that resulted from the fifth regional consultation on Afghanistan, known as the Moscow Format, which took place in Kazan, Russia. The Kazan Declaration underscores the call for the Afghan authorities to create conditions that improve the well-being of the Afghan people, deter further migration, and facilitate the return of refugees. Hence, all statements are correct.

3. Consider the following statements, with reference to Project Udbhav:

1. The project aims to bridge the gap between historical and contemporary knowledge only in ship building industry.
2. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

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: (D)

Explanation: The Indian Army has started an initiative, named Project Udbhav. The project aims to rediscover the profound Indic heritage of statecraft and strategic thoughts derived from ancient Indian texts of statecraft, Warcraft, diplomacy and grand strategy. The project is carried out in collaboration with the United Service Institution (USI) of India. Beyond rediscovery, the project aims to develop an indigenous strategic vocabulary deeply rooted in India's philosophical and cultural heritage. The project aims to bridge the gap between historical and contemporary knowledge. Hence, both statements are incorrect.

4. In economics, which of the following explains Gresham’s law?

(a) It is a monetary principle stating that "good money drives out bad".
(b) The relationship between rising household incomes and total food spending.
(c) It is a monetary principle stating that "bad money drives out good".
(d) The bulk of public programs are designed primarily to benefit the lower and middle classes, but are financed by taxes paid primarily by the upper class.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Gresham’s Law, named after Thomas Gresham, states that “bad money drives out good” when the government fixes the exchange rate between two currencies at a level different from the market rate. This leads to the undervalued currency going out of circulation, while the overvalued currency remains but lacks buyers. The law can result in a currency shortage when demand exceeds supply due to the fixed price. Gresham’s law applies not only to paper currencies but also to commodities. It can cause goods to disappear from the formal market when their prices are forcibly undervalued by governments. Thiers’ law, on the other hand, states that “good money drives out bad” when people have the freedom to choose between currencies, and they prefer higher-quality currencies. Hence, option (c) is correct.

5. Consider the following statements regarding ammonia:

1. It forms a covalent bond with hydrogen atoms.
2. Ammonia can act as a Lewis base in chemical reactions.
3. Its boiling point is lower than that of methane.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Ammonia (NH3) forms covalent bonds with three hydrogen atoms, sharing electrons. Ammonia can indeed act as a Lewis base, as it can donate a lone pair of electrons to form a coordinate covalent bond with a Lewis acid. The boiling point of ammonia (-33.34 degrees Celsius) is lower than that of methane (-161.5 degrees Celsius). Ammonia gas is colorless, but it has a pungent, characteristic odor. Hence, all statements are correct.