Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (07 March 2022)

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

Date: 07 March 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Forest Fires:

1. Forests of the Northeast and central India regions are the most vulnerable areas to forest fires according to the Indian State of Forest Report, 2019.
2. In India, forest fires are most commonly reported during March and April, when the ground has large quantities of dry wood, logs, dead leaves, stumps, dry grass and weeds.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Forests of the Northeast and central India regions are the most vulnerable areas to forest fires according to the Indian State of Forest Report, 2019.
  • In India, forest fires are most commonly reported during March and April, when the ground has large quantities of dry wood, logs, dead leaves, stumps, dry grass and weeds.

Q2. Consider the following statements about FTA, Free Trade Agreement:

1. It eliminates the tariff rates altogether on goods and services trade between partner country.
2. It may include a negative list of products and services on which the terms of FTA are not applicable.
3. India doesn't have an FTA with ASEAN after pulling out of RCEP.

Select the incorrect statements:

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) All are incorrect

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Free Trade Agreement: An agreement in which two or more countries agree to provide preferential trade terms, tariff concession etc. to the partner country.

  • Here a negative list of products and services is maintained by the negotiating countries on which the terms of FTA are not applicable hence it is more comprehensive than preferential trade agreement.
  • It doesn't eliminate the tariff rates but reduces them on goods and services trade.
  • India has negotiated FTA with many countries e.g., Sri Lanka and various trading blocs as well e.g., ASEAN.

Q3. Consider the following statements about waste management in India.

1. 90% of the waste pickers are Dalits or belong to scheduled caste or scheduled tribes.
2. Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2016 legally permit waste pickers to segregate and sell waste from garbage dumps across the country.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • 90% of the waste pickers are Dalits or belong to scheduled caste or scheduled tribes.
  • They are often seen and labelled as vagrants. State municipalities do not legally permit waste pickers to segregate and sell waste from garbage dumps across the country. They are deemed to be committing theft under the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

Q4. Which of the following components is not part of Instruments of Monetary Policy?

a) Repo Rate
b) Bank Rate
c) Cess
d) Open Market Operations

Answer: (C)

Explanation : The two main tools of fiscal policy are taxes and spending. Taxes influence the economy by determining how much money the government has to spend in certain areas and how much money individuals should spend. For example, Cess.

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. The microfinance sector contributed about 20% of India’s gross value added.
2. The gross loan portfolio of the microfinance industry in India is ₹ 25 trillion.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are Correct:

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation: The microfinance sector contributed about 2% of India’s gross value added (GVA), the productivity metric for the economy, while the overall contribution of the entire financial sector is about 5.5% in 2018-19, according to a study by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER).

As per Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), the gross loan portfolio of the industry rose from ₹ 17,264 crore to ₹ 2.51 trillion, between March 2012 and December 2021.

Q6. Which of the following sectors is related to DESH Stack e-portal?

A) Defence
B) Education
C) Skilling
D) Health

Answer: (C)

Explanation: The main objective of DESH Stack e Portal is to provide skilling, upskilling and reskilling opportunities through API-based platforms.

Q7. Consider the following statements.

1) There is no possibility of framing altogether a new Constitution with different and new features without giving any heed to the limitations imposed by the SC judgements.
2) The rights of the states are constitutionally protected including their territorial existence.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both are correct
d) Neither of the two

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Art 368 allows amending the constitution but subject to the limitations of Doctrine of Basic Structure.
  • Art 3 allows Parliament to reorganise territorial boundaries of states even without their consent