Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (08 September 2023)


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

Date: 08 September 2023


1. Consider the following types of Dark Patterns:

1. False Urgency: Fake urgency for quick actions.
2. Basket Sneaking: Unauthorized items at checkout, raising costs.
3. Confirm Shaming: Compelling unrelated purchases for access.
4. Forced Action: Using fear, shame, guilt for sales.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) Only three
(D) All four

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

Various types of Dark Patterns include:

  • False Urgency: Misleading users with a false sense of urgency to make immediate purchases or take actions.
  • Basket Sneaking: Adding extra items at checkout without user consent, increasing the total payable amount.
  • Confirm Shaming: Using fear, shame, ridicule, or guilt to push users into buying products or continuing subscriptions.
  • Forced Action: Compelling users to take unrelated actions or buy additional goods or services to access their intended product/service.
  • Subscription Trap: Making it difficult or complex to cancel paid subscriptions.
  • Interface Interference: Manipulating UI elements to misdirect users by highlighting certain information while obscuring relevant details.
  • Bait and Switch: Deceptively advertising one outcome but delivering another based on user actions.
  • Drip Pricing: Hiding or revealing price elements discreetly during the user experience.
  • Disguised Advertisement: Presenting ads as user-generated content, news articles, or false information.
  • Nagging: Overloading users with unrelated requests, information, or interruptions during transactions.

2. Consider the following statements about self-respect marriages:

1. These marriages typically occur without priests or traditional wedding rituals.
2. These kinds of marriages are not mentioned in any Act.
3. Recently, the Supreme Court held these marriages to be ultra vires.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) All three
(D) None

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • In 1968, the Hindu Marriage (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 1967, was enacted, introducing Section 7-A into the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955. Section 7-A legalized self-respect and secular marriages among Hindus who meet the minimum marriage age requirements, mandating their registration. These marriages typically occur without priests or traditional wedding rituals like the holy fire or mangalsutra and are often witnessed by family and friends. Hence statement 1 is correct and 2 is incorrect.
  • The Supreme Court ruled that self-respect marriages do not require public solemnization or declaration. It overruled the Madras High Court's ruling in S. Balakrishnan Pandiyan and cited its 2001 judgment in S. Nagalingam v. Sivagami, which upheld Section 7-A of the Hindu Marriage Act (Tamil Nadu State Amendment). The Court highlighted that couples may avoid public declarations due to parental pressure, and imposing such a requirement could jeopardize their safety and bodily integrity. The High Court's observations were deemed to violate Article 21 (the right to life) of the Constitution, as they hindered the free will of adult individuals. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

3. Consider the following statements regarding Heat Index:

1. India has launched its own heat index called as Humidex to assess heat's impact and issue heatwave alerts.
2. High humidity during heat waves results in a higher heat index because humid air feels hotter to humans.
3. The Heat Index categorizes the apparent temperature into different levels using color codes, with green representing an experimental Heat Index of less than 35°C.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) All three
(D) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • Some countries, like Canada, have their own heat index measurements. Canada uses the Humidex system. In 2024, India plans to launch its own heat index to assess heat's impact on its population and issue impact-based heatwave alerts for specific areas. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Hot air can hold more moisture than cold air, increasing the apparent temperature or heat index as temperatures rise. High humidity during heat waves results in a higher heat index because humid air feels hotter to humans. High humidity can lead to heat stress, with symptoms including increased heart rate and heat-related issues, potentially fatal if not addressed. When humidity is high, it's harder for the body to lose heat through sweating and evaporation, making the heat indexes a more useful measure than just the air temperature. Hence statement 2 is correct.

The Heat Index categorizes the apparent temperature into different levels using color codes:

  • Green: Experimental heat Index less than 35°C.Yellow: Experimental heat Index in the range of 36-45°C.
  • Orange: Experimental heat Index in the range 46-55°C.
  • Red: Experimental heat Index greater than 55°C.re.

Hence statement 3 is correct.

4. Consider the following statements about Bhitarkanika National Park:

1. It was declared as a national park in 1998.
2. Ramsar site status attained in 2002, the second in Odisha after Chilika Lake
3. Houses India's second-largest mangrove ecosystem.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(A) Only one
(B) Only two
(C) All three
(D) None

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Bhitarkanika National Park is a 145 km2 (56 sq mi) large national park in northeast Kendrapara district in Odisha in eastern India. It was designated on 16 September 1998 and obtained the status of a Ramsar site on 19 August 2002. The area is also been designated as the second Ramsar site of the State after the Chilika Lake. Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct.
  • It is surrounded by Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, which is spread over 672 km2 (259 sq mi). Gahirmatha Beach and Marine Sanctuary are to the east, separating the swamp region and mangroves from the Bay of Bengal. The national park and wildlife sanctuary is inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Pathsala. It hosts many mangrove species and is the second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India. Hence statement 3 is correct.

5. Which of the following statements is true about disguised unemployment?

A. The majority of disguised unemployed in India are found in the agriculture sector
B. The majority of disguised unemployed in India are found in the trade sector
C. The majority of disguised unemployed in India are found in the transport sector
D. The majority of disguised unemployed in India are found in the manufacturing sector

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Disguised unemployment, also known as hidden unemployment, refers to a situation in which more people are engaged in a particular activity or sector of the economy than is actually necessary for its efficient operation. In other words, it is a form of unemployment where individuals are employed in jobs that do not fully utilize their skills and labor potential.
  • In the context of India, agriculture is a sector where disguised unemployment is prevalent. This is because a significant portion of the country's workforce is employed in agriculture, and often, there are more people working in agriculture than are required for efficient agricultural production. This leads to a situation where many individuals in the agricultural sector are not contributing significantly to the overall output, and their labor is, in essence, "disguised" or hidden, as it does not add much value to the sector.
  • In contrast, the other sectors mentioned (trade, transport, and manufacturing) may have their own issues with unemployment or underemployment, but disguised unemployment is most commonly associated with the agricultural sector in India due to its labor-intensive nature and the persistence of traditional farming practices.

Hence, option (a) is correct.