Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (10 January 2023)

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

Date: 10 January 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Natural farming:

1. In natural farming, external agricultural inputs such as rock phosphate, biopesticides and biofertilizers are used but not in organic farming.
2. Organic fertilizers are used in Natural farming but not in organic farming.
3. Plowing, tilting, mixing manure, weeding, and other fundamental agro activities are required in natural farming but not in organic farming.

Which of the above statement/s is/are NOT correct?

a. Only 1 and 2
b. Only 2 and 3
c. Only 1 and 3
d. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • In organic farming, farmers might use "external agricultural inputs" such as rock phosphate, biopesticides and biofertilizers, but even these external applications are not required in natural farming. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Organic fertilizers and manures, such as compost, vermicompost, and cow dung manure, are utilized and applied to farmlands in organic farming. Ideally, Natural farming does not use chemical or organic fertilizers on the soil. In reality, no additional nutrients are put into the soil or given to the plants. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • Generally, plowing, tilting, mixing manure, weeding, and other fundamental agro activities are required in organic farming. Ideally, there is no plowing, no soil tilting, no fertilizers, and no weeding in natural farming, precisely as it would be in natural ecosystems. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Hence, all statements are incorrect.

Q2. On which of the following can you find the Bureau of Energy Efficiency Star Label? [UPSC CSE Pre 2016]

1. Ceiling fans
2. Electric Geysers
3. Tubular fluorescent lamps

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • Products notified under mandatory appliance
  • Frost Free Refrigerators; Stationary Storage Type Electric Water Heater; Colour Television; Room Air Conditioner (Both Variable and Fixed Speed); Room Air Conditioners (RAC) (Cassette, Floor Standing Tower, Ceiling, Corner AC) Tubular Fluorescent Lamp (TFL); LED Lamps; Distribution Transformer; Direct Cool Refrigerator; Ceiling Fan; Refrigerators.

Q3. Consider the following statements about International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA):

1. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future.
2. India is the Founding Member of IRENA.

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: (C)

Explanation:

  • The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. (Hence option 1 is correct).
  • IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. India is the 77th Founding Member of IRENA. . (Hence option 2 is correct).
  • The 11th session of the IRENA General Assembly was held virtually from 18th to 21st January, 2021 at Abu Dhabi. The Indian delegation led by Hon'ble Minister of State (IC) for Power & NRE, Secretary and Joint Secretary (IR) from MNRE have participated in the event. India was designated as one of the Vice Presidents for the 11th session of the Assembly of IRENA 2021.

Solution. As both statements 1 and 2 are correct, Hence correct option is (c).

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the provisions of Sedition law in India-

1. The roots of Sedition law can be traced to colonial rule but it was explicitly dropped in the text of the constitution of India.
2. In 1951, the Punjab High Court ruled Section 124A of Indian Penal code to be constitutional.

Choose the CORRECT answer using the codes given below:

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • The Sedition law was originally drafted in 1837 by Thomas Macaulay, the British historian-politician, but was inexplicably omitted when the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was enacted in 1860.
  • Section 124A was inserted in 1870 by an amendment introduced by Sir James Stephen when it felt the need for a specific section to deal with the offense. (Statement-1 is incorrect)
  • In 1951, the Punjab High Court ruled Section 124A to be unconstitutional. A similar ruling was passed in 1959 by the Allahabad High Court, which also concluded that it struck at the very root of free speech. (Statement-2 is incorrect)

Q5. With reference to National Population Register, consider the following statements:

1. NPR is a database containing a list of only citizens of the country.
2. Its objective is to have a comprehensive identity database of people residing in the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The National Population Register (NPR) is a Register of the usual residents of the country. So, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • The objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars. So, statement 2 is correct.