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

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

Date: 10 June 2023

1. Consider the following statements, with reference to Har Ghar Jal Program:

1. The program aims to provide piped water supply to every household in India by 2024.
2. Gujarat has become the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ certified state in the country.
3. This program is a crucial step towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5, which aime to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.

How many statements given above are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • The "Har Ghar Jal" (Water to Every Household) program is an initiative of the Government of India launched under the Ministry of Jal Shakti. The program aims to provide piped water supply to every rural household in India by 2024. The program was announced by the Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi) on August 15, 2019. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • The key objectives of the Har Ghar Jal Program are to eliminate water scarcity, enhance access to clean drinking water, reduce water-borne diseases and improve the overall quality of life in rural communities. It is part of the larger government initiative called Jal Jeevan Mission. Goa and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu (D&NH and D&D) became the first ‘Har Ghar Jal’ certified State and UT in the country respectively. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • The program aligns with the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation, and Hygiene (JMP) to monitor progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1, which focuses on safely managed drinking water services. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

2. Consider the following pairs:

Ports Country
1. Chabahar Port Iran
2. Gwadar Port Afghanistan
3. Port Sultan Bahrain

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None of the above

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

The correct matching of the pairs is given below:

Ports Country
1. Chabahar Port Iran
2. Gwadar Port Pakistan
3. Port Sultan Oman

Recently, the navies of India, France and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conducted their first-ever trilateral maritime partnership exercise in the Gulf of Oman.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

3. With reference to 'Sagar Samriddhi', consider the following statements:

1. The sagar samriddhi online portal is a dredging monitoring system in order to accelerate waste to wealth initiative by the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways.
2. This system is designed to minimize human error with the vision of ‘zero defect and zero effect’.

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: (C)

Explanation: It is an online dredging monitoring system developed by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. The objective of the Sagar Samriddhi program is to enhance productivity, contract management and effective reuse of dredged material, aligning with the waste to wealth concept. The sagar samiriddhi has been developed by the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts. The prime minister’s vision gives mantra of zero defect and zero effect with this system is designed to minimize human error. Hence, both statements are correct.

4. Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Carbon dioxide is produced in the production of blue Hydrogen.
Statement II: Blue hydrogen is produced by splitting natural gas.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement - I
(b) Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is not the correct explanation for Statement - I
(c) Statement - I is correct but Statement - II is incorrect
(d) Statement - I is incorrect but Statement - II is correct

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Blue hydrogen is when natural gas is split into hydrogen and CO2 either by Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or Auto Thermal Reforming (ATR), but the CO2 is captured and then stored. As the greenhouse gasses are captured, this mitigates the environmental impacts on the planet. Hence, statements 1 and 2 correct.
  • Hence, Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is the correct explanation for Statement – I.

5. Consider the following statement in the context of Discretionary Powers:

1. Both president and governors of states have constitutional discretionary powers.
2. Reservation of a bill for the President's consideration is a situational discretion of governors of states.
3. Seeking information from the Prime Minister is the president’s constitutional discretion.
4. The recommendation for implementing President's Rule in the state is discretionary powers of governors of states.

How many statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • There are two categories of discretion for the governor, one is Constitutional Discretion and the other is Situational Discretion. President has no discretionary powers mentioned in the Constitution and shall act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
  • Article 200 of the Indian Constitution outlines the process for a Bill passed by the Legislative Assembly of a State to be presented to the Governor for assent, who may either assent, withhold assent or reserve the Bill for consideration by the President. So, reservation of a bill for the President's consideration is a constitutional discretion of governors of states. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Situational Discretion of President:

  • Appointment of Prime Minister during a hung Parliament
  • Veto powers against a bill
  • Dissolution of Lok Sabha when the ruling party loses the majority
  • Seeking information from the Prime Minister. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Constitutional Discretion of Governors of the States

  • Reservation of a bill for the President's consideration. (Article 200)
  • Recommendation for implementing President's Rule in the state (Article 356). Hence statement 4 is correct.
  • While performing his duties as the administrator of a neighboring union territory (in case of additional charge when appointed under Article 153)
  • Determining the amount payable to an autonomous Tribal District Council as royalty from mineral exploration licenses by the governments of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. (Schedule 6)
  • Seeking information from the chief minister about state administrative and legislative matters.