Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (11 December 2023)

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

Date: 11 December 2023

1. Consider the following statements about Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge:

1. At COP28, a pledge to triple the global green energy capacity was signed by 118 countries.
2. It requires countries to double the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements.
3. India is a participant of this pledge.

How many of the above statements are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • At COP28, a commitment was made by 118 countries to triple the world's green energy capacity, targeting 11,000 GW by 2030.
  • The commitment necessitates doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements from 2% to over 4% annually until 2030.
  • The primary goal is to mitigate emissions and constrain the global average temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius, aligning with the 2015 Paris Agreement.
  • Pledge Specifics:
    • The commitment lacks legal binding and is not officially on the COP28 agenda.
    • COP28 will also delve into the matter of tripling renewable energy, with considerable anticipation for the outcomes.
    • The commitment reflects a unified resolve among global leaders to actively combat worldwide emissions.
  • India and China opted not to participate, expressing reservations about the call to phase down coal and halt investments in new coal-fired power plants.

2. Pinna nobilis, recent seen in news is a:

(a) Archaeological fossil of Jurassic times
(b) Avian species found in Alaska
(c) Marina mollusk of Mediterranean Sea
(d) A Himalayan herb

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Pinna nobilis, also known as the noble pen shell or fan mussel, is a sizable marine bivalve mollusk indigenous to the Mediterranean Sea.
  • In the Adriatic aquarium of Pula, these mollusks are housed in meticulously filtered water, safeguarding them from potential parasitic threats.
  • The shell of the noble pen shell can reach lengths of 1.2 meters, comprising two articulated parts.
  • Habitually found in seagrass meadows and diverse underwater terrains, it thrives at depths of up to 60 meters.
  • Significantly, the species plays a crucial ecological role by filtering and retaining substantial amounts of organic matter from suspended detritus, contributing to water clarity.
  • Designated as an endangered and protected species since 1992, Pinna nobilis confronts threats from human activities and grapples with the risk of widespread mass extinctions across different regions of the Mediterranean Sea.


3. Consider the following countries:

1. Armenia
2. Azerbaijan,
3. Tajikistan
4. Turkey
5. Pakistan
6. Jordan

How many of the above mentioned countries are neighbours of Iran?

(a) Only three
(b) Only four
(c) Only five
(d) All six

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Geographical Position: Iran, officially recognized as the Islamic Republic of Iran and historically referred to as Persia, is situated in South-West Asia.
Territorial Limits: Iran is surrounded by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Caspian Sea to the North, Turkmenistan to the Northwest, Turkey and Iraq to the West, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the South, and Afghanistan and Pakistan to the East.


4. Consider these articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

1. Article 1- All human beings are born free and equal and should be treated the same way.
2. Article 4- No one has the right to treat you as a slave
3. Article 7 - Right to equality before the law
4. Article 19 - Freedom of Expression

How many of the above statements are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was influenced by the Code Napoléon and adopted a structure that included a preamble and general principles.
The definitive format took shape in the second draft, guided by the efforts of French jurist René Cassin, who refined the original draft crafted by Canadian legal scholar John Peters Humphrey.


5. Consider the following statement.

A Zoological Park in Darjeeling, West Bengal, is India's largest high-altitude zoo, located at 7,000 feet. In 1983, it began a rare species captive breeding project, expanding to a Snow Leopard conservation program in 1986 and a Red Panda project in 1990. The park demonstrates a steadfast commitment to conservation through strategic breeding efforts.

The above description describes which of the following Zoological parks?

(a) Indira Gandhi Zoological Park
(b) Nandankanan Zoological Park
(c) Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park
(d) Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park

Answer: (D)

Explanation: Indira Gandhi Zoological Park is located amidst Kambalakonda Reserve Forest in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the third-largest zoo in the country. You can observe different animals and bird species here.
Nandankanan Zoological Park stands as a prominent zoo and botanical garden situated in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. Its establishment dates back to 1960, with public access granted in 1979. Notably, in 2009, it achieved the distinction of being the first zoo in India to join the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). The zoo enjoys a good reputation internationally for successfully breeding black panthers, gharials, and white tigers in captivity.
The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park, commonly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Zoo or Katraj Zoo, is located in Katraj, Pune district, Maharashtra State, India. An ex-situ breeding center is also planned by the zoo.
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling, West Bengal, named after Padmaja Naidu, daughter of Sarojini Naidu, was established on August 14, 1958. A joint venture of the Indian government (Department of Science and Technology) and the West Bengal government (Department of Education), it is India's largest high-altitude zoo at 7,000 feet elevation. In 1983, it initiated a captive breeding project for rare species, with the first ex-situ conservation breeding program for Snow Leopards in 1986. The Red Panda project commenced in 1990.