Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (12 June 2023)

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

Date: 12 June 2023

1. With reference to Government e-Marketplace (GeM), consider the following statements:

1. GeM is an online market platform to facilitate procurement of goods and services by various Ministries and agencies of the Government.
2. It is a 100% Government owned Company set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

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: (A)

Explanation:

  • Government e-Market (GeM) aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement of goods and services and eliminate corruption. It functions under Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), Ministry of Commerce and Industries. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • It is a 100% Government owned Company set up under the aegis of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • Recently, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is set to organize Buyer-Seller Workshops in all 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh starting from June 12.

2. With reference to BrahMos missile, consider the following statements:

1. It is a three-stage missile which can be launched from land, air and sea.
2. The missile can fly at a speed which is almost three times the speed of sound.
3. It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch.

How many statements given above are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • BrahMos is a joint venture between the DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya and the missile derives its name from Brahmaputra and Moskva rivers. It is a two-stage (solid propellant engine in the first stage and liquid ramjet in second) missile. It is a multiplatform missile i.e., it can be launched from land, air, and sea and multi capability missile with pinpoint accuracy that works in both day and night irrespective of the weather conditions. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Brahmos is one of the fastest cruise missile currently operationally deployed with speed of Mach 2.8, which is nearly 3 times more than the speed of sound. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle i.e it does not require further guidance after launch. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • Supersonic BrahMos, developed through a joint venture between India's DRDO and Russia's NPOM, marks 25 years since its inception and 22 years since its first supersonic launch. BrahMos is known as a universal supersonic missile due to its ability to be launched vertically or horizontally, making it suitable for different launch platforms.

3. Consider the following statements in the context of Reservation policy in India:

1. In India, reservations were implemented to ensure equal representation of all castes in government services.
2. Mandal Commission was established to identify the socially or educationally backward classes of India.
3. Jarnail Singh’s case confirmed the exclusion of the creamy layer from SC/ST reservation benefits in promotions.
4. There are 4.5 percent reservations for minorities in admission to central educational institutes.

How many statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Reservations were put in place in the Indian constitution, immediately after independence, as a means to recognize the historical injustice meted out to the people belonging to backward groups and to implement provisions by which they would have better access to resources and opportunities.

Reservations in India were introduced:

  • To rectify the past and historical injustice against the backward classes in India.
  • To ensure that equal representation can be seen from people belonging to all castes in the services under the state and center. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • To provide an equal platform for everyone irrespective of their caste.
  • To promote and advance the backward classes.

The Mandal Commission or the second Socially and Educationally Backward Classes Commission, was established in India in 1979 with a mandate to "identify the socially or educationally backward classes" of India.Hence statement 2 is correct.

The Jarnail Singh case refers to a significant legal decision in India regarding the reservation benefits for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in promotions. In this case, the Supreme Court of India confirmed the exclusion of the "creamy layer" from availing reservation benefits in promotions. Hence statement 3 is correct.

At present, there is no reservation in Civil Posts and Services under the Government of India and admission to Central Educational Institutions for Minority Communities declared by the Central Government under Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. However, Central Government carved out a sub quota of 4.5% for minorities, as defined under Section 2(c) of National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992.

Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

4. Which of the following pollutants are included in National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

1. Sulfur Dioxide
2. Nitrogen Dioxide
3. Carbon monoxide
4. Lead
5. Benzene
6. Nickel

Select the correct answer using the given code:

(a) Only 1, 2, 3 and 5
(b) Only 1, 2, 4 and 6
(c) Only 1, 3, 5 and 6
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

National Clean Air Programme (NCAP):

  • Launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in January 2019.
  • Aims to develop a national framework for air quality management with a time-bound reduction target.
  • Seeks to reduce the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 particles by at least 20% in the next five years, with 2017 as the base year for comparison.
  • Covers 132 non-attainment cities identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
  • Non-attainment cities are those that have not met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for over five years.

NAAQS include standards for various pollutants:

  1. PM10 (particulate matter of diameter 10 micrometres or less)
  2. PM2.5 (particulate matter of diameter 2.5 micrometres or less)
  3. SO2 (sulphur dioxide)
  4. NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)
  5. CO (carbon monoxide)
  6. NH3 (ammonia)
  7. Ozone
  8. Lead
  9. Benzene
  10. Benzo-Pyrene
  11. Arsenic
  12. Nickel

5. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The government of India has requested the regulator, CERC (Central Electricity Regulatory Commission), to initiate the process of coupling power exchanges.
Statement-II: At present, buyers and sellers at each exchange do trading of electricity and discover spot prices separately at these exchanges.

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: (B)

Explanation:

  • The Ministry of Power has instructed the Central Electricity Regulatory Authority (CERC) to initiate the process of coupling multiple power exchanges in India. Hence, Statement - I is correct.
  • Currently, in the existing situation, electricity buyers and sellers engage in separate trading at each power exchange, resulting in distinct spot prices being discovered. Hence, statement II is correct.
  • Both statements are individually correct, there is no direct causal relationship between them. The request from the government to initiate the process of coupling power exchanges does not necessarily imply that the spot price discovery will become uniform. The coupling of power exchanges can have various other objectives, such as improving market efficiency or increasing competition.
  • Hence, Both Statement - I and Statement - II are correct and Statement - II is not the correct explanation for Statement – I.