Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (14 October 2022)

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

Date: 14 October 2022

Q1. Which of the following are parts of the grey infrastructure?

1. Seawalls
2. Salt marshes
3. Dams
4. Mangroves
5. Breakwaters

Choose the correct option:

a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1, 3 and 5 only
c) 2, 3 and 4 only
d) 2, 4 and 5 only

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • Green infrastructure is the “strategic use of networks of natural lands, working landscapes, and other open spaces to conserve ecosystem values and functions and provide associated benefits to human populations”. It includes salt marshes, mangroves, etc.
  • Grey infrastructure refers to the human-engineered infrastructure for water resources such as water and wastewater treatment plants, pipelines, seawalls, dams, breakwaters and reservoirs.
  • Hence (b) is the correct option.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Higher Judiciary in India.

1. The collegium of Supreme Court is an Extra-constitutional body which is not backed by any constitutional provision or law.
2. Article 124 of the constitution of India provides for appointments of persons with “distinguished jurists” credentials as the judges of Supreme Court.
3. In the Second judges case the Supreme Court declared the “primacy” of the Chief Justice of India’s (CJI’s) recommendations as an individual on judicial appointments.

Choose the CORRECT answer using the code given below:

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • The collegium of Supreme Court is an Extra-constitutional or non-constitutional body which has been brought in force by judgments of the Supreme Court.
  • Article 124 of the constitution of India provides for appointments of persons with “distinguished jurists” credentials as the judges of Supreme Court.
  • First Judges Case (1981).
  • It declared that the “primacy” of the Chief Justice of India (CJI’s) recommendation on judicial appointments and transfers can be refused for “cogent reasons.”
  • The ruling gave the Executive primacy over the Judiciary in judicial appointments till 1993.
  • The statement 1 and 2 are correct as per the solution.
  • In the Second Judges case the Supreme Court upheld “primacy” of the CJI and his two senior most judges as an “institutional primacy” and not the “primacy” of the CJI as an individual. Hence statement 3 is wrong.

Q3. In the context of the ‘Outer Space Treaty 1967’, which of the following statements are correct?

1. It is a UN General Assembly backed treaty to ban the stationing of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in outer space.
2. India is a party to the Outer Space Treaty.
3. It prohibits stationing of all types of weapons in outer space.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) All of the above

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • In 1963, the UN General Assembly approved two resolutions on outer space that subsequently became the basis for the Outer Space Treaty. UN Resolution 1884 called on countries to refrain from stationing WMD in outer space. UN Resolution 1962 set out legal principles on outer space exploration, which stipulated that all countries have the right to freely explore and use space. So, Statement 1 is correct.
  • India is a signatory to this treaty, and ratified it in 1982. So, Statement 2 is correct.
  • The Outer Space Treaty prohibits only weapons of mass destruction in outer space, not ordinary weapons. So, Statement 3 is incorrect.

Q4. Consider the following statements:

1. The number of appeals and complaints from data obtained from 26 information commissions has reduced during the last 3 years.
2. The information commissions have imposed penalties in 95% of the cases.
3. Nearly all the information commissions are providing e-filing facility for RTI applications or appeals.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are not correct?

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) All of the above

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • The number of appeals and complaints has consistently increased from 2019 to 2021. Hence, the first statement is not correct.
  • The commissions did not impose penalties in 95% of the cases where penalties were potentially imposable. Hence, the second statement is also not correct.
  • The entire system is in need of digitisation. Only 11 information commissions out of 29 provide e-filing facility for RTI applications or appeals, but only five are functional. Hence, the third statement is also not correct.

Q5. In which of the following cases the SC propounded the Doctrine of Essential Religious Practices?

a) Shirur Mutt Case 1954
b) Fathima Tasneem v State of Kerala (2018)
c) Bijoe Emmanuel and others vs. State of Kerala (1986)
d) Shyra Bano vs Union of India 2017

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Shirur Mutt Case 1954:
  • In this case, the Supreme Court held that the term “religion” would cover all rituals and practices “integral” to a religion. The test to determine what is integral was termed the “essential religious practices” test.
  • Hence (a) is the correct option.