Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (15 December 2022)

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

Date: 15 December 2022

Q1. According to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which of the following animals cannot be hunted by any person except under some provisions provided by law?

1. Blackbuck
2. Brow Antlered Deer
3. Golden Langur

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 deals with endangered species that need rigorous protection. Species listed in this Schedule are forbidden from being hunted in India unless they pose a threat to human life.
  • Some of the animals granted protection under Schedule I include:
  • The Black Buck, Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Snow Leopard, Swamp Deer, Himalayan Bear, Asiatic Cheetah, Kashmiri Stag, Fishing Cat, Lion-tailed Macaque, Musk Deer, Rhinoceros, Brow Antlered Deer, Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Golden Langur, Hoolock Gibbon, etc. So, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q2. As per the World Bank report, the manufacturing sector in India is witnessing a shift of manufacturing activity and employment from bigger cities to smaller towns and rural areas. What can/may be the effect(s) of this shift on rural areas?

1. It can help in livelihood diversification in rural India.
2. It can provide an economic base for the transition out of agriculture.
3. This can help in making up for the loss of employment in some traditional rural industries Post Liberalisation.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • World Bank in a report - Is India’s Manufacturing Sector Moving Away from Cities?
  • It found that manufacturing plants in the formal sector are moving away from urban areas and into rural locations

Its Effect

  • The shift from urban to rural areas has helped maintain the importance of manufacturing as a source of livelihood diversification in rural India.
  • In the aftermath of trade liberalisation, import competition among Indian manufacturers intensified and to cut costs they moved some operations from cities to smaller towns, where labour costs are cheaper.
  • This trend helped to make up for the loss of employment in some traditional rural industries.
  • The growth of rural manufacturing, by generating new jobs, thus provides an economic base for the transition out of agriculture

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Farmers Producer Organizations / Companies (FPOs/FPCs)

1. It is a voluntary organization which gets legal backing under the Companies Act or Co-operative Societies Act of a State.
2. Only marginal and small farmers are allowed as the members of an FPO.
3. Agriculture Ministry has set up the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) to support and facilitate the formation of FPOs.
4. The SFAC is the implementing agency of the National Agriculture Market Electronic Trading (e-Nam) platform.

Choose the CORRECT answer using the codes given below:

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • FPOs are voluntary organizations controlled by their farmer-members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.
  • The FPOs are incorporated as a legal entity under the Companies Act or Co-operative Societies Act of the concerned States. (Statement-1 is correct.)
  • The FPO membership is open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination. (Statement-2 is incorrect)
  • To facilitate and support the State Governments in the formation of the FPOs the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) was set up by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agri.(Statement-3 is correct)
  • SFAC is also implementing the National Agriculture Market Electronic Trading (e-Nam) platform. (Statement-4 is correct)

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Goods and Services Tax (GST):

1. GST is a value-added tax levied on goods and services.
2. The decisions of the GST council are binding on Parliament.
3. GST rates are notified on the recommendations of the Finance ministry.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • The Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a value-added tax levied on most goods and services sold for domestic consumption. The GST is paid by consumers, but it is remitted to the government by the businesses selling the goods and services. Hence statement 1 correct
  • GST is applicable on ‘supply’ of goods or services as against the old concept on the manufacture of goods or on sale of goods or on provision of services.
  • GST is based on the principle of destination-based consumption taxation as against the present principle of origin-based taxation.
  • It is a dual GST with the Centre and the States simultaneously levying tax on a common base. GST to be levied by the Centre is called Central GST (CGST) and that to be levied by the States is called State GST (SGST).
  • CGST, SGST & IGST are levied at rates to be mutually agreed upon by the Centre and the States. The rates are notified on the recommendation of the GST Council. Statement 3 is Incorrect
  • The decisions of the council are binding on Parliament. Statement 2 is correct

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. The expression ‘Contempt of Court’ has been defined under Article 137 of the Indian Constitution.
2. Civil Contempt can be invoked if an act tends to scandalize or lower the authority of the court while Criminal Contempt means wilful disobedience to any judgment of the court.

Which of the above statement/s given above is/ are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • Contempt of court seeks to protect judicial institutions from motivated attacks and unwarranted criticism, and as a legal mechanism to punish those who lower its authority. The expression ‘contempt of court’ has not been defined by the Constitution. Thus, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Civil contempt refers to wilful disobedience to any judgment of the court. Criminal contempt can be invoked if an act tends to scandalise or lower the authority of the court. Thus, statement 2 is also incorrect.

Q6. Consider the following statements:

1. Clean energy is energy that comes from renewable, zero-emission sources that do not pollute the atmosphere when used.
2. Nuclear fusion has the disadvantage of generating unstable nuclei.
3. Nuclear Fission occurs in stars such as the Sun.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Clean energy is energy that comes from renewable, zero-emission sources that do not pollute the atmosphere when used. For example, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Nuclear Energy, etc. Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • Nuclear fission power plants have the disadvantage of generating unstable nuclei; some of these are radioactive for millions of years. Fusion on the other hand does not create any long-lived radioactive nuclear waste. Hence statement 2 is NOT correct.
  • The sun, along with all other stars, is powered by nuclear fusion. Thus statement 3 is also NOT correct.