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

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

Date: 15 November 2022

Q1. With reference to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), consider the following statements:

1. It was signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
2. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention.
3. The first COP meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), was signed in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development also known as the Earth Summit, the Rio Summit, or the Rio Conference. So, statement 1 is correct.
  • The COP is the supreme decision-making body of the Convention. So, statement 2 is correct.
  • The COP meets every year unless the Parties decide otherwise. The first COP meeting was held in Berlin, Germany in March, 1995. So, statement 3 is incorrect.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Judicial system in India.

1. The High Court is a court subordinate to the Supreme Court.
2. The law declared by the Supreme Court becomes binding on all courts at all levels within India and also by all of the Union and State Governments.
3. Under Articles 129 and 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has been vested with the power to punish anyone for contempt of any court in India including itself.

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: (B)

Explanation:

  • The High Court is not a court subordinate to the Supreme Court, except for the appellate power conferred on the latter. Thus statement 1 is not correct.
  • The law declared by the Supreme Court becomes binding on all courts at all levels within India and also by all of the Union and State Governments. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • Under Articles 129 and 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has been vested with the power to punish anyone for contempt of any court in India including itself. Thus statement 3 is correct.

Q3. Which of the following correctly defines agenda of the famous “Jomtien Conference 1990”?

a) To prevent state atrocities on the minority communities across the globe.
b) Voting rights to the Blacks in the United States and other Latin American states.
c) Universalize adequate basic education across all the countries.
d) Rights of refugees and restriction on forceful extradition by states.

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Jomtien Conference or the World Conference on Education for All was held in 1990 in Jomtien, Thailand.
  • It was held in the backdrop of the International Literacy Year.
  • The year 1990 was adopted as the International Literacy Year by the UN.
  • It brought about 1,500 delegates from 155 countries and representatives of some 150 governmental, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations together.
  • The Conference participants adopted the World Declaration on Education for All and a Framework for Action: Meeting Basic Learning Needs.

Hence, C is the correct statement.

Q4. Indian Government bond yields are influenced by which of the following? (UPSC 2021)

1. Action of the United States Federal Reserve
2. Action of the Reserve Bank OF India
3. Inflation and short-term interest rates

Choose the correct code:

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • If there is hike in the interest rates in US by United States Federal Reserve leads not only to an outflow of funds from equities into US treasury bonds, but also to an outflow of funds from emerging economies to the US.
  • Hence statement 1 correct.
  • The multifaceted roles played by the RBI in the payment system, monetary policy, financial stability policy, and policy coordination with the Treasury gives it the operational ability to influence government bonds’.
  • Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • Short-term interest rate and pace of inflation are the key drivers of interest rates on government bond.
  • Hence statement 3 is correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding World Inequality Report (WIR) 2022:

1. It was released by Oxfam.
2. According to the report, in India, the top 1% of the population receives more than 50% of the national income.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • World Inequality Report (WIR) is released by the World Inequality Lab, a research centre at the Paris School of Economics.
  • So, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • According to the report, India is one of the world’s most unequal countries with the top 1% getting 21.7% of the national income.
  • So, statement 2 is incorrect.