Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (18 March 2023)

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

Date: 18 March 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. AUKUS is a 2021 defence deal between Australia, the France and the US.
2. The AUKUS partnership was signed to bolster Australia’s naval heft in the region.
3. The AUKUS partnership involves only the sale of US nuclear submarines to Australia.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • AUKUS is a 2021 defence deal between Australia, the UK and the US. Statement 1 is not correct.
  • The AUKUS partnership was signed to bolster Australia’s naval heft in the region. Statement 2 is correct
  • The AUKUS partnership involves not only the sale of US nuclear submarines to Australia, but also the development of a new submarine class, known as SSN-AUKUS, which will incorporate the best technologies and capabilities of all three countries. Statement 3 is Not correct.

Q2. Which of the following is a potential drawback of using wasteland for renewable energy projects in India?

a) The lack of supporting infrastructure increases the cost of developing projects in wastelands.
b) The socio-economic costs imposed on small landholders are higher when wasteland is used.
c) The ecological costs involved in diverting agricultural land for RE projects are higher when wasteland is used.
d) Wasteland is located mainly in areas that are not favourable for solar radiation throughout the year.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Empirical studies suggest that most of the areas favourable to solar radiation throughout the year coincide with wasteland in India. But most projections locate only 11-12 percent of solar projects in deserts and dry shrublands in India in most scenarios.
  • Wasteland is also not favoured by project developers. Developing projects in wastelands increases costs partly because of the inhospitable terrain and partly because of the lack of supporting infrastructure. Transmission infrastructure required to move power generated to consuming centres also increases cost. (Hence option A is correct).
  • But when wasteland is used, the socio-economic costs imposed on small landholders as well as the ecological costs involved in diverting agricultural land for RE projects are lower.

Solution. As statement A is correct, Hence the correct option is (A).

Q3. Consider the following statements-

1. India occupies about 2.4% of the total geographical area and consumes 4% of the total water resources.
2. Water is a subject of the Union list.
3. The Inter-State River Water Dispute Tribunal is a Constitutional body.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • India, with nearly 18% of the world’s population, occupies about 2.4% of the total geographical area and consumes 4% of total water resources. Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • Water is in the State List as 17th entry and hence, states can legislate with respect to rivers. Hence statement 2 is NOT correct.
  • Inter-state river water dispute tribunal is constituted by the central government as per Inter-State Water Dispute Act 1956. So it is a statutory body (not a constitutional body). Thus statement 3 is NOT correct.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the WTO.

1. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade.
2. It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995 after the Marrakesh Agreement of 1994.
3. The WTO is the world's largest international economic organization, with 164 member states representing over 98% of global trade and global GDP.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade.
  • Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948.
  • Hence statement 2 is also correct.
  • The WTO is the world's largest international economic organization, with 164 member states representing over 98% of global trade and global GDP.
  • Thus statement 3 is also correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Gaganyaan Mission:

1. It is India's first manned space mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space.
2. The US, Russia, and China are the only three countries to have conducted human spaceflights yet.

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: (C)

Explanation:

  • Gaganyaan project envisages demonstration of human spaceflight capability by launching crew of 3 members to an orbit of 400 km for a 3 days mission and bringing them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters. It is India's first manned space mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts to space. So, statement 1 is correct.
  • The US, Russia, and China are the only three countries to have conducted human spaceflights yet. If India successfully sends astronauts to space, it will be only the fourth nation to do so after the United States, China, and Russia. So, statement 2 is correct.