Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (20 December 2022)

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

Date: 20 December 2022

Q1. Which of the following Acts recognize, empower and enforce the rights of Scheduled Tribes (STs)?

1. Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955.
2. Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
3. Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996.
4. Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.

Choose the CORRECT answer using the codes given below:

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 provides protection against preaching and practice of Untouchability in tribal groups.
  • Hence, statement-1 is correct
  • Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 counters the the caste discrimination practices in tribal communities.
  • Hence, statement-2 is correct
  • Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 empowers the tribal communities through political autonomy at Gram Panchayat level.
  • Hence, statement-3 is correct
  • Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 recognizes rights of locals and tribal people on the minor forest produce.
  • Hence, statement-4 is correct

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. Any retired judge of the Supreme Court of India can be called back to sit and act as a Supreme Court judge by the Chief Justice of India with the prior permission of the President of India.
2. A High Court Judge may be appointed as an ad hoc Judge of the Supreme Court for a temporary period.

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:

  • According to article 128 of the constitution, the Chief Justice of India may at any time, with the previous consent of the president, request any person who has held the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court or of the Federal Court or who has held the office of a Judge of a High Court and is duly qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court to sit and act as a Judge of the Supreme Court. So, statement 1 is correct.
  • Article 127 of the Indian Constitution proposes that when a quorum of permanent judges is needed to continue or hold a Supreme Court session, the Chief Justice of India can nominate a High Court judge as an ad hoc Supreme Court judge for a specified time. So, statement 2 is correct.

Q3. Choose the incorrect one:

Hydro Power Projects Countries involved
a) Dorjilung project India-Nepal
b) Seti project India-Nepal
c) Mahakali project India-Nepal
d) Kholongchu project India-Bhutan

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Dorjilung hydropower project in Bhutan is a joint cooperation of Bangladesh, India and Bhutan. Hence option 1 is incorrect.
  • West Seti Hydropower Project and the Seti River Hydropower Project, will be developed by India in Nepal nearly 4 years after China withdrew from these two projects.
  • The Mahakali Treaty was signed in 1996 over the integrated development of the Mahakali River, including Sarada Barrage, Tanakpur Barrage and Pancheshwar project. It is the joint cooperation of India and Nepal.
  • The Kholongchu project is the 600 MW run-of-the-river project located on the lower course of the Kholongchhu river in eastern Bhutan’s Trashiyangtse district. It will be the first-ever Joint Venture (JV) project between India and Bhutan.

Q4. Consider the following statements:

1. Article 25 provides freedom of religion in matters related to practice, profess and propagate, but the word propagate does not give the right to convert through force, fraud, or allurement.
2. Right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constitution.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • The Rev Stanislaus vs Madhya Pradesh case: Supreme Court said Article 25 does provide freedom of religion in matters related to practice, profess and propagate, but the word propagate does not give the right to convert and upheld the laws prohibiting Conversion through force, fraud, or allurement.
  • Hadiya Case: Supreme Court said that the right to marry a person of one’s choice is integral to Article 21 (right to life and liberty) of the constitution.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Foreign trade of India.

1. India’s merchandise exports are less than its merchandise imports.
2. India’s service exports are more than its service imports.
3. Business service constitutes the majority of service exports from India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • India’s merchandise exports are less than its merchandise imports. Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • India’s service exports are more than its service imports. This means that India has a net service surplus. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • Software services constitute the bulk of India's service export at around 40-45 per cent, followed by business services at about 18-20 per cent, travel at 11-14 per cent and transportation at 9-11 per cent. Thus statement 3 is not correct.