Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (22 May 2023)

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

Date: 22 May 2023

Q1. Bhopal, the first city in India to release a Voluntary Local Review (VLR) for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), collaborated with which organization for this initiative?

a) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
b) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
c) United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
d) United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Bhopal's VLR was the result of a collaboration between the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, UN-Habitat, and a collective of over 23 local stakeholders. UN-Habitat played a significant role in supporting the city's efforts to localize and review the SDGs at the local level. Thus, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q2. With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2021)

1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The distribution of freshwater resources shows that the majority, approximately 69%, is stored in glaciers, around 30% is found underground as groundwater, while lakes, rivers, and swamps collectively account for less than 1% of the total freshwater availability. Consequently, the volume of water contained in rivers and lakes is smaller compared to the amount of groundwater. Statement 1 is Not correct.
  • Polar ice caps and glaciers contain a larger volume of water compared to groundwater sources. Statement 2 is correct.

Q3. Consider the following statements about El Niño:

1. It leads to increased precipitation in the southern and western parts of the United States, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, parts of Southeast Asia, and some regions of east central Africa.
2. El Niño brings cooler temperatures to much of Asia, the American Pacific Northwest, and Australia.

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

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

Regional Impacts of El Niño

  • El Niño's influence extends across the globe, affecting various regions differently. While its most pronounced impacts occur during the northern winter, it also influences hurricane activity in the Atlantic, reducing it.
  • It leads to increased precipitation in the southern and western parts of the United States, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, parts of Southeast Asia, and some regions of east central Africa. (Hence option 1 is correct.)
  • Furthermore, El Niño brings warmer temperatures to much of Asia, the American Pacific Northwest, and Australia. (Hence option 2 is incorrect.)

As only statement 1 is correct, Hence the correct option is (a).