Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (22 November 2022)

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

Date: 22 November 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Agricultural education in India stands detached from the other streams of higher education.
2. Agricultural University does not come under the purview of UGC.
3. Agricultural education and research come under the Concurrent List of the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India.

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

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

Answer: (b)

Explanation:

  • The agricultural education stands detached from the other streams of higher education and attached to the occupied field of agriculture in List II.
  • Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Agricultural University does not come under the purview of UGC. Hence, statement 2 is also correct.
  • Agricultural education and research come under Entry 14 of List II (State List) of the seventh schedule of the Constitution of India and therefore, it is an exclusive field occupied by the state.

Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Q2. Issues under which of the following statutes can be brought up before the National Green Tribunal?

1. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
2. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
3. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
4. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Choose the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation: The NGT has the power to hear all civil cases relating to environmental issues and questions that are linked to the implementation of laws listed in Schedule I of the NGT Act. These include the following:

  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
  • The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
  • The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
  • The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
  • The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
  • The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
  • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

This means that any violations pertaining only to these laws, or any order / decision taken by the Government under these laws can be challenged before the NGT. So, option (d) is correct.

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. Non-refoulement principle forbids a country receiving asylum seekers from returning them to a country in which they would be in likely danger of persecution based on race, religion etc.
2. India has been a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention since its inception.
3. India ratified Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1993.

Choose the CORRECT answer using the code given below:

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Non-refoulement is a fundamental principle of international law that forbids a country receiving asylum seekers from returning them to a country in which they would be in likely danger of persecution based on “race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion”.
  • Hence statement-1 is correct.
  • India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
  • Hence, statement-2 is incorrect.
  • India has also ratified key international conventions to end discrimination against women which include the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
  • Hence, statement-3 is correct.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Santiago Network.

1. Santiago Network was established to connect developing countries to providers of technical assistance, knowledge, and resources.
2. It was established in COP 27 of UNFCCC which was held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
3. In COP27, Parties agreed on the institutional arrangements to operationalise the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage.

Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Santiago Network was established to connect developing countries to providers of technical assistance, knowledge, and resources. Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • It was established in 2019. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
  • In COP27, the Parties agreed on the institutional arrangements to operationalise the Santiago Network for Loss and Damage. Thus statement 3 is correct.

Q5. Which of the following is most likely a consequence of implementing the 'Unified Payments Interface (UPI)'? (UPSC 2017)

a) Mobile wallets will not be necessary for online payments.
b) Digital currency will totally replace the physical currency in about two decades.
c) FDI inflows will drastically increase.
d) Direct transfer of subsidies to poor people will become very effective.

Answer: (A)

Explanation: UPI allows you to pay directly from your bank account to different merchants without the hassle of typing your card details or net banking/wallet password. Hence option A is correct.