Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (24 December 2022)

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

Date: 24 December 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements about Agricultural Census in India:

1. Agricultural Census is carried out as a Central Sector Scheme.
2. It is carried out every three years in India.
3. It is conducted by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Agricultural Census is carried out as a Central Sector Scheme under which 100% financial assistance is provided to States/Union Territories. Hence, statement 1 is correct
  • Agricultural Census, which is conducted every five years in India. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • It is the largest countrywide statistical operation undertaken by the Ministry of Agriculture, for the collection of data on the structure of operational holdings by different size classes and social groups. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Q2. Consider the following statement:

1. Diesel-electric submarines need to resurface more frequently, making them easier to detect.
2. India is among six nations that have nuclear-powered submarines, alongside the US, the UK, Russia, France and China.
3. India has INS Chakra 2, a type of nuclear-powered submarine.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • Diesel-electric submarines use electric motors charged by diesel engines to move. These engines require air and fuel to operate, which means they need to resurface more frequently, making them easier to detect.
  • India is among six nations that have nuclear-powered submarines, alongside the US, the UK, Russia, France and China.
  • India has INS Chakra 2 a type of nuclear-powered submarine leased from Russia until 2022.

Q3. Which of the following is not true about the commitment ‘Panchamrit’ made by India at the UNFCC COP 26 Conference?

a) India will reach its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
b) India will meet 70 percent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
c) By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 percent.
d) By the year 2070, India will achieve the target of Net Zero.

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • ‘Panchamrit’ commitment made by India at UNFCC COP 26 Conference are:
  • First- India will reach its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
  • Second- India will meet 50 percent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
  • Third- India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now onwards till 2030.
  • Fourth- By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 percent.
  • And fifth- by the year 2070, India will achieve the target of Net Zero.

So, option (b) is incorrect.

Q4. A rapid increase in the rate of inflation is sometimes attributed to the “base effect”. What is “base effect”? (UPSC 2011)

a) It is the impact of drastic deficiency in supply due to the failure of crops.
b) It is the impact of the surge in demand due to rapid economic growth.
c) It is the impact of the price levels of previous year on the calculation of inflation rate.
d) None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) ‘given above is correct in this context.

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • The base effect relates to inflation in the corresponding period of the previous year, if the inflation rate was too low in the corresponding period of the previous year, even a smaller rise in the Price Index will arithmetically give a high rate of inflation now.
  • On the other hand, if the price index had risen at a high rate in the corresponding period of the previous year and recorded a high inflation rate, a similar absolute increase in the price index now will show a lower inflation rate now.

Hence, option c is the correct answer.

Q5. Consider the following statements with respect to Interpol.

1. It was established in 1923 and India was a founding member of Interpol.
2. It is an international organization that facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control.
3. Research and Analysis Wing is India's nodal agency for Interpol.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • India joined Interpol in 1949. Thus statement 1 is not correct.
  • It facilitates worldwide police cooperation and crime control. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • CBI is India's nodal agency for Interpol. Thus statement 3 is not correct.

Q6. Consider the following statements related to status, issues and welfare initiatives of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)

1. According to the Census 2011 over 2.5 crore people are disabled in India and majority of them reside in urban areas.
2. The subject matter related to relief of the disabled persons is specified in the State list of the Seventh Schedule of the constitution.
3. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 provides a 3 % reservation of seats in Government and Government aided higher educational institutions.

Choose the CORRECT answer using the codes given below:

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • According to the Census 2011 about 2.68 Cr persons (2.21% of the total population) are ‘disabled’ of which 56% are males and 44% are females.
  • Majority (69%) of the disabled population resided in rural areas.(Statement-1 is incorrect)
  • The subject of ‘relief of the disabled and unemployable is specified in the state list of the Seventh Schedule of the constitution. (Statement-2 is correct)
  • Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
  • Reservation for the PwDs in government jobs increased from 3% to 4%.
  • Right to free education for every child (6 to 18 years of age) with benchmark disability.
  • Provision of 5% reservation in seats in Government and Government aided higher educational institutions. (Statement-3 is incorrect)