Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (27 March 2023)

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

Date: 27 March 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE PRELIMS 2019]

1. Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
2. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendation of Ramsar Convention.
3. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • Ramsar Convention states that Each Contracting Party shall promote the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl by establishing nature reserves on wetlands, whether they are included in the List or not, and provide adequately for their wandering.
  • It is not mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
  • Hence, statement 1 is NOT correct.
  • The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were notified to ensure better conservation and management and to prevent degradation of existing wetlands in India.
  • However, it was not framed on the basis of recommendation of Ramsar Convention.
  • Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct.
  • Drainage area or catchment region of the wetlands as determined by the authority are also included under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010.
  • Therefore, statement 3 is Correct.

Q2. Which of the following statements about flex fuel vehicles is/are correct?

1. Flex fuel vehicles can run on both petrol and diesel.
2. Flex fuel vehicles can run on a blend of petrol and ethanol.
3. Flex fuel vehicles are costlier than Electric Vehicles EVs.
4. Flex fuel vehicles emit lower greenhouse gases compared to traditional petrol/diesel vehicles.

Choose the correct option:

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

What is Flex-Fuel technology?

  • Flex Fuel Vehicles are not confined to a certain kind of fuel and can flexibly run on a blend of petrol and ethanol up to 83%. (Hence Option 2 is correct.)

What makes Flex Fuel cars different from petrol cars?

  • What makes these vehicles different from petrol-only vehicles is a set of certain ethanol-compatible components fitted in them. There are modifications done to the fuel pump and fuel injection system.

What are the benefits of the Flex Fuel car?

  • One of the prime benefits of flex-fuel car owners over petrol car owners is that they can switch to ethanol whenever they want. They will have a wider option of fuels that may shield them from highly volatile fuel prices.
  • Compared to an EV, a flex-engine is basically a standard petrol engine with some additional components to run on more than one fuel or blend. Hence compared to an EV the flex engine is more practical and easier to make with less cost required. (Hence Option is 3 incorrect.)
  • As of now, ethanol is way cheaper than petrol in India, providing scope for the flex fuel car owners to use the fuel to save on their fuel bills. It will also help India in reducing its dependence on fuel imports.
  • Flex fuel vehicles can run on a blend of petrol and ethanol and emit lower greenhouse gases compared to traditional petrol/diesel vehicles. (Hence Option 4 is correct.)

Solution. As only statement 2 and 4 are correct, Hence the correct option is (B).

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. For an equal amount of heat or electricity, burning wood releases less CO2 than burning oil and coal.
2. The EU officially counts wood and other biomass as carbon neutral, based on the premise that CO2 emitted through burning will be reabsorbed by more trees in the future.

Which of the above statements is/are Not correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • For an equal amount of heat or electricity, burning wood releases more CO2 than burning gas, oil and even coal. Statement 1 is not correct.
  • The EU officially counts wood and other biomass as carbon neutral, based on the premise that CO2 emitted through burning will be reabsorbed by more trees in the future. Statement 2 is correct

Q4. Consider the following pairs:

Tiger Reserve Location
1. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve Madhya Pradesh
2. Periyar Tiger Reserve Kerala
3. Pakke Tiger Reserve Assam

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Bandhavgarh National Park (Tiger Reserve) is in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. Thus, the first pair is correctly matched.
  • Periyar National Park, also known as Periyar Tiger Reserve, is in the mountainous Western Ghats of Kerala, southern India. Thus, the second pair is correctly matched.
  • Pakke Tiger Reserve, also known as Pakhui Tiger Reserve, is a Project Tiger reserve in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India. Thus, the third pair is incorrectly matched.