Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (31 January 2023)

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

Date: 31 January 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to Healthcare statistics:

1. Health subject comes under the State list.
2. The health expenditure in India is completely borne by states.
3. Around 50% of the population in India is covered by health insurance.
4. Healthcare expenditure in India is likely to achieve the target of 5% of GDP as set in the National Health Policy 2017 in 2022-2023.

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: (A)

Explanation:

  • Health subject comes under the State list. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The health sector is a shared space between the Centre and states, with the burden of expenditure split 25:75. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • Over 80% of India’s population is not covered by health insurance forcing the patients to pay for expensive treatment from their own pockets. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
  • The National Health Policy of 2017 set a target for government spending on healthcare at 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by both the Centre and states to be achieved by 2025. In contrast, the budgetary outlay for healthcare has been range-bound between 1.2% and 1.4% in the period 2014-20 which increased to 1.8% in 2020-21, and 2.1% in 2021-22 during the covid pandemic. As per the preliminary indicators, healthcare expenditure is likely to be 1.3-1.4% of GDP in 2022-23. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. As per a study conducted by government think-tank NITI Aayog and Institute for Competitiveness. India’s spending on research and development (R&D) is among the lowest in the world.
2. However R&D investment in India has increased as % of GDP continuously in the last decade.

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

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • India’s spending on research and development (R&D) is among the lowest in the world, per a study conducted by government think-tank NITI Aayog and Institute for Competitiveness. (Hence, option 1 is correct.)
  • R&D investment in India, in fact, has declined from 0.8% of the GDP in 2008–09 to 0.7% in 2017-18. (Hence, option 2 is incorrect.)
  • Data shows that India’s GERD is lower than the other BRICS nations. Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa spend around 1.2%, 1.1%, above 2%, and 0.8%, respectively. The world average is around 1.8%.
  • The India Innovation Index 2021 has found that the overall spending on R&D by India has been relatively low across the country. This was reflected in the overall share of gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) as a percentage of GDP, at about 0.7%.

As only 2nd statement is incorrect. So the correct option is (b).

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. Since its inception, the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has been a constitutional body.
2. Article 340 empowers the President of India to appoint a commission to investigate issues concerning backward classes.
3. Rohini Commission is constituted under article 340 of the Indian constitution to check on the issue of Sub Categorization within Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Which of the statement given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act, 2018 provided constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC), which was previously a statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. So, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • Article 340 of the Constitution of India empowers the President of India to appoint a commission to investigate the conditions for the improvement of the backward classes. So, statement 2 is correct.
  • Justice G. Rohini-led commission was set up by the President under Article 340 of the Indian Constitution to sub-categorize OBCs so that the benefits of reservation reach all of them. So, statement 3 is correct.

Q4. Consider the following statements about (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) MGNREGA:

1. The beneficiary must be a Citizen of India.
2. At least one-fourth of beneficiaries should be women.
3. The job seeker has completed 18 years of age at the time of application.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • The beneficiary must be a Citizen of India. Hence Statement 1 Is Correct.
  • At least one-third of beneficiaries should be women. Hence Statement 2 Is Not Correct.
  • The job seeker has completed 18 years of age at the time of application. Hence Statement 3 Is Correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016 -

1. The insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India is the regulatory Authority for this code.
2. This code deals with partnership firms, limited liability partnerships (LLP) and companies but not with individuals.

Choose the correct option.

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The code establishes the IBBI; it is a Regulatory Authority which regulates the laws and registered entities under it i.e. IPs, IPAs and Information Utilities (IUs) and brings rules and regulations, notifications and amendments in the code. So statement 1 is correct.
  • This code deals with only four entities namely individuals, partnership firms, limited liability partnerships (LLP) and companies. Thus statement 2 is NOT correct.