Current Affairs MCQs question Answer for UPSC Exams 23 Apr 2019

rd 23

April

Consider the following statements regarding Election Commission of India and choose the correct one 1. The Election Commission does not have the power to disqualify candidates who commit electoral malpractices 2. The Election Commission also does not have the power to deregister any political party 3. Article 324 says the superintendence, direction and control of all elections to Parliament, the State legislatures, and the offices of the President and Vice-President shall be vested in the EC (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

• Ans d • The EC does not have the power to disqualify candidates who commit electoral malpractices. At best, it may direct the registration of a case.

• The EC also does not have the power to deregister any political party. However, the Constitution empowers the EC to decide whether a candidate has incurred disqualification by holding an office of profit under the appropriate government, or has been declared an insolvent, or acquired the citizenship of a foreign state.

• When a question arises whether a candidate has incurred any of these disqualifications, the President of India or Governor has to refer it to the EC. The poll panel’s decision on this is binding.

•

With reference to Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME-II) scheme choose the correct one 1. It has been mandated under the scheme that only companies that meet the 50% localisation threshold will be eligible for the incentives 2. There is five-year exemption from vehicle tax for hybrid cars and buses 3. Under the scheme a PUC certificate is issued , which indicates that the emissions are in alignment with pollution norms and are not harmful to the environment (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

• Ans a • The steering committee has mandated that only companies that meet the 50% localisation threshold will be eligible for the incentives that will be available under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAMEII) scheme to boost electric mobility as well as the ‘Make in India’ initiative. The decision has been taken to ensure that the tax payer’s money is not used to subsidise imports and encourage local manufacturing.

With reference to The active volcano of Indonesia choose the correct match

1. Mount Agung

a) It is an active volcano in Bali of Indonesia.

2. Mount Merapi

b) It is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java, Indonesia. c) It is an active volcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, Indonesia.

3. Mount Bromo (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

• Ans a • The active volcano of Indonesia Mount Agung has erupted again. Two other volcanoes Mount Bromo in East Java and Mount Merapi in Yogyakarta also continues to erupt.

• Mount Agung: Mount Agung is an active volcano in Bali of Indonesia.

• Mount Bromo: Mount Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java, Indonesia.

• Mount Merapi: Mount Merapi is an active volcano located on the border between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces, Indonesia.

Consider the following statements regarding Point Nemo: 1. It is a region in the North Atlantic Ocean.

2. It is used as a graveyard for controlled reentries and a place where space junk can be dropped safely.

3. it is also biologically very diverse Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

• Ans b • Point Nemo, or “ocean point of inaccessibility,” is a region in the South Pacific that is the loneliest place on the planet.

• It is used as a graveyard for controlled re-entries and a place where space junk can be dropped safely.

• The region is safe to land all kinds of waste because there is also not much life in the water here. Coincidentally, it is also biologically not very diverse. So it gets used as a dumping ground — ‘space graveyard’ would be a more polite term — mainly for cargo spacecraft.

With reference to ‘India-MyanmarThailand (IMT) Trilateral project, consider the following statements 1. It is a rail and road connectivity project from Moreh (Manipur) to Mao Sot in Thailand through Myanmar.

2. The project is part of India’s Act East Policy.

3. The project is funded by the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highway, Government of India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

• Ans b • India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral project • It is only road connectivity highway project from Moreh, Manipur to Mao Sot in Thailand Through, Myanmar.

• The India Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Trilateral Highway is a regional highway being constructed under India’s Act East policy to boost trade, business, health, education and tourism between these countries.

• It is funded by the Ministry of External Affairs, India and will be executed on Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode.

Consider the following statements: 1. The Koppen’s climate classification divides is based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns.

2. This classification also has significance as also talks about the distribution of vegetation.

3. Koeppen recognized five major climatic groups, four of them are based on temperature and one on precipitation.

choose the correct one (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

• Ans d • The Koppen climate classifi cation divides climates into fi ve main climate groups, with each group being divided based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. The fi ve main groups are A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), and E (polar) • Koeppen identifi ed a close relationship between the distribution of vegetation and climate. He selected certain values of temperature and precipitation and related them to the distribution of vegetation and used these values for classifying the climates • Koeppen recognized fi ve major climatic groups, four of them are based on temperature and one on precipitation. The capital letters: A, C, D and E delineate humid climates and B dry climates. The seasons of dryness are indicated by the small letters : f, m, w and s, where f corresponds tono dry season, m - monsoon climate, w - winter dry season and s - summer dry season

With reference to Modern Indian history Consider the following statements 1. The ghadr programme was to organize revolt only within India among the Indian troops of British army.

2. Komagata Maru Incident is associated with Indian migrants going to United States of America from China.

3. Komagata Maru Incident has no relation with Ghadar movment.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) All of the above

• Ans d • The Ghadr programme was to organise assassinations of officials, publish revolutionary and anti-imperialist literature, work among Indian troops stationed abroad, procure arms and bring about a simultaneous revolt in all British colonies.

• Komagata Maru was the name of a ship which was carrying 370 passengers, mainly Sikh and Punjabi Muslim would-be immigrants, from Singapore to Vancouver.

• They were turned back by Canadian authorities after two months of privation and uncertainty.

• It was generally believed that the Canadian authorities were influenced by the British government.

• The ship finally anchored at Calcutta in September 1914. The inmates refused to board the Punjab bound train. In the ensuing conflict with the police at Budge-Budge near Calcutta, 22 persons died. • Inflamed by Komagata Maru Incident and with the outbreak of the First World War, the Ghadr leaders decided to launch a violent attack to oust British rule in India. Kartar Singh Saraba and Raghubar Dayal Gupta left for India. Bengal revolutionaries were contacted; Rashbehari Bose and Sachin Sanyal were asked to lead the movement. Political dacoities were committed to raise funds

Consider the following statements about Heliosphere: 1. Heliosphere is the region where the constant flow of particles from our Sun called the solar wind, collides with material from the rest of the galaxy.

2. NASA will launch The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission by 2024 to learn more about heliosphere.

3. Cosmic rays created locally and from the galaxy and beyond affect human explorers in space and can harm technological systems. choose the correct one (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

• Ans d • Heliosphere is the region where the constant flow of particles from our Sun, called the solar wind, collides with material from the rest of the galaxy. This collision limits the amount of harmful cosmic radiation entering the heliosphere.

• NASA is targeting 2024 for the launch of a new mission, The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), to learn more about the generation of cosmic rays in the heliosphere, a sort of magnetic bubble surrounding and protecting our solar system.

• Cosmic rays created locally and from the galaxy and beyond affect human explorers in space and can harm technological systems, and likely play a role in the presence of life itself in the universe.

• The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission will help researchers better understand the boundary of the heliosphere

Identify the painting 1. It consist the hunting scenes depict people hunting in groups, armed with barbed spears, pointed sticks, arrows and bows.

2. In some paintings these primitive men are shown with traps and snares probably to catch animals 3. The hunters are shown wearing simple clothes and ornaments.

Sometimes, men have been adorned with elaborate headdresses, and sometimes painted with masks also A. B. C. D.

Mesolithic paintings Paleolithic paintings Rock paintings None

• Ans a • The largest number of paintings belong to Period II that covers the Mesolithic paintings.

• During this period the themes multiply but the paintings are smaller in size. Hunting scenes predominate.

• The hunting scenes depict people hunting in groups, armed with barbed spears, pointed sticks, arrows and bows. In some paintings these primitive men are shown with traps and snares probably to catch animals.

• The hunters are shown wearing simple clothes and ornaments.

Sometimes, men have been adorned with elaborate head-dresses, and sometimes painted with masks also.

With reference to the Vice-President, consider the following statements: 1. All the doubts and disputes in connection with election of the VicePresident are inquired into and decided by Delhi High Court whose decision is final.

2. The Constitution has fixed emoluments for the Vice- President in that capacity.

3. Like the American Vice President, Indian Vice- President does not succeed the Presidency when it falls vacant for the unexpired term of predecessor.

Which of the above statements is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) None of the above

• Ans d • All doubts and disputes in connection with election of the VicePresident are inquired into and decided by the Supreme Court whose decision is final.

• The election of a person as Vice-President cannot be challenged on the ground that the Electoral College was incomplete (i.e., existence of any vacancy among the members of Electoral College). If the election of a person as Vice-president is declared void by the Supreme Court, acts done by him before the date of such declaration of the Supreme Court are not invalidated (i.e., they continue to remain in force).

• The Constitution has not fixed any emoluments for the VicePresident in that capacity. He draws his regular salary in his capacity as the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. • Though the office of the Indian Vice-President is modelled on the lines of the American Vice-President, there is a difference.

The American Vice-President succeeds to the presidency when it falls vacant, and remains President for the unexpired term of his predecessor. The Indian Vice President, on the other hand, does not assume the offi ce of the President when it falls vacant for the unexpired term. He merely serves as an acting President until the new President assumes charge