Current Affairs MCQs [ 23 and 24 July 2017 ] · Current Affairs MCQs [ 23 and 24 July 2017 ] ... that transmits dengue. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only

Current Affairs Quiz 23 and 24 July

Current Affairs MCQs [ 23 and 24 July 2017 ] PIB TheHindu IndianExpress & Other leading newspapers

Sumant Kumar, B.Tech NIT Allahabad

India witnessed third highest terror attacks in 2016: US The Country Report on Terrorism has been released by A. the US State Department B. WTO C. Transparency International

• According to the Country Report on Terrorism released by the US State Department, India witnessed third highest number of terrorist attacks in 2016, more than Pakistan.

D. WEF Ans : A

• The six countries that faced highest number of terrorist attacks in 2016 are

• Iraq (2,965 terrorist attacks),

• Afghanistan (1,340),

• India (927),

• Pakistan (734),

• Philippines (482),

• Nigeria (466).

Consider the following statements regarding Total Fertility Rate : o Replacement level fertility” is the total

fertility rate—the average number of children born per woman—at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration.

o This rate is roughly 2.1 children per woman for most countries, although it may modestly vary with mortality rates.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2Ans : (c) Both 1 and 2 Source : www.wri.org/publication/achieving-replacement-level-fertility

The ‘Black Blocs’, recently in the news, were seen in the context of a) The Doka La stand-off b) The G20 meet at Hamburg c) Dead zones in the Palk Bay d) Recapture of Mosul Solution: b.

The balaclava-wearing radicals known as “black blocs” rampaging through the streets of Hamburg during the G20 summit trace their roots back to Cold War-era West Germany. • Known for disrupting major international

meetings across Europe for three decades, the far-left, black-clad anarchists are loosely organised with vague political demands but share a set of violent tactics.

Consider the following statements regarding Black bloc : A. A black bloc is a name given to groups of

protesters who wear black clothing, scarves, sunglasses, ski masks, motorcycle helmets with padding, or other face-concealing and face-protecting items.

B. The clothing is used to conceal marchers' identities, and hinder criminal prosecution, by making it difficult to distinguish between participants.

C. It is also used to protect their faces and eyes from items, such as pepper-spray, which law enforcement often uses.

D. The tactic allows the group to appear as one large unified mass.

E. Black bloc participants are often associated with anarchism.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1, 2 and 4 only (b) 1, 3 and 5 only (c) 2, 3 and 5 only (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Ans : (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Spanish scientists discover novobiocin compound as anti-Zika drug

Novobiocin compound that could be used as a potential drug to fight the effects of a Zika virus infection. The novobiocin molecule (compound) was previously used in antibiotic drug to fend off “nosocomial” infections (those acquired inside a hospital). However, the drug was withdrawn from the market because it had lost its potency as an antibiotic. Consider the following statements regarding Zika virus A. Zika virus is vector borne disease B. It is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the same mosquito

that transmits dengue. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans : (c) Both 1 and 2

Consider the following statements regarding Zika virus o Sexual transmission of Zika virus disease is possible. o The Zika virus has been named after Zika forest in Uganda where it was first isolated in 1947.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans : (c) Both 1 and 2 • The Zika disease had seen swift expansion between early 2015 and January 2016 throughout

South America and Caribbean where babies with abnormally smaller heads due to Microcephaly were born.

• World Health Organization (WHO) had declared the disease as epidemic and global health emergency but later revoked it after the outbreak was brought under control.

CCEA approves selling 51% stake in HPCL to ONGC The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved sale of government’s 51.11% stake along with management control in HPCL (Hindustan Petroleum) to ONGC. There are only six major PSUs in the oil sector, ONGC and Oil India Ltd being the oil producers, IOC, HPCL and BPCL are in refinery business and GAIL is in midstream gas transportation business. The rest, such as ONGC Videsh, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd, Chennai Petroleum Corp (CPCL) and MRPL are subsidiaries of one of these six PSUs. ONGC Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited o ONGC is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Government of India o It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce.

o It is India's largest oil and gas exploration and production company. o It produces around 77% of India's crude oil (equivalent to around 30% of the country's total

demand) and around 62% of its natural gas. Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Ans : (c) 1, 3 and 4 only ONGC is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Government mulls insurance cover for digital transaction frauds The Chandrababu Naidu committee gave its report on A. Digital payment security,

including insurance cover for the victims of fraudulent digital transactions.

B. Security of India Pakistan Border

C. Food Security D. Monetary Policy

formulation Ans : A

The Committee of Chief Ministers on Digital Payment • chaired by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

N. Chandrababu Naidu,

• has in its interim report suggested several measures for digital payment security, including an insurance scheme to cover losses incurred in digital transactions on account of fraud, etc.

• The report suggests that in order to address the apprehension of the general public in adopting digital payments, the scheme should target low-ticket transactions to cover the vulnerable sections like small merchants, farmers etc.

‘Gavkis’, a term recently in the news, refers to a) A panchayat, which acts like a Khap or Jat panchayat, existing in the interior parts of Maharashtra b) Groups of Gujarati women who travel to different states, approach poor and illiterate parents to make an offer of marriage to their young girls against payment c) Parents from the state of Andhra Pradesh who seek euthanasia for their children, infected with infant jaundice, due to their inability to raise money for treatment d) None of the above Solution: a.

The Maharashtra Prohibition of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016 • received Presidential assent

• The new law disallows social boycott in the name of caste, community, religion, rituals or customs.

• The decision to have such a law was a reaction to pressures from growing incidents of atrocities on individuals by jati panchayats or gavkis wielding extra-judicial powers.

• The highest number of incidents were reported from the districts of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Nashik; and the largest number of cases of social boycott were provoked by inter-caste marriages.

MH Social Boycott Law The Maharashtra Prohibition of People from Social Boycott (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016 • received Presidential assent

• disallows social boycott in the name of caste, community, religion, rituals or customs. Maharashtra has become 1st Indian state to introduce judicial legislation aimed at preventing extra-judicial courts and caste panchayats from committing atrocities.

What amount to social boycott under the law? If any individual or group tries to o prevent or obstruct another member/group

• from observing any social or religions custom or usage or ceremony, or • from taking part in a social, religious or community function, assembly, congregation, meeting or

procession,

o challenge the freedom of individuals in the name of jati panchayats, religion, customs

o deny them right to practise a profession of their choice

o denying them freedom to marry outside one’s caste, visit places of worship, wear clothes of one’s choice and use any specific language.

o Discrimination on the basis of morality, political inclination or sexuality

o stopping children from playing in a particular space

o disallowing access to crematoria/burial grounds/community halls/educational institutions with mala fide intentions.

the act amounts to social boycott. How Act will prevent social boycott? • A Collector or District Magistrate, on receiving information of the likelihood of unlawful assembly for

imposition of social boycott can, by order, prohibit the assembly. • Conviction of the offence of social boycott will attract a prison term of up to three years or a fine up to Rs 1

lakh, or both. • Abetment by an individual or group will invite the same punishment. • The offence of social boycott is cognisable and bailable, and will be tried by a Metropolitan Magistrate or a

Judicial Magistrate First Class.

• To ensure speedy justice, trial would have to be completed within a period of six months from the date of filing the chargesheet.

‘MPOWER’, related to the affairs of A. UN B. World Health Organisation C. WTO D. World Economic Forum

Ans : B The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) and its guidelines provide the foundation for countries to implement and manage tobacco control. • To help make this a reality, WHO introduced

the MPOWER measures.

• These measures are intended to assist in the country-level implementation of effective interventions to reduce the demand for tobacco, contained in the WHO FCTC.

‘MPOWER’ refer/s to A. Measures under the Framework

Convention on Tobacco Control intended to assist countries to implement and manage tobacco control

B. A programme to upend the unequal power relationships between men and women so as to enable women to attain the best possible level of health

C. A series of initiatives organised in association with UN Women to increase political participation of women, seen as a precondition to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030

D. Measures to be taken in order to achieve one of the three 90-90-90 HIV/AIDS treatment targets – viral suppression – so that people living with HIV/AIDS can lead a normal life Solution: a.

What is the minimum age for the eligibility to be a Presidential candidate? a) 30 b) 28 c) 21 d) 35 ANSWER: d) 35

Qualifications for Election as President A person to be eligible for election as President should fulfil the following qualifications: 1. He should be a citizen of India. 2. He should have completed 35 years of age. 3. He should be qualified for election as a member of the Lok Sabha.

4. He should not hold any office of profit under the Union government or any state government or any local authority or any other public authority. A sitting President or Vice-President of the Union, the Governor of any state and a minister of the Union or any state is not deemed to hold any office of profit and hence qualified as a presidential candidate.

What is the official term of the President's office? a) 5 years b) 10 years c) 3 years 4) 4 years ANSWER: a) 5 years • The term of the President's office is 5 years.

• Unlike the American President who can only be elected at most two times, the President of India can be elected any number of times.

Who has the power to declare an area as a scheduled area? a) President b) Prime Minister c) Governor of that state d) Chief Minister of that state ANSWER: a) President

What are the maximum number of terms that a person can hold for the office of President? a) 2 terms b) No limit c) Single term d) 3 terms ANSWER: b) No limit • The term of the President's office is 5

years.

• Unlike the American President who can only be elected at most two times, the President of India can be elected any number of times.

• So far, only Dr Rajendra Prasad has occupied the post of President for two consecutive terms

What is true about the money bills? a) They must be introduced on prior recommendation of the President b) They can originate in both Houses of Parliament c) Both (a) and (b) d) Neither (a) nor (b) ANSWER: a) They must be introduced on prior recommendation of the President • Money bills are concerned with taxation or

government spending.

• Only Lok Sabha can introduce money bills, and they must first get recommendation of President before introducing it.

• The President cannot return the money bill for reconsideration, he either has to give his assent or withhold it.

Which of the following is not part of the Union executive A. the President, B. the Vice-President, C. the Prime Minister, D. the council of ministers E. the attorney general of India. F. Chief Minister of states

Ans : F The Union executive consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the council of ministers and the attorney general of India.

Consider the following statements : A. President of India is directly Elected. B. The nominated members of both of

Houses of Parliament participate in the election. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2Ans : (d) Neither 1 nor 2 The President is elected not directly by the people but by members of electoral college consisting of: 1. the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament; 2. the elected members of the legislative assemblies of the states; and 3. the elected members of the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry.

With reference to the head of the Indian State, consider the following statements: A. She/he is an integral part of the Parliament of India B. She/he has no constitutional discretion

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Solution: c. • Head of the Indian State is the President

• Head of the Indian Government is the Prime Minister.

• The President has no constitutional discretion, but s/he has some situational discretion (that is, s/he can act on his/her discretion in certain situations).

The executive actions of the government are carried out under whose name? a) Cabinet b) Prime Minister c) President d) Both (b) and (c)ANSWER: c) President "All executive actions of the Government of India are formally taken in his(The President of India) name."

o The Government of India takes all its Executive decisions in the name of the President.

o The President appoints

• the prime minister and the other ministers. They hold office during his pleasure.

• the attorney general of India and determines his remuneration. The attorney general holds office during the pleasure of the President.

• the comptroller and auditor general of India,

• the chief election com-missioner and other election commissioners,

• the chairman and members of the Union Public Service Commission,

• the governors of states,

• the chairman and members of finance commission

According to the Constitution of India, it is the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid before the Parliament which of the following? [2012 - I] 1. The Recommendations of the Union Finance Commission 2. The Report of the Public Accounts Committee 3. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 4. The Report of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Select the correct answer using the codes given below : (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 68. (c) It is not the duty of the President of India to cause to be laid report of public Accounts Committee before the Parliament. Who of the following shall cause every recommendation made by the finance Commission to be laid before each House of Parliament? [2010] (a) The President of India (b) The Speaker of Lok Sabha (c) The Prime Minister of India (d) The Union Finance Minister

38. (a) o As per provisions given under Article 281

of the Indian Constitution the recommendations of the finance commission go to the president who is constitutionally bound to place it before the two houses of the parliament.

Under which Article of the Indian Constitution did the President make a reference to the Supreme Court to seek the Court’s opinion on the Constitutional validity of the Election Commission’s decision on deferring the Gujarat Assembly Elections (in the year 2002) ? [2003] (a) Article 142 (b) Article 143 (c) Article 144

(d) Article 145 40. (b) Advisory Jurisdiction Article 143 authorises the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court in the two categories of matters: o On any question of law or fact of public importance which has arisen or which is likely to

arise. • In this case, the Supreme Court may tender or may refuse to tender its opinion to the

president. o On any dispute arising out of any pre-constitution treaty, agreement, covenant,

engagement, sanad or other similar instruments. A. in this case, the Supreme Court ‘must’ tender its opinion to the president.

• In both the cases, the opinion expressed by the Supreme Court is only advisory and not a judicial pronouncement. Hence, it is not binding on the president; he may follow or may not follow the opinion.

• Some of the references to the Supreme Court under its advisory jurisdiction

o Berubari Union in 1960

o Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 1992

o Rama Janma Bhumi case in 1993

o Consultation process to be adopted by the chief justice of India in 1998

o 2G spectrum case verdict and the mandatory auctioning of natural resources across all sectors in 2012

‘Huvadhu Kandu’ is a major international shipping passage controlled by a) Seychelles b) China c) Indonesia d) Maldives Solution: d. • The Huvadhu atoll is a relatively isolated atoll with the 97 km wide Huvadhu Kandu (One

and a Half Degree Channel) to its north.

• Abdulla Yameen has allowed Beijing to build a port at Gaadhoo island in Laamu atoll, which sits at the entrance to the so-called One and a Half Degree Channel, a major international shipping passage.

‘XVII Corps’ or ‘17 Corps’, sometimes in the news, will a) Build the Indian Armed Forces’ warfare capabilities in a new operational domain – the cyber domain b) Be the first integrated theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces in the North East c) Be a specialised division of the Indian Army authorised to both plan and execute cross-border surgical strikes across any of India’s borders d) Enable the Indian Army to become effective at high-altitude warfare Solution: d.

“WITH AN eye on the massive restructuring of the Chinese military, the Indian army is moving to raise a second infantry division (72 Infantry Division) for its mountain strike corps (17th Corps) on the northern border… The other infantry division for the mountain strike corps — 59 Infantry Division — has been raised and will be fully operational this year.”

First meeting of Integrated Monitoring and Advisory Council held in New Delhi Consider the following statements regarding Integrated Monitoring and Advisory Council (IMAC) A. IMAC is an inter-ministry monitoring and

advisory body for policy formulation and implementation of ‘Roadmap to achieve target of 10% reduction in import dependency in oil and gas by 2021-22.

B. IMAC has been envisaged to facilitate better coordination and comprehensive strategy for all energy resources by focusing on supply and demand side management.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans : (c) Both 1 and 2

The target to cut India’s reliance on imports for meeting its oil needs by 10% to 67% by 2022 was set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2015 during Urja Sangam.

Major policy initiatives undertaken in recent past to enhance domestic production of oil and gas : o resource re-assessment, o Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP), o National Data Repository (NDR), o Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP),

o Discovered Small Field Policy, o tapping unconventional sources such as Shale Gas and Coal Bed Methane (CBM), o enhancing production of bio-diesel and increased use of PNG and LPG.

Ministry of Road, Transport and Highway highlighted measures undertaken such as e-tolling to cut waiting time at toll plazas and notification of fuel efficiency norms for LCV. Ministry of Rural Development stressed upon its bio-fuel scheme for rural sector.