UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz — May 7 to May 13, 2023

1. NPT came into existence in the year 1968 and disallows any other state from acquiring nuclear weapons except the US, Russia (formerly USSR), the UK, France and Germany.

2. This treaty has been signed by almost every country in the world, India is one of the few non-signatories.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 2

With reference to the Governor of Indian State, consider the following statements:

1. The Governor can ask to prove the majority on the floor of the house to resolve internal party disputes or intra party disputes.

2. The Governor of a State shall have the power to grant pardons of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 3

With reference to the “Cyclone Mocha”, Consider the following statements:

1. It is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters.

2. It has developed in the region of Arabian Sea.

3. The air blows in a anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

QUESTION 4

Consider the following statements:

1. The Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) has developed a process to recover both sulphate of potash (SOP) and muriate of potash (MOP) from the spent wash ash generated by sugarcane molasses-based distilleries.

2. CSMCRI functions under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 5

Consider the following countries:

1. India

2. Russia

3. Uzbekistan

4. Mongolia

5. Afghanistan

Which of the countries given above are part of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2, 3, and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

QUESTION 6

What is the reason people prefer diesel vehicles?

1. They offer more torque (rotational or turning force), and are less likely to stall as they are controlled by a mechanical or electronic governor, thereby proving to be better for haulage.

2. Diesel engines use high-voltage spark ignition (spark plugs), and thus use less fuel per kilometre, as they have higher compression ratios, making it the fuel of choice for heavy vehicles.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 7

Consider the following events

1. Operation Shakti

2. Successful test firing of Trishul missile

3. First test flight of the indigenously developed aircraft Hansa

4. India joined select group of nations with capacity to produce Rare Earth Permanent Magnets

Which of the above events occurred on the same day?

(a) 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1, 2 and 3

(c) 1, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2 and 4

QUESTION 8

With reference to Arab League, consider the following statements:

1. It was established in 1945 with initially just six nations- Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria.

2. Recently, it reinstated the membership of Iraq after more than a decade of suspension.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 9

Recently seen in news, ‘Title 42’ is related to which of the following countries?

(a) Brazil

(b) US

(c) Canada

(d) England

QUESTION 10

With reference to modern history of North-Eastern Indian, consider the following statements:

1. The Kangleipak kingdom, a British protectorate, was repeatedly raided by Naga tribes who came down from the northern hills.

2. The British political agent in Manipur is believed to have brought the Kuki-Zomi from the Kuki-Chin hills of Burma to protect the valley from plunder by acting as a buffer between the Meiteis and the Nagas.

Which of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWERS TO MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— In 1968, the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into existence. The treaty defines nuclear-weapon states as those that have built and tested a nuclear explosive device before January 1, 1967 – the US, Russia (formerly USSR), the UK, France and China (not Germany) – and effectively disallows any other state from acquiring nuclear weapons. Hence, statement 1 is not true.

— While the treaty has been signed by almost every country in the world, India is one of the few non-signatories. Hence, statement 2 is not true.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

2. (b)

FYI:

— The Supreme Court said former Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision to ask then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prove his majority on the floor of the house was “not justified”, but said it cannot restore his government since he had not faced the floor test.

— It also said “the Governor was justified in inviting Mr. (Eknath) Shinde to form the government” after Thackeray quit.

— The Supreme Court said the “floor test cannot be used as a medium to resolve internal party disputes or intra party disputes” and noted that “dissent and disagreement within a political party must be resolved in accordance with the remedies prescribed under the party constitution, or through any other methods that the party chooses to opt for”. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Article 161 of Constitution of India says 161 “The Governor of a State shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the State extends”. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

3. (d)

FYI:

— The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that a cyclonic or low-pressure area is developing in the Bay of Bengal and can lead to high rainfall. This cyclone will be named Mocha (Mokha), a name suggested by Yemen after the Red Sea port city. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— A cyclone is a low-pressure system that forms over warm waters. Usually, a high temperature anywhere means the existence of low-pressure air, and a low temperature means high-pressure wind. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— As air gets warms over hotter regions it ascends, leading to low pressure at the surface it is covering. When air cools in colder areas it descends, leading to high pressure at the surface.

— In a depression or low-pressure situation, the air is rising and blows in an anticlockwise direction around the low in the northern hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere. This is because of the Coriolis effect, a result of the earth’s rotation on its axis. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— As warm air rises and cools, water vapour condenses to form clouds and this can lead to rains.

— According to the World Meteorological Organization, “Tropical cyclones are one of the biggest threats to life and property even in the formative stages of their development.

— Cyclones that form in every ocean basin across the world are named by the regional specialised meteorological centres (RSMCs) and Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs). There are six RSMCs in the world, including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and five TCWCs.

— The IMD is also mandated to issue advisories to 12 other countries in the region on the development of cyclones and storms.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

4. (c)

FYI:

— The Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) at Bhavnagar in Gujarat has developed a process to recover both sulphate of potash (SOP) and muriate of potash (MOP) from the spent wash ash generated by sugarcane molasses-based distilleries. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The CSMCRI is one of the 37 premier national laboratories functioning under the aegis of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the apex research and development organisation headed by the Prime Minister. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Spent wash is basically the wastewater or effluent that is a byproduct of alcohol production. For every one litre of alcohol that they produce from fermented cane molasses, distilleries generate 10-15 litre of spent wash.

— This wastewater contains about 2-3 per cent potash and a huge organic load and salts that, if discharged without treatment, can pollute both land and water bodies.

— Since distilleries are required to adhere to zero-discharge norms imposed by the Central Pollution Control Board, they manage the spent wash mainly by two methods:

(1) By mixing it with press-mud from sugar mills, the residual cake after clarification and filtration of cane juice. This mix is then composted and converted into manure.

(2)To concentrate the spent wash to 58-60 per cent solids and feed it into an incineration boiler. The resultant ash coming out of the boiler in dry form contains 20-21 per cent potash and in some cases, it is converted into granules for agricultural application.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

5. (a)

FYI:

— The SCO Foreign Ministers’ meet was held at Goa which laid a new mark on the growth of the eight-member bloc asserting that security cooperation remains the top priority of the grouping.

— SCO consists of China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India holds the rotating Presidency of the organisation this year.

— SCO pays more attention to issues like energy, food security, public health, climate change and other issues and established cooperation on those fronts, besides trade and economic fronts.

— The organisation is also working on promoting local currency payment mechanisms among member states, besides setting up a development bank of its own. The SCO is working on this issue on cross border payment mechanism.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

6. (b)

FYI:

What is the reason people prefer diesel vehicles?

— The higher fuel economy of diesel engines over petrol powertrains is one factor. This stems from the greater energy content per litre of diesel, and the inherent efficiency of the diesel engine.

— Diesel engines do not use high-voltage spark ignition (spark plugs), and thus use less fuel per kilometre, as they have higher compression ratios, making it the fuel of choice for heavy vehicles. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Also, diesel engines offer more torque (rotational or turning force), and are less likely to stall as they are controlled by a mechanical or electronic governor, thereby proving to be better for haulage. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

7. (b)

FYI:

— On May 11 every year, we recall the post-independence achievements of India’s science and technology sector. This year is special, marking 25 years since we started celebrating the National Technology Day.

— On the iconic day of May 11, 1998, three very special technological advances were showcased by India’s scientists and engineers — Operation Shakti, also known widely as Pokhran-II nuclear tests; the successful test firing of Trishul missile; and the first test flight of the indigenously developed aircraft Hansa. Hence, first 3 events happened on the same day.

— PM  dedicated ‘Rare Earth Permanent Magnet Plant, Visakhapatnam’ to the nation on May 11, 2023 (National Technology Day). India joined select group of nations with capacity to produce Rare Earth Permanent Magnets.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

8.(a)

FYI:

— The Arab League, formally known as the League of Arab States, was established in 1945 with initially just six nations: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Currently, it has 22 member states, who have pledged to cooperate on economic and military affairs, among other issues. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank, “The League makes decisions on a majority basis, but there is no mechanism to compel members to comply with resolutions. “It has been criticised for its internal conflicts and collective inaction on important international issues.”

—The Arab League on Sunday (May 7) voted to reinstate Syria’s membership (not Iraq)after its suspension more than 10 years ago, underlining the thawing relations between Damascus and other Arab countries. The decision was taken at a closed-door meeting, attended by foreign ministers from 13 out of 22 member states of the organisation, held in Cairo, Egypt. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

9.(b)

FYI:

— The United States is getting ready to lift COVID-19 restrictions that have blocked migrants caught at the U.S.-Mexico border from seeking asylum since 2020, a major policy shift with humanitarian and political implications.

What is Title 42?

— The COVID restrictions, known as Title 42, were first implemented under Republican then-President Donald Trump in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. At the time, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the order was needed to stem the spread of the coronavirus in crowded detention settings.

— Title 42 allowed border agents to rapidly expel many migrants to Mexico, but some public health experts, Democrats and advocates criticized its health justification, saying it was part of Trump’s goal of curbing legal and illegal immigration.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

10 (c)

FYI:

— The Manipur valley is encircled by skirts of low hills that spread into Nagaland and Mizoram. In these hill areas, which comprise the bulk of Manipur’s geographical area, live 15 Naga tribes and the Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi group, which includes the Kuki, Thadou, Hmar, Paite, Vaiphei and Zou peoples.

— The Kangleipak kingdom, then a British protectorate, was repeatedly raided by Naga tribes who came down from the northern hills.

— The British political agent in Manipur is believed to have brought the Kuki-Zomi from the Kuki-Chin hills of Burma to protect the valley from plunder by acting as a buffer between the Meiteis and the Nagas.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

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