Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 26-09-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. The NSG was founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974 and first met in November 1975
2. All nations except Pakistan and India are the members of NSG group

Choose correct

 (A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is a multilateral export control regime and a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials, equipment and technology that can be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
• The NSG was founded in response to the Indian nuclear test in May 1974 and first met in November 1975. The test demonstrated that certain non-weapons specific nuclear technology could be readily turned to weapons development. Nations already signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) saw the need to further limit the export of nuclear equipment, materials or technology. Another benefit was that non-NPT and non-Zangger Committee nations, then specifically France, could be brought in.
• A series of meetings in London from 1975 to 1978 resulted in agreements on the guidelines for export; these were published as INFCIRC/254 (essentially the Zangger “Trigger List”) by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
• Listed items could only be exported to non-nuclear states if certain International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards were agreed to or if exceptional circumstances relating to safety existed.
• The name of the “London Club” was due to the series of meetings in London. It has also been referred to as the London Group, or the London Suppliers Group.
• The NSG did not meet again until 1991. The “Trigger List” remained unchanged until 1991, although the Zangger list was regularly updated. The revelations about the Iraqi weapons program following the first Gulf War led to a tightening of the export of so-called dual-use equipment. At the first meeting since 1978, held at the Hague in March 1991, the twenty-six participating governments agreed to the changes, which were published as the “Dual-use List” in 1992, and also to the extension of the original list to more closely match the up-to-date Zangger list.
• Initially the NSG had seven participating governments: Canada, West Germany, France, Japan, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• In 1976-77, participation was expanded to fifteen with the admittance of Belgium, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland. Germany was reunited in 1990 while Czechoslovakia broke up into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.
• Twelve more nations joined up to 1990. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union a number of former republics were given observer status as a stage towards future membership.
• China became a participating government in 2004. The European Commission and the Zangger Committee Chair participate as observers.
• The NSG Chair for 2018-2019 is Latvia
• As of 2019, the NSG has 48 participating governments Why is India seeking to become a member of NSG ?
• India wants to become a player in this international arena where nuclear commerce norms are laid.
• If India becomes a member it will have better international market for export as well as for import of nuclear related materials.
• For building nuclear reactors, for providing energy we need nuclear materials .By becoming a member of NSG we can have better access of nuclear materials .
• All nuclear based programmes of India is being run on indigenous technology. By becoming a member of NSG we will have access to sophisticated foreign technologies.
• By becoming a member India can also sell it’s Indigineous technology therby giving Make In India a facelift.
• During a state visit to India in November 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama announced U.S. support for India’s participation in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime, “in a phased manner,” and to encourage the evolution of regime participation criteria to that end, “consistent with maintaining the core principles of these regimes.“
• During a visit to India in December 2010, French President Sarkozy also expressed his country’s backing for India’s inclusion in Nuclear Suppliers Group. The United Kingdom has for a long time been a supporter of India’s inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group. During Republic Day visit of India in January 2015, Obama said that India was ready for NSG membership. Russian president Vladimir Putin has also offered unconditional support to India’s entry into NSG.
• Switzerland also announced its backing on India’s Membership in 48 member group on 6 June 2016 during PM Modi’s visit to Geneva, President Obama reiterated U.S. support for India’s NSG membership on 8 June 2016 during PM Modi’s visit to Washington DC. Japan has expressed support for India’s bid for membership of the NSG.
• However, China is opposing India’s membership citing Pakistan’s non-admission in the exclusive group. Other countries opposing Indian membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on the basis of NPT non-signatory status of India include New Zealand, Ireland and Austria.
• In June 2016, India got crucial support from Mexico in its bid to become a member of the NSG ahead of a plenary meeting of the 48-nation bloc whose members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. On 17 June, British Prime Minister David Cameron had assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the UK’s “firm support” for India’s NSG membership bid. In an interview on 18 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was ‘positive’ about India’s entry into NSG. On 20 June, Canada stated that NSG will be strengthened with India’s presence. On 22 June France reiterated its support to India, and urged all the other 48 members of the NSG to allow entry for India into the atomic control body. China remains opposed to Indian membership.
• In July 2016, South Africa agreed to back India’s entry into the NSG.
• In August 2016, Turkey confirmed support for India’s NSG membership bid.
• On 4 September 2016, Australia reiterated its commitment to India’s bid for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group just ahead of the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China. On 5 September 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Argentina for backing India’s bid.
• On 17 October 2016, following the BRICS summit in Benaulim, Goa, Brazil officially backed India’s bid for NSG membership.
• On 26 October 2016, Prime Minister Key of New Zealand stated that “New Zealand would continue to contribute constructively to the process currently underway in the NSG to consider India’s membership.”
• Poland and Cyprus backed India’s NSG bid in April 2017. Germany reaffirmed India’s NSG membership bid in May 2017.Switzerland also show support for India’s NSG bid .The Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pierre-Alain Eltschinger said that “We support India’s application for participation in the NSG and acknowledge India’s support to global non-proliferation efforts.”
• During the 15th RIC(Russia, India,China) foreign ministerial meeting Russia has said it continues to support India’s entry into the exclusive Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. Describing India as a ‘leading power’ in the Indo-Pacific region, Washington’s envoy to New Delhi, Kenneth Juster reaffirmed support for India’s NSG bid in January 2018.In the joint press statement of India-Nordic countries summit, The Nordic countries welcomed India’s application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group and reaffirmed their commitment to work constructively within the Group with the aim of reaching a positive outcome at the earliest opportunity in April 2018.
• On 16 April 2018 Germany supported India’s bid for NSG membership saying that India’s inclusion into the NSG will boost the global export control system. Reaffirming their commitment to global non-proliferation efforts, PM Conte reiterated Italy’s support to India’s intensified engagement for admission into the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG) in Oct 2018 during the 24th edition of the India-Italy Technology Summit

Role in India-US nuclear agreement

• In July 2006, the United States Congress amended U.S. law to accommodate civilian nuclear trade with India.
• A meeting of NSG participating governments on 21–22 August 2008 on an India-specific exemption to the Guidelines was inconclusive. Several participating governments, including Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, and New Zealand, expressed reservations about the lack of conditions in the proposed exemption. In another meeting on 6 September 2008, the NSG participating governments agreed to grant India a “clean waiver” from its existing rules, which forbid nuclear trade with a country which has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NSG’s decision came after three days of intense U.S. diplomacy. The approval was based on a formal pledge by India stating that it would not share sensitive nuclear technology or material with others and would uphold its voluntary moratorium on testing nuclear weapons. The pledge was contained in a crucial statement issued during the NSG meeting by India outlining the country’s disarmament and nonproliferation policies
• The Australia Group is a multilateral export control regime (MECR) and an informal group of countries (now joined by the European Commission) established in 1985 (after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984) to help member countries to identify those exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons.
• The group, initially consisting of 15 members, held its first meeting in Brussels, Belgium, in September 1989. With the incorporation of India on January 19, 2018, it now has 43 members, including Australia, the European Commission, all 28 member states of the European Union, the United States, India, Ukraine, and Argentina. The name comes from Australia’s initiative to create the group. Australia manages the secretariat
• The Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) is a multilateral export control regime. It is an informal political understanding among 35 member states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology. The regime was formed in 1987 by the G-7 industrialized countries. The MTCR seeks to limit the risks of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) by controlling exports of goods and technologies that could make a contribution to delivery systems (other than manned aircraft) for such weapons.
• In this context, the MTCR places particular focus on rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles capable of delivering a payload of at least 500 kg (1,100 lb) to a range of at least 300 km (190 miles) and on equipment, software, and technology for such systems.
• The MTCR is not a treaty and does not impose any legally binding obligations on Partners (members). Rather, it is an informal political understanding among states that seek to limit the proliferation of missiles and missile technology

MCQ 2

1. Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was signed in 1945 after Hiroshima Nagasaki bombings
2. India is a nuclear weapon state under NPT

Choose correct

(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
 (D) None

• The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. Between 1965 and 1968, the treaty was negotiated by the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament, a United Nations-sponsored organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Opened for signature in 1968, the treaty entered into force in 1970. As required by the text, after twenty-five years, NPT Parties met in May 1995 and agreed to extend the treaty indefinitely. More countries have adhered to the NPT than any other arms limitation and disarmament agreement, a testament to the treaty’s significance. As of August 2016, 191 states have adhered to the treaty, though North Korea, which acceded in 1985 but never came into compliance, announced its withdrawal from the NPT in 2003, following detonation of nuclear devices in violation of core obligations.
• Four UN member states have never accepted the NPT, three of which possess nuclear weapons: India, Israel, and Pakistan. In addition, South Sudan, founded in 2011, has not joined.
• The treaty defines nuclear-weapon states as those that have built and tested a nuclear explosive device before 1 January 1967; these are the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China. Four other states are known or believed to possess nuclear weapons: India, Pakistan, and North Korea have openly tested and declared that they possess nuclear weapons, while Israel is deliberately ambiguous regarding its nuclear weapons status.

MCQ 3

1. All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2018-19 was done by NGO Pratham
2. In all the courses males outnumber females and ratio is not improving for females.

 Choose correct

(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
 (D) None

• Female scholars number just 24% in 127 institutions of national importance though overall there are more females in eight out of 16 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes on the Indian campuses, according to the All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19
• All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2018-19
• AISHE was initiated in the year 2010-11 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). • The main objectives of the survey was to,
• Identify and capture all the institutions of higher learning in the country.
• Collect the data from all the higher education institutions on various aspects of higher education.

Data is being collected on several parameters such as,

• Teachers, student enrolment, programmes,
• Examination results, education finance, infrastructure.
• Indicators such as Gross Enrolment Ratio, Pupil-teacher ratio, Gender Parity Index.
• These are useful in making informed policy decisions and research for development of education sector.
• AISHE 2018-19 showed the gender distribution of students enrolled in various higher education courses in the country.
• The total estimated student enrolment in the country is 3,73,99,388, out of which 51.36% are male and 48.64% female.
• The ‘Gender ratio’ is higher on the male side in most courses, but there are exceptions,
• Female enrolment is higher at M Phil and Postgraduate.
• Enrolment at UG level is 51% male and 49% female.
• Diploma has a highly skewed distribution at 66.8% male and 33.2% female.
• At PhD level, male enrolment is 56.18% and female enrolment is 43.82%.
• At integrated level, the distribution 57.50% male and 42.50% female.
• PG Diploma student enrolment is 54.09% male and 45.91% female.
• A higher overall share of male students in enrolment is a trend also in most of the states.
• The report is based on voluntary uploading of data by institutions of Higher Education listed in government portal.

MCQ 4

1. United in Science Report is compiled by IPCC
2. The current levels of CO2, methane and Nitrous oxide represent 146%, 257 % and 122% respectively of preindustrial levels.

 Choose correct

(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• United in Science Report
• The report was compiled by WMO under the umbrella of the Science Advisory Group of the UN Climate Summit.
• It stated that global temperatures have increased by 1.1°C since 1850, and have spiked 0.2°C between 2011 and 2015.
• In 2018, the annual growth in CO2 emissions soared 2% and reached a record high of 37 billion tonnes.
• The current levels of CO2, methane and Nitrous oxide represent 146%, 257 % and 122% respectively of preindustrial levels.
• Moreover, the average global temperatures from 2015-2019 are also on track to be the warmest five-year period on record.
• The increasing climate change has also accelerated sea-level rise, and made oceans more acidic than ever before.
• Global sea-levels increased to approximately 4 mm/yr during 2007-2016, from 3.04 mm/yr during 1997- 2006.
• Rise in CO2 levels, meanwhile, are responsible for the growing acidity in the oceans.
• Oceans are a major source of carbon sink. They store nearly 25 % of the annual human induced CO2 emissions.
• The report also recorded a decline in Arctic sea ice by 12 % per decade from 1979-2018.
• Antarctic ice sheet lost at least six-fold amount of ice annually between 1979 and 2017.
• Report suggested that, to combat the impacts of climate change, there is a need to triple the ‘Nationally determined contributions’(NDCs).
• It highlights the urgent need for development of concrete actions that halt global warming and the worst effects of climate change.

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