Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC 2020 / IAS / 14-12-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1
 RISAT-2BR1 will be used for

1. National security
2. Agriculture
3. Forestry
4. Disaster management

(A)1 only
(B) 1 & 4
(C) 1,2,3
(D)All


 
MCQ 2

1. Papikonda National Park (PNP) is a part of Nilgiri biosphere reserve
2. It will carry out the maiden survey with an aim to record all butterfly species, and also conduct a study on migratory species in the national park

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

• TheNilgiri Biosphere Reserve is an International Biosphere Reserve in the Western Ghats and Nilgiri Hills ranges of South India.
• World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012.
• Hill ranges of Nilgiris and its surrounding environments covering a tract of over 5000 square kilometers was constituted as Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in September 1986 under Man and Biosphere Programme.
• Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve is India’s first and foremost biosphere reserves with a heritage, rich in flora and fauna.
• Tribal groups like the Todas, Kotas, Irullas, Kurumbas, Paniyas, Adiyans, Edanadan Chettis, Allar, Malayan, etc., are native to the reserve National parks – Aralam, Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur Silent Valley Wildlife sanctuaries Wayanad Sathyamangalam
• Fauna includes over 100 species of mammals, 350 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, about 39 species of fish, 31 amphibians and 316 species of butterflies.
• It includes the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard , Black panther , Gaur, Indian elephant, Mongoose, Malabar giant squirrel, Lion-tailed macaque, nilgiri langur, Gray langur and Nilgiri tahr.
• It has largest population of two endangered species- lion-tailed macaque and nilgiri tahr.

MCQ 3

1. India’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) became operational at Gujarat International Finance Tec (GIFT) City in Gandhinagar.
2. Currently, the banking, capital markets and insurance sectors in IFSC are regulated by SEBI.

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

LS passes Bill to set up unified authority for financial services

 It will be a single window for regulation, says Sitharaman

• The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) Authority Bill, 2019 which provides for the establishment of an authority to develop and regulate the financial services market.
• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Lower House that the unified authority would act as a single window of regulation.
• She added that all the laws of land, including the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, would apply and would be audited by the CVC and the CAG.
• Refuting claims that the IFSC could become a tax haven, the Minister said, “Tax holiday is given only for 10 years in the IFSC.”
• The International Financial Services Centres Authority Bill, 2019, was introduced in the Lok Sabha after withdrawal from the Rajya Sabha.
• Currently, the banking, capital markets and insurance sectors in IFSC are regulated by multiple regulators.
• The Bill seeks to amend 14 Acts, including the SEBI Act, the IRDA Act and the PFRDA Act.

MCQ 4

1. The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019, has provisions for the elderly to claim maintenance and for voluntary registration of senior citizens care homes and other such institutions which will have to comply with prescribed minimum standards
2. The Bill defines “abuse” as physical, verbal, emotional and economic abuse, neglect and abandonment, causing assault, injury, physical or mental suffering.

Choose correct
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) none

Bill in LS on welfare of elders, parents

• A Bill that seeks to impose six months’ imprisonment or a fine of ₹10,000 or both on those who abuse parents, in-laws or senior citizens under their care was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gahlot.
• The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019, has provisions for the elderly to claim maintenance and for mandatory registration of senior citizens care homes and other such institutions which will have to comply with prescribed minimum standards.
• The Bill defines “abuse” as physical, verbal, emotional and economic abuse, neglect and abandonment, causing assault, injury, physical or mental suffering.

MCQ 5
Which of the following statement is incorrect?

1. Code on Social Security, 2019, seeks to amend and consolidate laws relating to the social security of employees, subsuming eight Central laws.
2. The new code will give the option for the reduction of Provident Fund contribution by employees and employers in some sectors from 12% to 10%.
3. The Bill also proposes to set up a social security fund using the funds available under corporate social responsibility, to provide welfare benefits such as pensions and death and disability benefits.
4. It is one of the 4 labour codes

• Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar on Wednesday introduced the Code on Social Security, 2019, in the Lok Sabha.
• The Bill seeks to amend and consolidate laws relating to the social security of employees, subsuming eight Central laws.
• The eight Central Labour Acts, are to be subsumed under the new law.
• Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923;
• Employees State Insurance Act, 1948,
• Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952;
• Maternity Benefit Act, 1961;
• Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972;
• Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981;
• Building and Other Construction Workers Cess Act, 1996 and
• Unorganised Workers Social Security Act, 2008
• The new code will give the option for the reduction of Provident Fund contribution by employees in some sectors from 12% to 10%.
• The reduction will not apply to employers and has been done solely to increase the take-home pay of employees.
• The Bill also proposes to set up a social security fund using the funds available under corporate social responsibility, to provide welfare benefits such as pensions and death and disability benefits.
• The Bill also has a clause to make fixed-term contract workers eligible for gratuity on a pro-rata basis.

The Ministry has taken steps for drafting four Labour Codes on

1.  Wages;
2.   Industrial Relations
3.  Social Security; and
4.  Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions respectively, by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalizing the relevant provisions of the existing Central Labour Laws.

• The 4 Labour Codes contain provisions relating to wage, social security, safety, health and grievance redressal mechanism for workers.
• These initiatives are expected to provide wage security, social security, occupational safety and decent working conditions to the workers

MCQ 6
Countries involved in Marine Security Belt

1. India
2. China
3. Pakistan
4. Iran
5. Russia
6. USA

(A) 1,3,6
(B) 1 & 6
(C) 1,4,5
 (D) 2,4,5

China tight-lipped on naval exercise in Indian Ocean

 Iran had said it would hold a naval drill with China & Russia

• Chinese Foreign Ministry on Wednesday declined to confirm that China was participating in a joint military exercise with Iran and Russia, amid signals that and Tehran were considering a long term blueprint of military collaboration.
• On December 3, Iran’s naval said during a meeting in Tehran with deputy chief of Joint Staff Department in China’s Central Military Commission, that the trilateral exercise, codenamed Marine Security Belt, will be held on December 27.
• Iran further sought Chinese support to build destroyers and submarines.
• Earlier, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, quoting Chinese military analysts, reported that China is expected to limit its involvement in a joint naval drill with Iran and Russia to non-combat forces to underline its desire not to be drawn into Middle East conflicts.
• “Participation in formal military exercise in the Persian Gulf could turn the waterway into a hotspot, and that may mean trouble for Beijing, ”

MCQ 7

1. The current base year for the IIP series in India is 2015-16
2. It is a composite indicator expressed in terms of an index number which measures the long term changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products during a given period with respect to the base period

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

• Index of Industrial Production (IIP) measures the quantum of changes in the industrial production in an economy and captures the general level of industrial activity in the country.
• It is a composite indicator expressed in terms of an index number which measures the short term changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products during a given period with respect to the base period.
• The base year is always given a value of 100.
• The current base year for the IIP series in India is 2011-12.
• So, if the current IIP reads as 116 it means that there has been 16% growth compared to the base year.
• IIP is a short term indicator of industrial growth till the results from Annual Survey of Industries and National Accounts Statistics are available.
• However, IIP is considered to be one of the lead indicators for shortterm economic analysis because of its strong relationship with economic fluctuations in the rest of economy.
• Most of services, like transport, storage, communication, real estate, insurance and banking are industry dependent and are considerably influenced by industrial performance
• Index of Industrial Production is compiled and published every month by Central Statistics Office (CSO) of the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
• The general scope of IIP, as recommended by United Nations Statistics Division includes Mining & Quarrying, Manufacturing, Electricity, Gas steam, Air conditioning supply, Water supply, Sewerage, Waste management and Remediation activities.
• But, in India, due to constraints of data availability and other resources, the index is compiled using figures of mining, manufacturing and electricity sectors only.

ASI Vs IIP

•  The Industrial Output data is captured and monitored, primarily, through two statistical activities (i) Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) on an annual basis and (ii) Index of Industrial Production (IIP) on a monthly basis.
• The ASI is conducted under the Collection of Statistics Act, since 1959, to obtain comprehensive and detailed statistics of industrial sector with the objective of estimating the contribution of registered manufacturing industries as a whole to the national income.

MCQ 8
Stagflation is

1. Persistent high inflation condition
2. Long time demand decline
3. Long time low inflation and low employment
4. Persistent high inflation combined with high unemployment and stagnant demand

• The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had contracted by 4.3% in September and 1.1% in August.
• Within the IIP, the mining sector shrunk by 8% in October compared with a contraction of 8.5% in the previous month. The manufacturing sector contracted for the third consecutive month in October.

IIP shrinks again, inflation accelerates Food inflation is at a 40-month high

• Industrial activity contracted for the third consecutive month in October by 3.8%, driven by a fall in activity across sectors, according to official data released on Thursday.
• Separate data showed that retail inflation had surged to a 40-month high of 5.54% in November, driven by rising food inflation.
• Growth in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) accelerated in November for the fourth consecutive month. It stood at 4.62% in October.
• This combination of contraction in industrial activity and rising inflation has led experts to fear that India is entering a phase of stagflation (a situation in which there is persistent high inflation combined with stagnant or declining demand).
• This is developing into a classic situation of stagflation.”

 MCQ 9

1. National Financial Reporting Authority, NFRA is a body proposed in Companies Act 1956 for the establishment and enforcement of accounting and auditing standards and oversight of the work of auditors
2. The jurisdiction of the NFRA will extend to all listed companies as well as large unlisted public companies.

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

National Financial Reporting Authority:

• What is it? NFRA is a body proposed in Companies Act 2013 for the establishment and enforcement of accounting and auditing standards and oversight of the work of auditors.
• Functions: It would be an overarching watchdog for auditing profession and once set up, the current powers of the ICAI to act against erring chartered accountants will be vested with the new regulator. The NFRA will have powers to debar an erring auditor or auditing firm for up to ten years besides slapping heavy penalties.
• Jurisdiction: The jurisdiction of the NFRA will extend to all listed companies as well as large unlisted public companies. Besides, the government can refer other entities for investigation by the NFRA where public interest would be involved.
• Composition: The regulator will have 15 members, including a chairperson and three full-time members. Besides, there would be a secretary.

MCQ 10

1. Wavell plan proposed an interim govt.
2. Wavell Plan is also known as Breakdown Plan and was accepted by the British with a condition of no partition

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

• The war had ended, though Japan was yet to surrender. The heroic deeds of INA were about to end.
• More than 3 million people had lost lives in the Famine of Bengal, which was largely manmade as the Government stopped the supplies from Burma due to the fear of the Japanese invasion.
• the scarcity of the supplies coupled with the low rains and droughts in several parts of India from as early as 1942 – famine
• People in Orissa and Bengal died and the government could take steps to save a few only.
• There was a deadlock with the congress since 1939 resignations. On June 14, 1945, Lord Wavell came out with a plan
• The Muslim league had escalated the demand for a separate sovereign state. Lord Wavell became the Viceroy of India in 1943 succeeding Lord Linlithgow. In June 1945, he announced his proposals to break the constitutional deadlock in India. This was called the Wavell Plan. (The deadlock was because the Congress wanted a united India whereas the Muslim League wanted partition.)
• The Viceroy’s Executive Council was to have all Indian members except the Viceroy himself and the Commander-in-Chief.
• The council was to have a ‘balanced representation’ of all Indians including ‘caste-Hindus’, Muslims, Depressed Classes, Sikhs, etc. Muslims were given 6 out of 14 members which accounted for more than their share of the population (25%).
• The Viceroy/Governor-General would still have the power of veto but its use would be minimal.
• The foreign affairs portfolio would be transferred from the Governor-General to an Indian member. Defence would be handled by a British general until the full transfer of power was made.
• A conference would be convened by the Viceroy to get a list of all the members recommended to the Council from all parties concerned. In case a joint list was not agreed upon, separate lists would be taken from the parties.
• If this plan worked, similar councils would be formed in all provinces comprising of local leaders

 Shimla Conference

• Lord Wavell invited a conference of 21 Indian Political leaders at the Summer Capital British India to discuss the provision of Wavell Plan. Muslim representatives – Jinnah said that no non-league Muslim should be represented to the Executive Council because only Muslim League has right to represent the Muslims of India whereas Congress said that they had no right to nominate any Muslim in the Executive council.
• Wavell Plan is also known as Breakdown Plan and was not accepted by the British, for whom, leaving without a universally agreed agreement was dishonorable.

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