Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 7th September 2022

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2022

Q) Consider the following statements regarding India-Bangladesh Trade

1. Bangladesh is the largest trade partner for India in South Asia and the tenth largest destination for Indian exports worldwide in 2021-22.
2. Exports to Bangladesh rose by more than 66 per cent from $9.69 billion in FY 2020-21 to $16.15 billion in FY 2021-22.
3. India is Bangladesh’s second biggest trade partner, and the largest export market in Asia.

Which of these statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 2 only

Explanation:

• Recently, the visiting Prime Minister of Bangladesh, said that India and Bangladesh will commence negotiations on a Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Indo-Bangladesh Trade Numbers

• Bangladesh is the largest trade partner for India in South Asia and the fourth largest destination for Indian exports worldwide in 2021-22. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• Exports: Exports to Bangladesh rose by more than 66 per cent from $9.69 billion in FY 2020-21 to $16.15 billion in FY 2021-22. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Main Indian exports to Bangladesh are raw cotton, non-retail pure cotton yarn, and electricity.
• Imports: India is Bangladesh’s second biggest trade partner, and the largest export market in Asia. (Statement 3 is correct)
• Main imports from the country are pure vegetable oils, non-knit men’s suits, and textile scraps.

Q) Recently in news, Kushiyara River is a distributary of which river?

1. Ganges
2. Damodar River
3. Barak River
4. Meghna River

Explanation:

Kushiyara River:

• Kushiyara is a distributory of the Barak river and forms a part of India-Bangladesh border.
• The river is formed when Barak river divides into Kushiyara and Surma.
• Kushiyara rejoins Surma in Bangladesh to form the Meghna river.

Q) Consider the following statements regarding Foundational Learning Study

1. It has been carried out by government backed NGO Pratham
2. It assessed maths skills and language proficiency.

Which of these statements are correct?

1. Both
2. 2 only
3. 1 only
4. None

Explanation:

Context: Recently, the central government has carried out the Foundational Learning Study (FLS) based on one-to-one interviews with each participant.

About the Study:

• The study was jointly carried out by the Union Ministry of Education and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
• The study assessed maths skills and the language proficiency in 20 languages including English.
• Classification: The students were categorised into four groups:
  • Those who lacked the most basic knowledge and skills
  • Those who had limited knowledge and skills
  • Those who had developed sufficient knowledge and skills
  • Those who had developed superior knowledge and skills
• Students able to partially complete their grade-level tasks were put in the “limited skills” group.
• Students who failed to complete even the simple grade-level tasks were categorised as “lacking the most basic skills”.

Q) Consider the following statements regarding sovereign credit ratings

1. A sovereign credit rating is an independent assessment of the creditworthiness of a country or sovereign entity.
2. India’s rating of Baa3 signifies high risk of default and will limit India’s investment from foreign markets.
3. It helps countries in raising investment through external debt markets, as also to attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

Which of these statements are correct?

1. 2 and 3 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

What is a Sovereign Credit Rating?

• A sovereign credit rating is an independent assessment of the creditworthiness of a country or sovereign entity. (Statement 1 is correct)
  • It signifies the country’s ability to meet its debt obligations in the future.
• It provides investors with information about the level of risk associated with investing in the debt of a particular country.
• Several factors taken into account include debt service ratio, growth in its domestic money supply, its import ratio, and the variance of its export revenue.
  • Apart from the economic environment, political risk is also taken into account.
• It helps countries in raising investment through external debt markets, as also to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). (Statement 3 is correct)

What the Moody’s Rating Means for India?

• Moody’s considers a Baa3 or higher rating to be of investment grade, and a rating of Ba1 and below is speculative.
• India’s rating of Baa3 signifies low risk of default and will help India get investment from foreign markets. (Statement 2 is incorrect)

Q) Consider the following statements regarding Integrated Child Development Scheme

1. ICDS is an umbrella central sector scheme launched in 1975.
2. It is implemented by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3. It focuses on overall nutritional development of the child.

Which of these statements are incorrect?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. 1 only

Explanation:

What is Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS)?

Q) Consider the following statements regarding Preamble of the constitution

1. The Preamble is based on the Objective Resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in the Constituent Assembly on December 13, 1946.
2. Objectives Resolution was adopted by majority in the Constituent Assembly on 22 January 1947.
3. Berubari Union case (1960): The Preamble of the Constitution will now be considered as part of the Constitution.

Which of these statements are incorrect?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

Q) Consider the following statements regarding Gravitational Lensing

1. A gravitational lens can occur when a huge amount of matter, like a cluster of galaxies, creates a gravitational field that distorts and magnifies the light from distant galaxies that are behind it but in the same line of sight.
2. The effect is like looking through a giant magnifying glass. It allows researchers to study the details of early galaxies too far away to be seen with current technology and telescopes.
3. Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, published in 1916, predicted that massive objects, such as stars, could bend light rays passing nearby.

Which of these statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. All of the above
4. 1 and 3 only

Explanation:

Gravitational Lensing:

• A gravitational lens can occur when a huge amount of matter, like a cluster of galaxies, creates a gravitational field that distorts and magnifies the light from distant galaxies that are behind it but in the same line of sight. (Statement 1 is correct)
• The effect is like looking through a giant magnifying glass. It allows researchers to study the details of early galaxies too far away to be seen with current technology and telescopes. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, published in 1916, predicted that massive objects, such as stars, could bend light rays passing nearby. (Statement 3 is correct)

Q) Consider the following statements regarding African Cheetah

1. African cheetah usually lives on grasslands, savannahs, scrub forests, and arid environments such as deserts and semi-desert steppes of the continent
2. It is listed as a Critically Endangered (CR) species on the IUCN Red List.

Which of these statements are incorrect?

1. 2 only
2. 1 only
3. None
4. Both

Explanation:

African Cheetah:

• Habitat: African cheetah usually lives on grasslands, savannahs, scrub forests, and arid environments such as deserts and semi-desert steppes of the continent.
• Namibia has the largest population of wild cheetahs worldwide, followed by Botswana.
• Protection status: It is listed as a vulnerable (VU) species on the IUCN Red List. (Statement 2 is incorrect)
• CITES: Appendix-I
• Ecological role: As a predator species, it controls the number of herbivores in their ecosystem.
• In absence of cheetahs, these herbivores grow uncontrollably. This can lead to problems such as overgrazing.

Q) Recently in news, Kuno Palpur National Park is in which region –

1. Malwa Region
2. Bundelkhand Region
3. Chambal Region
4. Amarkantak Region

Explanation:

Kuno Palpur National Park:

• It is located in the Chambal region (Sheopur and Morena districts) of Madhya Pradesh. The Kuno river, a tributary of Chambal, flows through the park.
• The people belonging to the Saharia tribe were the original inhabitants of the region.
• The National Park predominantly consists of grasslands and sparse forests that host many herbivore species.
• The park also hosts vulture species such as Red-headed, White-rumped, Indian, Egyptian and the migratory Eurasian Griffon Vulture.

Q) Recently in news, Longwa Village, where people enjoy dual citizenship is in which state?

1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Nagaland
3. Manipur
4. Mizoram

Explanation:

• The residents of Longwa village in Nagaland enjoy dual citizenship.

About Longwa village:

• Longwa is located in Mon district of Nagaland.  It is situated on the international boundary line between India and Myanmar. The residents enjoy citizenship of India and Myanmar.
• The village is home to the Konyak tribe. Members of this tribe used to be head-hunters until the 1960s.

Sharing is caring!