Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 19-08-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) held their 28th Ministerial meeting on Climate Change recently in Sao Paulo, Mexico
2. Group was formed by an agreement on 28 November 2009, as The four are committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen climate summit

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) held their 28th Ministerial meeting on Climate Change recently in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It was held in the run-up to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) Conference of Parties (COP-25) meet scheduled to be held in December 2019
• They jointly urged developed countries to fulfill their climate finance commitments of mobilizing $100 billion annually by 2020 for developing countries.
• The BASIC countries (also Basic countries or BASIC) are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China – formed by an agreement on 28 November 2009. The four committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen climate summit, including a possible united walkout if their common minimum position was not met by the developed nations.
• This emerging geopolitical alliance, initiated and led by China, then brokered the final Copenhagen Accord with the United States. Subsequently, the grouping is working to define a common position on emission reductions and climate aid money, and to try to convince other countries to sign up to the Copenhagen Accord. However, in January 2010, the grouping described the Accord as merely a political agreement and not legally binding, as is argued by the US and Europe.

MCQ 2

1. India’s first Central Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology (CICET) will be set up in AP
2. Central Government is also planning to set up Plastic Waste Management Centre in Ahmedabad to find out solutions to systematic segregation and recycling of plastic waste.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

About CCICET

• It will come up either at Ahmedabad or Surat. It will facilitate chemical industry with research and innovations.
• It will specially cater chemical industries located in Gujarat’s Vapi, Ankleshwar and Vatva in Valsad, Bharuch and Ahmedabad districts.

MCQ 3

Glyptothorax gopii & Garra simbalbaraensis are Newly found

1. Frogs
2. Turtles
3. Saltwater fishes
4. None

• Both have morphological features that are suited to thriving in hill streams
• Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India have discovered two new species of freshwater fish from the north-eastern and northern parts of the country.
• While Glyptothorax gopii, a new species of catfish was found in Mizoram’s Kaladan river,
• Garra simbalbaraensis was found in Himachal Pradesh’s Simbalbara river. Both fish, measuring less than seven centimetres, are hill stream fauna and are equipped with special morphological features to suit rapid water flow.
• Glyptothorax gopii (measuring 63 mm standard length without caudal fin) is dark brown on its dorsal surface, and its ventral surface is of a yellowish-light brown. Garra simbalbaraensis (measuring 69 mm standard length without caudal fin) has a yellowish-grey colour fading ventrally.

• The details of the two discoveries were published in Zootaxa earlier this month. While Glyptothorax gopii has been named to celebrate the contribution of taxonomist K.C. Gopi, Garra simbalbaraensis takes its name from the Simbalbara river.
• In remote streams
• “Both these species were discovered from remote areas, for instance, Glyptothorax gopii was discovered from Champai district in Mizoram near the India-Myanmar border.
• Garra simbalbaraensis has been found from Sirmour district of Himachal Pradesh,” said L. Kosygin Singh, one of the scientists behind the discoveries.
• Mr. Singh said that Glyptothorax gopii has an axe-shaped anterior nuchal plate (bone below dorsal fin), which makes it distinct from other species of the genus Glyptothorax.
• The elliptical thoracic adhesive apparatus and plicae (folds of tissue) present on the ventral surfaces of the pectoral-fin spine help the fish cling to rocks.
• Garra simbalbaraensis has a prominent unilobed and rounded proboscis with tubercles that help the fish in manoeuvrability. The scientist, who heads the freshwater fish section of ZSI, has earlier discovered four species of Gara (which has an evolved disc to attach to rocky surfaces).
• The discoveries include Garra compressa in the year 1998, G. elongata (2000), G. tamangi (2016), and G. chindwinensis (2018).
• Among catfish (characterised by whiskers), the scientist earlier discovered Myersglanis jayarami (1999), Glyptothorax senapatiensis (2015), and Olya parviocula (2018), all from north-eastern India.
• Experts suggest that the origin or evolution of the fishes in the Himalayas and north-eastern parts of India must have been the consequence or after-effects of orogenic events (geological movement) at various stages in the Himalayas’ uplift.
• Detailed surveys can provided valuable information about the evolutionary trends and many rare groups of fishes can be discovered, Mr. Singh said.

MCQ 4

1. NCERT was established on 17th August 1995 and was tasked with achieving planned and coordinated development of teacher education system throughout the country and maintenance of norms and standards therein.
2. It also serves as an advisory body to Central and State Governments to ensure maintenance of standards and quality in Teacher Education

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

 (D) None

• The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India which was established on 1 September 1961 as a literary, scientific and charitable Society under the Societies’ Registration Act (Act XXI of 1860)
• The Government of India’s Ministry of Education resolved on 27 July 1961 to establish the National Council of Educational Research and Training, which formally began operation on 1 September 1961. The Council was formed by merging seven existing national government institutions, namely the Central Institute of Education, the Central Bureau of Textbook Research, the Central Bureau of Educational and Vocational Guidance, the Directorate of Extension Programmes for Secondary Education, the National Institute of Basic Education, the National Fundamental Education Centre, and the National Institute of Audio-Visual Education.
• It is separate from the National Council for Teacher Education.
• National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) is a statutory body of Indian government set up under the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993 (#73, 1993) in 1995 is to formally oversee standards, procedures and processes in the Indian education system.
• This council functions for the central as well as state governments on all matter with regard to the Teacher Education and its secretariat is located in the Department of Teacher Education and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). Despite the successful functioning in terms of educational field, it is facing difficulties in ensuring the maintenance of the standards of teacher education and preventing the increase in the number of substandard teacher education institutions in the country
• The mandate of NCTE is very broad and covers the entire gamut of Teacher Education programmes, including research and training of persons to equip them to teach at preprimary, primary, secondary and senior secondary stages in schools as well as nonformal education, part-time education, adult education and distance education courses. Teacher education institutions in India currently offer 17 Teacher Education programmes recognized by NCTE for prospective school teachers.
• A two-day International Conference titled ‘Journey of Teacher Education: Local to Global’ was inaugurated by Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, Union Minister of Human Resource Development (HRD) in New Delhi. The two-day event is organized by National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE) as part of silver jubilee (25 years) celebration of its establishment in 1995.

MCQ 5

1. Parker Solar Probe is a NASA’s robotic spacecraft, with the mission of probing and making observations on the core of the Sun.
2. It is part of NASA’s “Living With a Star” programme that explores different aspects of the Sun-Earth system.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• Parker Solar Probe (previously Solar Probe, Solar Probe Plus, or Solar Probe+, abbreviated PSP) is a NASA robotic spacecraft launched in 2018, with the mission of repeatedly probing and making observations of the outer corona of the Sun.
• It will approach to within 9.86 solar radii (6.9 million kilometers or 4.3 million miles) from the center of the Sun and by 2025 will travel, at closest approach, as fast as 690,000 km/h (430,000 mph), or 0.064% the speed of light
• It became the first NASA spacecraft named after a living person, honoring physicist Eugene Parker, professor emeritus at the University of Chicago
• A memory card containing the names of over 1.1 million people was mounted on a plaque and installed below the spacecraft’s high-gain antenna on May 18, 2018. The card also contains photos of Parker and a copy of his 1958 scientific paper predicting important aspects of solar physics.
• On 29 October 2018 at about 1:04 p.m. EDT, the spacecraft became the closest ever artificial object to the Sun. The previous record, 26.55 million miles from the Sun’s surface, was set by the Helios 2 spacecraft in April 1976
• Recently Parker Solar Probe, launched last year, has completed its second orbit around the sun, that captures solar wind.
• It is a NASA’s robotic spacecraft, with the mission of probing and making observations on the outer corona of the Sun.
• It aims is to trace how energy and heat move through the Sun’s corona and to study the source of the solar wind’s acceleration.
• It is part of NASA’s “Living With a Star” programme that explores different aspects of the Sun-Earth system.
• It is also the closest a human-made object has ever gone to the Sun.
• ‘Wide-Field Imager for Solar Probe’ (WISPR) is an imaging instrument, captures solar winds, shocks and solar ejections.
• The information gathered helps to understand the extreme temperatures of the sun and how it ejects particles and plasma out into space.

MCQ 6

1. Article 71 of the Constitution provides for the option of a state to have a Legislative Council.
2. Under Article 171 of the Constitution, the Legislative Council of a state shall not have more than 2/3rd of the number of MLAs of the state, and not less than 40 members.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• Article 171:. Composition of the Legislative Councils
• (1) The total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State having such a Council shall not exceed one third of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly of that State: Provided that the total number of members in the Legislative Council of a State shall in no case be less than forty
• (2) Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the composition of the Legislative Council of a State shall be as provided in clause ( 3 )
• (3) Of the total number of members of the Legislative council of a State
• (a) as nearly as may be, one third shall be elected by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and such other local authorities in the State as Parliament may by law specify;
• (b) as nearly as may be, one twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons residing in the State who have been for at least three years graduates of any university in the territory of India or have been for at least three years in possession of qualifications prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament as equivalent to that of a graduate of any such university;
• (c) as nearly as may be, one twelfth shall be elected by electorates consisting of persons who have been for at least three years engaged in teaching in such educational institutions within the State, not lower in standard than that of a secondary school, as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament;
• (d) as nearly as may be, one third shall be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly of the State from amongst persons who are not members of the Assembly;
• (e) the remainder shall be nominated by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of clause ( 5 )
• (4) The members to be elected under sub clauses (a), (b) and (c) of clause ( 3 ) shall be chosen in such territorial constituencies as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament, and the election under the said sub clauses and under sub clause (d) of the said clause shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote
• (5) The members to be nominated by the Governor under sub clause (e) of clause ( 3 ) shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: Literature, science, art, co operative movement and social service
• Recently Madhya Pradesh has indicated that it plans to initiate steps towards creation of a Legislative Council.
• Article 171 of the Constitution provides for the option of a state to have a Legislative Council.
• As in Rajya Sabha, the Members of a Legislative Council (MLC) are not directly elected by voters.
• The tenure of a MLC is 6 years, with 1/3rd of members retiring every 2 years.
• Opinion in the Constituent Assembly was divided on the idea,
• Arguments in favour, it help check hasty actions by the directly elected House, and also enable non-elected individuals to contribute to the legislative process.
• Arguments against the idea, it can be used to delay legislation, and to park leaders who have not been able to win an election.
• Under Article 169, a Legislative Council can be formed if the Legislative Assembly of the State passes a resolution.
• The resolution has to be a majority of the total membership of the Assembly and by a majority of not less than 2/3rd of the members of the Assembly present and voting.
• Parliament can then pass a law to this effect.
• Under Article 171 of the Constitution, the Legislative Council of a state shall not have more than 1/3rd of the number of MLAs of the state, and not less than 40 members. In that,
• 1/3rd of the MLCs are elected by the state’s MLAs,
• Another 1/3rd by a special electorate comprising sitting members of local governments such as municipalities and district boards
• 1/12th by an electorate of teachers and
• Another 1/12th by registered graduates.
• The remaining members are appointed by the Governor for distinguished services in various fields.
• The legislative power of the Councils is limited,
• Unlike Rajya Sabha which has substantial powers to shape non-financial legislation, Legislative Councils lack a constitutional mandate to do so.
• Assemblies can override suggestions/amendments made to a legislation by the Council.
• MLCs cannot vote in elections for the President and Vice President.
• The Vice President is the Rajya Sabha Chairperson; an MLC is the Council Chairperson.
• Currently, 6 states have Legislative Councils,
• A.P, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telengana, U.P.
• Jammu and Kashmir had it, until the state was bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. • The Odisha Assembly recently passed a resolution for a Legislative Council.
• Proposals to create Councils in Rajasthan and Assam are pending in Parliament.

MCQ 7

‘Kurki’ with respect to farming means

1. A cropping pattern in north east india
2. A type of weed in wheat fields
3. Other name of pulses cropping
4. Attachment of farmers’ land by banks in the event of nonpayment of loan or debt

• Kurki ban on farm land
• Punjab government notified a ban on kurkis by banks in the event of their defaulting on loan payments in 2017.
• But kurkis are still happening despite the ban by government.
• ‘Kurki’ is attachment of farmers’ land by banks or arhtiyas/sahukars/traders (commission agents and private money lenders) in the event of non-payment of loan or debt.
• Kurkis are executed under Section 60 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908.
• The land, which is pledged by the farmer to the banks, sahukars (private money lenders, gets registered in their name through court order in the event of non-repayment of the loan amount.
• The lenders, in turn, either take possession of the land or get it auctioned to recover their money.
• The main drawback of that notification was that it covered only cooperative banks and does not the commercial banks, private money lenders/arhatiyas and shadow banks.
• They are, therefore, obtaining decrees from courts to attach the lands of defaulting farmers”.
• The system of making farmers sign pro-notes as a factor responsible for the kurkis.
• There are numerous cases where farmers have repaid twice or thrice the amount taken on loan.
• So strict implementation is needed to end kurki cases in the state.

MCQ 8

1. Delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir’s Lok Sabha seats and its Assembly seats were governed by the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957.
2. unlike the rest of the country, the Assembly seats of J&K were delimited based on the 1981 Census, which formed the basis of the state elections in 1996

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and state Assembly seats to represent changes in population.
• Since the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir state into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh, delimitation of their electoral constituencies has been inevitable. While the government has not formally notified the Election Commission yet, the EC has held “internal discussions” on the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, particularly its provisions on delimitation.

 Delimitation provisions of the J&K Constitution:

• Delimitation of Jammu and Kashmir’s Lok Sabha seats is governed by the Indian Constitution, but delimitation of its Assembly seats (until special status was abrogated recently) was governed separately by the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957.
• As far as delimitation of Lok Sabha seats is concerned, the last Delimitation Commission of 2002 was not entrusted with this task. Hence, J&K parliamentary seats remain as delimited on the basis of the 1971 Census.
• As for Assembly seats, although the delimitation provisions of the J&K Constitution and the J&K Representation of the People Act, 1957, are similar to those of the Indian Constitution and Delimitation Acts, they mandate a separate Delimitation Commission for J&K. In actual practice, the same central Delimitation Commission set up for other states was adopted by J&K in 1963 and 1973.
• While the amendment of 1976 to the Indian Constitution suspended delimitation in the rest of the country till 2001, no corresponding amendment was made to the J&K Constitution.
• Hence, unlike the rest of the country, the Assembly seats of J&K were delimited based on the 1981 Census, which formed the basis of the state elections in 1996.
• There was no census in the state in 1991 and no Delimitation Commission was set up by the state government after the 2001 Census as the J&K Assembly passed a law putting a freeze on fresh delimitation until 2026. This freeze was upheld by the Supreme Court.
• Delimitation is carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission.
• The Constitution mandates that its orders are final and cannot be questioned before any court as it would hold up an election indefinitely.
• Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.
• Composition: The commission is made up of a retired Supreme Court judge, the Chief Election Commissioner and the respective State Election Commissioners.
• Functions: The Commission is supposed to determine the number and boundaries of constituencies in a way that the population of all seats, so far as practicable, is the same. The Commission is also tasked with identifying seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes; these are where their population is relatively large.
• All this is done on the basis of the latest Census and, in case of difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the opinion of the majority prevails.
• The draft proposals of the Delimitation Commission are published in the Gazette of India, official gazettes of the states concerned and at least two vernacular papers for public feedback.
• The Commission also holds public sittings. After hearing the public, it considers objections and suggestions, received in writing or orally during public sittings, and carries out changes, if any, in the draft proposal.
• The final order is published in the Gazette of India and the State Gazette and comes into force on a date specified by the President.
• The first delimitation exercise in 1950-51 was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission), as the Constitution at that time was silent on who should undertake the division of states into Lok Sabha seats.
• This delimitation was temporary as the Constitution mandated redrawing of boundaries after every Census. Hence, another delimitation was due after the 1951 Census. Subsequently, the Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.
• Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002. There was no delimitation after the 1981 and 1991 Censuses.
• The Constitution mandates that the number of Lok Sabha seats allotted to a state would be such that the ratio between that number and the population of the state is, as far as practicable, the same for all states.
• Although unintended, this provision implied that states that took little interest in population control could end up with a greater number of seats in Parliament. The southern states that promoted family planning faced the possibility of having their seats reduced.
• To allay these fears, the Constitution was amended during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency rule in 1976 to suspend delimitation until 2001.
• Although the freeze on the number of seats in Lok Sabha and Assemblies should have been lifted after the 2001 Census, another amendment postponed this until 2026. This was justified on the ground that a uniform population growth rate would be achieved throughout the country by 2026.
• So, the last delimitation exercise — started in July 2002 and completed on May 31, 2008 — was based on the 2001 Census and only readjusted boundaries of existing Lok Sabha and Assembly seats and reworked the number of reserved seats.

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