Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 22-10-19

Table of Contents

MCQ 1

“Hunar Haat”, is being organized across the country by the Skill Development Ministry,
“Hunar Haat” (Skill Haat) exhibition is aimed at promoting and supporting artisans from tribal community and providing them domestic as well as international market for display and sell their products

Choose correct

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

MCQ 2

US is the Largest exporter of Natural Gas to India
India is likely to increase its oil and gas imports from the U.S. to $10 billion in the current year

Choose correct

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

Ministers highlight stronger relationship with the U.S.

India likely to increase oil and gas imports to $10 bn: Goyal
Indian Ministers sought to highlight a strong relationship with the U.S., with Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday saying that India is likely to increase its oil and gas imports from the U.S. to $10 billion in the current year. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India and the U.S. had settled the broad contours of a trade deal, which would likely be announced soon.
The Ministers were speaking at separate sessions of the Second Annual India Leadership Summit by the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum.
“India has already increased its engagement with the U.S. on oil and gas,” Mr. Pradhan said. “Before 2014, we did not import any oil and gas from the U.S. By 2018-19, we started importing about $6 billion worth from the U.S., and this may go up to $10 billion in 2019-20. This is due to the gas-based economy this government is setting up in India.”
Later in the day, Mr. Goyal said that Indo-U.S. relations were “better than ever” on a country level as well as leadership level. He further said that a trade deal would have been announced by now if not for the delays due to U.S. trade discussions with other countries.
“By now, we would have been in a position to announce something, but counterpart in the U.S. was first caught up with talks with Japan, and then with China,” Mr. Goyal said. “The broad contours have been settled and we can hopefully come out with the first set of agreements soon.” The Commerce Minister added that India and the U.S. had the potential to work out a bilateral agreement that went beyond the “mere tinkering” they were doing today.

India is the world’s third-largest oil consumer and the US is seeking to increase crude oil and gas supply here. India imports 84 per cent of its oil requirements. Rising trade deficit, along with over $100 billion oil and gas bills in 2018-19, has made India more vulnerable in terms of crude oil; add to that geopolitical tension.
After the drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, India is also looking for a stable crude oil supplier.
Saudi Arabia is the second biggest supplier of crude oil to India after Iraq. DGCIS data shows that after ceasing oil import from Iran, supply from other countries has risen. Imports from a country like Venezuela has risen 26 per cent.
India imports 45% of the total amount of natural gas it consumes. With the government’s plan to raise the share of natural gas in the country’s energy mix to 15% by 2030 from about 6.5% now, import of LNG is expected to rise. Natural gas consumption in the country rose 5% to 58 billion cubic meters in 2017-18
According to the oil ministry, crude oil imports from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decreased to 78 per cent of the total imports during the first four months of FY20 compared to 83.2 per cent during the corresponding period a year ago. “On the other hand, India’s crude oil imports from the US have increased by 213 per cent in the same time frame,” a Care Ratings report said.
US oil companies are producing record amounts of crude oil in the last five years. According to a report by the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2019, the global production of crude oil in 2018 grew by a whopping 2.2 Mb/d (million barrels per day), more than double its historical average. “The vast majority of this growth was driven by US production, which grew by 2.2 Mb/d – the largest ever annual increase by a single country,” the report said.
Crude oil has always been a powerful diplomatic tool. In fact, after Iran, Venezuela is also under US pressure. These countries provide wider margins to India’s refiners. The end of imports from such countries may push the cost of fuel higher.

MCQ 3

Countries which are not under OPEC group

USA
Qatar
Indonesia
Nigeria
Gabon

Choose correct

(A) 4 & 5
(B) 1 & 3
(C) 1,2,3
(D) All are members

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is an intergovernmental organization of 14 nations, founded on 14 September 1960 in Baghdad by the first five members (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela), and headquartered since 1965 in Vienna, Austria. As of September 2018, the then 14 member countries accounted for an estimated 44 percent of global oil production and 81.5 percent of the world’s “proven” oil reserves, giving OPEC a major influence on global oil prices that were previously determined by the so called “Seven Sisters” grouping of multinational oil companies.
The stated mission of the organization is to “coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its member countries and ensure the stabilization of oil markets, in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers, and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.”
The organization is also a significant provider of information about the international oil market. The current OPEC members are the following: Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia (the de facto leader), United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
Indonesia and Qatar are former members.
The formation of OPEC marked a turning point toward national sovereignty over natural resources, and OPEC decisions have come to play a prominent role in the global oil market and international relations. The effect can be particularly strong when wars or civil disorders lead to extended interruptions in supply. In the 1970s, restrictions in oil production led to a dramatic rise in oil prices and in the revenue and wealth of OPEC, with long-lasting and far-reaching consequences for the global economy. In the 1980s, OPEC began setting production targets for its member nations; generally, when the targets are reduced, oil prices increase. This has occurred most recently from the organization’s 2008 and 2016 decisions to trim oversupply.
Economists often cite OPEC as a textbook example of a cartel that cooperates to reduce market competition, but one whose consultations are protected by the doctrine of state immunity under international law. In December 2014, “OPEC and the oil men” ranked as #3 on Lloyd’s list of “the top 100 most influential people in the shipping industry”.
However, the influence of OPEC on international trade is periodically challenged by the expansion of non-OPEC energy sources, and by the recurring temptation for individual OPEC countries to exceed production targets and pursue conflicting self-interests.

MCQ 4

Marawah Island is located in

Gulf of Khambat
Bay of Bengal
Gulf of Munnar
Gulf of Persia

Marawah Island

The World’s oldest known natural pearl discovered at a Neolithic site on Marawah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi.
It is dubbed the ‘Abu Dhabi Pearl’ that have been radio dated to 5,800-5,600 BCE.
The discovery proves that pearls and oysters were being used in the UAE nearly 8,000 years ago.
Prior to this discovery, the earliest pearl was found in another Neolithic site off the coast of Abu Dhabi.

MCQ 5

CCRT is an autonomous organization under the aegis of Ministry of HRD.
It launched the e-portal of Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti

Choose correct

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

Digital Bharat Digital Sanskriti

It is the e-portal of Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) launched by the Ministry of Culture.
CCRT is an autonomous organization under the aegis of Ministry of Culture.
It was pioneered by Smt. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay and Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan and established in 1979.
It is one of the premier institutions working in the field of linking education with culture.

Main Functions of CCRT –

It organizes theoretical and theme based academic programmes on Indian art and culture for teachers and students.
It Conducts Workshops to provide practical training and knowledge in crafts to be incorporated in school curriculum.
It organizes various educational activities for school students, teachers and children belonging to governmental and NGO.
It collects and develops a library of resources in the form of scripts, digital photographs, audio and video recordings and films.
It prepares publications and other audio-visual material to provide an understanding and appreciation of the different aspects of Indian art and culture.
It implements Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme for providing facilities to young talented children in the 10-14 age group to study one or the other art form.

MCQ 6

Seven IITs are figuring in the top ten rankings of QS World University Rankings 2020.
In world university ranking, IIT-Bombay has been ranked the best Indian institution and IIT-Delhi the second best.

Choose correct

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

QS Indian University Rankings

The second edition of QS Indian University Rankings for India’s higher education institutions was released recently.
QS, the global higher education think tank, releases India specific university rankings.
The rankings include Public Universities, Private Universities and deemed universities.
The ranking looks into the Indian university system with an international lens.
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) dominate the list, with seven IITs figuring in the top ten rankings.
Like last year, IIT-Bombay leads followed by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

8 indicators were used to determine rankings –

Academic reputation
Employer reputation
Faculty-student ratio
The proportion of staff with a PhD
Papers per faculty from Scopus database
Citations per paper from Scopus database
The proportion of international students and
The proportion of international faculty (2.5%).

These India rankings do not necessarily match the QS World University Rankings since it uses different criteria.
In world university ranking, IITBombay has been ranked the best Indian institution and IITDelhi the second best.

MCQ 7

Homeward Bound is a initiative for

Domestic Helps
Trafficked kids
Female expedition to Antarctica
Space research

Homeward Bound
It is a global initiative by the French’s National Centre for Space Studies, that conducts leadership expeditions for women in science to Antarctica.
In its 5th edition, Priyanka Das Rajkakati, a 27-year-old woman, originally from Assam, has been selected.
It is a one-year long programme where women with STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) backgrounds will be trained.
Homeward Bound is a ground-breaking, global leadership initiative, set against the backdrop of Antarctica, which aims to heighten the influence and impact of women in making decisions that shape our planet.
Its three strategic focal points are:

I AM WILLING AND ABLE TO LEAD WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER WE ARE TAKING ACTIONS WITH IMPACT

WHY WOMEN?

Globally, women are significantly underrepresented in leadership positions, and change has been incredibly slow, despite increasing dialogue and process/systems changes. (Although women comprise 60% of university graduates, only 10-20% of them make it to senior decision-making roles or professional-level academia.) By providing these women with leadership, visibility and strategic skills, a sound understanding of the science, and a strong purposefully developed network, we will enhance their ability to lead for the greater good, to impact decision-making for a sustainable future.

WHY THE FOCUS ON STEMM?

We believe scientific endeavor plays a critical part in resolving our most ‘wicked’ problems moving forward. We want to tackle the challenge of science communication and the visibility of women in STEMM. Additional to the overarching gender imbalance in leadership, women in STEMM face additional challenges specific to these fields.

WHY ANTARCTICA?

Regions of Antarctica are showing the fastest responses to some of the global sustainability problems we currently face. Antarctica offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe first hand the influence of human activities on the environment and provide critical insights into the global-scale change required. This iconic environment has captured the imagination of leaders in the past and the expedition experience of the Antarctic component of the Homeward Bound program creates strong bonds between participants.

WHY NOW?

If not now, when? The sustainability of our planet is in crisis and so is the state of leadership in our world. Homeward Bound aims to address both these global issues.