Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 29-08-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. Indian rupee is the worst performer in Asian currencies and Chinese yuan is the best one right now.
2. Indian rupee touched the lowest ever value of 72.39 against US dollar in august 2019 as its biggest monthly loss

Choose correct

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

MCQ 2

1. CAPF is the umbrella term for 7 security forces under the ‘Ministry of Defence’
2. Special Protection Group (SPG) which protects PM of India and former PMs is a special force under it

Choose correct

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

• Recently, Central government has withdrawn Special Protection Group (SPG) security cover to former PM Dr.Manmohan Singh.
• The former Prime Minister will now be given ‘Z-plus’ cover by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
• Decision to withdraw the security cover of these protectees was taken at a meeting of the Security Categorisation Committee.
• CAPF, the umbrella term for 7 security forces under the ‘Ministry of Home Affairs’,

1. The Assam Rifles,
2. The Border Security Force (BSF),
3. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),
4. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF),
5. The National Security Guard (NSG),
6. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and
7. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

• After Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own security guards, the government decided to create a special cadre of security personnel for the Prime Minister.
• Following the recommendations of a committee set up by the Home Ministry, a special unit was created for this purpose under the Cabinet Secretariat.
• This unit, initially called the ‘Special Protection Unit’, was renamed as ‘Special Protection Group’ (SPG).
• Subsequently, the Parliament passed ‘The Special Protection Group’ (SPG) Act,
• To provide for the constitution and regulation of an armed force of the Union.
• For providing proximate security to the PM of India and for matters connected therewith.
• The SPG Act defined “proximate security” as,
• Protection provided from close quarters, during journey by road, rail, aircraft, watercraft or any other means of transport.
• It also “includes the places of functions, engagements, residence or halt”.
• Then SPG protection was extended, apart from the PM, to former PMs of India and members of their immediate families.
• It was done through an amendment in the Act in the aftermath of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.
• Besides the SPG, VIPs in India are protected by other security forces as well.
• The levels of security cover are determined by the threat perception around the individual.
• The highest level of security cover is the ‘Z-plus’ category, followed by Z, Y, and X categories.
• The higher the level of cover, the larger the number of personnel protecting the individual.
• For ‘Z-plus’ category protectees, roughly 24-36 personnel with automatic weapons are deployed.
• For ‘Z’ category, roughly 16-20 personnel guard the protectees.
• The elite ‘Black Cat’ commandos of the NSG are deployed to protect VIPs for whom the threat perception is the highest.

MCQ 3

1. The PMO had set up the Birbal Nath Committee to go into the issue of security to PM in its entirety and submit its recommendation
2. Personnel of the Special Protection Group are drawn from IPS cadres
3. Protectees can’t deny the protection

Choose correct

(A) Only 1
(B) 1 & 2
(C) All
 (D) None

• The Indian Special Protection Group (SPG) is “an armed force of the Union for providing proximate security to the Prime Minister of India and former Prime Ministers of India and members of their immediate families wherever in the world they are.” It was formed in 1988 by an act of the Parliament of India.
• Former PMs, their immediate family members, and family members of a serving Prime Minister may, if they choose, decline SPG security
• Before 1981, the security of the Prime Minister at the official residence was the responsibility of the Special Security District of the Delhi Police under the charge of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP). In October 1981, a Special Task Force (STF) was raised by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) to provide ring-round and escort to the Prime Minister in and out of New Delhi.
• After the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984, a review was undertaken by a Committee of Secretaries and it was decided to entrust security of the Prime Minister to a Special Group under unitary and direct control of a designated Officer and the STF to provide immediate security cover both in New Delhi and outside. These decisions were taken as short-term measures.
• Then on 18 February 1985, the Ministry of Home Affairs set up the Birbal Nath Committee to go into the issue in its entirety and submit its recommendation. In March 1985, the Birbal Nath Committee submitted its recommendations of raising a Special Protection Unit (SPU). On 30 March 1985, the President of India created 819 posts for the unit under the Cabinet Secretariat. The SPU was then re-christened Special Protection Group and the post of Inspector General of Police was re-designated as Director.
• The SPG came into being on 8 April 1985 when S. Subramaniam, then Joint Director (VIP Security) in the Intelligence Bureau assumed office. Creation of the SPG required an elaborate exercise in order to clearly delineate responsibility of various agencies concerned with the security of the Prime Minister. The provisions contained in the Blue Book, which lays down security guidelines for the protection of the Prime Minister, had to be harmoniously blended with this new concept of proximate security.
• IB and the State/UT Police concerned were responsible for coordination, collection and dissemination of intelligence affecting VIP security. State/UT Police and the SPG were responsible for providing physical security arrangements for the Prime Minister, while the IB was to provide the required intelligence inputs to these operational agencies. The SPG functioned as a security group purely on the strength of an Executive Order for three years without a legislation, from April 1985 to June 1988.
• The SPG was constituted and trained specially to provide protection to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, in view of the threats to him from several sources. But, the organization created for the proximate security of Prime Minister Gandhi, did not contemplate provision of protection to him when he ceased to be Prime Minister, and faced magnified threats. SPG cover for Rajiv Gandhi was withdrawn once he ceased to be Prime Minister. After the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991, the SPG Act was amended in 1991 to provide security to former Prime Ministers and their immediate families for a period of 10 years from the date on which the former Prime Minister ceased to hold office

MCQ 4

1. Fedor is the humanoid robot the first from Russia sent into orbit, reached the International Space Station (ISS).
2. Russia has become the first country to do so

Choose correct

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

• Fedor the Robot
• Recently, the humanoid robot ‘Fedor’, the first from Russia sent into orbit, reached the International Space Station (ISS).
• ‘Fedor’ short for ‘Final Experimental Demonstration Object Research’ can be operated manually by ISS astronauts wearing robotic exoskeleton suits.
• It copies human movements, which will enable it to perform tasks that are risky for astronauts strapped onto an exoskeleton.
• It is an anthropomorphic robot, ideal option for an assistant, and in some cases a complete replacement for a person.
• Fedor was sent in an unmanned Soyuz capsule to ISS.
• Fedor will spend 10 days on the International Space Station, learning tasks performed by astronauts.
• Other countries that have previously sent their robot’s are,
• In 2011, NASA sent up ‘Robonaut 2’.
• In 2013, Japan sent up a small robot called ‘Kirobo’.
• The International Space Station (ISS) has been orbiting Earth at about 28,000 kilometres per hour since 1998.
• The International Space Station (ISS) is a space station (habitable artificial satellite) in low Earth orbit. The ISS programme is a joint project between five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Jap an), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
• The ownership and use of the space station is established by intergovernmental treaties and agreements

MCQ 5

1. Indian star tortoise is only found in India
2. It is critically endangered in IUCN red list

 Choose correct

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

• The Indian star tortoise (Geochelone elegans) is a threatened species of tortoi se found in dry areas and scrub forest in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This species is quite popular in the exotic pet trade, which is the main reason it is endangered.
• Conservation group TRAFFIC found 6,040 were seized globally that were intended to be sold in the pet trade

 MCQ 6

1. Maharashtra is the highest sugar producing state in the country
2. Ministry of agriculture has given its nod to offer a ₹10.45 per kg subsidy to incentivize mills to export their surplus stocks.

Choose correct

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

MCQ 7

 Pratt & Whitney is an _______ aerospace manufacturer with global service operations.

1. Russian
2. French
3. American
4. Korean

• Pratt & Whitney is an American aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies (UTC). Pratt & Whitney’s aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation (especially airlines) and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut.
• As one of the “big three” aero-engine manufacturers, it competes with General Electric and Rolls-Royce, although it has also formed joint ventures with both of these companies. In addition to aircraft engines, Pratt & Whitney manufactures gas turbines for industrial and power generation, and marine turbines

MCQ 8

 I4C scheme recently launched by Home ministry is related to

1. Equipments for police Dept.
2. Internal security
3. Cyber crimes
4. Security of Govt offices

• MHA has rolled out a scheme ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ for the period 2018-2020, to combat cyber crime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner. The scheme has following seven components:

(i) National Cybercrime Threat Analytics Unit.

(ii) National Cybercrime Reporting Portal.

(iii) Platform for Joint Cybercrime Investigation Team.

(iv) National Cybercrime Forensic Laboratory Ecosystem.

(v) National Cybercrime Training Centre.

(vi) Cybercrime Ecosystem Management Unit.

(vii) National Cyber Research and Innovation Centre.

• The Central Government has launched Cybercrime Reporting Portal to enable citizens to report online content pertaining to Child Pornography (CP)/ Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) or sexually explicit content such as Rape/Gang Rape (CP/RGR). The Central Government has taken steps to spread awareness on cyber crime, issue cyber related alerts/ advisories, capacity building/ training of law enforcement officers/ judges/ prosecutors, improving cyber forensics facilities etc. to prevent cyber crime and expedite investigations. Police’ and ‘Public order’ are State subjects as per the Constitution of India. States/UTs are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes through their law enforcement machinery. The Law Enforcement Agencies take legal action as per provisions of the law against the reported cyber crimes.

 Ministry of Home Affairs

• 12th India Security Summit on “Towards New National Cyber Security Strategy” held We will find ways to deal with cyber threat: Dr Jitendra Singh MHA has taken various measures to counter cyber threat: G Kishan Reddy The 12th India Security Summit on the theme “Towards New National Cyber Security Strategy” was held here today. During the conference, many issues were discussed such as protection of critical national infrastructure, emerging cyber threats: incidents, challenges and response.
• Shri G Kishan Reddy said that cyber space is becoming new battle field. He further said world over, successful attack has caused significant financial loss and other problems. He said that cyber security is crucial for digital Governance and its broad ecosystem.
• The MoS (Home) said that the Government has taken various measures to counter cyber threats. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has rolled out a scheme ‘Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)’ to combat cyber crime in the country, in a coordinated and effective manner.
• He also mentioned about the “Cyber Swachhta Kendra” which is a part of the Government of India’s Digital India initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

 MCQ 9

Strait of Gibraltar connects

1. Portugal & Algeria
2. Portugal & Morocco
3. Italy & Tunisia
4. Spain & Morocco

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