Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 31-10-19 | Free PDF

 

MCQ 1

1. Exercise Shakti is a series of joint military exercise between India and France
2. It is an annual exercise, conducted every year in India.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

Shakti-2019

• Exercise Shakti is a series of joint military exercise between India and France.
• It was commenced in the year 2011 and it is a biennial exercise.
• It is conducted alternately in India and France.
• This year exercise is going to be organised in the State of Rajasthan.
• It will focus on Counter Terrorism operations in backdrop of semidesert terrain under United Nations Mandate.

MCQ 2

1. The 29thministerial meeting of the BRICS countries on Climate Change was organized at Beijing, China recently.
2. The meeting has called for “comprehensive” implementation of the Paris climate deal amid threats by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from it.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• The 29th BASIC Ministerial Meeting on Climate Change was held recently in Beijing, China.

Outcomes of the recent meet- demands by BASIC:

• The developed countries to take urgent action to close gaps and provide support to developing nations as a part of the commitment under the Paris agreement on climate change.
• Global climate action should promote climate justice by recognizing the fundamental equality of all people in accessing economic growth and sustainable development.
• There is need for people’s participation and climate friendly lifestyles for addressing the challenge of climate change.
• Developed countries should take urgent actions to close the gaps, including revisiting their targets on mitigation under the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, and fulfilling their commitments of providing support to developing countries.

Who are the BASIC?

• The BASIC group was formed as the result of an agreement signed by the four countries on November 28, 2009.
• They are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China.

Significance of the grouping:

• Objectives: The signatory nations have a broadly common position on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and raising the massive funds that are needed to fight climate change.
• The BASIC countries constituted one of the parties in the Copenhagen Accord reached with the US-led grouping; the Accord, was, however, not legally binding.
• The BASIC group wields considerable heft purely because of the size of the economies and populations of the member countries.
• Brazil, South Africa, India and China put together has one-third of the world’s geographical area and nearly 40% of the world’s population, and when they unitedly speak in one voice this shows their determination.
• BASIC is one of several groups of nations working together to fight climate change and carry out negotiations within the UNFCCC.

Need for this grouping:

• In light of the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C released in October last year, the group took note of its findings that highlight the “high vulnerability of developing countries to climate change effects and high resultant costs of adaptation”.
• The findings of the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming make it incredibly clear that the impacts of an already warming world are significant, and that impacts at 2°C are catastrophic compared to those of 1.5°C. Yet, the BASIC ministers recalled the Paris goal of limiting the temperature rise to well under 2°C, and aspiring to limit it to 1.5°C, suggesting their continued pursuit of 2°C as the target temperature limit.
• The BASIC countries also contend that their nationally determined contributions (NDCs)— voluntary pledges of national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—have demonstrated “a high level of ambition in the context of poverty and sustainable development”.

Way ahead:

• While developed countries must take the lead to reduce GHG emissions and enable developing countries to scale climate action. It is critical that all countries actively step-up to rapidly reduce global GHG emissions within their own jurisdictions and collectively work with each other to limit warming to 1.5°C.

MCQ 3

What is IndiGen

1. An antibiotic
2. An expedition to sun
3. A Cost effective solution for clean water
4. A programme managed by the CSIR for a free mapping of whole genomes

IndiGen

• It is a programme managed by the CSIR for a free mapping of whole genomes of a person.
• CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB) and the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) are part of this.
• The objectives of this programme are,
• To test if it’s possible to rapidly and reliably scan several genomes and advise people on health risks that are manifest in their gene and,
• Understand the variation and frequency of certain genes that are known to be linked to disease.
• A genetic test usually involves analysing only a portion of the genome that’s known to contain aberrant genes linked to disease.
• A whole genome sequencing is more involved, expensive and generally attempted only for research purposes.
• The human genome has about 3.2 billion base pairs.

MCQ 4

1. The Global Bio-India 2019 is one of the largest biotechnology stakeholders conglomerate will be held for the first time in India
2. It is being organized by CSIR

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

Global Bio-India 2019

• The Global Bio-India 2019 is one of the largest biotechnology stakeholders conglomeratewill be held for the first time in India at New Delhi.
• Ministry of Science & Technology along with its Public Sector Undertaking, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) is organizing this event.
• It is to bring together stakeholders to strengthen the indigenous research capabilities, bio-entrepreneurship, investments and lastmile-delivery of technology across rural India and tier-2, 3 cities.

MCQ 5

1. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel is located in TamilNadu
2. Its going through Theni Hills and supports scientific experiments going on there

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(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• The two-lane Chenani-Nashri tunnel is Asia’s longest bi-directional highway tunnel, which will cut the distance between Jammu and Srinagar to around 250 km from the current 350 km. Built at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the 10.89-km tunnel has absorbed a sum of Rs 2,519 crore in its construction
• The world’s sixth road tunnel has a transverse ventilation system enabled and controlled by ABB software. It also boasts features like Integrated Traffic Control System (ITCS), Video Surveillance System, FM Rebroadcast System, Entrance Detection Control System and Active Firefighting System.
• There are 124 closed-circuit TV cameras for surveillance inside the tunnel. In case of a traffic violation, the control room will inform the traffic police deployed outside the tunnel, who will fine the violators on the spot.
• The new 10.8 kilometre Chenani-Nashri tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir, the longest highway tunnel in Asia, features a state-of-the-art ABB ventilation system to ensure that users have access to fresh air as they drive through it.
• Why is it important?
• The tunnel, which took seven years to build, will act as an all-weather alternative to the existing Jammu-Srinagar highway. It will link Chenani in Udhampur district with Nashri in Ramban district. Thanks to the tunnel, the distance from Chenani and Nashri will now be 10.9 kms (between two ends of the tunnel), instead of the existing 41 kms. The tunnel will also save fuel worth nearly Rs 99 crore a year and Rs 27 lakh worth of fuel per day

MCQ 6

1. Universal Postal Union (UPU) is A specialized agency of United Nations
2. The United Nations’ Universal Postal Union (UPU) frames rules for international mail exchange, and fixes rates for international postal services.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• In a unilateral decision, Pakistan has stopped exchange of postal mails with India since August 27.

Background:

• Other than the UPU, three agreements cover postal exchange between India and Pakistan — Exchange of Value Payable Article, 1948; Exchange of Postal Article, 1974; and International Speed Post Agreement, 1987.
• Who regulates postal exchange between one country and another?
• The United Nations’ Universal Postal Union (UPU) frames rules for international mail exchange, and fixes rates for international postal services.
• Can one UPU member-country unilaterally stop postal exchange with another?
• Under UPU rules, when a country decides to suspend exchange with a country, it must notify the operator of the other country (in India’s case, India Post) and, if possible, the duration for which services are being stopped. The UPU’s International Bureau too has to be notified.

About Universal Postal Union (UPU):

• A specialized agency of United Nations that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to worldwide postal system.
• Established in 1874 and is second oldest international organization worldwide after International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which was established in 1865.
• Headquartered in Berne, Switzerland.
• Has 192 member countries.
• It is primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players among member countries.
• UPU has four units: the Congress, the Council of Administration, the International Bureau, and the Postal Operations Council.
• Regulates40 lakh postal outlets worldwide.
• India joined the UPU on July 1, 1876 and Pakistan on November 10, 1947.

Functions:

• Helps to ensure truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.
• Sets rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations for growth in mail, financial and parcel services volumes and also to improve quality of service for customers.

MCQ 7

1. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a UN specialized agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation
2. The overflight clearances are granted by it to countries according to ICAO guidelines.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(C) Both

(D) None

• India has approached ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) after Pakistan denied permission for PM Modi to use its air space.

Background:

• The overflight clearances are granted by other countries according to ICAO guidelines.

About ICAO:

• What is it?
• The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a UN specialized agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention).

Functions:

• ICAO works with the Convention’s 193 Member States and industry groups to reach consensus on international civil aviation Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) and policies in support of a safe, efficient, secure, economically sustainable and environmentally responsible civil aviation sector.
• These SARPs and policies are used by ICAO Member States to ensure that their local civil aviation operations and regulations conform to global norms, which in turn permits more than 100,000 daily flights in aviation’s global network to operate safely and reliably in every region of the world.
• ICAO also coordinates assistance and capacity building for States in support of numerous aviation development objectives; produces global plans to coordinate multilateral strategic progress for safety and air navigation.
• Also monitors and reports on numerous air transport sector performance metrics; and audits States’ civil aviation oversight capabilities in the areas of safety and security.

Chicago convention:

• Convention on International Civil Aviation (also known as Chicago Convention), was signed on 7 December 1944 by 52 States.
• Pending ratification of the Convention by 26 States, the Provisional International Civil Aviation Organization (PICAO) was established.
• It functioned from 6 June 1945 until 4 April 1947. By 5 March 1947 the 26th ratification was received. ICAO came into being on 4 April 1947. In October of the same year, ICAO became a specialized agency of the United Nations linked to Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• The Convention establishes rules of airspace, aircraft registration and safety, and details the rights of the signatories in relation to air travel. The Convention also exempts air fuels in transit from (double) taxation.

 

 

 

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