Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims - 17 May 2023

Welcome to the RAYACADEMY Daily Current Affairs MCQs! Our focus is to provide you with engaging and informative questions that primarily revolve around current affairs, derived from reliable sources such as 'The Hindu', 'Indian Express', and 'PIB'. Our MCQs test your understanding of factual and conceptual knowledge, which is essential for cracking the UPSC IAS and State PCS prelim exams. Below are some of Today's Current Affairs MCQs. We hope you make the most of this initiative and wish you all the best in your preparation.

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Q1. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Matabari deep sea port?

a) It is located in Northeast India

b) It is funded by Bangladesh

c) It can be used along with the Chittagong and Mongla ports of Bangladesh

d) It is not expected to bring any benefits to the region

Answer: c

Explanation: The Matabari deep sea port is a project funded by Japan and located in Bangladesh. It is expected to supplement the existing Chittagong and Mongla ports of Bangladesh and provide additional connectivity to Northeast India. The development of this port is expected to positively impact the region's economy by facilitating trade and commerce. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q2. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the GST Council in India?

1. The GST Council is a joint forum of the Centre and the states that the President set up per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution.

2. The Council is responsible for making recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected to or exempted from GST and model GST Laws.

3. The recommendations of the GST Council are binding on the Centre and the states.

4. The power to legislate on GST is vested only with Parliament and not with state legislatures.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 1, 2, and 3 only

c) 1, 2, and 4 only

d) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The GST Council is a joint forum of the Centre and the states that the President set up per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution.

Statement 2 is correct: The Council is responsible for making recommendations to the Union and the states on important issues related to GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected to or exempted from GST and model GST Laws.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The recommendations of the GST Council are not binding on the Centre and the states. However, it is expected that the recommendations will be accepted by both the Centre and the states.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The power to legislate on GST is vested with both Parliament and state legislatures, as per Article 246A of the Constitution. The recommendations of the GST Council are the product of a collaborative dialogue involving the Union and States.

Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)?

1. The MAC is an initiative led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia.

2. The MAC includes countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and Spain.

3. The primary objective of the MAC is to combat climate change by promoting the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems globally.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1, 2, and 3 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 2 and 4 only

d) 1 and 2 only

Answer: b

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The MAC is an initiative led by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia, as mentioned in the statement. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect.

Statement 2 is correct: The MAC includes countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, and Spain.

Statement 3 is correct: The primary objective of the MAC is to combat climate change by promoting the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems worldwide.

Q3. Which of the following statements is/are correct about methanol?

1. The chemical formula of methanol is CH3OH, consisting of one carbon atom bonded with three hydrogen atoms and one hydroxyl group.

2. The most common method of methanol production involves combining carbon monoxide and hydrogen with copper and zinc oxides as catalysts under specific temperature and pressure conditions.

3. In various industrial applications, Methanol is primarily a precursor to acetic acid, formaldehyde, and aromatic hydrocarbons.

4. Methanol finds use as a solvent and as an antifreeze.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1, 2, 3, and 4 only

b) 1, 2 and 4 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3 only

Answer: a

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The chemical formula of methanol is CH3OH.

Statement 2 is correct: The most common method of methanol production involves combining carbon monoxide and hydrogen with copper and zinc oxides as catalysts under specific temperature and pressure conditions.

Statement 3 is correct: In the pre-industrial era, including ancient Egypt, people produced methanol (along with other byproducts) by heating wood to a very high temperature.

Statement 4 is correct: In various industrial applications, methanol is widely used as a precursor to acetic acid, formaldehyde, and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Q5. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the Palghat Gap in the Western Ghats?

1. The Palghat Gap is a significant geographical feature in the Western Ghats, with a width of approximately 40 km.

2. It is characterized by the presence of the steep Nilgiris and Anamalai hills, which rise above 2,000 meters above mean sea level (msl).

3. The Palghat Gap serves as a corridor for both road and rail transportation, connecting Coimbatore with Palakkad.

4. The Bharathappuzha River flows through the Palghat Gap.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1,3 and 4 only

d) All of the above

Answer: d

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Palghat Gap is considered a significant geographical feature in the Western Ghats, known for its width of approximately 40 km.

Statement 2 is correct: The Palghat Gap is flanked by the steep Nilgiris and Anamalai hills, both of which rise above 2,000 meters above mean sea level (msl).

Statement 3 is correct: The Palghat Gap serves as a transportation corridor for both road and rail connections between Coimbatore and Palakkad.

Statement 4 is correct: The Bharathappuzha River flows through the Palghat Gap.