Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims - 18 Mar 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.Whichof the following statements regarding AFINDEX (Africa-India Joint Field Training Exercise) is/are correct? 1)It is a joint military exercise between India and African countries. 2)The objective of the exercise is to promote and enhance the military cooperation between India and African countries. 3)AFINDEX is organized by the African Union. 4)The first edition of AFINDEX was held in 2019 in Pune, India. 5)AFINDEX is held annually in different African countries and India alternately.

A. Only 1, 2, and 4 are correct B. Only 2, 3, and 5 are correct C. Only 1, 2, and 5 are correct D. Only 1, 2, and 3 are correct Answer: C. Explanation: AFINDEX (Africa-India Joint Field Training Exercise) is a joint military exercise between India and African countries. The objective of the exercise is to promote and enhance the military cooperation between India and African countries. AFINDEX is organized by the Indian Army in collaboration with the African Union. The first edition of AFINDEX was held in March 2019 in Pune, India. It involved the participation of over a dozen African countries, including Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. The second edition of AFINDEX is scheduled to be held in 2022 in Africa. Hence, statements 1, 2, and 5 are correct, and statements 3 and 4 are incorrect.

Q2.Whichof the following statements regarding the rules for ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament is/are correct? 1)The presiding officers can direct an MP to withdraw from the House for any disorderly conduct. 2)If the MP continues disrupting the House, the presiding officer can “name” the legislator. 3)After being named, the MP can be suspended until the end of the session by a motion passed in the House. 4)The powers of the presiding officers are different in the two Houses of Parliament. Article 122 of the Constitution prevents the parliamentary proceedings from being challenged before a court of law.

A. Only 1, 2, and 3 are correct B. Only 2, 3, and 5 are correct C. Only 1, 3, and 4 are correct D. All of the above statements are correct Answer: D. Explanation: The rules for ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament have been unchanged since 1952. The presiding officers have the power to direct an MP to withdraw from the House for any disorderly conduct. If the MP continues disrupting the House, the presiding officer can “name” the legislator. After being named, the MP can be suspended until the end of the session by a motion passed in the House. These powers are common to the presiding officers of both Houses. Article 122 of the Constitution provides immunity to officers or members of Parliament in whom powers are vested by or under the Constitution for regulating procedure or the conduct of business, or for maintaining order, in Parliament. Such officers or members of Parliament cannot be subject to the jurisdiction of any court in respect of the exercise by them of those powers. Hence, the fifth statement is also correct.

Q3.Whichof the following is a correct statement about horseshoe crabs? A) Horseshoe crabs are land animals. B) They come to the coast for feeding purposes. C) The blood of horseshoe crabs is used for preparing rapid diagnostic reagents. D) Horseshoe crabs are members of the order Decapoda. Answer: C) Explanation: Horseshoe crabs are marine and brackish water arthropods of the family Limulidae and the only living members of the order Xiphosura. They are one of the oldest living creatures on earth and are medicinally priceless. These crabs come to the coasts of Balasore in Odisha and Digha and Sundarban in West Bengal for breeding purposes. The blood of horseshoe crabs is very important for the preparation of rapid diagnostic reagents. All injectable medicines are tested on them. A molecule has also been developed from a reagent of horseshoe crab to help treat pre-eclampsia. Therefore, option C) is the correct statement about horseshoe crabs. Option A) is incorrect because horseshoe crabs are not land animals but are marine and brackish water arthropods.

Option B) is incorrect because they come to the coast for breeding purposes, not for feeding.

Option D) is incorrect because horseshoe crabs are not members of the order Decapoda, which includes shrimp, crabs, and lobsters.

Q4.Whichof the following statements about timber is incorrect? A) Timber is a renewable resource. B) Hardwood trees grow slower than softwood trees. C) Timber is an important raw material for construction, furniture-making, and paper production. D) Timber production has no impact on the environment. Answer: D) Explanation: Timber is a natural resource that is obtained from trees. It is a renewable resource because trees can be replanted and regrown. Hardwood trees grow slower than softwood trees, making them a valuable and expensive type of timber. Timber is an important raw material for many industries, including construction, furniture-making, and paper production. However, timber production can have significant impacts on the environment. Clear-cutting of forests can lead to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. Logging can also result in soil erosion and degradation, as well as disruption of water cycles. In addition, transportation of timber to processing plants and markets can contribute to carbon emissions and climate change. Therefore, option D) is the incorrect statement about timber.

Q5.Whichof the following is not a factor taken into account while evaluating eligible States and sites for setting up of PM MITRA parks? A) Connectivity B) Existing ecosystem C) Textile/industry policy D) Agriculture productivity Answer: D) Agriculture productivity Explanation: te eligible States and sites for setting up of PM MITRA parks were evaluated using a transparent Challenge Method based on objective criteria. The criteria included factors such as connectivity, existing ecosystem, textile/industry policy, infrastructure, and utility services. The PM Gati Shakti- National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity was also used for validation. However, there is no mention of agriculture productivity being a factor considered while evaluating the eligible States and sites. Therefore, option D) is the correct answer.