Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims - 25 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.Which of the following is true about biotransformation technology for plastics?

A) It converts plastics into microplastics without the help of microbes.

B) It ensures that plastic waste is fully biodegradable in the natural environment.

C) It attacks the polymer structure of plastic and converts it into harmful chemicals.

D) It can only be used for industrial plastic waste and not for food packaging or healthcare sectors.

Answer: B

Explanation: Biotransformation technology alters the state of plastics and makes them biodegradable by digesting plastic packaging waste naturally with the help of microbes without leaving behind any microplastics. This ensures that the plastic waste that escapes refuse streams is fully biodegraded in the natural environment. Plastics made using this technology are given a pre-programmed time during which it looks and functions like conventional plastics. After expiry and exposure to the external environment, it self-destructs and biotransforms into bioavailable wax, which is then consumed by microorganisms, converting waste into water, CO2, and biomass. The technology attacks the crystalline and amorphous region of the polymer structure, rapidly turning it into a wax-like material, which is no longer plastic and is not harmful to the environment. This technology can be used in the two prime plastic waste-producing sectors - food packaging and healthcare.

Indian initiatives towards plastic waste management include the Plastic waste management gazette, a ban on single-use plastics, the National Dashboard on Elimination of Single-Use Plastic and Plastic Waste Management, and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal.

Q2.Which Of the following statements is/are true about the Konkan 2023 exercise?

1)It is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy.

2)The exercise was held from 20 to 22 March 2023 off the Konkan coast in the Bay of Bengal.

3)INS Trishul and HMS Lancaster participated in this edition of the exercise.

4)The exercises covered air, surface and sub-surface domains of maritime operations, including gunnery shoots, helicopter operations, and VBSS.

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 1, 3 and 4 only

C) 2 and 4 only

D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: B

Explanation: Konkan 2023 is an annual bilateral maritime exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy. It was held from 20 to 22 March 2023 off the Konkan coast in the Arabian Sea. INS Trishul, a guided missile frigate, and HMS Lancaster, a Type 23 guided missile frigate, participated in this edition of the exercise. The exercises covered all domains of maritime operations, air, surface and sub-surface, and included gunnery shoots on surface inflatable target ‘Killer Tomato’, helicopter operations, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills, VBSS, ship manoeuvres and exchange of personnel. The exercise yielded excellent training value to personnel of both navies, with a high level of professionalism and enthusiasm evident during its conduct. The focus personnel exhibited on op-readiness, enhancing interoperability and improving the ability to conduct joint operations will go a long way in bolstering the combined efforts of the IN and RN to strengthen maritime security and uphold a rules-based order in the region.

Q3.China, Russia and India together are not a part of the:

(A) Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

(B) G20

(C) Asian Development Bank

(D) BRICS

Answer: C

Explanation: China, Russia, and India are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), G20, and BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).

However, Russia is not a member of the Asian Development Bank.

Q4.“Climate Action Tracker”, which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries, is a

(A) Database created by a coalition of research organisations

(B) Wing of “International Panel of Climate Change”

(C) Committee under “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”

(D) Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank

Answer: A

Explanation: Climate Action Tracker is a database that monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries. It was created by a coalition of research organizations, including Climate Analytics, Ecofys, and the NewClimate Institute. The database tracks the progress of countries in meeting their climate commitments and provides independent analysis of the climate policies and actions of countries around the world. The Climate Action Tracker assesses each country's pledge based on their level of ambition, transparency, and implementation of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The database is widely used by policymakers, researchers, and civil society groups to track progress towards meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and to advocate for more ambitious climate action.

Q5.Which of the following statements about the Demand for Grants in India is/are correct?

1)The Demand for Grants is presented to the Lok Sabha as a proposal or estimate seeking the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund of India.

2)The Demand for Grants includes only voted expenditure and not charged expenditure.

3)The Lok Sabha has the power to give or refuse its assent to a demand for grants, or it can reduce the amount specified in demand.

(A) 1 and 2 only

(B) 1 and 3 only

(C) 2 and 3 only

(D) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation: The Demand for Grants is a proposal or estimate seeking the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund of India and is presented to the Lok Sabha as per Article 113 of the Constitution. Therefore, statement 1 is correct.

The Demand for Grants includes both charged and voted expenditures. Charged expenditures are considered liabilities of the government of India, such as payment of interest and are not put to the vote in the Lok Sabha. Voted expenditure includes revenue and capital expenditure to be incurred on a government scheme in the next financial year. Therefore, statement 2 is incorrect.

The Lok Sabha has the power to give or refuse its assent to a demand for grants, or it can reduce the amount specified in demand. Therefore, statement 3 is correct.