Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims - 29 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.
Q1.Which of the following statements about the "Captive Employment" initiative is/are true?
1)It is a unique program designed to address the demand-based skilling ecosystem catering to the needs of industry partners.
2)It is a part of the DDU-GKY programme that guarantees post-training placement for a minimum of six months with a minimum CTC of Rs 10,000/-.
3)This program will only benefit the urban poor by augmenting their job needs and improve their standard of living.
A) 1 & 2 only
B) 2 & 3 only
C) 1 only
D) All of the above
Answer: A
Explanation:
The "Captive Employment" initiative is a unique program aimed at addressing the vision of a dynamic and demand-based skilling ecosystem catering to the requirements of industry partners, assuring sustainable placements for poor rural youth. It is a part of the DDU-GKY programme that guarantees post-training placement for a minimum of six months with a minimum CTC of Rs 10,000/-. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are true.
However, statement 3 is false. This program is specifically designed to benefit the rural poor to augment their job needs and improve their standard of living, not just the urban poor. This program shall also contribute to sustainable development goals.
Q2.As per the NPCI circular, which of the following statements about UPI transactions via prepaid payment instruments is/are true?
1)Transactions of over ₹2,000 via prepaid payment instruments will now attract an interchange fee of up to 1.1%.
2)The interchange fee will also be applicable on payments made via UPI to friends, family, or any other person.
3)Peer-to-peer (P2P) and peer-to-peer-merchant (P2PM) transactions will also attract the interchange fee.
4)Wallets and preloaded gift cards are prepaid payment instruments (PPI), and transactions via UPI using PPIs will attract the interchange fee.
A) 1 & 2 only
B) 2 & 3 only
C) 1 & 4 only
D) 1 only
Answer: C
Explanation:
The NPCI circular states that transactions of over ₹2,000 via prepaid payment instruments will attract an interchange fee of up to 1.1%. This interchange fee is charged by the receiver bank/payment service provider to the merchant. Wallets and preloaded gift cards are prepaid payment instruments (PPI), and transactions via UPI using PPIs will attract the interchange fee. Therefore, statements 1 and 4 are true.
However, statement 2 is false. This interchange fee will not affect payments made via UPI to friends, family, or any other individual or a merchant’s bank account. Essentially, peer-to-peer (P2P) and peer-to-peer-merchant (P2PM) transactions remain unaffected.
Similarly, statement 3 is also false. Peer-to-peer (P2P) and peer-to-peer-merchant (P2PM) transactions will not attract the interchange fee. Only transactions via prepaid payment instruments, which are essentially transactions done via wallets like Paytm Wallet through a UPI QR code, will attract the interchange fee.
Q3.What is daylight saving time (DST)?
A)DST is setting the clocks forward one hour from the standard time during the summer.
B)DST is the practice of setting the clocks back one hour from the standard time during the autumn.
C)DST is setting the clocks forward one hour from the standard time during the summer and back again in the autumn.
D)DST is the practice of setting the clocks back one hour from the standard time during the summer and forward one hour during the autumn.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from the standard time during the summer and back again in the autumn. This is done to make better use of natural daylight. Therefore, statement 3 is the correct answer.
Statements 1, 2, and 4 are incorrect as they do not fully represent the definition of DST provided in the passage.
Q4.What is depleted uranium?
A)Depleted uranium is a radioactive material used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons.
B)Depleted uranium is a highly radioactive byproduct of the process of creating enriched uranium.
C)Depleted uranium is a less radioactive byproduct of the process of creating enriched uranium, used in weapons due to its high density.
D)Depleted uranium is a harmless byproduct of the process of creating enriched uranium, widely used in weapons due to its high density.
Answer: C
Explanation:
Depleted uranium is a less radioactive byproduct of the process of creating enriched uranium, which is used in nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. Depleted uranium is much less radioactive and is incapable of generating a nuclear reaction. However, due to its high density, which is more than lead, depleted uranium is widely used in weapons as it can easily penetrate armour plating. Therefore, statement 3 is the correct answer.
Q5. Which of the following is true about Nano fertilizers?
A. They are less efficient than conventional fertilizers.
B. They do not provide nutrients like nitrogen to crops.
C. They are in the form of fine granules.
D. They are unable to replace conventional urea.
Answer: C.
Explanation: Nano fertilisers are a highly efficient type of fertiliser that provide nutrients like nitrogen to crops through fine granules. Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for plant functions. Urea is one of the most concentrated nitrogenous fertilisers, which readily converts to ammonia in the soil. Nano urea liquid was developed in 2022 by the biggest cooperative in the world, Indian Farmers and Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO), to replace conventional urea and curtail its requirement by 50 per cent. A 500-millilitre spray bottle can substitute a full 45-kilogramme bag of urea. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.