Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims - 31 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 tribe celebrates the Yangli festival in Assam, and what is the significance of this festival?

A) Bodo tribe, to mark the beginning of the new year

B) Tiwa tribe, to celebrate a bountiful harvest

C) Karbi tribe, to worship their ancestors

D) Mishing tribe, to seek protection from evil spirits

Answer: B

Explanation: The Tiwa tribe of Assam celebrates the Yangli festival to mark the harvest season. The festival is celebrated to express gratitude to the gods and goddesses for a bountiful harvest. The Tiwas are an indigenous tribe of Assam, and agriculture is their primary occupation. The festival involves various cultural activities, including traditional dances, songs, and feasts. The Tiwa people believe the festival brings their community prosperity and good fortune. Hence, option B is the correct answer.

Q2.Which material is used in analogue wristwatches and clocks due to its piezoelectric property?

A) Diamond

B) Quartz

C) Ruby

D) Sapphire

Answer: B

Explanation: Due to its piezoelectric property, quartz is used in analogue wristwatches and clocks. When a mechanical stress is applied to the quartz crystal, it generates a small voltage due to the displacement of the charge from its centre. The piezoelectric effect of quartz is widely utilized in various instruments, including microphones, accelerometers, and sensors. Quartz is a silicon dioxide (SiO2) crystal, and its crystal structure consists of silicon and oxygen atoms at the four vertices of a three-sided pyramid, where each oxygen atom is shared by two pyramids. The effective charge of each pyramid is located slightly away from the centre, and when a mechanical stress is applied, it generates a small voltage.

Q3.What is the main aim of the Quality Council Of India in the Indian textile and clothing industry?

A) To promote the use of indigenous fibres and filaments

B) To control the import of sub-quality and cheaper items

C) To reduce the cost of production for textile manufacturers

D) To increase the availability of domestic fibres in the market

Answer: B

Explanation: The main aim of the Quality Council of India (QCO) in the Indian textile and clothing industry is to control the import of sub-quality and cheaper items. The Indian textile and clothing industry utilizes both indigenous and imported fibres and filaments. Imported fibres are used for various reasons, including cost competitiveness, non-availability in the domestic market, or to meet the specific demand of overseas buyers. However, the QCO aims to ensure that customers receive quality products and to control the import of sub-quality and cheaper items. The entire supply chain, from textile manufacturers to exporters, focuses on quality standards prescribed by the buyers. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Q4.Which of the following statements is/are true regarding the Customs Duty exemption on imported medicines?

1)The exemption is applicable only for imports of medicines used for the treatment of rare diseases listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021.

2)Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) used in the treatment of various cancers, is fully exempted from basic customs duty.

3)The importer must produce a certificate from the Central or State Director of Health Services or District Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon of the district to avail of the exemption.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2, and 3

Answer: D

Explanation:

The Union government has declared a general exemption notification that fully exempts special medical purposes imported for personal use for the treatment of all rare diseases listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, from basic customs duty. Hence, statement 1 is true.

Additionally, the Centre has fully exempted pembrolizumab (Keytruda), used in the treatment of various cancers, from basic customs duty. Hence, statement 2 is also true.

However, to avail of the exemption, the individual importer has to produce a certificate from the Central or State Director of Health Services or the District Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon of the district. Hence, statement 3 is also true.

Therefore, all three statements are true, and the correct answer is option D.

Q5. What is upward lightning?

A) A phenomenon where lightning travels horizontally from one cloud to another.

B) A phenomenon where lightning strikes the ground in an upward direction.

C) A phenomenon where a self-initiated lightning streak develops from a tall object that travels upward toward an overlaying electrified storm cloud.

D) A phenomenon where a lightning bolt appears to move upward instead of downward.

Answer: C

Explanation: Upward lightning is a relatively rare form of lightning that occurs when a tall object such as a building, tower or tree initiates a lightning strike towards an overhead storm cloud. This phenomenon happens due to the presence of an electric field created by storm electrification and the resulting presence of a cloud charge region. The vertical elevation of a tall object accentuates the electric field locally on the ground, creating conditions favourable for the initiation of an upward streak (called a leader) from a tall object. Upward lightning can also develop in response to an electric field change created by a nearby preceding lightning flash.