Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims- 8 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 statements is true about Hornbills?

A. Hornbills are found only in the Himalayan foothills.

B. Hornbills have a small yellow bill and no casque.

C. Hornbills play a vital role in dispersing the seeds of about 80 rainforest trees.

D. Hornbills are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red list

Answer: C.

Explanation:

Hornbills are large birds found in the Himalayan foothills, the Northeast, and the Western Ghats of India. They are also known as Great Pied Hornbills and are characterized by their huge size, large yellow bill, and casque, which is a horny outgrowth over the skull. Hornbills are the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala, and they prefer tall trees for their nests.

Hornbills play a vital role in dispersing the seeds of about 80 rainforest trees. However, they are threatened by illegal logging and hunting due to their large size. The helmeted hornbill of Sumatra and Borneo is critically endangered because of its casque, which is highly prized.

The conservation status of hornbills is Vulnerable according to the IUCN, and they are listed in Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the WPA, 1972. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Q2.Where is Mount Semeru located?

A. Indonesia

B. Philippines

C. Japan

D. Malaysia

Answer: A.

Explanation: Mount Semeru is an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia. It is the highest mountain on the island of Java and is part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. Mount Semeru has an elevation of 3,676 meters (12,060 feet) and is one of Indonesia's most popular hiking and trekking destinations. It last erupted in December 2020 but is still considered an active volcano. Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Q3.What is the theme for International Women's Day 2023?

A. DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality

B. Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world

C. Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for Change

D. Women in the Changing World of Work: Planet 50-50 by 2030

Answer: A.

Explanation:

International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th every year to celebrate women's achievements and to raise awareness about women's rights. Each year, a theme is chosen to focus on a specific issue related to women's empowerment and gender equality.

According to the United Nations, the theme for this year’s Women’s Day is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, and it aims to emphasise the importance of technology in bringing gender issues to light.

Q4.What are Sovereign Green Bonds?

A. Bonds issued by a country's central bank to fund environmentally sustainable projects.

B. Bonds issued by corporations to fund environmentally sustainable projects.

C. Bonds issued by inter-governmental groups to fund environmentally sustainable projects.

D. Bonds issued by any sovereign entity to fund environmentally sustainable projects.

Answer: D.

Explanation:

Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) are bonds issued by any sovereign entity, such as a government, to fund environmentally sustainable projects. These bonds aim to raise funds that are specifically dedicated to projects classified as environmentally sustainable.

Q5.What is Green Hydrogen?

A. Hydrogen produced from natural gas.

B. Hydrogen produced from fossil fuels where the resulting carbon emitted is captured via carbon-capture processes.

C. Hydrogen is produced via electrolysis, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity from renewable energy sources.

D. Hydrogen produced via combustion of renewable energy sources.

Answer: C.

Explanation:

Green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis, which involves splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen with electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind. This is the most environmentally sustainable way of producing hydrogen because it does not emit greenhouse gases or pollutants.

Grey hydrogen is produced from natural gas, while 'blue' hydrogen is produced from fossil fuel sources, where the resulting carbon emitted is captured via carbon-capture processes.

The CA Monthly magazines discuss the above topics in more detail.