Current Affairs 31 August 2023

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Current Affairs Quiz: 31 August 2023

August 31, 2023 Current Affairs MCQs

Specially Designed for UPSC-related exams, and State Level Group-1 & Group-2 Exams

Also Useful for SSC-CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, CDS, RRB, and all other Competitive Exams

1Q) Which of the following are the Key Highlights of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index - 2023?

(1) The report is prepared based on the latest National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21).

(2) It is the 2nd edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index.

(3) India has registered a significant decline of 9.89 percentage points in the number of India’s multidimensionally poor from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-2021.

(4) Uttar Pradesh registered the highest decline in the number of poor with 3.43 crore, followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

(A) 1, 2, and 3 Only

(B) 2, 3, and 4 Only

(C) 1, 3, and 4 Only

(D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

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⇨ Important points about the National Multidimensional Poverty Index - 2023:

⇨ NITI Aayog has released the Report “National Multidimensional Poverty Index - 2023".

⇨ The report is prepared based on the latest National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21).

⇨ It is the 2nd edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index.

⇨ The first edition of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index was released in 2021.

⇨ 13.5 crore Indians escape Multidimensional Poverty in 5 years.

⇨ A steep decline in the number of multi-dimensionally poor from 24.85% to 14.96% between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

⇨ India has registered a significant decline of 9.89 percentage points in the number of India’s multidimensionally poor from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-2021.

⇨ Rural areas saw the fastest decline in poverty from 32.59% to 19.28%.

⇨ India is on track to achieve SDG Target 1.2 much ahead of the 2030 deadline.

⇨ Uttar Pradesh registered the highest decline in the number of poor with 3.43 crore, followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

⇨ The Report states that the fastest reduction in the proportion of multidimensional poor was observed in the States of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.

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The Hindu   Click Here

PIB   Click Here

niti.gov.in   Click Here

2Q) Who among the following coined the "Hydrogen Economy"?

(A) John Bockris

(B) William Armstrong

(C) Edmond Becquerel

(D) Charles Brush

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⇨ Important points about the Hydrogen Economy:

⇨ It is an economy that relies on hydrogen as a commercial fuel.

⇨ Hydrogen is a zero-carbon.

⇨ The term hydrogen economy was coined by "John Bockris" during a talk he gave in 1970 at General Motors (GM) Technical Center.

⇨ He claimed that a hydrogen economy could replace the current hydrocarbon-based economy, leading to a cleaner climate.

⇨ Hydrogen production globally was valued at over US$155 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow over 9% annually through 2030.

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The Hindu   Click Here

3Q) The Government of India introduced the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism in which of the following year?

(A) 2014

(B) 2016

(C) 2018

(D) 2021

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⇨ The Government introduced the NCORD mechanism in 2016 to have effective coordination of actions among various Ministries, Departments, and Central and state law enforcement agencies dealing with narcotics.

⇨ Indian Acts to Combat Drug Menace:

⇨ Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act, 1985:

⇨ The Act prohibits a person from the production/manufacturing/cultivation, possession, sale, purchasing, transport, storage, and/or consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.

⇨ The NDPS Act has since been amended four times — in 1988, 2001, 2014, and 2021.

⇨ The act extends to the whole of India and it applies also to all Indian citizens outside India and to all persons on ships and aircraft registered in India.

⇨ The Narcotics Control Bureau was set up under the act with effect from March 1986.

⇨ Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988:

⇨ The act extends to the whole of India.

⇨ It shall be deemed to have come into force on the 4th day of July 1988.

⇨ It was established to enable the full implementation and enforcement of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985.

⇨ Seizure Information Management System (SIMS):

⇨ The Ministry of Home Affairs launched an e-portal called "SIMS" in 2019.

⇨ It will create a complete online database of drug offenses and offenders.

⇨ International Treaties and Conventions to Combat Drug Menace:

⇨ United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961).

⇨ UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971).

⇨ UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988).

⇨ UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) 2000.

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The Hindu   Click Here

legislative.gov.in   Click Here

narcoordindia.in   Click Here

4Q) The National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) was established in which of the following year?

(A) 2015

(B) 2016

(C) 2017

(D) 2018

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⇨ The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was established in August 2015 to meet the cost of adaptation to climate change for the State and Union Territories of India that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

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Indian Express   Click Here

5Q) Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology is used in which of the following?

(A) Conventional propelled submarines

(B) Cryogenic rocket engine

(C) Nuclear power plant

(D) Air purification tower

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⇨ About the Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) technology:

⇨ Conventional submarines use diesel-electric engines, requiring them to be brought to the surface almost daily to obtain atmospheric oxygen for fuel combustion.

⇨ Air-independent propulsion (AIP) is a marine propulsion technology that allows a non-nuclear submarine to operate without access to atmospheric oxygen.

⇨ It allows the submarines to stay for longer hours in water.

⇨ This reduces the noise levels that submarines make. This makes it difficult to detect submarines.

⇨ The Navy has drawn up plans to install Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) modules on all Scorpene submarines as they go for their refit beginning with INS Kalvari likely by the end of next year to enhance their endurance.

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The Hindu   Click Here

6Q) Recently, NITI Aayog released the third edition of the "Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022" for States/UTs. In this context, which of the following state has topped in EPI 2022?

(A) Tamil Nadu

(B) Maharashtra

(C) Karnataka

(D) Gujarat

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⇨ Important points about the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022:

⇨ NITI Aayog releases the third edition of the "Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2022" for States/UTs.

⇨ The EPI 2022 recognizes that by unlocking regional competitiveness and leveraging our innate diversity, India can enhance its export potential.

⇨ The Export Preparedness Index by NITI Aayog in association with the Institute for Competitiveness, delves deeper beyond states and examines exports at the district level.

⇨ The EPI 2022 Report evaluates the performance of the states across four pillars – Policy, Business Ecosystem, Export Ecosystem, and Export Performance.

⇨ The index uses 56 indicators that holistically capture the export preparedness of States and UTs in terms of exports at both the state and district levels.

⇨ The overview of the four pillars in the index is:

⇨ Policy Pillar:

⇨ Policy Pillar evaluates state's and UTs’ performance based on its adoption of export-related policy ecosystems at a state and district level as well as the institutional framework surrounding the ecosystem.

⇨ Business Ecosystem:

⇨ Business Ecosystem assesses the prevailing business environment in a state/UT, along with the extent of business-supportive infrastructure, and a state/UTs’ transport connectivity.

⇨ Export Ecosystem:

⇨ Export Ecosystem focuses on the export-related infrastructure in a state along with the trade support provided to the exporters, and the prevalence of Research and Development in the state to foster innovation.

⇨ Export Performance:

⇨ Export Performance is an output-based indicator that gauges the growth of a state’s exports over the previous year and analyses its export concentration and footprint on the global markets.

⇨ These pillars are further based on ten sub-pillars – Export Promotion Policy; Institutional Framework; Business Environment; Infrastructure; Transport Connectivity; Export Infrastructure; Trade Support; R&D Infrastructure; Export Diversification; and Growth Orientation.

⇨ The EPI 2022 Report observed that most ‘Coastal States’ have performed well, with the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat being the top-performers in the Export Preparedness Index across the country, in all categories of states.

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PIB   Click Here

7Q) Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Big Bang Theory?

(1) Everything in the universe emerged from a point known as singularity.

(2) This happened about 13.7 billion years ago.

(3) Clouds formed clusters of galaxies.

(4) The universe is contracting.

(A) 1 and 2 Only

(B) 2 and 3 Only

(C) 1, 2 and 3 Only

(D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Show/Hide The Explanation of Answer

⇨ Important points about the Big Bang Theory:

⇨ Everything in the universe emerged from a point known as singularity.

⇨ This happened about 13.7 billion years ago.

⇨ Clouds formed clusters of galaxies.

⇨ The Universe is not contracting but is expanding according to this theory.

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The Hindu   Click Here

8Q) The Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) scheme was launched in which of the following year?

(A) 2016

(B) 2017

(C) 2018

(D) 2019

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⇨ About the Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) scheme:

⇨ Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) project is a World Bank Assisted-Government of India project with the objective of improving the relevance and efficiency of skills training provided through Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and apprenticeships.

⇨ The financial agreement was signed between the Government of India and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) on 19th December 2017 with a budget outlay of INR 2200 Crore (US $ 318 million), covering 500 ITIs, consisting of both Government ITIs (400 ITIs) & Private ITIs (100 ITIs) and 100 Industry Clusters (ICs).

⇨ It is aimed at institutional reforms and improving the quality & market relevance of skill development training programs in long-term vocational education training.

⇨ The project aims to develop a robust mechanism for delivering quality skill development training by strengthening institutions such as the State Directorate of Training & Employment, CSTARI, NIMI, NSTIs, ITIs, etc.

⇨ The duration of this scheme is for five years from 2017-18 to 2022-23.

⇨ STRIVE is a Central Sector Scheme (CSS) covering the following 4 result areas:

⇨ (1) Improved performance of ITI

⇨ (2) Increased Capacities of State Governments to support ITIs and Apprenticeship Training

⇨ (3) Improved Teaching and Learning

⇨ (4) Improved and Broadened Apprenticeship Training

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PIB   Click Here

dgt.gov.in   Click Here

9Q) Which of the following statements is correct regarding the Moon?

(1) Moon's diameter is about one-quarter of Earth's diameter.

(2) The Moon formed 4.51 billion years ago.

(3) The first artificial object to reach the Moon was the Luna 1 spacecraft.

(A) 1 Only

(B) 2 and 3 Only

(C) 1 and 3 Only

(D) 1, 2, and 3

Show/Hide The Explanation of Answer

⇨ Important points abot Moon:

⇨ Moon's diameter is about one-quarter of Earth's diameter.

⇨ The Moon formed 4.51 billion years ago.

⇨ The first artificial object to reach the Moon was the Soviet Union's uncrewed Luna 1 spacecraft in 1959.

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Down to Earth   Click Here

NASA   Click Here

10Q) Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending under the Companies Act, of 2013, corporations in India are mandated to invest how much percentage?

(A) 1 %

(B) 2 %

(C) 3 %

(D) 5 %

Show/Hide The Explanation of Answer

⇨ Important points about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

⇨ Mandatory provisions of CSR under section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 became effective from 01.04.2014.

⇨ In India, the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is governed by clause 135 of the Companies Act, 2013.

⇨ India is the first country in the world to mandate CSR spending along with a framework.

⇨ Companies are required to spend a minimum of 2% of their net profit over the preceding three years as CSR.

⇨ The CSR provisions within the Act are applicable to companies as follows:

⇨ Companies With an annual turnover of "1,000 crore" and more, or

⇨ Companies net worth of "Rs.500 crore" and more, or

⇨ Companies net profit of "Rs.5 crore" and more.

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The Hindu   Click Here

csr.gov.in   Click Here

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