UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 15 to December 21, 2024

Statement 1: The United States has announced its emission reduction target for 2035, promising to reduce its emissions to 61-66 per cent below 2005 levels by that time.

Statement 2: The current US target for 2030 aims to attain 50-52 per cent reductions over 2005 levels.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is not the correct explanation for Statement 1.

(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is incorrect.

(d) Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct.

Explanation

— Just a month before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the United States has unveiled its 2035 emission reduction target, aiming to lower emissions by 61-66 percent below 2005 levels by then. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— This adds on the current US objective for 2030, which aims to achieve 50-52% reductions above 2005 levels. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The increased target for 2035 was revealed in the amended Nationally Determined Contribution, or NDC, that the United States submitted to the UN Climate Change on Thursday (December 19) night. According to the 2015 Paris Agreement, each government is required to design and submit climate action plans on a regular basis. The first wave of NDCs included climate targets that countries aimed to attain by 2030. The second set of NDCs, for 2035, is already due and must be filed by February of next year.

Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 is the correct explanation for Statement 1.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the use of Automated & Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) system, consider the following statements:

1. It will provide real-time data on the status of each project, with a survey going hand-in-hand with construction at every stage of the road-building process.

2. India will be the first country to implement the AIMC.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Given worries about delays in the completion of numerous National Highway projects around the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has accelerated the deployment of the Automated and Intelligent Machine-aided Construction (AIMC) system.

— This will give real-time data on the state of each project, with a survey conducted alongside work at every stage of the road-building process. The generated data will be sent in real time to stakeholders, including the MoRTH. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— A MoRTH official informed The Indian Express that the department researched the systems of nations such as the United States, Norway, and the European Union, where AIMC is already in place, before developing this pan-India strategy. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The advent of numerous types of machinery for highway construction has significantly accelerated the process. Now, with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), we are on the verge of another upheaval.

— A number of “intelligent road construction machines” have been designed to improve the durability and longevity of roads built, give real-time documentation, and boost productivity. Such machines will aid in the completion of projects according to specified timelines.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Colombo Security Conclave mechanism, consider the following statements:

1. It was formed in 2018.

2. It is a trilateral maritime security grouping of India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

3. Recently, India has flagged the importance of maritime security and the possibility of working on the rehabilitation of Sri Lanka’s Kankesanthurai port.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s visit to India this week, his first abroad tour since becoming the country’s leader, featured some classic diplomatic deal-making, with give and take on both sides.

— According to the joint statement, the two leaders recognised the “positive and impactful role of India’s development assistance to Sri Lanka that has significantly contributed to its socioeconomic growth” in bilateral development cooperation.

— In terms of physical connection, the two leaders agreed that, in addition to resuming passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai, officials should seek to restart passenger ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar as soon as possible. They will also look into the possibilities of working on the restoration of Sri Lanka’s Kankesanthurai port. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— PM Modi highlighted the importance of maritime security, cyber security, and counter-terrorism as problems to be addressed through the Colombo Security Conclave framework.

— The Colombo Security Conclave was established in 2011 as a trilateral maritime security alliance between India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The activity roadmap was later expanded, with Mauritius joining as the fourth member and Bangladesh and Seychelles as observer countries. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are not correct.

— The Conclave emphasises regional collaboration and common security goals for the littoral nations in the Indian Ocean Region. It intends to prioritise maritime security, marine pollution response, and maritime search and rescue throughout the region.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following countries has eradicated the Northern giant hornet, nicknamed the “murder hornet”?

(a) China

(b) Mexico

(c) United States

(d) Brazil

Explanation

— The Northern giant hornet, nicknamed the “murder hornet”, has been eradicated in the United States, the Department of Agriculture said.

— In 2019, the insect was discovered in Washington state, near the Canadian border. Efforts were promptly launched to locate and eradicate the invasive species, which endangers bees and agriculture. Washington was the only state in the United States with documented observations of northern giant hornets.

— The hornets, which can reach 2 inches in length and are an invasive species from Asia, originally made headlines in 2013 when they killed at least 42 people in China and critically injured 1,675, according to an Associated Press story.

— The species is a major threat to insects and native pollinators. ‘Murder hornets’ may kill an entire honeybee colony in 90 minutes.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Edible oils, consider the following statements:

1. Edible oils currently attract an 18 per cent rate of Goods and Services Tax.

2. Before 2017 the GST regime was implemented, provisions of the Central Excise Tariff Act, 1985 (CET Act) were applied to coconut oil.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— After more than 15 years of debate among judges at various levels, the Supreme Court has ruled that coconut oil is an edible oil and therefore be taxed less. It also doesn’t matter if coconut oil, like other personal care items, is occasionally marketed in small packages.

— Edible oils now have a lower Goods and Services Tax rate (5%) than hair care goods (18%). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Prior to the implementation of the GST regime in 2017, coconut oil was subject to the terms of the Central Excise Tariff Act of 1985 (CET Act). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— When the CET Act was revised in 2005, coconut oil was included in Section III – “Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and their Cleavage Products; Prepared Edible Fats; Animal of Vegetable Waxes” – and was subject to an 8% excise duty.

— “Preparations for use on the hair” was included under Section VI of the Act (“Products of the Chemical or Allied Industries”) and was subject to a 16% excise duty.

— This was consistent with the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN), worldwide taxation standards released in 1988 by the World Customs Organisation, an intergovernmental group that represents 186 customs administrations throughout the world.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

With reference to the Captagon, consider the following statements:

1. It is manufactured to help treat attention deficit disorders.

2. It contains fenethylline.

3. It was commercially sold in several countries until the 1980s and was banned due to fears of its highly addictive nature.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Since the removal of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, industrial-scale manufacturing facilities for the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon have been discovered around the country.

— Over time, the growth of Captagon became a financial lifeline for al-Assad and his friends as Syria struggled with its economic crises following the onset of the 2011 civil conflict.

— The now popular Captagon is a counterfeit replica of a drug with the same brand name that was first manufactured in the 1960s by the German business Degussa Pharma Gruppe. They were developed to treat attention deficit disorder, narcolepsy, and other ailments. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to Al Jazeera, the original Captagon contained fenethylline, a synthetic stimulant from the phenethylamine family that also includes amphetamines. It was commercially available in a number of nations until the 1980s, when it was outlawed due to concerns about its strong addictive potential. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

— According to a 2015 Vox investigation, Captagon pills, like other amphetamine-based medications, stimulate the central nervous system, delivering “a boost of energy, enhance someone’s focus, let someone stay awake for longer periods of time, and produce a feeling of euphoria.”

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

The buffalo and bulbul fights are part of the folk culture associated with the winter harvest of:

(a) Karnataka

(b) Arunachal Pradesh

(c) Goa

(d) Assam

Explanation

— Earlier this week, the Gauhati High Court reinstated the ban on traditional buffalo and bulbul (songbird) contests in Magh Bihu Assam. The court overturned a notification issued by the Assam government in January that attempted to restore these practices after nearly a decade.

— In doing so, the court noted that the Assam government attempted to overturn provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and the Supreme Court’s 2014 decision, which prohibited the use of bulls as performing animals in jallikattu, kambala, and bullock cart races.

— The buffalo and bulbul fights are part of the folk culture related to Magh Bihu, an Assamese winter harvest festival held in January.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

With reference to the Joint Committee of Parliament, consider the following statements:

1. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is set up by the Parliament for a special purpose, like the detailed scrutiny of a subject or Bill.

2. It is not dissolved.

3. JPC can scrutinise documents and summon people for questioning.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will propose in Parliament that the bills on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea be referred to a joint committee for further consideration.

— The Parliament forms a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for a specific purpose, such as conducting a thorough examination of a subject or Bill. As the name implies, it includes members from both Houses, as well as representatives from the government and opposition parties. It is disbanded when its tenure expires or its task is done. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Examples of joint committees are the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2024, which was formed in August of this year, and the Personal Data Protection Bill of 2019. Others are tasked with investigating alleged financial violations.

— A JPC is formed when one House of Parliament passes a resolution and the other agrees to it. Parliament appoints members to the JPC. The number of members may vary.

— It has members from both the Houses and from the ruling parties and the opposition. It is dissolved after its term ends or its task has been completed. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— A JPC has the authority to examine documents and call people for questioning in order to carry out its investigation mission. It then delivers a report with suggestions to the government.

— The committee’s proceedings and findings are kept confidential, with the exception of matters of public importance. The government has the authority to withhold a document if it is deemed detrimental to the safety or interests of the state. In the event of a disagreement on whether to ask for evidence, the Speaker has the last say.

— While the recommendations of a JPC are convincing, they are not binding on the government. The government may choose to conduct additional investigations based on what the JPC has stated, but it cannot be obliged to do so. JPC can scrutinise documents and summon people for questioning. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

With reference to the Ganges river dolphin, consider the following statements:

1. The first ever Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was tagged in Bihar.

2. The tagging exercise will help to understand the species’ seasonal and migratory patterns.

3. It is India’s National Aquatic Animal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— The first Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica) was tagged in Assam, marking a historic milestone for Project Dolphin, a conservation initiative dedicated to India’s national aquatic animal. Hence, statement 1 is not correct and statement 3 is correct..

— The tagging exercise will aid in understanding the species’ seasonal and migratory behaviours, range, distribution, and habitat use, particularly in fragmented or degraded river systems, according to a press statement from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Dolphins are made up of approximately 40 living species from multiple families. The family Platanistidae includes two living species of Indian river dolphins: the Indus river dolphin and the Ganges river dolphin, which were thought to be the same species until the 1970s.

— According to the Conservation Action Plan for the Ganges River Dolphin, 2010-2020, male Gangetic dolphins are approximately 2-2.2 metres long, while females are slightly longer at 2.4-2.6 metres. An adult dolphin can weigh between 70 and 90 kilogrammes. They feed on a variety of fish and invertebrates.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

Consider the following states:

1. Punjab

2. Himachal Pradesh

3. Rajasthan

4. Uttar Pradesh

5. Himachal Pradesh

Which of the states are bickering over a Shanan Hydel Project?

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 5

(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

— Haryana filed a petition before the Supreme Court, adding a fresh dimension to the current legal conflict between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab over the British-era 110 MW Shanan Hydel Project.

— Haryana has asked to be made a party to the litigation. Experts say this is an unprecedented move by Haryana, which was part of undivided Punjab until 1966, along with Himachal Pradesh, to have its voice heard on the matter.

— The Shanan Hydel Project, located in Jogindernagar, Mandi, was leased to Punjab in 1925 for 99 years. The lease agreement was signed by Raja Joginder Bahadur, the then-ruler of Mandi, and Colonel B C Batty, a British official and Punjab’s Chief Engineer.

— Before independence, the project provided electricity to Punjab, Lahore, and Delhi. Following Partition, electrical supply to Lahore was cut off, and the transmission line was cut near Verka village in Amritsar.

— The Shanan facility, originally intended as a 48 MW facility, was later upgraded to 60 MW and then 110 MW by Punjab to fulfil the state’s expanding electricity demands. Under the present lease terms, the facility offers 500 kW of free electricity to Himachal Pradesh by drawing water from the state’s Uhl river.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 11

With reference to the demand for rupee vis a vis dollar consider the following statements:

1. Suppose the US decides that it will not allow Indian imports, the demand for Indian rupees will plummet and the rupee will weaken.

2. If an investor does not make any fresh investments into India or if he or she actually pulls out money from India and invests it back in the US, it will reduce the demand for rupees relative to the dollar and the rupee will weaken against the dollar.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— Suppose the US decides that it will not allow Indian imports. In such a scenario, the demand for Indian rupees will plummet. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— End result: rupee will weaken. Something similar is expected to happen if, as President-elect Donald Trump has promised, the US slaps high tariffs against Indian goods, making them so costly that no one in America will buy them.

— Similarly, imagine a scenario where both India and the US are experiencing high inflation. By definition, inflation eats away the value of a currency because an inflation of 5% means that whatever one could buy for Rs 100 in the first year, requires Rs 105 to buy in the second year.

— Now imagine that in five years time, the US reduces its inflation to zero while in India it stays at 6%. This would mean that if an American decides to invest in the Indian stock market thinking that Indian companies/shares give an annual return of 10%, he or she would end up getting only 4% real return because six out of those 10% would be eaten up by inflation. On the other hand, the US stock market might give a return of just 5% but since inflation is at 0%, the final return would be 5%.

— In such a scenario, an investor may not make any fresh investments into India; worse still, he or she may actually pull out money from India and invest it back in the US. Both these actions will reduce the demand for rupees relative to the dollar and the rupee will weaken against the dollar. Again, something similar is happening at present as the investors pull out money from India. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

With reference to the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (NIA Act), consider the following statements:

1. The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (NIA Act) includes offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) but not the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982.

2. The Supreme Court held that the NIA can investigate offences “connected” to the main Scheduled Offence that is already under investigation — even if the connected offence was committed by a separate person who is not an accused in the Scheduled Offence.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The Supreme Court earlier this week expanded the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA’s) powers of investigation.

— A Bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and N K Singh held that the NIA has the power to investigate offences “connected” to the main Scheduled Offence that is already under investigation — even if the connected offence was committed by a separate person who is not an accused in the Scheduled Offence. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (NIA Act) allows the agency to investigate certain Scheduled Offences upon the direction of the Central Government. The NIA Act includes a list or “Schedule” of laws that contain offences that the NIA may investigate, including offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA) and the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 13

Which Indian city has been finalised as the venue for the 2025 Para Athletics World Championship?

(a) Mumbai

(b) Chennai

(c) New Delhi

(d) Lucknow

Explanation

— New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has been finalised as the venue for the 2025 Para Worlds slated for 26 September to 5 October 2025. This is the first time India will host para athletics’ biggest sporting event. The development was announced by the World Paralympic Association (WPA) on their official website.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

‘Operation Chutney’ is referred to in history with reference to:

(a) Travancore

(b) Goa

(c) Hyderabad

(d) Imphal

Explanation

— In 1961, preparations for an armed attack on Goa began in full swing.

— Venkataraghavan and Subha Srinivasan, in their book ‘The Origin Story of India’s States’, write that the final trigger for military action was the Portuguese firing on an Indian steamer from Anjadip.

— “On 1 December, India began a surveillance and reconnaissance exercise called Operation Chutney. Two frigates began to patrol the coast of Goa, and the Indian Navy mobilised sixteen ships, divided into four task groups. The Indian Air Force (IAF) began flights to lure any Portuguese fighter jets to reveal their positions. The Indian Army stationed troops around the borders of Goa, Daman and Diu. The army would lead Operation Vijay to liberate Goa, and the navy and the air force would support it.”

— Military action began on December 17, and victory was swift. On the evening of December 19, Governor-General Vassalo e Silva surrendered — Goa and Daman and Diu had been liberated. Over 400 years of Portuguese rule in India had finally ended.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

Banaskantha’s Masali was recently in the news because:

(a) It is India’s first green village.

(b) It is India’s first border solar village in the country.

(c) It is India’s first model-tourism village.

(d) It is India’s first craft handloom village.

Explanation

— Masali village of Suigam taluka in Banaskantha has become the first border solar village in the country, district authorities said. Home to a population of 800 people, the village is located nearly 40 kilometres from the international Pakistan border.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 08 to December 15, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 01 to December 07, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | November 24 to November 30, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | November 17 to November 23, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | November 10 to November 16, 2024

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