Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (09 October 2023)

Current Affairs MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams

Date: 09 October 2023

1. Consider the following statements, with reference to the ‘Freedom on the Net 2023’ Report:

1. The report is released by Freedom House, a specialised agency of the United Nation.
2. It evaluates Internet freedom across the world.
3. According to the report India has more internet freedom than china and Pakistan.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • The report is released by the Freedom House, a Washington DC-based non-profit organisation. The report is titled as ‘Freedom on the Net 2023: The Repressive Power of Artificial Intelligence’. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The report, the 13th edition of an annual study of human rights online, covers developments between June 2022 and May 2023. It evaluates Internet freedom in 70 countries, accounting for 88% of the world’s Internet users. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
  • It has raised a red flag on the increasing use of artificial intelligence by governments for censorship and spread of disinformation. Elections were a trigger for digital repression. As per the report, the sharpest rise in digital repression was witnessed in Iran. It is where the authorities shut down Internet service, blocked WhatsApp and Instagram, and increased surveillance in a bid to quell anti-government protests. On a range of 1 to 100 where ‘100’ represented highest digital freedom and ‘1’ the worst repression, India scored 50. The Iceland, with a score of 94, emerged as the country with the best country for Internet freedom. China, for the 9th straight year, ranked as the world’s worst environment for Internet freedom, with Myanmar the world’s 2nd most repressive for online freedom. Pakistan has a score of 26 which is below the India. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

2. ‘Dakar Declaration’, recently seen in news is related to which of the following?

(a) Standardize transactions involving movable property.
(b) To protect human beings and the environment against industrial accidents.
(c) Reduction of global emissions reductions and increased climate finance.
(d) Convention on the International Effects of Judicial Sales of Ships to promote legal certainty.

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Recently Ministers from the world’s 46 least developed countries (LDC) issued a joint Dakar Declaration on Climate Change 2023 outlining their expectation and priorities for 28th Conference of Parties (COP28). The Dakar Declaration called for urgent global emissions reductions, increased climate finance, a strong outcome operationalising the new Loss and Damage Fund. Declaration has an ambitious Global Stocktake to close the gaps in global climate action. While least developed countries (LDCs) account for more than 14 % of the global population, they only account for about 1 % of emissions from fossil fuels and industrial processes. The UNFCCC centralised carbon market mechanism must also be operationalised by 2024, including the recognition of the specific needs and special circumstances of LDCs. Hence, option (c) is correct.

3. Nagorno-Karabakh is a conflicted region between which of the following two countries?

(a) Russia and Ukraine
(b) Armenia and Azerbaijan
(c) Israel and Palestine
(d) China and Taiwan

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh is called one of the “frozen conflicts” of the world. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region officially recognised as part of Azerbaijan. However, its 1.2 lakh population is predominantly ethnic Armenian, having close cultural, social, and historical ties with Armenia. It is an ethnic Armenian enclave in Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh also known as Artsakh by Armenians, is a landlocked mountainous area in the South Caucasus. Hence, option (b) is correct.

4. Consider the following statements in reference to Nobel Prize for Peace 2023:

1. Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian activist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2023.
2. She also received the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award and the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C)

Explanation: Narges Mohammadi, an Iranian activist, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2023. The Nobel Committee recognized her dedication to fighting against the oppression of women in Iran and her relentless advocacy for human rights and freedom. Narges Mohammadi received prominent awards in the West for her activism, including the 2023 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award and the 2023 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. In 2022, she was featured in the BBC's list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world. Hence, both statements are correct.

5. In the questions given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided below:

Assertion (A): An increase in the repo rate by a central bank can lead to a decrease in inflation.
Reason (R): A higher repo rate reduces the money supply in the economy, which can lower aggregate demand and, in turn, put downward pressure on prices.

(a) A is correct but R is incorrect.
(b) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is incorrect but R is correct.
(d) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Central banks often use the repo rate as a tool to control inflation. When a central bank increases the repo rate, it becomes more expensive for banks to borrow money from the central bank. Consequently, banks may raise their lending rates, making it more expensive for businesses and individuals to borrow. This can reduce borrowing and spending in the economy, leading to decreased aggregate demand and, potentially, lower inflation.

A higher repo rate set by the central bank can indeed reduce the money supply in the economy. When the central bank charges higher interest on funds lent to commercial banks, banks may reduce their borrowing and lending activities. This reduction in lending can decrease the money supply, which, in turn, can lead to reduced aggregate demand. As a result, the upward pressure on prices (inflation) can be mitigated.

In summary, both statements are generally accurate. An increase in the repo rate can indeed lead to a decrease in inflation, and this is primarily due to the central bank's ability to influence borrowing costs and, subsequently, aggregate demand through its monetary policy tools. Hence, option (b) is correct.