Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (11 March 2023)

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

Date: 11 March 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. The modal mix in terms of freight movement is currently skewed by a considerable extent towards rail transport, with 65% of freight movement by railways.
2. The cost of moving freight by road is far higher than that of moving it by rail.
3. India's roads have been losing out on freight to other more modes of transportation.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • Currently, the modal mix in terms of freight movement is skewed by a considerable extent towards road transport, with 65% of freight movement by road. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
  • The cost of moving freight by road is far higher than that of moving it by rail. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • Since road travel is more convenient than it is expensive, India's railways have been losing out on freight to other more adaptable and flexible modes of transportation. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

Q2. What is the government doing to address the surging power demand in India?

1. Increasing coal and hydropower capacity.
2. Promoting energy efficiency measures.
3. Implementing demand-side management measures.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 Only
c) 1,2 and 3
d) 1 and 2 Only

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

Steps Taken by the Government:

  • Firstly, the government is working to increase the country's coal and hydropower capacity, which is needed to meet the demand during nighttime when solar capacity is not available. The government is also exploring other options such as battery storage and natural gas-powered plants to provide backup power. Statement 1 is correct.
  • Secondly, the government is promoting energy efficiency measures, including the adoption of LED lighting and efficient air conditioning systems, to reduce overall power consumption. Statement 2 is correct.
  • Thirdly, the government is implementing demand-side management measures, such as time-of-day tariffs and peak load management, to incentivize consumers to reduce power usage during peak demand hours. Statement 3 is correct.

Q3. What are the potential negative effects of providing power subsidies for agricultural growth?

1. Shifting cropping pattern towards more water intensive agricultural production.
2. It may lead to an excessive use of groundwater, resulting in the fall in water table.
3. It has reduced farmers’ production cost by forcing the installation of submersible pumps, and curtailed Industrial activity during the paddy season.

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

The harmful consequence of provision of power subsidy

  • Experts are of the opinion that the free power supply to tube wells is responsible for overdrawing of groundwater. According to them, power subsidies have led to over-exploitation of groundwater, increased groundwater extraction, and shifting cropping pattern towards more water intensive agricultural production, like cultivation of rice (paddy). This, according to experts, is likely to have negative implications, as; the over-exploitation of groundwater reduces the amount of groundwater available for future agricultural use. (Hence option 1 and 2 are correct).
  • The provision of free power to farmers has had adverse effects such as the depletion of water resources due to the promotion of paddy cultivation, increased production costs for farmers through the installation of submersible pumps, and decreased industrial activity during the paddy season. (Hence option 3 is incorrect).

Solution. As only the 1st and 2nd statements are correct, the correct option is (a).

Q4. Which of the following best describes the "cross-licensing of patents"?

a) An agreement between two or more parties to grant each other a license to use their respective patented technologies.
b) A legal action taken against a company for infringing on a patented technology.
c) A process of registering a patent in multiple countries to protect intellectual property rights.
d) A method of manufacturing patented technologies without obtaining permission from the patent holder.

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Cross-licensing of patents refers to an agreement between two or more parties to grant each other a license to use their respective patented technologies.
  • This means that each party can use the other party's technology without fear of infringement and without having to pay a royalty for its use.
  • This approach is often used to avoid costly litigation and to access patented technology without having to reinvent the wheel. So, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q5. Consider the following statements: (UPSC Pre 2016)

1. The Sustainable Development Goals were first proposed in 1972 by a global think tank called the ‘Club of Rome’.
2. The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • Sustainable Development
  • Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
  • This most widely accepted definition of Sustainable Development was given by the Brundtland Commission in its report Our Common Future (1987). (Statement 1 is Incorrect)
  • The Sustainable Development Goals have to be achieved by 2030.