Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (15 February 2023)

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

Date: 15 February 2023

Q1. Which of the following lie in seismic zone V?

1. All northeastern states of India
2. Ladakh
3. Kutch
4. Odisha
5. Lakshadweep Islands

Choose the correct option:

a) 2 and 4 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 5 only
d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • Zone V (very severe intensity zone): Parts of Jammu and Kashmir (Kashmir valley); Western part of Himachal Pradesh; Eastern part of Uttarakhand, Kutch in Gujarat; part of Northern Bihar; all northeastern states of India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
  • Zone IV (severe intensity zone): Ladakh; Remaining parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand; Some parts of Haryana, Parts of Punjab; Delhi; Sikkim; the northern part of Uttar Pradesh; small portions of Bihar and West Bengal; parts of Gujarat and small portions of Maharashtra near the west coast and small part of western Rajasthan.
  • Zone III (moderate intensity zone): Kerala; Goa; Lakshadweep islands; parts of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana; remaining parts of Gujarat and Punjab; parts of West Bengal, western Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh; remaining part of Bihar; northern parts of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh; parts of Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
  • Zone II (low intensity zone): Remaining parts of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
  • Thus, all northeastern states of India and Kutch in Gujarat lie in siesmic zone V from the given options.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Judicial system in India.

1. The High Court is a court subordinate to the Supreme Court.
2. The law declared by the Supreme Court becomes binding on all courts at all levels within India and also by all of the Union and State Governments.
3. Under Articles 129 and 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has been vested with the power to punish anyone for contempt of any court in India including itself.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The High Court is not a court subordinate to the Supreme Court, except for the appellate power conferred on the latter.
  • Thus statement 1 is NOT correct.
  • The law declared by the Supreme Court becomes binding on all courts at all levels within India and also by all of the Union and State Governments.
  • Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • Under Articles 129 and 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has been vested with the power to punish anyone for contempt of any court in India including itself.
  • Therefore, statement 3 is also correct.

Q3. With reference to Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), consider the following statements:

1. The aim of JJM is to provide piped water to every rural household in India by 2024.
2. All states and union territories have reported over 60% coverage of eligible households with piped water.
3. Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, and Telangana, have achieved 100% coverage of eligible households with piped water.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • The aim of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) is to provide piped water to every rural household in India by 2024. So, statement 1 is correct.
  • Only 14 states and union territories have reported over 60% coverage of eligible households with piped water, while others lag behind. So, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • In Goa, Telangana, Gujarat, Haryana, Puducherry, D&D and D&NH, and A&N Islands, every rural household has tap water supply. So, statement 3 is correct.

Q4. Consider the following statements about Lithium metal:

1. It was one of three elements produced by the big bang, along with hydrogen and helium.
2. It burns with a bright red color.
3. It has the lowest density of any metal.
4. China has the largest Lithium reserves in the world.

Which of the above statements is/are Not correct?

a) 1 and 4 Only
b) 2 and 4 Only
c) 4 Only
d) 2, 3 and 4 Only

Answer: (C)

Explanation:

  • It was one of three elements produced by the big bang, along with hydrogen and helium. Statement 1 is correct
  • It burns with a bright red color. Statement 2 is correct
  • It has the lowest density of any metal. Statement 3 is correct
  • Chile has the largest Lithium reserves in the world. Statement 4 is Not correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements on steps taken by Government of India to boost defence export and manufacturing equipment:

1. Priority to the procurement of capital items from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020.
2. Liberalization of foreign direct investment (FDI) policy allowing 74 per cent investment under the automatic route.
3. Two defense industrial corridors have to be established — one each in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to bolster indigenous manufacturing.

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

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

Answer: (C)

Explanation: To foster a defence manufacturing ecosystem in the country, the Government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development and manufacture of defence equipment, thereby promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing & technology in the country. These includes

  • Priority to procurement of capital items falling in Buy Indian (IDDM) Category from domestic sources under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP)-2020. (Hence option 1 is correct).
  • Notification of four ‘Positive Indigenization Lists’ of total 411 items of Services and three ‘Positive Indigenization Lists’ of total 3,738 items of Defence Public Sector Undertakings(DPSUs), for which there would be an embargo on the import beyond the timelines indicated against them
  • Liberalization of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy allowing 74% FDI under automatic route. (Hence option 2 is correct)
  • Establishment of two Defence Industrial Corridors, one each in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. (Hence option 3 is incorrect)
  • Earmarking of 25% defence R&D Budget for industry led R&D; and Progressive increase in allocation of Defence Budget of military modernization for procurement from domestic sources.

As only 1st and 2nd statements are correct so the correct option is (c).