Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (25 March 2023)

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

Date: 24 March 2023

Q1. With reference to the Evergreening of Patents, consider the following statements:

1. Evergreening is a strategy used by pharmaceutical companies to extend the life of their patents by making small modifications to the existing drug and obtaining a new patent.
2. Evergreening of patents increases competition among drug manufacturers and leads to a reduction in the prices of drugs.
3. Evergreening of patents is allowed under Indian patent law if the changes made to an existing product result in a significant improvement in efficacy.

Which of the statements 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: (C)

Explanation:

  • Evergreening of patents is a strategy used by pharmaceutical companies to extend the life of their patents by making small modifications to the existing drug and obtaining a new patent. Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • Evergreening of patents allows the companies to continue to enjoy exclusive rights to sell the drug and prevent generic competition. While this strategy may increase the profits of the pharmaceutical companies, it also leads to a reduction in the prices of drugs and increases competition among drug manufacturers. Thus, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • According to Indian patent law, a patent can be granted for an improved version of an existing product if the changes made to the product result in a significant improvement in efficacy. However, the improved version must still meet the criteria of novelty, non-obviousness, and industrial applicability. Thus, statement 3 is correct.

Q2. Which of the following statements is supported by the IPCC AR6 synthesis report?

1. The rate of emissions growth has increased in the past decade.
2. Humanity is projected to reach a temperature rise of 1.1° C by 2100.
3. Many climate-related risks are higher than assessed in AR5 for any given future warming level.

Which of the following option(s) is/are correct?

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

Answer: (B)

Explanation:

  • The IPCC report confirms that global temperature rise, which is driven by human activity, has unequivocally reached 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels.
  • Although the rate of emissions growth has slowed in the past decade. (Hence option 1 is incorrect)
  • Humanity is still projected to reach a temperature rise of 2.8°C (in the range of 2.1°C-3.4°C) by 2100. The impacts of this temperature rise have already been rapid and widespread on climatic systems. (Hence option 2 is incorrect)
  • The report warns that climate-related risks are higher than previously assessed in AR5 for any given future warming level. This has led to increased attention in the report to trajectories that limit global warming to 1.5°C instead of 2°C. (Hence option 3 is correct)

Solution. As only 3rd statement is correct, Hence the correct option is (b) 3 only.

Q3. Which of the following is a common biodegradable plastic?

1. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
2. Polystyrene (PS)
3. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)
4. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

Choose the correct option:

a) 1 and 2
b) 3 only
c) 1, 2 and 4 Only
d) All of the above

Answer: (B)

Explanation: The common biodegradable plastic among the given options is Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Hence option b is correct

Q4. Consider the following statements: [UPSC CSE PRELIMS 2020]

1. According to the Constitution of India, a person who is eligible to vote can be made a minister in a State for six months even if he/she is not a member of the Legislature of that State.
2. According to the Representation of People Act, 1951, a person convicted of a criminal offense and sentenced to imprisonment for five years is permanently disqualified from contesting an election even after his release from prison.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 and 2

Answer: (D)

Explanation:

  • An individual who is not an MLA can become a minister if he gets himself elected to the State Legislature within six months from the date of his appointment.
  • However, while the voting age is at 18 years, a person can be an MLA only after 25 years of age.
  • Therefore, statement 1 is NOT Correct.
  • Section 8 of RPA, 1951 states the grounds for disqualification on conviction of certain offenses pursuant to Section 8 of RPA, 1951.
  • The convicted candidate is disqualified from being a member of either house of Parliament or State Legislature from the date of such conviction till the stated time (but not Permanently).
  • Hence Statement 2 is also NOT Correct.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Arunachal Pradesh.

1. It is India’s largest state in the Northeast.
2. It has the lowest population density in the country.
3. It has international borders with three countries: Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Answer: (A)

Explanation:

  • Covering an area of nearly 80,000-sq-km, it is India’s largest state in the Northeast.
  • Thus statement 1 is correct.
  • It has the lowest population density in the country, with only 20 persons per square kilometre.
  • Hence statement 2 is also correct.
  • Arunachal is the only state that has international borders with three countries: Bhutan, Myanmar and China (Not Bangladesh).
  • Thus statement 3 is NOT correct.