DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam –27th July 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –Environment and Ecology

Context: Studies have shown that Silver cockscomb is not a troublesome weed for Karnataka’s Soliga tribe.

Background:-

• Silver cockscomb is a troublesome weed. ( Expansion of the Invasive Plants)
• If left unchecked, it can spread quickly and suppress the growth of other crops, affecting their yield.
• But for the Soliga tribe, silver cockscomb is a nutritious leafy green vegetable that grows well even on fallow land and in drought-like conditions.

About Silver cockscomb:-

• Silver cockscomb is a short-lived 50-60 cm-tall plant.
• It is also known as Lagos spinach.
• Scientific name: Celosia argentea .
• Local Names:-
  • In Karnnada: Anne soppu
  • In Marathi: Kurdu
  • In Tamil: Pannai keerai
• Family: Amaranthaceae family.
  • The family includes economically important plants like spinach, beetroot and quinoa.
• It bears simple, spirally arranged leaves around the stem with pinkish or silky white flowers.
• It grows well even on fallow land and in drought-like conditions.
• Its leaves have lower levels of oxalic acid and phytic acid.

Uses of Silver cockscomb:-

• It grows widely on farmlands across the country and most farmers use the plant as
• Soliga tribe use it as a nutritious leafy green vegetable, as it is high in nutrients such as beta-carotene and folic acids, and has vitamin E, calcium and iron.
• It is frequently used in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine for treating eye diseases and ulcers. (WHO and Traditional Medicine)

About the Soliga tribe:-

• They are an indigenous tribe of Karnataka.
• Location: They reside in the peripheral forest areas near Biligiri Rangana Hills and Male Mahadeshwara in the Chamarajnagar district of Karnataka.
• They are the first tribal community living inside the core area of a tiger reserve in India to get their forest rights officially recognised by a court of law.

MUST READ: New genus of parasitic flowering plant

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following trees: (2023)

1. Jackfruit (Artoca7pus heterophyllus)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)

How many of the above are deciduous trees?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q.2) Consider the following statements (2023)

Statement-I:

Marsupials are not naturally found in India.

Statement-II:

Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.

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

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Syllabus

• Prelims –Environment and Ecology

Context: As per recent reports, Ludwigia Peruviana is threatening the elephant habitats in Tamil Nadu.

Background:-

• Ludwigia peruviana, has infested the majority of the hill station’s swamps, where elephants used to find lush grass even in the summer.
• It is among the 22 priority invasive plants in Tamil Nadu.

About Ludwigia peruviana:-

• Ludwigia peruviana is an invasive aquatic weed. (Invasive alien plants in Nilgiri Biosphere Region)
• Habitat: it is originally native to Central and South America.
• It is an aquatic plant, which is now challenging the existence of local vegetation in various swampy areas around the world.
• It is a perennial shrub.
  • Perennial: A plant that lives for more than two years.
• It is deciduous in cooler climates and evergreen in warmer tropical climates.
• It can form floating islands on the water’s surface.
• The plant can grow to a height of about 12 feet.
• Leaves are:-
  • Oval to lance-shaped with a pointed tip and narrow base.
  • Hairy and prominently veined.
• Flowers are:-
  • Its flower is pale yellowish in colour.
  • Each flower lasts for only one day.

Issues with Ludwigia peruviana:-

• It is an aquatic plant, which is now challenging the existence of local vegetation in various swampy areas around the world.
• It grows faster in wetlands than other harmful weeds.
• It has shaken the balance of these perennial foraging grounds, limiting the growth of grass and native plants that are palatable to elephants and other animals including gaur.
• It grows in swamps and there is little scope to use machinery.
• Even if Ludwigia is pulled out manually, the soft plant easily breaks and it spreads again from the root or broken stems that fall in the swamp

Ways to control Ludwigia peruviana:-

• Prevention: Reducing nutrient runoff into the waterway can limit growth.
• Physical removal: Seedlings can be pulled or dug out.
• Disposal: Plants can be destroyed by burning or deep burial.
• Slashing/Fire: Larger infestations may be slashed and burnt.
• Chemical control: Spraying glyphosate.
• Cut stump method: Cut the main stems, and apply herbicide gel to the stump within 15 seconds of cutting.

MUST READ: Water Hyacinth

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
2. Some mushrooms have · psychoactive properties.
3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.

How many of the above statements are correct? ·

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Q.2) ‘Invasive Species Specialist ·group’ (that develops Global Invasive Species Database) belongs to which one of the following organizations? (2023)

1. The International Union for Conservation of Nature
2. The United Nations Environment Programme
3. The United Nations World Commission for Environment and Development
4. The World Wide Fund for Nature

Syllabus

• Prelims –Economy

Context: The Government of India recently appointed a panel to review the methodology used by the National Statistical Organisation (NSO).

Background:-

• The panel is appointed under the chairmanship of Pronab Sen, former Chief Statistician of India.
• This happened in the backdrop of articles by Shamika Ravi and Bibek Debroy arguing the usage of outdated survey methodology by national surveys.
• According to them, this archaic methodology has failed to capture reality in the recent past as the “Indian economy has been incredibly dynamic in the last 30 years”.
• The Pronab Sen Committee will attempt to address these concerns to make the sample adequately representative.

About National Statistical Organisation (NSO):-

• Established: 2019.
  • The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) merged with the Central Statistical Office (CSO) to form the National Statistical Office (NSO).
  • The NSO was first envisaged by Rangarajan Commission to implement and maintain statistical standards and coordinate statistical activities of Central and State agencies as laid down by the National Statistical Commission (NSC).
• Ministry: Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation.
• Headed by: Secretary, Statistics and Programme Implementation.
• Objective: It was created to streamline and strengthen the present nodal functions of the ministry and to bring in more synergy by integrating its administrative functions within the ministry.

Structure:-

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has two wings:-
  • Statistics and
  • Programme Implementation.
• The Statistics Wing is called the National Statistical Office (NSO).
• It consists of the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the Computer Center and the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
  • CSO: coordinates the statistical activities in the country and also evolves statistical standards.
  • NSSO: responsible for the conduct of large-scale sample surveys in diverse fields on an all-India basis.

Functions and Responsibilities of NSO:-

• It acts as the nodal agency for the planned development of the statistical system in the country.
• It lays down and maintains norms and standards in the field of statistics.
• It coordinates the statistical work in respect of the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India and State Statistical Bureaus (SSBs).
• It prepares national accounts (including Gross Domestic Product). ( GDP estimates by NSO)
• It publishes annual estimates of national product, Government and Private final consumption expenditure, Capital Formation, Savings, etc. and comparable estimates of State Domestic Product (SDP).
• It compiles and releases Consumer Price Index (CPI) Numbers and Annual Inflation rates based on these CPI numbers. (CPI)
• It maintains liaison with International Statistical Organizations.
  • These include the United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD), ESCAP, the Statistical Institute for Asia and the Pacific (SIAP), IMF, ADB, FAO, ILO, etc. (IMF and World Economic Outlook)
• It compiles and brings out reports as per international/regional commitments.
  • These include Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) India Country Report and SAARC Development Goals India Country Report.
• It compiles and releases the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) every month. (IIP)
• It conducts the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI).
• It provides statistical information to assess and evaluate the changes in the growth, composition and structure of the organized manufacturing sector.
• It organizes and conducts periodic all-India Economic Censuses and follow-up enterprise surveys.
• It conducts large-scale all-India sample surveys.

MUST READ: National Statistical Commission (NSC)

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2023)

Statement-I:

Interest income from the deposits in Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InviTs) distributed to their investors is

exempted from tax, but the dividend is taxable.

Statement-II:

InviTs are recognized as borrowers under the ‘Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002’.

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

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q.2) In India, which one of the following is responsible for maintaining price stability by controlling inflation. (2022)

1. Department of Consumer Affairs
2. Expenditure Management Commission
3. Financial Stability and Development Council
4. Reserve Bank of India

Syllabus

• Prelims –Defense

Context: Recently, leaders across India’s political spectrum paid their tributes to India’s armed forces and the fallen martyrs on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

About Kargil Vijay Diwas:-

• The Kargil War officially ended on July 26, 1999.
  • The day is dedicated to the martyred soldiers of the Kargil War.

Historical Background of the Kargil War:-

• Time period: – May-July of 1999.
• Location: Kargil (now a district in the Union Territory of Ladakh) district of Jammu and Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC)
  • Line of Control (LoC): it is a military control line between the Indian and Pakistani-controlled parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Cause of the war: The conflict was triggered when infiltrators from Pakistan crossed the LoC and occupied high positions in Ladakh’s Kargil district. ( Upgradation of Kargil Zanskar road)

Operation Vijay:

• In the year 1999, India and Pakistan signed the Lahore Agreement to mutually resolve the Kashmir issue in a peaceful manner.
• However, the Pakistani troops began infiltrating toward the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) under Operation Badr, hoping to cut off Indian Troops in Siachen.
• The Indian Army responded by launching Operation Vijay.
• It had infiltrated into the high altitudes in the rocky mountainous region of Kargil with around 5,000 soldiers and captured it.
• When the Indian Government got the information about it, ‘Operation Vijay’ was launched by the Indian army to throw back the intruders who had treacherously occupied Indian Territory. (UPSC CSE: Aatmanirbhar in Defence)

MUST READ: The new defence systems handed over to Army

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements with respect to the National Flag of India according to the Flag Code of India, 2002: (2023)

Statement-I:

One of the standard sizes of the National Flag of India is 600 mm x 400 mm.

Statement-II:

The ratio of the length to the height (width) of the Flag shall be 3: 2.

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

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q.2) Consider the following statements in respect of Constitution Day: (2023)

Statement-I:

Constitution Day is celebrated on 26th November every year to promote constitutional values among citizens.

Statement-II:

On 26th November 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India set up a Drafting Committee under the chairmanship of Dr B. R. Ambedkar to prepare a Draft ·Constitution of India.

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

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Syllabus

• Prelims –International Relations

Context: Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed to make the African Union a permanent member of the G-20.

Background:-

• The proposal has received overwhelming response from the grouping as informed by India’s G-20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant has said. India and G20 Presidency)

About African Union:-

• Establishment:2002.
• HQ: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• The African Union (AU) was officially launched in Durban, South Africa as a successor to the Organization of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).
• The African Union (AU) is an influential organization consisting of 55 member states that make up the countries of the African continent. ( African Union)
• Languages of AU: – Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili and any other African languages. ( Mali suspended from African Union)

Objectives of AU:-

• Achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and their people.
• Defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States.
• Accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent.
• Encourage international cooperation.
• Promote peace, security, and stability on the continent.
• Promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance.
• Work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and the promotion of good health on the continent.
• Ensure the effective participation of women in decision-making, particularly in the political, economic and socio-cultural areas.
• Develop and promote common policies on trade, defense and foreign relations.

About India-African Union relations:-

• After India gained independence, it became a leading voice in support of African decolonization at the United Nations.
• ITEC: In 1964, India launched the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program to provide technical assistance through human resource development to other developing countries, with
  • African countries were the greatest beneficiaries of it and the Special Commonwealth African Assistance Programme (SCAAP).
• India’s economic engagement with Africa: began intensifying in the early 2000s.
• India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS): India-AU partnership became more with the first India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS) in 2008.
  • The Summit adopted the Delhi Declaration and the Africa-India Framework for Cooperation, which constituted the blueprint for cooperation between India and Africa in the 21st century.

Recent Developments:-

• India’s first high-level visit to Africa for 2022 saw the following developments:-
• India announced the Phase-II up-gradation of the Entrepreneurship Development and Technology Centre (CEDT) in Dakar, built with Indian grant assistance.
• India also offered a Special ITEC English proficiency course for Senegalese public servants.
• India announced a Special training program for a batch of 15 Senegalese diplomats at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Services.

MUST READ: Burkina Faso suspended from African Union

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following countries have been suffering from decades of civil strife and food shortages and was in the news in the recent past for its very severe famine? (2023)

1. Angola
2. Costa Rica
3. Ecuador
4. Somalia

Q.2) Consider the following statements: (2023)

Statement-I:

Recently, the United States of America (USA) and the European Union (EU) have launched the Trade and Technology Council’.

Statement-II:

The USA and the EU claim that through this they are trying to bring technological progress and physical productivity under their control.

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

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Syllabus

• Prelims –Science and Technology

Context: Recently, Abu Dhabi reported a new case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV).

About Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

• It is a viral respiratory disease.
• Caused by: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV).
  • It was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
• Fatality: Approximately 35% of MERS cases reported to WHO have died.
  • MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus. ( Monkeypox/mpox)
  • Zoonotic virus: it is transmitted between animals and people.
• Distribution: MERS-CoV has been identified and linked to human infections in dromedary camels in several Member States in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.

Symptoms of MERS:-

• Fever
• Cough and
• Shortness of breath.
• Pneumonia is common.
  • However, MERS patients may not always develop this condition.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms: such as diarrhea.

Transmission of MERS:-

• Human-to-human transmission is possible and has occurred predominantly among close contacts and in healthcare settings.
• Outside the healthcare setting, there has been limited human-to-human transmission.

 Prevention and Treatment:-

• No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.
• Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.

MUST READ: African Swine Fever

SOURCE: THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (Governance) and GS 3 (Science and Technology)

Context: Digital connectivity is a sine qua non for everything digital in today’s world and India as well.

India’s digital connectivity landscape:

• The connectivity landscape has been transformed in the last seven years in India due to multiple factors like
  • The boom in mobile telephony (a billion-plus mobile connections),
  • 4G coverage,
  • A significant reduction in tariffs (from Rs 300 per GB to a mere Rs 7 per GB).
• The increased penetration of smartphones has further facilitated digital connectivity, bringing a wide range of online services and opportunities to people’s fingertips.
• Alongside these factors, the implementation of enabling policies like Net Neutrality and the government’s focus on building Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), particularly digital ID and UPI, have contributed to the surge in digital transactions across various domains.

About Digital India Programme:

• It was launched in 2015.
• The programme has been enabled for several important Government schemes, such as BharatNet, Make in India, Startup India and Standup India, industrial corridors,
• Vision Areas:
  • Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen.
  • Governance and services on demand.
  • Digital empowerment of citizens.
• Objectives:
  • To prepare India for a knowledge future.
  • For being transformative that is to realize IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow).
  • Making technology central to enabling change.
  • On being an Umbrella Programme – covering many departments.

About PM WANI:

• WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) is a concept introduced by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2017 to create interoperable public Wi-Fi hotspots.
• The vision was to offer connectivity via local providers known as Public Data Offices (PDOs).
• Building on the success of the WANI pilot, the Indian government introduced PM-WANI, which was approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2020 to implement the WANI vision on a broader scale.

Benefits of PM-WANI:

• Affordable Connectivity: With PM-WANI, over a million people are accessing unlimited Internet daily by paying just Rs 5 to 10.
  • For comparison, students are now opting for this “sachet internet” over chips or soft drinks.
• Boosting Local Economy: Local shops and households can become PDOs, setting up Wi-Fi hotspots.
  • This not only promotes affordable internet usage but also augments their earnings.
• Infrastructure Utilization: Existing infrastructure by companies like RailTel and GAIL, which is currently underused, can be effectively tapped into for PM-WANI.
• Benefits for ISPs and Telcos: These major providers can sell more bandwidth by transforming their customers into retailers.
• Bridging the Digital Divide: With a low home broadband penetration of around 10% in India, PM-WANI offers an opportunity to improve internet access, especially in underserved areas.

Challenges of India’s digital platforms:

• Gender gap: Indian women are 15 per cent less likely to own a mobile phone and 33 per cent less likely to use mobile internet services than men are.
  • Women constitute only one-third of internet users in India.
• Skewed penetration: Among states, Maharashtra has the highest internet penetration, followed by Goa and Kerala, while Bihar has the lowest, followed by Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
• India’s global rank: According to the UN’s e-participation index (2022), which is a composite measure of three important dimensions of e-government, namely provision of online services, telecommunication connectivity and human capacity, India ranks 105 out of 193 nations.
• Online safety: According to a survey, more than half of young women have experienced violence online, including sexual harassment, threatening messages and having private images shared without consent.
  • Women’s rights defenders and female journalists were targeted for abuse more than most.
• Inadequate artificial intelligence: The third threat comes from badly designed artificial intelligence systems that repeat and exacerbate discrimination.
• Availability of connectivity: One of the arguments against PM-WANI is that data is now so cheap and everyone has 4G connectivity — there is no business case for wi-fi hotspots.
  • This, as we have seen, is an oversimplification.
• Need of legal mandate: Except for Aadhaar (prompted by litigation), none of the preexisting platforms [like Aarogya Setu, CoWIN or even Government E-Marketplace (GEM)] has a legal definition of their functions, roles and responsibilities from an Act of Parliament.

Way Forward:

To ensure the success and widespread adoption of PM-WANI, all stakeholders, including governments, civil society, and startups, must actively promote and support the initiative. Its potential to bridge the digital divide and empower communities through enhanced internet access is significant and should not be underestimated. PM-WANI’s unique approach to interoperability, openness, and scalability in Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) has the potential to make it as successful as UPI and other DPIs.

Source:    Indian Express

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (Polity and Governance)

Context: The Supreme Court agreed to hold a detailed hearing on a bunch of petitions seeking to bring political parties under the ambit of Right to Information (RTI) Act.

About Political parties:

• A political party is a group of people who come together to contest elections and hold power in the government.
• They agree on some policies and programmes for the society with a view to promote the collective good.
• Election commission of India (EC) has categorised three kinds of political parties in the country: National, State/Regional and Registered/unrecognised Parties.
• Registration of Political parties is governed by the provisions of Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
• A party seeking registration under the said section with the commission has to apply to the commission within a period of 30 days following the date of its formation as per guidelines prescribed by the commission in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 324 of the Constitution of India and Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Public Authority’ under Section 2(h) of the Right to Information Act, 2005

• It means any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted:
  • By or under the Constitution,
  • By any other law made by Parliament;
  • By any other law made by State Legislature;
  • By notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government
• It also includes any:
  • Body owned, controlled or substantially financed;
  • Non-Government Organisation substantially financed directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government.

Arguments in favour:

• Except for the political strategy, other matters relating to finance and administration need to be made available to public because political parties are public institutions, receiving money from public.
• Electoral Bonds are not promoting transparency in political funding, as donors remain anonymous to public.
• In fact, not only funding but also expenditure made by political parties, especially during the time of elections should be made public.
• Political Parties are already under the RTI Act as they have not challenged the Central Information Commission’s verdict of 3rd June 2013 (Political Parties are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act); though they have also not complied with the order yet.
• There is a section 8(1) in the act that has ten exemptions within it.
  • If a political party comes under the ambit of RTI act, then this section will safeguard them from disclosing all types of information.

Challenges and concerns:

• Absence of law governing political parties: Political parties, unlike any other public or private institutions, are integral to the functioning of our democracy.
  • They enjoy unique privileges. Despite their obvious crucial role in the past almost seven decades, lawmakers have not framed any regulation or law governing the functioning of political parties.
  • The Law Commission of India’s report of 1999 also had detailed observations on the need for regulatory oversight on the functioning of parties.
• Misuse of RTI: The disclosure of information under RTI act may give advantage to the competitors of political parties.
• Reluctance of political parties: Political parties are reluctant to disclose their internal working as well as their decision-making system.
• It had argued that there were already provisions in the Income Tax Act, 1961, and Representation of the People Act, 1951, demanding “necessary transparency regarding financial aspects of political parties”.
  • It said information about a political body was already in public domain on the website of the Election Commission.

Supreme Court’s observations:

• The Supreme Court said political parties may “have a point” in being concerned that bringing them under the ambit of the Right to Information (RTI) Act may lead to situations where they may be asked to disclose even details such as candidate selection or other deliberations.

Way Forward:

The declaration of political parties as public authority would promote transparency and encourage public debate. There are questions being raised on the functioning of political parties and the funds they receive. Political parties are an integral part of the democracy. Unless and until they are accountable to the public how can democracy succeed! Hence, there is a need to attain more transparency regarding the functioning of political parties.

Source: The Hindu

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) ‘Wolbachia method’ is sometimes talked about with reference to which one of the following? (2023)

1. Controlling the viral diseases spread by mosquitoes
2. Converting crop residues into packing material
3. Producing biodegradable plastics
4. Producing biochar from the thermos-chemical conversion of biomass

Q.2) Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body? (2023)

1. They protect the environmental allergens body
2. They alleviate the body’s pain and inflammation.
3. They act as immunosuppressants in the body.
4. They protect the body from diseases caused by pathogens.

Q1) Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2) Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

Silver cockscomb is a weed that suppresses the growth of other crops.

Statement-II:

It’s used for medicinal purposes.

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

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q3) Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

African Union (AU) has 50 members.

Statement-II:

French is the official language of AU.

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

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Mains Practice Questions

Q.1) The PM-WANI initiative aims to bridge the data supply gaps and promote internet accessibility in India. Analyze the potential impact of PM-WANI on enhancing internet access, empowering local entrepreneurs, and promoting digital inclusivity in rural areas. (250 Words)

Q.2) For containment of corruption and holding government accountable to the governed it is important to make political parties accountable under RTI. Comment (250 words)

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’ 27th July 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – b