07 & 08 JULY CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Which of the following missions are related to Planet Mars?

1. Hope
2. Tianwen-1
3. Mangalyaan
   Select the correct answer using the code below:
   a) 1 and 2 only
   b) 2 and 3 only
   c) 1 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: d)
Explanation:
 NASA’s Mars Mission (Perseverance Rover): The mission is designed to
better understand the geology of Mars and seek signs of ancient life.
 Tianwen-1 (China’s Mars Mission): It was launched in 2019 to conduct
scientific investigations into the planet’s soil, geological structure,
environment, atmosphere and water.
 India’s Mangalyaan: It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre
in Andhra Pradesh by Indian Space Research Organisation in November
2013.
 Hope : UAE’s Mars Mission

Q2. In the context of Environment Protection in India, consider the following
statements about Conservation Reserve.

1. They are protected areas of the country which act as buffer zones.
2. They were introduced in 2002 after the amendment in the Environment
   Protection Act, 1986.
3. There are more than 100 conservation reserves in India.
   Which of the statements above is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) 1 and 2 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3

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Solution: a)
Explanation:
Conservation Reserves in India
 Conservation reserves and community reserves are terms
denoting protected areas of the country which typically act as buffer
zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established
national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected
forests. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
 Such areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and
completely owned by the Government of India but used for subsistence by
communities and community areas if part of the lands are privately
owned.
 These protected area categories were first introduced in the Wildlife
(Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 − the amendment to the Wildlife
Protection Act of 1972. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
 These categories were added because of reduced protection in and around
existing or proposed protected areas due to private ownership of land and
land use.
 There are 97 existing Conservation Reserves in India covering an area
of 44483 km2, which is 0.14% of the geographical area of the
country (National Wildlife Database, Dec. 2020). Hence, statement 3 is not
correct.

Q3. A book “The case that shook the empire” is written by-
a) Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair

b) Raghu Palat and Puspa Palat
c) Narendra Modi
d) Subhash Chandra Bose

Solution: b)
Explanation:
A biopic on Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair will be produced.
 It will be based on the book, ‘The case that shook the empire’ written by
Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat in 2019

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 President of INC: He was one of the early builders of the INC (Indian
National Congress), formed in 1885.
o In 1897, he became the youngest president of the INC in the history
of the party till then, and the only Malayali to hold the post ever.
 Member of the Raleigh University Commission: In 1902, Lord Curzon
appointed him a member of the Raleigh University Commission.
 Knighthood: In 1904, he was appointed as Companion of the Indian Empire
by the King-Emperor and in 1912 he was knighted.
 Judge in Madras High Court: He was appointed as a permanent judge in
the Madras High Court in 1908.
 Part of Viceroy Council: In 1915, he became part of the Viceroy’s Council,
put in charge of the education portfolio.

Q4. “United Information for Education Plus (USIDE +) Report has been frequently

seen in the news. Consider the following statements-

1. It is released by the Ministry of Education.
2. It is an application to collect school details.
3. It measures the education parameters from Class 1 to Class 12.
   Which of the statements above is/are correct?
   a) 1 and 2 only
   b) 2 and 3 only
   c) 1, 2 and 3
   d) None of the above

Solution: c)
Explanation:
All statements are correct.
United Information System for Education Plus
 It is one of the largest Management Information Systems on school
education. It was launched in 2018-2019 to speed up data entry, reduce
errors, improve data quality and ease its verification.
 It is an application to collect the school details about factors related to a
school and its resources.

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o It is an updated and improved version of UDISE, which was
initiated in 2012-13 by the Ministry of Education.

 It covers more than 1.5 million schools, 8.5 million teachers and 250
million children.
 It helps measure the education parameters from classes 1 to 12 in
government and private schools across India.

Q5. “Harit Dhara” has been recently seen in the news is related to-
a) Reduction in Emissions from Cattle

b) New Plant Species found in Western Ghats
c) Illegal GM Crop Cultivated in Western Uttar Pradesh
d) None of the above

Solution: a)
Explanation:
Indian Council of Agricultural Research has developed an anti-methanogenic
feed supplement ‘Harit Dhara’ (HD),which can cut down cattle methane
emissions by 17-20% and can also result in higher milk production.
Key Points
 About:
o HD decreases the population of protozoa microbes in the
rumen, responsible for hydrogen production and making it available
to the archaea (structure similar to bacteria) for reduction of CO2 to
methane.
o It has been made from tannin-rich plant-based sources. Tropical
plants containing tannins, bitter and astringent chemical
compounds, are known to suppress or remove protozoa from the
rumen.
o Fermentation after using HD will help produce more propionic
acid, which provides more energy for lactose (milk sugar)
production and body weight gain.
 This leads to economic benefits for farmers.

Q6. With reference to Indian Biodiversity, consider the following statements-

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1. In India, 5 species of Turtle are found in India.
2. India is home to the largest known nesting population of olive ridley turtles.
3. They are categorised in ‘Vulnerable Category” in IUCN Red List.
   Which of the statements above is/are correct?
   a) 1 and 3 only
   b) 2 and 3 only
   c) 1 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: d)
Explanation:
Five species of sea turtles are found in Indian waters.
These are the Olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), Green (Chelonia mydas),
Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) and
Loggerhead (Caretta caretta). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
o India is home to the largest known nesting population of olive ridley turtles.
Except Loggerhead turtles, the remaining four species nest along the Indian
coastline and islands of India. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Q7. Consider the following statement regarding Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban). Which
of the following statements are not correct?

1. It is announced and administered by the Department of Drinking and Water
   Sanitation under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
2. The funding for the mission will be divided between states and Centre
   uniformly in all states and Union Territories.
3. Public-Private Partnership Model is mandatory for those cities with a
   population of more than 1 Million.
   Select the correct answer using the code below:
   a) 2 only
   b) 1 and 2 only
   c) 2 and 3 only
   d) 1, and 3

Solution: b)

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Explanation:
Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) was announced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Affairs in the Union Budget 2021-22. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
Funding: 100?ntral funding for Union Territories, 90% for North Eastern and
Hill States, 50% for cities with less than 1 lakh population, one third for cities with
1 lakh to 10 lakh population and 25% for cities with million plus population.
Promoting PPP Model: Mandatory for cities having millions plus population to
take up PPP projects worth a minimum of 10% of their total project fund
allocation. Hence, statement 2 is not correct and 3 is correct.

Q8. Consider the following statements:

1. Federalism is a part of the basic structure of the Constitution.
2. The concurrence of States is needed for the formation and unmaking of
   States and Union Territories.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: a)
Explanation:
In S R Bommai vs Union of India (1994), the Supreme Court held federalism a part
of the basic structure of the Constitution. 1 is correct.
Indian Parliament has the power to admit new States (Article 2), create new
States, alter their boundaries and their names, and unite or divide the
States (Article 3).
The concurrence of States is not needed for the formation and unmaking of
States and Union Territories. 2 is incorrect.

Q9. Which of the following are federal Features of Indian Constitution?

1. Two sets of Government
2. Division of Powers
3. Written Constitution

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4. Supreme judiciary
5. Bicameral-legislation
   Select the correct code:
   a) 1, 2 and 3
   b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
   c) 2 and 5 only
   d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Solution: d)
Explanation:
Federal Features of Indian Constitution
a. Two sets of Government: There are 2 sets of government in India and that is
union government and central government.
b. Division of Powers: The 7th schedule of Indian constitution consists of union
list, state list, and concurrent list.
i. The respective legislative powers of states and Centre are traceable to Articles
245 to 254.
c. Written Constitution: India has the one of the largest constitution in the world
which consist of 395 articles 22 parts and 12 schedules. Every article of Indian
constitution is clearly written down and has been discussed in full detail.
d. Supreme judiciary: The Supreme Court of India is regarded as the superior
court of the country. The decision of the Supreme Court is binding upon all courts
and it has the power to interpret the articles of the constitution.
e. Bicameral-legislation: In India, the legislature is bicameral. It has two houses
and that are Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. The seventh schedule under Article 256 of the constitution deals with the
   division of powers between the union and the states.
2. The Constitution of India in Article 263, provides for an Inter-State Council.
   Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2

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d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: a)
Explanation:
The seventh schedule under Article 246 of the constitution deals with the division
of powers between the union and the states. It contains three lists- Union List,
State List and Concurrent List. 1 is incorrect.
The Inter-State Council is a non-permanent constitutional body enshrined in
Article 263 of the Constitution of India. It can set up the President based on the
provisions of Article 263.
The Inter-State Council can be defined as a recommendation committee that
investigates and discusses issues of common interest to one or more states, for
better coordination of policy and action on the issue. 2 is correct.

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding PARISHPAE Project-

1. It will focus on capturing starlight polarisation of very faint stars that are so

far away that polarisation signals from there have not been systematically
studied.

2. It will be used to perform magnetic tomography of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Select the correct answer using the code below-
a) 1 only

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

Solution: c)
Explanation:
About the PASIPHAE Survey:
 It is an opto polarimetric survey aiming to measure the linear polarization
from millions of stars.
 The survey will use two high-tech optical polarimeters to observe the
northern and southern skies, simultaneously.

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 The survey will be conducted concurrently from the South African
Astronomical Observatory in Sutherland, South Africa in the southern
hemisphere, and the Skinakas Observatory in Crete, Greece, in the north.
 It will focus on capturing starlight polarisation of very faint stars that are so
far away that polarisation signals from there have not been systematically
studied. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Importance of the Project:
 Since its birth about 14 billion years ago, the universe has been constantly
expanding, as evidenced by the presence of Cosmic Microwave Background
(CMB) radiation which fills the universe.
 The Milky Way Galaxy contains a lot of dust clouds that are present in the
form of clusters. When starlight passes through these dust clouds, they get
scattered and polarised.
 The PASIPHAE polarimetric map will be used to perform magnetic
tomography of the Milky Way Galaxy. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Q12. With reference to Indian Coast Guard, consider the following statements-

1. It was created in 1967 in the wake of Naval Threat from bordering countries.
2. It has a wide range of task capabilities for both surface and air operations.
3. It is one of the largest coast guards in the world.

Select the correct answer using the code below-
a) 1 and 2 only

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

Solution: d)
Explanation:
Indian Coast Guard
It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency
under the Ministry of Defence. It was established in 1978. Hence, statement 1 is
not correct.
It has a wide range of task capabilities for both surface and air operations. It is one
of the largest coast guards in the world. Hence, statement 2 and 3 are correct.

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Q13. “Lambda Variant” has been recently seen in news is related to-
a) Bird Flu

b) Swine Flu
c) COVID-19
d) Zika Virus in Kerala

Solution: c)
Explanation:
After the cases of Delta Variant of COVID-19 continuously rising, a new variant
called Lambda Variant (LV) is emerging as a new threat.
 Lambda Variant is dominant in Peru, India has not yet reported any case
of LV.
 The strain was first identified in Peru in December 2020. Lambda is the
dominant variant in the South American country with 81% samples found to
be carrying it.
 Until recently, it was largely concentrated in a handful of South American
countries, including Ecuador and Argentina, but since April it has been
detected in more than 25 Countries.

Q14. With reference to the ‘Ministry of Co-operation’, consider the following
statements:

1. The Ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework
   for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
2. The Ministry will work to streamline processes for ‘Ease of doing business’ for
   co-operatives and enable development of Multi-State Co-operatives (MSCS).
   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

Solution: c)
Explanation:

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Both Statements are correct.
In a historic move, a separate ‘Ministry of Co-operation’ has been created by the
NDA Government for realizing the vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’.
 This ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy
framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.
 It will help deepen Co-operatives as a true people based movement reaching
upto the grassroots.
 The Ministry will work to streamline processes for ‘Ease of doing business’
for co-operatives and enable development of Multi-State Co-operatives
(MSCS).
 Creation of a separate Ministry for Co-operation also fulfils the budget
announcement made by the Finance Minister.

Q15. “White Flag Movement” is recently seen in news started in-
a) Malaysia

b) Singapore
c) Thailand
d) China

Solution: a)
Explanation:
In Malaysia, some residents of low-income families have started waving white flags
as part of the so-called “White Flag Campaign”, or the #benderaputi (white flag)
movement. They are doing this to convey distress about the financial crunch they
have had to deal with amid the lockdowns due to Covid-19. Malaysia enforced
another lockdown on June 1 in order to control another surge of Covid infections.