13 JULY CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. “Asia-Africa Growth Corridor” has frequently appeared in the news. It is a

partnership agreement between-
a) China and Russia

b) United States and Israel
c) India and Japan
d) ASEAN

Solution: c)
Explanation:
Asia-Africa Growth Corridor: The Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC) is an
economic partnership agreement between India and Japan. It intends to improve
infrastructure and digital connectivity in Africa within Indo-Japan collaboration.

Q2. Which of the following statements are correct about Chabahar Project?

1. It is developed by Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan.
2. It is located in the Gulf of Oman.
3. It has two terminals namely, Shahid Beshti and Shahid Kalantari.

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

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

Solution: c)
Explanation:
Chabahar Port
 It is located in the Gulf of Oman at the Sistan Baluchistan province of
energy rich Iran on the Makran Coast.
 It is jointly being developed by India, Iran and Afghanistan for multi-modal
transport of goods and passengers.
 Port has geographical proximity with India with distance from Kandla
port, Gujarat to Chabahar to be around 1000 kms and that from Chabahar
to Mumbai around 1450 kms.
 Chabahar has two terminals – Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti.

Q3. In context of India Agriculture, consider the following statements-

1. India is the largest producer, consumer of Pulses in the world.
2. Gram is the most dominant pulse accounting for more than 40% in total
   production.
3. Pulses are grown both as Rabi and Kharif crops.

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

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

Solution: d)
Explanation:

India is-
o Largest producer (about 25 per cent of global production),

o Largest consumer(about 27 percent of world consumption) and
o Largest importer (about14 percent) of pulses in the world.
 Pulses account for around 20 per cent of the area under food grains and
contribute around 7-10 per cent of the total food grains production in the
country.
 Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses
contribute more than 60 percent of the total production.
 Gram is the most dominant pulse having a share of around 40 per cent in
the total production followed by Tur/Arhar and Urad/Black Matpe. Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are the
top pulses producing States.

Q4. With reference to (Sustainable Development Goals) SDG Index, consider the

following statements-

1. It is released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
2. Tamil Nadu has topped the index since the inception of it.
3. Palma Ratio is a measure of inequality.
4. Odisha and Andaman & Nicobar Islands are most prepared to tackle climate
   change.

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

b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1,2 and 4 only

Solution: c)
Explanation:
The third edition of the SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020–21 was released by
NITI Aayog. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
Since its inaugural launch in 2018, the index has been comprehensively
documenting and ranking the progress made by States and Union Territories
towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG India Index
computes goal-wise scores onthe 16 SDGs for each State and Union Territory.
The Palma ratio is a measure of inequality. It is the ratio of the richest 10% of the
population’s share of gross national income (GNI) divided by the poorest 40%’s
share. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Kerala has been top of the index since the inception of SDG Index in 2018. Hence,
statement 2 is incorrect. Tamil Nadu has achieved 2nd place and Bihar is last in
ranking. Odisha and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands were the most prepared

among India’s states and Union territories (UTs) to reach the United Nations-
mandated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on Climate Action, the SDG India

Index & Dashboard 2020-21 has showed. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Q5. “Dard Tribe” who follows Aryan Culture has been frequently seen in news. They

are found in-
a) Ladakh

b) Sikkim
c) Delhi
d) Arunachal Pradesh

Solution: a)

Explanation:
Dard Tribe
It is a Buddhist tribal group in Ladakh. The Dard Aryans inhabit Dha, Hanu,
Beema, Darchik and Garkone villages in Leh and Kargil districts. The 5 villages are
together called the Aryan valley.
○ Their culture is the Aryan Culture.
○ Dard Aryan’ is not among the list of notified Schedule Tribes.

Q6. “Operation Olivia” is related to protection of which of the following species?
a) Olive Ridley Turtle
b) Olive Wing Butterfly
c) Olive Fruit Fly
d) All of the above

Solution: a)
Explanation:
Operation Oliva:
Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early
1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast
for breeding and nesting from November to December.
It also intercepts unlawful trawling activities.

Q7. Consider the following statements-

1. According to wildlife protection act, killing of animals in defence or in good

faith is allowed.

2. Chief Wildlife Warden are appointed under the Environment Protection Act,
   1986.
3. The number of Tiger Reserves is more than 50.

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

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

Solution: c)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is not correct.
Section 11(2) of the wild life act that is self-defence or killing animals in good faith
is exploited. When forest dweller is caught with killing animals, they claim this
provision to get away with it.
Punishment for crime in wildlife crime disproportionately low.
Many exotic species are not covered under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, or the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) that regulates all commercial trade.
Authorities Appointed under the Act:
 The Central Government appoints the Director of Wildlife
Preservation and assistant directors and other officers subordinate to the
Director.
 The State Governments appoint a Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) who
heads the Wildlife Wing of the department and exercises complete
administrative control over Protected Areas (PAs) within a state.
WLPA ( Wildlife Protection Act ) revolves around the Chief Wildlife Warden
(CWLW), appointed under Section 4 of the WLPA. CWLW, are not full-filling their
statutory duties comprehensively, as provided under the Act.
Recently Ramgarh Vishdhari Wildlife Sanctuary was declared as 52nd Tiger Reserve
in country. It has made Ramgarh Vishdhari as 4th tiger reserve in state of
Rajasthan

Q8. Consider the following statements in context of Production Linked Incentive
(PLI) Scheme for IT hardware :

1. It will cover devices such as laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs and servers.
2. An incentive will be given on total sales of electronic goods manufactured in
   India for a period of four years.
   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:
PLI Scheme for IT hardware
 It will cover devices such as laptops, tablets, all-in-one PCs and servers. 1
is correct.
 An incentive will be given on net incremental sales of
goods manufactured in India for a period of four years. 2 is incorrect.
 Benefits:
o It will benefit five major global players and ten domestic champions in
the field of IT hardware.
o It will enhance the development of the electronics ecosystem in the
country
o Generate employment for more than 1,80,000 (direct and indirect jobs)
over four years.
o provide impetus to domestic value addition for IT hardware which is
expected to rise to 20-25% by 2025.

 Significance: This is an important segment to promote manufacturing
under AtmaNirbhar Bharat as there is huge import reliance for these items
at present.

Q9. Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Cuban Revolution
2. Cuban Missile Crisis
3. Berlin Blockade
   Select the correct code:
   a) 1, 2, 3
   b) 2, 3, 1
   c) 3, 2, 1
   d) 3, 1, 2

Solution: d)
Explanation:

Berlin Blockade 1948: As the tension between Soviet Union and Allied countries
grew, Soviet Union applied Berlin Blockade in 1948. The Berlin Blockade was an
attempt by the Soviet Union to limit the ability of Allied countries to travel to their
sectors of Berlin.
Cuban Revolution, 1959
 Fidel Castro established a revolutionary socialist state in Cuba after he
and a group of guerrilla fighters successfully revolt against President
Fulgencio Batista who had been supported by the U.S. government for his
anticommunist stance.
Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962
 U.S. spy satellites discovered that Cuba has allowed the Soviet Union to build
nuclear missile bases on the island.
 With the threat of nuclear war on the horizon, the United States negotiated
with the USSR via back channels.
 As the crisis nears its third week, the US secretly agreed to withdraw its
nuclear missiles from Turkey within a few months if the Soviet Union
withdraws its missiles from Cuba.
 The US also pledged not to invade Cuba.

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. Cuba is situated between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.
2. It shares maritime borders with Mexico, and the United States only.
   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:
Cuba
 Cuba, is situated in the western West Indies, between the Caribbean Sea
and the Gulf of Mexico, south of Florida and The Bahamas, north of
Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. 1 is correct.

 Cuba shares maritime borders with The Bahamas, Haiti, Honduras,
Jamaica, Mexico, and the United States. 2 is incorrect.
 Cuba is one of the islands of the Greater Antilles archipelago, the others
are Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico
and the Cayman Islands.
 The island nation has a population of 11.4 million (official estimate
2014); capital and largest city is Havana (Habana); official language
is Spanish.
 Its per capita GDP is roughly $8,000 and it has a majority population of
Christians.