13 NOV CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Which of the following countries form part of Regional Comprehensive Economic

Partnership (RCEP)

1.Australia

2.New Zealand

3.China

Answer using the correct code below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) All of the above

Solution : d)

Explanation :-

It is a grouping of the countries of ASEAN with Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, China

and Japan.

 India has decided not to join the

Regional Comprehensive

Economic Partnership (RCEP)

trade deal

 RCEP will constitute more than 40

per cent of the global

population and almost half of the

world’s economy.

 It consists of three of the six

largest economies of the world,

especially, the two fastest

growing large economies namely India and China.

Q2. Consider the following statements with reference to Mangroves

1.They grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between

latitudes 25 N and 25 S.

2.They are adapted to the high oxygen conditions of waterlogged mud.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)

Explanation :-

Mangroves

 Mangroves are various large extensive types of trees up to medium height and shrubs

that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly

between latitudes 25 N and 25 S.

 Mangroves are salt tolerant trees (halophytes) adapted to live in harsh coastal

conditions.

 They contain a complex salt filtration system and complex root system to cope with

salt water immersion and wave action.

 They are adapted to the low oxygen (anoxic) conditions of waterlogged mud.

Q3. Consider the following statements

1. When a recessionary phase sustains for long enough or when the GDP contracts for a

long enough period, the economy is said to be in a recession.

2. Typically, recessions last for a few quarters and if they continue for years, they are

referred to as depressions, a rare phenomena never seen across the world.

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

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)

Explanation :-

Recession: When a recessionary phase sustains for long enough or when the GDP contracts

for a long enough period, the economy is said to be in a recession.

Typically, recessions last for a few quarters and if they continue for years, they are referred

to as depressions – a rare phenomena – the last one was during the 1930s in the US.

Q4. Vela, Vagir and Vagsheer, recently in news, are

a) Patrol vessels of Indian Coast Guard.

b) Under construction aircraft carriers to be inducted by Indian Navy by 2030.

c) Kalvari-class Diesel Electric attack submarines.

d) None of the above

Solution : c)

Explanation :-

 Recently, Indian Navy launched its fifth Kalvari-class Diesel Electric attack submarine

INS Vagir at Mazgaon Dock.

 The other vessels in the class are INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and

INS Vagsheer.

 Of these Kalvari and Khanderi have been commissioned in 2017 and 2019, Vela and

Karanj are undergoing sea trials, Vagir has now been launched and Vagsheer is under

construction.

Project 75 – Kalvari class of submarines:

 Scorpene class of submarines: Designed and developed by French defence major

Naval Group formerly DCNS and Spanish state owned entity Navantia in collaboration

with Mazagaon Dockyard Ltd, Mumbai.

 Diesel Electric transmission systems: These are primarily attack submarines or hunter-

killer type which means they are designed to target and sink adversary naval vessels.

 Capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat: Including anti-warship and

anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance and naval mine

laying.

 Air Independent Propulsion (AIP): Which enables non-nuclear submarines to operate

for a long time without access to surface oxygen. Two of six submarines in Kalvari class

are equipped with AIP.

 Naming: Like Kalvari – which means Tiger Shark, Vagir has been named after a Sand

Fish, a predatory marine species.

o Khanderi has been named after an Island Fort built by Chhatrapati Shivaji,

which played a key role in his Navy. Karanj has also been named after an Island

located South of Mumbai.

Q5. Renewables 2020 – Analysis and forecast to 2025 report, recently in news is released by

a) Greenpeace

b) United Nations

c) International Energy Agency

d) None of the above

Solution : c)

Explanation :-

According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) new report – Renewables 2020 – Analysis

and forecast to 2025, India may contribute the most towards pushing the renewable energy

sector up in 2021.

Q6. With reference to the Kalvari-class submarines, consider the following statements:

1. The Kalvari-class submarines have capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat

including anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance

and naval mine laying.

2. Recently Indian Navy’s first Kalvari-class Diesel Electric attack submarine INS Vagir was

launched.

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 : a)

Explanation :-

Indian Naval Ship (INS) Vagir, launched recently, is the fifth among the six Kalvari-class

submarines being constructed by the public sector shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Ltd (MDL) in

Mumbai.

The Kalvari-class submarines have capability of operating in a wide range of Naval combat

including anti-warship and anti-submarine operations, intelligence gathering and surveillance

and naval mine laying.

The other vessels in the class are INS Kalvari, INS Khanderi, INS Karanj, INS Vela and INS

Vagsheer. Of these Kalvari and Khanderi have been commissioned in 2017 and 2019, Vela and

Karanj and undergoing sea trials, Vagir has now been launched and Vagsheer is under

construction. After its launch today, Vagir will commence with the setting to work of various

equipment and the Harbour Acceptance Trials. The crew will subsequently sail the submarine

for the Sea Acceptance Trials after which the submarine would be delivered to the Navy.

The submarines in the current Kalvari-class take their names from erstwhile decommissioned

classes of submarines named Kalvari which included Kalvari, Khanderi, Karanj and Vela class

— which included Vela, Vagir, Vagshir. The now-decommissioned Kalvari and Vela classes

were one of the earliest of the submarines in post independence Indian Navy, which belonged

to Soviet origin Foxtrot class of vessels.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q7. With reference to the AatmaNirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana, consider the following

statements:

1. It aims to incentivize job creation during COVID-19 recovery.

2. It will benefit any new employee joining employment in EPFO registered establishments on

monthly wages less than Rs.15,000.

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 :-

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has announced 12

key measures, as part of Government of India’s stimulus to the economy, under

AatmaNirbhar Bharat 3.0.

AatmaNirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana

A new scheme to incentivize job creation during COVID-19 recovery has been launched. If

EPFO-registered establishments take in new employees without EPFO registration or those

who lost jobs earlier, the Yojana will benefit these employees.

Beneficiaries / New Employees under the scheme would be:

 any new employee joining employment in EPFO registered establishments on monthly wages

less than Rs.15,000

 EPF members drawing monthly wage of less than Rs.15,000 who made exit from employment

during COVID Pandemic from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 and is employed on or after

01.10.2020.

 Hence both statements are correct.

Q8. With reference to the AatmaNirbhar Bharat 3.0, consider the following statements:

1. ₹3,000 Crore boost is being providedto EXIM Bank for promoting project exports under

Indian Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS Scheme).

2. ₹900 Crore is being provided to Department of Biotechnology for Research and

Development of Indian COVID Vaccine.

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 :-

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman has announced 12

key measures, as part of Government of India’s stimulus to the economy, under

AatmaNirbhar Bharat 3.0.

 ₹3,000 Crore boost is being providedto EXIM Bank for promoting project exports under Indian

Development and Economic Assistance Scheme (IDEAS Scheme). This will help EXIM Bank

facilitate Lines of Credit development assistance activities and promote exports from India.

 ₹10,200 Crore additional budget stimulus is being provided for capital and industrial

expenditure on domestic defence equipment, industrial infrastructure and green energy.

 ₹900 Crore is being provided to Department of Biotechnology for Research and Development

of Indian COVID Vaccine.

 Hence both statements are correct.

Q9. World Diabetes Day is celebrated on:

a) 14 November

b) 15 November

c) 11 November

d) 17 November

Solution : a)

Explanation :-

World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign focusing on diabetes mellitus

and is held on 14 November each year.

In 2007 General Assembly adopted resolution 61/225 designating 14 November as World

Diabetes Day. The document recognized “the urgent need to pursue multilateral efforts to

promote and improve human health, and provide access to treatment and health-care

education”.

The theme for World Diabetes Day 2020 is “The Nurse and Diabetes.” The campaign aims to

raise awareness around the crucial role that nurses play in supporting people living with

diabetes.

Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. Boeing and SpaceX were selected by NASA in September 2014 to develop transportation

systems meant to transfer crew from the US to the ISS.

2. Crew-1 mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

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 :-

On November 14, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft will lift off from NASA’s Kennedy Space

Center in Florida carrying a crew of four people to the International Space Station (ISS) on a

six-month-long mission.

Boeing and SpaceX were selected by NASA in September 2014 to develop transportation

systems meant to transfer crew from the US to the ISS.

Crew-1 mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, whose objective is to make

access to space easier in terms of its cost, so that cargo and crew can be easily transported to

and from the ISS, enabling greater scientific research.

Hence both statements are correct.

*********