6 MARCH CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides for the reservation of seats in the local bodies for

1. Scheduled Castes
2. Scheduled Tribes
3. Other Backward Classes
4. Women
   Choose the correct answer using the codes given below a) 1 and 2
   b) 1, 2 and 4 only
   c) 2 and 4 only
   d) All of the above

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
Article 243D of the Constitution of India – Reservation of seats:

1. Seats shall be reserved for
2. The Scheduled Castes and
3. The Scheduled Tribes, in every Panchayat in the same proportion as the population of the SCs/STs in that Panchayat area.
4. Not less than one third of the total number of seats reserved under clause
   (1) shall be reserved for women belonging to the SCs/STs.
5. Not less than one third (including the number of seats reserved for women belonging to the SCs and the STs) of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat shall be reserved for women and such seats may be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat
6. The offices of the Chairpersons in the Panchayats at the village or any other level shall be reserved for the SCs, the STs and women in such manner as the Legislature of a State may, by law, provide.
7. The reservation of seats under clauses (1) and (2) and the reservation of offices of Chairpersons (other than the reservation for women) under clause (4) shall cease to have effect on the expiration of the period specified in Article 334.
8. Nothing in this Part shall prevent the Legislature of a State from making any provision for reservation of seats in any Panchayat or offices of Chairpersons in the Panchayats at any level in favour of backward class of citizens.

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+) alliance

1. It consists of both the OPEC and non-OPEC producers forming the alliance at a historic meeting in Algiers in 2016.
2. The alliance is undertaking corrections in supply in the oil markets since 2017.
   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 : c)
Explanation :-
• OPEC+ refers to the alliance of crude producers, who have been undertaking corrections in supply in the oil markets since 2017.
• OPEC plus countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Russia, South Sudan and Sudan.
• The Opec and non-Opec producers first formed the alliance at a historic meeting in Algiers in 2016.
• The aim was to undertake production restrictions to help revive a swinging market.

Q3. The pump prices of petrol crossing the ₹100-per-litre mark in some States. Consider the following statements:

1. Bringing fuels under GST will make the revenue distribution equitable between Centre, states.
2. Bringing petrol-diesel under GST will have no effect on their current prices.
   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 :-
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect.
Bringing petrol-diesel under GST will lead to a sharp fall in current prices. Customers are paying more in taxes than the base price for petrol and diesel according to the latest price data for petrol and diesel.
• The highest slab under the existing GST rates is 28%. Even if petrol and diesel were to be taxed at the highest rate, the post-tax price will be much lower than what it is currently.
• Bringing fuels under GST will make the revenue distribution equitable between Centre, states. Union excise duties, most of which come from petrol and diesel in the post-GST phase, are a big source of these special cess collections for the centre.
o As per budget estimates for 2021-22, basic excise duties are only a fraction of special duties and cess levied on sale of petrol of diesel, proceeds of which will not be shared with the states.
o Because, GST proceeds are divided equitably between the centre and states, subsuming petrol and diesel under GST will end this inequitable tax distribution from sale of petrol and diesel.

Q4. Consider the following statements:

1. There are no specific provisions under the Information Technology Act of 2000 that define privacy.
2. The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
   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 : c)
Explanation :-
The right to privacy is protected as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
Although there are no specific provisions under the IT Act of 2000 that define privacy, some sections of the Act deal with very specific cases of data breaches and privacy. For example,
• Section 43A provides for compensation if an intermediary is negligent in using reasonable and good quality security and safety parameters.
• Section 72 of the IT Act has penal and imprisonment provisions if a government official in the course of his or her duty, gets access to certain information and leaks it subsequently.
• Section 72A provides for criminal punishment if a service provider, during the course of providing the service or during the contract period, discloses personal information of the user without them being aware of it.

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. Online content providers come under the legal framework of the Information Technology Act 2000 and are directly under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
2. Section 79 of the Information Technology Act provides a “safe harbour” to intermediaries (that host user-generated content) and exempts them from liability for the actions of users. Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Statement 1 is incorrect.
The Government has ordered that online media, including entertainment, film and news platforms, will now come under the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
• Section 79 of the IT Act provides what is called a ‘safe harbour’ to intermediaries who host user generated content and exempts them from liability for the actions of users on their platform if they adhere to guidelines prescribed by the government.

Q6. Consider the following statements:

1. Virtual Currency is the larger umbrella term for all forms of fiat currency being traded online.
2. It is currency held within the blockchain network and is not controlled by a centralized banking authority.
   Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Statement 1 is incorrect Virtual Currency:
• It is the larger umbrella term for all forms of non-fiat currency being traded online.They are mostly created, distributed and accepted in local virtual networks.
• Unlike Fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies are not controlled by any central authority such as a central bank.
• It is currency held within the blockchain network and is not controlled by a centralized banking authority.
• It is unregulated and therefore experiences dramatic price movements since their trading is driven only by consumer sentiment.
• Along with use by the common public, a virtual currency can have restricted usage.

Q7. Which of the following state had announced Gairsain as its summer capital?
a) Uttarakhand
b) Punjab
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Sikkim

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
A year after announcing Gairsain in Chamoli district as the summer capital of Uttarakhand, Chief Minister declared in the state assembly the town as a new administrative division of the state, a third commissionerate after Kumaon and Garhwal.
• Gairsain division would be comprised of four hill districts, including Almora and Bageshwar (both in Kumaon) and Rudrapyarag and Chamoli (in Garhwal). A commissioner and a DIG will be deployed in Gairsain.
• On March 4 last year, CM had announced in the Budget Session of the Assembly held in Gairsain that the town will become summer capital of the state. Three months later, Governor had given her assent for declaration of Bhararisen (Gairsain) as the summer capital.
• Gairsain, a tehsil in Chamoli district, is located nearly 270-km from the existing temporary capital of Dehradun.
• Even when Uttarakhand was carved out as a separate state from Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000, statehood activists had contended that Gairsain was best suited to be the capital of the mountainous state since it was between both Kumaon and Garhwal regions.
• But it was Dehradun in the plains that was named the temporary capital.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q8. With reference to the black-browed babbler, consider the following statements:

1. The species is endemic to India
2. Its IUCN conservation status is Critically Endangered.
   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 : d)
Explanation :-
Long-Lost Babbler Bird Documented in Borneo for the First Time in Over 170 Years. The Bird was last recorded between 1843 and 1848, when a scientist collected the first and only museum specimen.
• The black-browed babbler (Malacocincla perspicillata) is a songbird species in the family Pellorneidae.
• The species is endemic to Borneo.
• Its IUCN conservation status is Data Deficient. Formerly, it was classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN.
• Only a single specimen, collected in the nineteenth century was known, until the bird was rediscovered in Indonesia during 2020.
• Borneo is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia.
• The island is politically divided among three countries: Malaysia and Brunei in the north, and Indonesia to the south.
• Hence both statements are incorrect.

Q9. With reference to the National Committee to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence, consider the following statements:

1. The 75 years of India’s Independence falls on 15th August next year and celebrations are proposed to be launched 75 weeks prior to this date on 12th March this year.
2. 12th March is the 91st anniversary of the historic Salt Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi.
   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 :-
The Government has constituted a National Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence.
• The committee has 259 members and includes dignitaries and eminent citizens from all walks of life.
• It will provide policy direction and guidelines for formulation of programs for the commemoration of 75th anniversary of Indian Independence, at the national and international levels.
• The Government intends to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence in a befitting manner at national and international level in the form of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
• The 75 years of India’s Independence falls on 15th August next year and celebrations are proposed to be launched 75 weeks prior to this date on 12th March this year.
• 12th March is the 91st anniversary of the historic Salt Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Q10. Nigeria is a country in West Africa bordering which of the following countries?

1. Niger
2. Chad
3. Benin
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   a) 1 only
   b) 1 and 2 only
   c) 2 and 3 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
The National Security Adviser (NSA) of Nigeria visited New Delhi for the First Strategic and Counter-Terrorism Dialogue between India and Nigeria at the level of NSA.
• Within the framework of the close and strategic partnership between India and Nigeria, the National Security Advisors held in-depth discussions on the threats and challenges faced by democratic societies from terrorism, extremism, and radicalization.
• The two sides identified specific areas of cooperation to enhance their fight against all forms of terrorism, reaffirming their firm belief that there can be no justification for terrorism in any form or manifestation.
• Nigeria is a country in West Africa bordering Niger in the north, Chad in the northeast, Cameroon in the east, and Benin in the west. Its southern coast is on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean.
• Its capital is Abuja.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.