18 AUGUST CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements in context of TAPAS:

1. TAPAS is a standard MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform with
   course material such as filmed lectures and e-study material.
2. It is launched by the Ministry of Education.
   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:
TAPAS is a standard MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform with course
material such as filmed lectures and e-study material. It also includes discussion
forums to support and encourage interactions among students and course
coordinators. 1 is correct.
 It is developed by the National Institute of Social Defence and launched by
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. 2 is incorrect.
 It can be taken up by anyone who wishes to enhance his or her knowledge
on the topics and there is no fee for joining.
 The five basic courses are on Drug (Substance) Abuse Prevention,
Geriatric/Elderly Care, Care and Management of Dementia, Transgender
Issues and on comprehensive course on Social Defence Issues.
o Social defence is generally understood as the protection of society
against crime through a systematically organized and coherent
action by both the State and civil society.

Q2. Consider the following statements about new Geospatial policy:

1. Indian corporations and innovators require prior approvals before they
   collect, generate, prepare, disseminate, store, publish, update digital
   geospatial data and maps within the territory of India.
2. There shall be no requirement for security clearance, licence or any other
   restrictions.
   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: b)

Explanation:
The new Geospatial policy erased all the regulations on surveying and mapping,
thus removing a lot of cobwebs of the past in one sweep.
 Indian corporations and innovators are no longer subject to restrictions
nor do they require prior approvals before they collect, generate, prepare,
disseminate, store, publish, update digital geospatial data and maps within
the territory of India. 1 is incorrect.
 There shall be no requirement for security clearance, licence or any other
restrictions. 2 is correct.
 There will be open access to its geospatial data and services, including maps,
for all Indian entities, with the exception of sensitive defence or securityrelated data.

Q3. Which of the following schemes promote financial inclusion in India?

1. Jeevan Suraksha Bandhan Yojana
2. Stand Up India scheme
3. Jan Dhan Yojna
   Select the correct code:
   a) 1 and 2
   b) 2 and 3
   c) 1 and 3
   d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: d)

Explanation:
Financial inclusion
 Financial inclusion is a method of offering banking and financial services
to individuals.
 It aims to include everybody in society by giving them basic financial
services regardless of their income or savings. It focuses on providing
financial solutions to the economically underprivileged.
Objectives of financial inclusion: The objectives of financial inclusion are to
provide the following:
 A basic no-frills banking account for making and receiving payments
 Saving products (including investment and pension)
 Simple credit products and overdrafts linked with no-frills accounts
 Remittance, or money transfer facilities
 Micro insurance (life) and non-micro insurance (life and non-life)
 Micro pension
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), launched on 09.05.2015, aims
to provide a very affordable insurance scheme for poor and underprivileged people
in the age group between 18 to 70 years with a bank account at a premium of Rs
12 per annum.
Stand-Up India Scheme facilitates bank loans between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 1 Crore
to at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least
one woman borrower per bank branch for setting up a greenfield enterprise. This
enterprise may be in manufacturing, services or the trading sector. In case of nonindividual enterprises at least 51% of the shareholding and controlling stake
should be held by either an SC/ST or woman entrepreneur.
The Indian Government launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
(PMJDY) in order to provide financial services and products to individuals who do
not have access to a bank account.
 No minimum balance to be maintained
 As per bank’s saving’s account interest rate
 Transfer of money is simple
 Overdraft facility available
Hence all the above mentioned schemes provide financial inclusion.

Q4. With reference to the RoDTEP Scheme Guidelines and Rates (Remission
of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products), consider the following statements:

1. The rebate under the Scheme shall not be available in respect of duties and taxes
   already exempted or remitted or credited.
2. Scheme is to be implemented by Customs through a simplified IT System.
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   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:
Centre has notified RoDTEP Scheme Guidelines and Rates (Remission of Duties
and Taxes on Exported Products).
 The scheme for zero rating of exports will boost our exports &
competitiveness in the global markets. The rates of RoDTEP will cover 8555
tariff lines.
 Scheme’s objective is to refund, currently un-refunded:
 Duties/ taxes/ levies, at the Central, State & local level, borne
on the exported product, including prior stage cumulative
indirect taxes on goods & services used in production of the
exported product, and
 Such indirect Duties/ taxes/ levies in respect of distribution of
exported products.
 It may be noted that rebate under the Scheme shall not be available in
respect of duties and taxes already exempted or remitted or credited.
 Scheme is to be implemented by Customs through a simplified IT System.
Rebate will be issued in the form of a transferable duty credit/ electronic
scrip (e-scrip) which will be maintained in an electronic ledger by the Central
Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC).
 Hence both statements are correct.

Q5. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
Rivers Country

1. Colorado River Spain
2. Yangtze China
3. Volga U.S.A

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

Solution: a)

Explanation:
For the first time, the federal government in the US declared a water shortage for
the Colorado river basin due to a historic drought, which will lead to water cuts in
some southwestern states starting October 2021.
 The Colorado River Basin is divided into the Upper (Wyoming, Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah and northern Arizona) and Lower Basins (parts of Nevada, Arizona,
California, southwestern Utah and western New Mexico).
 The entire Colorado river system is managed with a series of dams and canals to
regulate flood control, water conservation and hydropower benefits.
 In the Lower Basin, the Hoover Dam controls floods and regulates water delivery
and storage. Apart from the Hoover dam, there is the Davis Dam, Parker Dam and
the Imperial Dam that regulate the release of water from the Hoover Dam.
 Water is released from these dams and used by residents in California, Nevada,
Arizona and Mexico.
The Yangtze or Yangzi is the longest river in Asia, the third-longest in the world
and the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country. It rises at Jari Hill
in the Tanggula Mountains and flows 6,300 km in a generally easterly direction to
the East China Sea.
The Volga is the longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central
Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea.
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q6. With reference to the oil bonds, consider the following statements:

1. Before fuel prices were deregulated, petrol and diesel as well as cooking gas and
   kerosene were sold at subsidised rates.
2. Since 1991 the Union government is issuing oil bonds to oil marketing
   companies from the Budget to contain the fiscal deficit.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Solution: a)
   Explanation:
   The Centre has argued that it cannot reduce taxes on petrol and diesel as it has to
   bear the burden of payments in lieu of oil bonds issued by the previous UPA
   government to subsidise fuel prices.
    Before fuel prices were deregulated, petrol and diesel as well as cooking gas and
   kerosene were sold at subsidised rates during UPA rule.
    Instead of paying direct subsidy to oil marketing companies from the Budget, the
   then government issued oil bonds totalling Rs 1.34 lakh crore to the state-fuel
   retailers in a bid to contain the fiscal deficit.
    Citing the need to repay interest and principal components on these bonds, the
   Centre has now argued that it needs higher excise duty to help its finances.
    The NDA government too has used a similar strategy to inject capital into stateowned banks and other institutions by issuing recapitalisation bonds worth Rs 3.1
   lakh crore, which will come up for redemption between 2028 and 2035.
   Hence only statement 1 is correct.
   Q7. With reference to the earthquakes, consider the following statements:
3. Earthquakes can occur when tectonic plates move against each other and create
   friction.
4. Haiti sits near the intersection of the North American plate and the Nazca plate.
   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:
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   Earthquakes have been wreaking havoc in Haiti since at least the 18th century,
   when the city of Port-au-Prince was destroyed twice in 19 years. Recent powerful
   quake killed hundreds and injured thousands more.
    The Earth’s crust is made up of tectonic plates that move. And Haiti sits near the
   intersection of two of them — the North American plate and the Caribbean plate.
    Earthquakes can occur when those plates move against each other and create
   friction.
    Multiple fault lines between those plates cut through or near the island of
   Hispaniola, which Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic. What’s worse, not all
   of those fault lines behave the same way.
    Haiti is also densely populated.
    Plus, many of its buildings are designed to withstand hurricanes, not earthquakes.
   Those buildings can survive strong winds but are vulnerable to collapse when the
   ground shakes.
    Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
   Q8. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
   Regions in news Country
5. Badakhshan Iraq
6. Kunduz Iran
7. Balkh Afghanistan
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   a) 3 only
   b) 1 and 2 only
   c) 2 and 3 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3
   Solution: a)
   Explanation:
   Taliban forces have swept across Afghanistan, finally capturing the capital city of
   Kabul. As people are desperately trying to leave Afghanistan, many will likely seek
   refuge in neighbouring Tajikistan.
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    First, Tajikistan will have to consider the sentiments of Afghan-Tajiks, some who
   have been welcomed in the Taliban’s ranks but the majority of whom passionately
   reject the group.
    Second, Dushanbe will be cognisant of the rise in extremism caused by the
   dominance of the Taliban, and the impact it will have on radical factions within
   Tajikistan who aim to establish an Emirate of their own.
    Thirdly, Tajikistan will have to find ways to police its porous border with
   Afghanistan in order to prevent illicit drugs and refugees from overflowing into the
   country.
   History of relations
    Tajikistan lies on Afghanistan’s northeastern border, adjacent to the Afghan
   provinces of Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz and Balkh.
    The 1200-km border is also home to the junction between the Hindu Kush and
   Karakoram Mountains, and is characterised by its rocky, inhospitable terrain.
    For a long time, Tajikistan was considered to be under the influence of the Persians,
   and many ethnic Tajiks residing in Afghanistan retain similar cultural values.
   Today, Tajikistan, a small landlocked Central Asian nation, has a predominantly
   Muslim population and is largely considered to be undemocratic, volatile, and
   economically unstable.
    Until 1991, Tajikistan was a part of the Soviet Union.
    When Moscow invaded Afghanistan in 1979, Tajikistan, along with the other Soviet
   Socialist Republics in Central Asia, supported the takeover.
    Tajikistan’s support for the Soviets made them a target of the Afghan Mujahadeen
   who launched attacks against the country in 1987. Due to the close cultural and
   kinship ties between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, many Tajiks secretly joined the
   Afghan jihad, fighting alongside the Mujahadeen.
    Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
   Q9. Consider the following statements with respect to Financial Inclusion Index
8. It is being released once in a year by the Ministry of Finance.
9. It has no base year.
10. It covers banking, investments, insurance, postal and pension sectors.
    Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 only
    b) 3 only
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    c) 2 and 3 only
    d) 1, 2 and 3
    Solution: c)
    Explanation:
    Financial Inclusion Index
     Financial Inclusion Index is released by RBI once in a year in the month of
    July.
     It is to capture the extent of financial inclusion across the country.
     It comprises of 3 parameters – Access (35%), Usage (45%), and Quality
    (20%) .
     It incorporates details of banking, investments, insurance, postal as well as
    the pension sector in consultation with the government and respective
    sectoral regulators.
     It has no base year as it reflects the cumulative efforts of various sectors
    towards financial inclusion in the country.
     Its value ranges from 0 to 100 in which 0 represents financial exclusion and
    100 reflects complete financial inclusion.
    Q10. With reference to Ramsar Sites in India, consider the following statements:
11. India currently has 46 Ramsar sites designated as Wetlands of International
    Importance.
12. Uttar Pradesh has the most number of Ramsar Sites in India.
13. Currently, no sites in India are listed under Montreux record, a register of
    wetland sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are
    occurring, or are likely to occur.
    Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
    a) 2 only
    b) 1 and 2 only
    c) 2 and 3 only
    d) None of the above
    Solution: b)
    Explanation:
    Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites)
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     Four more wetlands from India get recognition from the Ramsar Secretariat
    as Ramsar sites recently.
     With this, the number of Ramsar sites in India is increased to 46.
     Uttar Pradesh, with 8 Ramsar Sites, has the most number of Ramsar Sites
    in India.
    Montreux Record
     It is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International
    Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are
    occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments,
    pollution or other human interference.
     It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
     At present, there are two Indian sites Loktak Lake, Manipur and Keoladeo
    National Park, Rajasthan are on the Montreux Record.