02 SEPTEMBER CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. With reference to the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme,
consider the following statements:

1. It is administered by the Department of Revenue under Ministry of Finance.
2. It reimburses electricity duties and VAT on the fuel used for transportation of export
   products.
3. It is exclusively for textiles.
   Which of the statements given above are not correct?

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

Solution: b)

Explanation:
Statement 3 is not correct.
The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme is notified by
the Department of Commerce. The Scheme shall be fully administered by the Department of
Revenue. A separate RODTEP Policy Committee (RPC) chaired by Director General of Foreign Trade
is constituted to address residual issues related to the Scheme.
The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) scheme will reimburse all the
taxes/duties/levies being charged at the Central/State/Local level which are not currently refunded
under any of the existing schemes but are incurred at the manufacturing and distribution process.
The tax refund rates will vary between 0.5% and 4.3% of the export value of goods. They include:
1) VAT and Excise duty on the fuel used.
2) Electricity duty on purchase of electricity.
3) Mandi Tax/ Municipal Taxes/ Property Taxes. 4) Stamp duty on export documents.
5) Un-creditable CGST/ SGST/ IGST/
Compensation Cess.
Benefit of the scheme are extended to all export goods including agriculture products. However,
there are few sectors currently excluded from the scheme:

1. Pharmaceuticals
2. Steel
3. Textiles
4. Chemicals

Q2. With reference to ‘PM-DAKSH’, consider the following statements:

1. It aims to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups.
2. It is implemented through Government Training Institutes, Sector Skill Councils.
3. It is being implemented under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below

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

Solution: c)

Explanation:
All statements are correct.
‘PM-DAKSH’ (Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi) is a Mobile App and portal
to make the skill development schemes accessible to the target groups – Backward Classes,
Scheduled Castes and Safai Karamcharis.
‘PM-DAKSH’ will provide facility to register for the training institute and program of person’s
interest. These training programmes are being implemented through the Government Training
Institutes, and Sector Skill Councils constituted by the Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship and other credible institutions.
‘PM-DAKSH’ is implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the three
Corporations under the Ministry:

1. National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC),
2. National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC),
3. National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC).

Q3. Which of the following are key provisions of Draft-E Commerce Rules 2021?

1. Ban on Flash Sales
2. 24*7 Compliance Nodal Officer
3. Rules of Origin Clause
4. Mandatory Registration with Department of Revenue
   Select the correct answer using the code given below-

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

Solution: a)

Explanation:
Item 1 and 4 are not correct.
 Key Provisions of Draft e-Commerce Rules 2021:
o Mandatory Registration: There is a need for mandatory registration for e-commerce
entities with the Department of Promotion for Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
 E-commerce entity means persons who own, operate or manage a digital or
electronic facility or platform for electronic commerce.
o Limiting Flash Sales: Conventional e-commerce flash sales are not banned. Only
specific flash sales or back-to-back sales which limit customer choice, increase prices
and prevent a level playing field are not allowed.
o Compliance Officer: The e-commerce sites are also directed to ensure appointment
of Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) and a nodal contact person for 24×7 coordination
with law enforcement agencies.
o Restricting Related Parties: To tackle growing concerns of preferential treatment, the
new rules propose to ensure none of the related parties are allowed to use any
consumer information (from the online platform) for ‘unfair advantage’.
o Clause of Country of Origin: The entities will also have to identify goods based on
their country of origin and provide a filter mechanism at a pre-purchase stage for
customers.
 They will also have to offer alternatives to these imported goods to provide a
“fair opportunity” to domestic sellers.
o Reporting Cybersecurity Issues: All e-commerce entities must provide information
within 72 hours on any request made by an authorised government agency, probing
any breach of the law including cybersecurity issues.

Q4. “World Water Development Report” is released by which of the following?
a) World Bank
b) United Nation Environment Group
c) UNESCO
d) German watch

Solution: c)

Explanation:
The UNESCO World Water Development Report, 2018 states that India is the largest extractor of
groundwater in the world.
 In India, construction of irrigation wells does not require any clearance and no records are
maintained of abandoned wells.
 Several hundred wells are constructed in India every day and even more are abandoned
when they run dry.
 The contribution of groundwater to national gross domestic product is never measured.
 According to the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB, Ministry of Jal Shakti), with 230
billion metre cube of groundwater drawn out each year for irrigating agriculture lands in
India, many parts of the country are experiencing rapid depletion of groundwater.
 The total estimated groundwater depletion in India is in the range of 122–199 billion metre
cub
Q5. With reference to Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Consider
the following statements1. It consists of all the developed countries in world.

2. India is a not a member of this organization.
3. The Financial Action Task Force secretariat is located at OECD Headquarters.
   Select the correct answer using the code given belowa) 2 and 3 only
   b) 1 and 2 only
   c) 1,2 and 3
   d) 2 only
   Solution: d)
   Explanation:
   Statement 1 and 3 are not correct.
   Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
   It was formed in 1961. It has 38 member countries. India is not a member but one of the key
   partners of the organisation.
   It is an international organisation, having a goal to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality,
   opportunity and well-being for all.
   It is headquartered at Paris, France.
   The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Secretariat is located at OECD headquarters.

Q6. Consider the following statements about PISA (Programme for International Students
Assessment)

1. It is a competency-based test designed to measure the ability of 15 year old candidates that
   measures their ability of mathematics and arts to apply their knowledge in real life situation.
2. It is organized by UNESCO.
3. India never took part in this program.
   Which of the above given statements are correct?
   a) 2 only
   b) 1 and 3 only
   c) 1 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3
   Solution: c)
   Explanation:
   Statement 2 are not correct.
   About PISA:
    It is a competency-based test designed to assess the ability of the 15-year-old candidates
   that measures their reading, mathematics, and science literacy every three years to apply
   their knowledge to real-life situations.
    It is an international survey coordinated by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
   Development (OECD) and was first conducted in 2000.
   India’s Participation: India has participated in the PISA test only once before, in 2009. In this round
   of PISA, where students from Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu sat for the test, India ranked 72nd
   out of 73 countries, outranking only Kyrgyzstan.
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   Since then, India has strayed away from the test until now, for students from Chandigarh will be
   sitting for the test in 2022.
   Originally the main PISA survey was scheduled for 2021, but was postponed by one year owing to
   the pandemic.
   Significance for India:
   Learnings from participation in PISA will help to introduce competency-based examination reforms
   in the school system and help move away from rote learning. The CBSE and NCERT will be part of
   the process and activities leading to the actual test.
   It would lead to recognition and acceptability of Indian students and prepare them for the global
   economy in the 21st century.
   Q7. Which of the following are initiatives of UNESCO?
4. Man and Biosphere Programme
5. World Heritage Programme
6. Network of Creative Cities
7. REDD+
   Select the correct answer using the code given belowa) 2 and 3 only
   b) 1 and 3 only
   c) 1,2 and 3 only
   d) 1,2,3 and 4
   Solution: c)
   Explanation:
   REDD+ is an initiative by UNEP.
   UNESCO
   About:
   It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. It
   was founded in 1945 and is in Paris, France.
   Initiatives by UNESCO-
    Man and Biosphere Programme
    World Heritage Programme
    Global Geopark Network
    Network of Creative Cities
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    Atlas of World Languages in Danger
   Q8. The Global Environment Facility serves as a financial mechanism to which of the following
   environmental conventions?
8. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
9. United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
10. Minamata Convention on Mercury
11. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
    Select the correct answer using the code given below.
    a) 2 and 3 only
    b) 1, 2 and 4 only
    c) 1, 3 and 4 only
    d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
    Solution: d)
    Explanation:
    The Global Environment Facility was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help
    tackle our planet‘s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, the GEF has provided over
    $17.9 billion in grants and mobilized an additional $93.2 billion in co-financing for more than 4500
    projects in 170 countries.
    Today, the GEF is an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil
    society organizations and the private sector that addresses global environmental issues.
    The GEF provides funding to assist developing countries in meeting the objectives of international
    environmental conventions.
    The GEF serves as financial mechanism to five conventions, which are
     UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
     United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
     (UNFCCC), Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),
     UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and
     Minamata Convention on Mercury.
    The GEF, although not linked formally to the Montreal Protocol, supports the implementation of the
    Protocol in Countries with Economies in Transition.
    Q9. Which of the following statements are correct about Hurricanes?
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12. They make use of warm water and moist air as fuel and therefore form usually around
    Mediterranean region.
13. They rotate faster, and an eye gets formed in the center which is the strongest part and consists
    of strong winds.
14. Recently Hurricane Ida made a landfall in Turkey.
    Select the correct answer using the code given belowa) 1,2 and 3
    b) 2 only
    c) 1 and 3 only
    d) None
    Solution: d)
    Explanation:
    All statements are incorrect.
     Hurricanes are the biggest and most violent storms on the planet.
    o Tropical cyclones or hurricanes use warm, moist air as fuel, and therefore form over
    warm Equatorial water.
     Mechanism:
    o When the warm, moist air rises upward from the surface of the ocean, it creates
    an area of low air pressure below.
    o When this happens, the air from the surrounding areas rushes to fill this place,
    eventually rising when it becomes warm and moist too.
    o An eye forms in the centre. It is the calmest part of the cyclone. Before the wind
    reaches the centre it gets warmed up and rises upwards.
    o When the warm air rises and cools off, the moisture forms clouds. This system of
    clouds and winds continues to grow and spin.
    o This disturbance is fuelled by the ocean’s heat and the water that evaporates from
    its surface.
    o Such storm systems rotate faster and faster.
    o Storms that form towards the north of the equator rotate counterclockwise, while
    those that form to the south spin clockwise because of the rotation of the Earth.
    Q10. With reference to Personal Liberty in Indian Constitution, consider the following statements1. Right to be Forgotten is a constitutional right in India.
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15. The Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill has no provision with respect to Right to be
    Forgotten.
16. Right to be Forgotten empowers individuals to ask organisations to delete their personal
    data.
    Which of the above given statements are not correct?
    a) 1 and 2 only
    b) 2 and 3 only
    c) 3 only
    d) 1, 2 and 3
    Solution: a)
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 and 2 are not correct.
    Right to be forgotten (RTBF)
     The Right to be forgotten (RTBF) is the right to have personal information removed from
    publicly available sources, including the internet and search engines, databases, websites
    etc. once the personal information in question is no longer necessary or relevant.
     In the pre-internet era, such information would have been practically inaccessible after its
    initial publication. However, in the digital world, such information is easily accessible.
     The simple logic for the creation of this right is that a person must be able to control his/her
    data by seeking its deletion.
    RTBF in Europe:
    RTBF has been recognized as a statutory right in the European Union (EU) under the General Data
    Protection Regulation (GDPR), and has been upheld by a number of courts in the United Kingdom,
    and in Europe.
    General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), is Europe’s digital privacy law passed by the 28-member
    bloc (EU) in 2018.
    RTBF provisions in India
    There is no statutory provision in India at present that provides right to be forgotten.
    The Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill 2019 contains a provision on the right to be
    forgotten. However, the bill is yet to be passed in the Parliament.
    Under the PDP Bill, RTBF may be granted only after the ‘Adjudicating Officer’ appointed under the
    PDP Bill approves an application made by the individual.
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    Hence, the RTBF under the PDP Bill is a limited right and is subject to approval by the Adjudicating
    Officer.
    As per GDPR, the right to be forgotten empowers individuals to ask organisations to delete their
    personal data, when it is not needed or when the person concerned revokes (cancels) his
    consent. Hence, statement 3 is correct.