Current Affairs MCQs – June 06-08

Consider the following statements regarding India’s agriculture sector:

1. Agriculture and allied sectors contribute nearly one-fifth of India’s Gross Value Added (GVA) but employ nearly half of the country’s workforce.
2. India is the world’s largest producer of rice, wheat, fruits, and vegetables, while also being a leading producer of cotton globally.
3. Despite record foodgrain production, horticulture output in India currently exceeds foodgrain output and contributes about one-third of agricultural GVA.
4. Over two-thirds of India’s agricultural land is irrigated, primarily through surface water sources, ensuring low dependence on groundwater.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1, 2 and 3 only
3. 2 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Agriculture and allied sectors contribute about 18% of GVA and employ around 46% of India’s workforce, making it the largest livelihood provider.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• India leads global production in milk, pulses, and spices; ranks second in rice, wheat, fruits, vegetables, and eggs; and is a leading (top two) producer of cotton.

Statement 3 is correct

• India’s horticulture output (~367.72 million tonnes) has surpassed foodgrain production (~357.73 million tonnes) and contributes around 33% of agricultural GVA.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• Only about half of agricultural land is irrigated, and India is heavily dependent on groundwater (~64%), making water stress a major constraint.

Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Consider the following Information:

How many of the rows given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Row 1 is correct

• Gogabeel Lake is a permanent oxbow lake situated between the Ganga and Mahananda rivers; Bihar’s first notified Community Reserve.
• Major Avifauna: Common Pochard (VU), Black-bellied Tern (EN), Lesser Adjutant Stork, and the Oriental Darter.
• Significance: Acts as a vital wintering ground for the Central Asian Flyway; managed and conserved by the local community.

Row 2 is correct

• Chhari-Dhand is situated on the edge of the arid Banni Grasslands near the Rann of Kutch; State’s first Conservation Reserve. It is a seasonal desert wetland that fills with water only during the monsoon via north-flowing rivers and hill runoff.
• Significance: It provides critical habitat for the Sociable Lapwing and Common Pochard. Major wintering ground for the Common Crane and the Greater Flamingo.
• Major Fauna: This ecosystem supports unique desert mammals such as the Chinkara, Caracal, Desert Cat, and Indian Wolf.

Row 3 is incorrect

• Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (Surha Tal), Uttar Pradesh, has been designated as India’s 100^th Ramsar Site.
• Located in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, in the middle stretch of the Ganga River basin.
• It is a freshwater oxbow lake formed from an old meander of Ganga River and fed by 3 freshwater channels.
• Habitat: Characterised by floodplains, marshes, seasonally flooded areas, and rice paddies.
• Fauna: Habitat for species such as the Fishing Cat, Common Pochard, & Indian River Tern. Serves as a refuge and wintering ground for migratory waterbirds along the Central Asian Flyway.

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the Indian polity, consider the following statements:

1. An Ordinance can amend any Central Act.
2. An Ordinance can abridge a Fundamental Right.
3. An Ordinance can come into effect from a back date.

How many of the statements given above are not correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct, and Statement 2 is incorrect

• Article 123 of the Constitution empowers the President to promulgate ordinances when Parliament is not in session, and the scope of this power is coextensive with Parliament’s legislative authority, except in terms of the ordinance’s duration. This means that an ordinance can be issued only on matters within Parliament’s legislative competence and may amend or repeal existing Central laws. At the same time, it is subject to the same constitutional limitations as a law enacted by Parliament and cannot infringe upon fundamental rights.

Statement 3 is correct

• Like any other legislation, an ordinance can have a retrospective effect, meaning it can be enforced from a past date. It has the power to amend or repeal an existing Act of Parliament or even another ordinance, and to modify tax laws. However, it cannot be used to amend the Constitution. The President can withdraw an ordinance at any time, but not at his own discretion. Both promulgation and withdrawal of an ordinance must be done based on the advice of the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Easy

Consider the following statements regarding recent reforms related to Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) in Indian Government Securities (G-Secs):

1. Under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR), foreign investors can invest in specified Government Securities without security-wise limits, investment ceilings, or holding period restrictions.
2. Recent reforms propose the exemption of capital gains tax on FPIs arising from the transfer or redemption of Government Securities, effective from 1 April 2026.
3. The overall investment limits for FPIs in Government Securities under both Central and State categories have been removed to attract greater foreign inflows.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Under the Fully Accessible Route (FAR), foreign investors can invest in designated Government Securities without restrictions like security-wise caps, holding period limits, or certain operational constraints that exist under the General Route.

Statement 2 is correct

• Recent reforms provide tax exemption on interest income and capital gains for FPIs/FIIs on Government Securities, effective from 1 April 2026.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• While several operational restrictions (like short-term limits, concentration limits, and security-wise limits) have been relaxed under the General Route, the overall investment ceilings remain in place (6% for Central G-Secs and 2% for State G-Secs).

Answer: (a) Only two; Difficulty Level: Medium

Consider the following statements regarding Abhilasha Biofuel (ABF) and the Technology Development Board (TDB):

1. Abhilasha Biofuel (ABF) is a second-generation renewable fuel developed from agricultural residues and agro-industrial waste, and can be used as a drop-in fuel without requiring any modification in existing engines or fuel infrastructure.
2. The Technology Development Board (TDB) is a statutory body under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy that primarily funds the commercialisation of renewable energy technologies in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect

• Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body under the Department of Science and Technology, has extended support to Pune-based GreenJoules Private Limited to scale up Abhilasha Biofuel (ABF) manufacturing. Abhilasha Biofuel (ABF) is an indigenous second-generation (2G) renewable diesel and naphtha alternative, made entirely from agricultural residues and agro-industrial waste.
• Drop-In Fuel: ABF can be used in any machinery or vehicle without modifying engines, fuel systems, or distribution infrastructure
• Environmental Impact: Its lifecycle process is nearly carbon-neutral and conforms to BIS VI and Euro VI standards. Burning ABF emits near-zero sulfur oxides and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90% compared to fossil fuels.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Which of the following are in Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve?

1. Neyyar, ldl Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
2. Mudumalai, Sathyamangalam and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Silent Valley National Park
3. Kaundinya, Gundla Brahmeswaram and Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Mukurthi National Park
4. Kawal and Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Supreme Court ordered the immediate eviction of encroachers and the demolition of illegal structures across the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve (ABR) and adjacent protected areas.
• Located in the Western Ghats in the south of the country, the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve has peaks reaching 1,868 m above sea level. It encompasses tropical forest ecosystems in the Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu and the Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts of Kerala. Three wildlife sanctuaries, Shendurney, Peppara and Neyyar, are located in the site, as well as the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger reserve. A number of tribal settlements comprising a total population of 3,000 inhabit the biosphere reserve. They rely largely on biological resources for their sustenance, although recent projects have been set up to reduce their dependence on the forests.
• The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve includes the Mudumalai, Mukurthi, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Silent Valley national parks, as well as the Aralam, Wayanad and Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuaries.

Answer: (a) Neyyar, ldl Peppara and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries; and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve; Difficulty Level: Hard

Consider the following countries:

1. Laos
2. Thailand
3. Vietnam

How many of the following countries form part of the Death Crescent (Golden Crescent)?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• The Death Crescent spans Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, constituting the primary illicit opium–heroin cultivation region in Southwest Asia.
• Primary Product: It accounts for almost 80% of global opium and heroin, with Afghanistan continuing to be the leading grower and exporter.
• Geopolitical Instability: Prolonged warfare and Taliban-linked insurgencies weaken governance, enabling widespread poppy cultivation and trafficking.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Hard