Current Affairs MCQs – July 09

Strengthening cooperation among BRICS nations to combat illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organised crime
Establishing a common BRICS framework for cross-border digital payments
Adopting a joint strategy for climate-resilient infrastructure in developing countries
Creating a BRICS mechanism for coordinated disaster response and humanitarian assistance

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

The Guwahati Declaration was adopted at the BRICS Heads of Anti-Drug Agencies Meeting held in Guwahati under India’s 2026 BRICS Chairship. It focuses on enhancing cooperation among BRICS countries to combat illicit drug trafficking, including through intelligence sharing, technological innovation, and addressing emerging threats such as synthetic drugs, new psychoactive substances, and the misuse of digital platforms by trafficking networks.

Answer: (a) Strengthening cooperation among BRICS nations to combat illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organised crime; Difficulty Level: Medium

World The World Investment Report (WIR), recently seen in the news, is released by which one of the following organizations?

United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
World Bank Group

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

The World Investment Report (WIR) is the annual flagship publication of United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Published since 1991, it provides a comprehensive assessment of global foreign direct investment (FDI) trends, investment policies, multinational enterprises, and emerging investment issues.

Answer: (a) United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the Index of Services Production (ISP), recently seen in the news, consider the following statements:

It is a monthly high-frequency indicator that measures short-term real output in India’s formal services sector.
It is compiled as a fixed-weight Laspeyres Volume Index with 2024–25 as the base year.
It includes the entire services sector contributing to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA), including Public Administration, Defence, and Central Bank Services.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

2 and 3 only
1 only
1, 2 and 3
1 and 2 only

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

The Index of Services Production (ISP) is a monthly high-frequency indicator designed to measure short-term changes in the real output of India’s formal services sector. It is intended to provide timely information on the performance of the services sector, similar to how the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) tracks industrial output.

Statement 2 is correct

The ISP will be compiled as a fixed-weight Laspeyres Volume Index with 2024–25 as the base year. The weights assigned to different service sub-sectors are based on their respective shares in Gross Value Added (GVA). The index will be released every month within 60 days of the reference month.

Statement 3 is incorrect

The ISP does not cover the entire services sector. Around 33% of India’s services GVA is excluded because of data constraints, the informal nature of activities, or the non-market character of certain services. Excluded sectors include Public Administration, Defence, and Central Bank Services. The index primarily relies on GST data, administrative records (such as railways, aviation, banking, and insurance), and future ASISSE data for health and education.

Answer: (d) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0, recently seen in the news, consider the following statements:

It is an evidence-based framework developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy to assess the performance of school education systems across States.
The index relies exclusively on UDISE+ data for assessing the performance of States and districts.
It has been aligned with the objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2.0 is an evidence-based assessment framework developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. It evaluates the performance of school education systems in States, Union Territories (PGI-S) and districts (PGI-D) across multiple governance and educational parameters.

Statement 2 is incorrect

PGI 2.0 does not rely exclusively on UDISE+. It uses multiple verified data sources, including UDISE+, PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan, PM POSHAN, and the PRABANDH portal, making the assessment more comprehensive and evidence-based.

Statement 3 correct

PGI 2.0 is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the Right to be Forgotten (RTBF) in India, consider the following statements:

The Right to be Forgotten is recognised as a facet of the Right to Privacy under Article 21, as affirmed by the Supreme Court in the K.S. Puttaswamy judgment (2017).
The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, explicitly provides an absolute right to erase personal information from all public records.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

The Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India recognised privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21, and the RTBF has been treated as one of its facets.

Statement 2 is incorrect

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, provides a Right to Erasure (Section 12), but it is not absolute, and its applicability to public records remains legally unsettled.