Current Affairs MCQs – July 04-05

 The Gulf of Aden lies between Yemen and Somalia and connects the Red Sea with the Arabian Sea through which one of the following?

1. Strait of Hormuz
2. Bab el-Mandeb Strait
3. Strait of Tiran
4. None of the above

Explanation

• INS Trikand thwarted a piracy attempt against the India-bound merchant vessel MV Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden.

• Gulf of Aden is a deep-water gulf between Yemen (north) and Somalia (south in the Horn of Africa). It connects Red Sea to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (Gate of Tears).

Answer: (b) Bab el-Mandeb Strait; Difficulty Level: Easy

Which of the following statements with regard to Green Hydrogen is/are correct?

1. It is decarbonised hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with carbon capture and storage (CCS).
2. It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.
3. National Green Hydrogen Mission of India aims for abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Select the answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Hydrogen obtained from natural gas reforming combined with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is known as Blue Hydrogen, not Green Hydrogen. Green Hydrogen is produced without fossil fuels.

Statement 2 is correct

• Green Hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water using electricity generated from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

Statement 3 is correct

• The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to significantly reduce carbon emissions and targets the abatement of nearly 50 million metric tonnes (MMT) of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

 With reference to the regulation of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) in India, consider the following statements:

1. Commercial VPN service providers are required to retain subscriber data for five years, even after the cancellation of an account.
2. Corporate internal VPN networks are exempt from the mandatory five-year subscriber data retention requirement applicable to commercial public VPN providers.
3. The regulatory framework applies only to VPN providers whose servers are physically located within India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Under the 2022 CERT-In Cyber Security Directions issued under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000, commercial VPN providers must retain subscriber information for five years, even after an account has been cancelled.

Statement 2 is correct

• Corporate internal networks are exempt from the five-year subscriber data (KYC) retention requirement, which applies to commercial public VPN service providers.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The regulatory framework has extraterritorial application. It applies to foreign entities that process data of Indian users or provide services to users in India, irrespective of where their servers are physically located.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

With reference to the A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE), consider the following statements:

1. It is a Central Sector Scheme under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) aimed at promoting entrepreneurship through rural enterprise incubators.
2. Under the scheme, Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs) provide skill training and support the creation of micro-enterprises by offering hands-on training using in-house plant and machinery.
3. The scheme continues to support both Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs) and Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) as its two major incubation components.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• ASPIRE (A Scheme for Promotion of Innovation, Rural Industry and Entrepreneurship) is a Central Sector Scheme launched in March 2015 under the Ministry of MSME.
• It seeks to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and employment generation by establishing rural enterprise incubators.

Statement 2 is correct

• Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs) are the core implementation units under ASPIRE.
• They provide hands-on skill training using in-house plant and machinery and facilitate the establishment of micro-enterprises, particularly in sectors such as agro-processing, agritech, rural manufacturing, and village industries.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Originally, ASPIRE had both Livelihood Business Incubators (LBIs) and Technology Business Incubators (TBIs).
• However, the Technology Business Incubator (TBI) component has been withdrawn due to its convergence with the MSME Innovative Scheme for Incubation.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

 With reference to the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), consider the following statements:

1. It is the apex intelligence and investigation agency for anti-smuggling operations under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC).
2. It is a statutory body established under the Customs Act, 1962 to investigate customs duty evasion and international trade fraud.
3. It leads the Smuggling in India Coordination Centre (S-CORD) and operates the Customs Overseas Intelligence Network (COIN) for international intelligence sharing.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is India’s apex anti-smuggling intelligence and investigation agency.
• It functions under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The DRI is not a statutory body. It was established in 1957 as a non-statutory organisation.
• It derives its powers primarily from the Customs Act, 1962, and also enforces provisions under more than 50 allied Acts, including the NDPS Act, Arms Act, and Wildlife (Protection) Act.

Statement 3 is correct

• DRI heads the Smuggling in India Coordination Centre (S-CORD), which coordinates intelligence among enforcement agencies.
• It also operates the Customs Overseas Intelligence Network (COIN) to facilitate intelligence exchange with foreign customs administrations and international enforcement agencies.

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