Current Affairs MCQs – July 24-25

With reference to the PM-YASASVI (Prime Minister Young Achievers Scholarship Award Scheme for Vibrant India), consider the following statements:

1. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Education to provide scholarships to students.
2. Under the scheme, a minimum of 30% of the total slots are reserved for girl students.
3. The scheme includes provisions for construction of hostels in rural and educationally backward areas.
4. Students belonging to OBC, EBC, and Denotified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNT) with an annual family income below ₹2.50 lakh are eligible beneficiaries.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• PM-YASASVI is an umbrella scheme implemented by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), not the Ministry of Education. It aims to support students from socially and economically disadvantaged communities through scholarships and residential facilities.

Statement 2 is correct

• The scheme mandates that at least 30% of the total slots under its various components are reserved for girl students, promoting gender inclusion in education.

Statement 3 is correct

• PM-YASASVI includes a component for the construction of hostels, with financial assistance ranging from ₹3.00 lakh to ₹3.50 lakh per seat. These hostels are prioritized in rural, remote, and educationally backward areas to improve access to quality education.

Statement 4 is correct

• The scheme benefits students belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Economically Backward Classes (EBCs), and Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) whose annual family income does not exceed ₹2.50 lakh.

Answer: (a) 2, 3 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) Scheme, consider the following statements:

1. The scheme seeks to rehabilitate both transgender persons and persons engaged in begging through a convergence-based approach involving multiple stakeholders.
2. The SMILE-Beggary National Portal is intended to register beneficiaries and monitor rehabilitation centres and their outcomes.
3. Under the scheme, all cities with a population exceeding one million are mandatorily covered for rehabilitation activities.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

SMILE is a Central Sector Scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It adopts a convergence-based approach by involving the Central Government, States, Urban Local Bodies, and NGOs, while leveraging schemes such as DAY-NULM, NRLM, and Mission Vatsalya.

Statement 2 is correct

• The SMILE-Beggary National Portal has been developed to maintain a database of beneficiaries and to track the functioning and outcomes of rehabilitation centres across the country.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The scheme does not mandate coverage of all cities with a population above one million. Instead, it aims to cover 295 identified cities by 2030–31, with priority given to metropolitan, religious, tourist, and historical centres.

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

Which one of the following best defines the Credit-Deposit (CD) Ratio?

1. The ratio of a bank’s total deposits to its net worth, indicating its capital adequacy position.
2. The percentage of a bank’s total deposits that is maintained with the Reserve Bank of India as statutory reserves.
3. The percentage of total deposits mobilised by a bank that is deployed as credit or advances.
4. The ratio of a bank’s non-performing assets to its total outstanding loans.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The Credit-Deposit (CD) Ratio is a key indicator of a bank’s lending efficiency and liquidity position. It measures the proportion of total deposits that a bank utilizes for extending loans and advances and is calculated by dividing total credit by total deposits and expressing the result as a percentage. A higher CD ratio generally indicates greater credit expansion and economic activity, although an excessively high ratio may point to liquidity constraints.

Answer: (c) The percentage of total deposits mobilised by a bank that is deployed as credit or advances; Difficulty Level: Easy

With reference to the inventory-based model of e-commerce in India, consider the following statements

1. An inventory-based e-commerce entity owns the goods and services sold to consumers through its digital platform.
2. The recent decision to permit FDI in the inventory-based model is expected to improve India’s share in global e-commerce exports.
3. Prior to this decision, foreign investment in the inventory-based model was permitted only through the government approval route.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct

• In the inventory-based model, the e-commerce entity owns the inventory of goods and sells them directly to consumers. The recent policy change permitting FDI in this model is aimed at boosting India’s e-commerce exports, enhancing access to global markets, and increasing the participation of MSMEs in international trade.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Prior to the recent policy change, FDI was not permitted at all in the inventory-based model of e-commerce. Only the marketplace model was eligible for 100% FDI under the automatic route.

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

 Which one of the following best describes the Gravity-1 (YinLi-1) rocket, recently seen in the news?

1. A reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by Japan for crewed missions to the Moon.
2. A commercial all-solid propellant medium-lift launch vehicle developed by a Chinese private aerospace company for deploying satellite constellations.
3. A liquid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile developed by China for strategic deterrence purposes.
4. A partially reusable launch vehicle developed by South Korea for deep-space exploration missions.

Explanation

• Gravity-1 (YinLi-1) is the world’s most powerful commercial all-solid propellant expendable medium-lift launch vehicle, developed by the Chinese private aerospace company Orienspace. It is designed primarily for launching satellite constellations and is notable for its ability to conduct launches directly from mobile ocean vessels. The rocket can carry up to 6.5 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 4.2 tonnes to a 500 km Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

Answer: (b) A commercial all-solid propellant medium-lift launch vehicle developed by a Chinese private aerospace company for deploying satellite constellations; Difficulty Level: Medium

With reference to the Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research (INSPIRE) Programme, consider the following statements:

1. The programme is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology and seeks to promote scientific talent without conducting a separate competitive examination.
2. INSPIRE MANAK is aimed at promoting scientific creativity among students from Classes VI to XII.
3. The INSPIRE Fellowship provides financial assistance exclusively to postdoctoral researchers undertaking independent research.

Which of the statements given above is/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

• The INSPIRE Programme is sponsored and managed by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Its primary objective is to attract young talent towards science and research careers. Importantly, the programme does not conduct its own competitive examination and instead leverages the existing educational system to identify meritorious students.

Statement 2 is correct

• INSPIRE MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge) promotes scientific temper and innovation among students studying in Classes VI to XII.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The INSPIRE Fellowship supports doctoral (Ph.D.) research for up to five years. It is the INSPIRE Faculty Fellowship, not the INSPIRE Fellowship, that is intended for outstanding postdoctoral researchers to pursue independent research with fellowship and research grant support.

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

 Invasive species disrupt local ecosystems, outcompeting native species and causing ecological imbalances. Which of the following species are recognized as invasive in India?

1. Lantana
2. Billygoat Weed
3. Carrot Grass
4. Blue Poppy
5. Eucalyptus
6. Prosopis Juliflora
7. Eulophia Obtusa

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
2. 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6
3. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6
4. 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Lantana, Billygoat Weed, Carrot Grass, Eucalyptus, and Prosopis Juliflora are invasive species.
• Blue poppy is not an invasive species.
  • It is called the Queen of Himalayan Flowers.
  • It contains narcotic constituents and its roots are poisonous.
  • It is the national flower of Bhutan.
  • It is native to the Himalayas, Myanmar, Tibet and China. In India, it is found from Kumaon to Kashmir. It is found in abundance at Hemkund Sahib Lake and Valley of Flowers of Uttarakhand.
• Eulophia Obtusa is also not an invasive species.
  • It is a rare orchid.
  • Distribution: Bangladesh, North India and Nepal.
  • It was rediscovered in India in Dudhwa TR after 118 years.
  • Habitat: Grows seasonally in grasslands.
  • IUCN: CR
  • CITES: Appendix II

Answer: (b) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 | Difficulty Level: Hard

 Consider the following statements regarding the Sal tree (Shorea robusta):

1. Sal is a deciduous hardwood species native to the Indian subcontinent, primarily found in the tropical moist and dry deciduous forests of the Sub-Himalayan belt and Central Indian plateau.
2. The leaves, seeds, and resin of the Sal tree are classified as Minor Forest Produce under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.

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

Both statements are correct

• Sal (Shorea robusta) is a large deciduous hardwood tree indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. It is predominantly found in the tropical moist and dry deciduous forests of the Sub-Himalayan belt and the Central Indian plateau, particularly in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
• Further, under the provisions of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, the leaves, seeds, and resin (locally known as ral or dammar) of the Sal tree are recognised as Minor Forest Produce (MFP). This classification is significant as it grants forest-dwelling communities rights over the collection, use, and disposal of these non-timber forest products, thereby supporting their livelihoods and traditional practices.

Answer: (b) Both 1 and 2 | Difficulty Level: Medium