Current Affairs MCQs – June 22-23

With reference to India’s first commercial-scale Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project, consider the following statements:

1. It is being developed at Lakhanpur, Odisha.
2. The project is being developed by Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL), a joint venture between Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Coal India Limited (CIL).
3. The project uses coal gasification technology to convert coal into value-added chemicals, including ammonium nitrate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation

All statements are correct

• Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of India’s first commercial-scale Coal-to-Ammonium Nitrate Project at Lakhanpur in Jharsuguda district, Odisha.
• The project is being developed by Bharat Coal Gasification and Chemicals Limited (BCGCL), a joint venture between Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) and Coal India Limited (CIL).
• The project will use coal gasification technology to convert coal into value-added chemicals, including ammonium nitrate.

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Medium

Consider the following statements regarding the findings of the State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2026 report:

1. India remained the second-largest fish producer in the world after Russia.
2. India is the world’s largest producer of aquaculture output, accounting for about 12% of global farmed aquatic animal production.

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

• FAO released the biennial State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture (SOFIA) 2026 report under the theme “Blue Transformation: Turning Vision into Impact”.

Statement 1 is incorrect

• India-specific Findings: India contributed about 9% to global fish production and remained the 2nd largest fish producer after China.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• India leads inland capture fisheries with 2.2 MT and is the 2^nd-largest aquaculture producer, accounting for ~12% of global farmed aquatic animal output.

• India contributed around 5% of global marine capture fisheries production.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

 Consider the following countries:

1. Bolivia
2. Paraguay
3. Paraguay
4. Peru

How many of the above are landlocked countries in South America?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• A landlocked country is a country that is entirely bordered by land and has no access to marine water bodies. South America has 12 sovereign states, and of the 12, only two are landlocked: Bolivia and Paraguay.

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

 Dunagiri, Sanshodhak and Agray, recently seen in the news, are best described as:

1. Indigenous naval warships inducted into the Indian Navy.
2. Nuclear-powered submarines developed under India’s Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) programme.
3. Long-range cruise missiles developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
4. Offshore patrol vessels acquired by India from foreign shipyards for maritime surveillance.

Explanation

• Prime Minister inducted three indigenously designed and built warships into the Indian Navy at the Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata.

Answer: (a) Indigenous naval warships inducted into the Indian Navy; Difficulty Level: Easy

With reference to Biochar, consider the following statements:

1. It is produced by heating organic biomass under low-oxygen conditions through a process known as pyrolysis.
2. It can be used for the removal of heavy metals such as chromium and arsenic from wastewater.
3. Its application in agriculture can improve soil water-holding capacity and promote the growth of nitrogen-fixing microbes.
4. It significantly increases soil nitrous oxide emissions, thereby enhancing soil fertility.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced by the pyrolysis of organic biomass in a low-oxygen, high-temperature environment.

Statement 2 is correct

• It is used in wastewater treatment for the adsorption and removal of heavy metals such as chromium and arsenic.

Statement 3 is correct

• Biochar improves soil water-holding capacity, enhances microbial activity, and promotes the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, thereby improving crop productivity.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• Biochar generally reduces soil nitrous oxide emissions (by about 30–50%), contributing to climate-change mitigation while improving soil health.

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

 With reference to the UNICEF Children’s Climate Risk Report 2026, consider the following statements:

1. Drought is identified as the most widespread climate hazard affecting children globally.
2. More than half of India’s child population is exposed to at least three simultaneous climate hazards.
3. Flooding was identified as the leading cause of climate-related school disruptions in India during 2024.

How of the statements given above are not correct?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The report identifies drought as the most widespread climate hazard globally, exposing about 1.8 billion children.

Statement 2 is correct

• In India, 55% of children face at least three overlapping climate hazards, while 97% face at least two.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Heatwaves, not flooding, were the leading cause of climate-related school disruptions in India during 2024.

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