December 28 2023 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• INS Imphal is the 3rd amongst the 4, Project 15B stealth guided missile destroyer.
• It belongs to Visakhapatnam class destroyer which is arguably one of the most advanced classes of ships in the Indian Navy.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Destroyers are a category of warships that have high speed, manoeuvrability and longer endurance.
• They are designed to be part of naval formations like a fleet, or a carrier battle group also known as carrier strike group.
• INS Imphal is designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau and built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL).

Statement 3 is correct

• The ship has a total atmospheric control system (TACS) which offers protection to the crew from chemical, biological and nuclear threats.
• It can operate two multi-role helicopters, including Sea King or HAL Dhruv.
• The ship has a rail-less helicopter traversing and has a hangar facility.
• The ship boasts of a high indigenous content of approximately 75% that includes:
  • Medium Range Surface-to-Air Missiles (BEL, Bangalore)
  • BrahMos Surface-to-Surface Missiles (BrahMos Aerospace, New Delhi)
  • Indigenous Torpedo Tube Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
  • Anti-Submarine Indigenous Rocket Launchers (Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai)
  • 76mm Super Rapid Gun Mount (BHEL, Haridwar)

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Migration and Mobility Agreement aims to enhance people-to-people contacts and facilitate mobility of students, skilled workers and business professionals.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Migration and Mobility Agreement is an agreement between India and Italy.

Statement 3 is correct

• It formalizes joint working on mobility pathways between India and Italy in the healthcare and medical services sectors.
• Cooperation between the two parties in fight against irregular migration has also been formalised through the Agreement.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• Key provisions
• Italy has offered India an incremental reserved quotas for both seasonal and non-seasonal workers from 2023-25.
• Indian students wishing to gather initial professional experience, after completion of academic or vocational training in Italy may be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to 12 months.
• Indian students and trainees are expected to gain experience in Italian skill/training standards by provided them with detailed provisions related to:
  • Professional Training,
  • Extracurricular Internships and
  • Curricular Internships.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• MedTech Mitra is a platform that will help the young talents of the country by holding their hands to give final shape to their research and help them in getting regulatory approval.
• The platform brings together various stakeholders in the field of medical technology to enhance cooperation among various stakeholders and partner with them to promote progress in the health sector.
• This platform will serve to strengthen India’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage

Statement 2 is correct

• It is an initiative of NITI Aayog, Indian Council of Medical Research in partnership with Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).

Statement 3 is correct

• It is a platform for budding entrepreneurs and innovators in India.
• It will empower emerging start-ups and ensure ease of innovation, ease of doing research and development, ease of rendering service in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
• It will address the queries of the innovators and provide personalized guidance in a meeting at the earliest in consultation with the Regulator.

Answer: (c) All ; Difficulty level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• OPEC is a permanent, intergovernmental organization established at the Baghdad Conference in 1960.
• It operates on the principle of unanimity, and one member, one vote.
• Founding members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
• Member countries: Algeria, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Venezuela. Gabon rejoined OPEC in 2016.
• 80% of the world’s proven crude oil reserves are located in OPEC Member Countries.
• India sources about 70% of crude oil, 60% of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and 30% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG), and 45% of petroleum products demand from OPEC.

Statement 2 is correct

• It initially had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland which was then moved to Vienna, Austria in 1965.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2 ; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for NorthEast (PM-DevINE) aims to accelerate infrastructure and social development projects in the Northeastern region.
• Objectives
  • Fund infrastructure convergently in the spirit of PM GatiShakti.
  • Support social development projects based on the felt needs of the North Eastern Region (NER).
  • Enable livelihood activities for youth and women.
  • Fill the development gaps in various sectors.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The scheme was announced as a 100% Central Sector Scheme in Budget 2022-23.
• It is implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) through the North Eastern Council (NEC).

Statement 3 is correct

• Tourism and connectivity sectors are among the focus areas of PM-DevINE. The scheme aims to develop sustainable tourism infrastructure, improve transport connectivity, and enhance digital connectivity in the Northeastern region. Other focus areas of the scheme include agriculture, education, health, and skill development.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• In the Jharia coal mines (Jharkhand), a new Species of bacteria, “Pantoea Tagorei”, was found.
• It aids plant growth by solubilising Potassium and Phosphorus and replenishing Nitrogen.
• It is being tried for agricultural applications, restoration of degraded lands and organic farming.

Statement 2 is correct

• For the first time, any living organism is named after Rabindranath Tagore.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Black tigers are not a distinct species but rather a colour variation of the Bengal tiger, which is native to the Indian subcontinent.

Statement 2 is correct

• Most “black” tigers are pseudo-melanistic, meaning their dark appearance is due to closely spaced, thick stripes rather than a complete absence of orange pigment.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• As Black Tiger is a colour variation of the Bengal tiger and Bengal tigers are classified as Endangered, So Black Tigers are also Endangered.

Statement 4 is correct

• Currently, Simlipal Tiger Reserve in Odisha has the highest concentration of reported pseudo-melanistic tigers in India.
• In Simlipal National Park, 37% of the tiger population has this condition, which has been linked to isolation and inbreeding.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The RBI has enabled Card-on-File-Tokenisation at the issuer bank level.
• Tokenisation is a service where a unique alternate code is generated to facilitate transactions through cards. It involves substituting a 16-digit customer card number with a token.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Tokens are unique for a combination of cards, token requestors, and devices.
• The tokenized data is stored to bill the cardholders’ accounts for future purchases.
• The customer need not pay any charges for availing of this service.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Tokenisation is not mandatory for a customer, and those who choose not to let their card be tokenized can continue to transact as before by entering card details manually.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• A customer can request for tokenization of his/her card on any number of devices.

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