January 04 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

• The government formed an expert panel headed by NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand to develop a road map for switching to the Producer Price Index (PPI).

Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct

• PPI differs from WPI because it measures the average price change producers receive and excludes indirect taxes. PPI also removes multiple counting biases inherent in WPI.
• WPI covers goods, not services, while a comprehensive PPI can track services.

Statement 3 is correct

• Using PPI would provide better determinants of the movement in the national income deflator.
• All major economies, including the US, China, Japan, Germany, France, and other G-20 countries, use PPI to measure the average price changes domestic producers receive for their output.

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) crop insurance scheme was launched in 2016.
• It was formulated in line with the One Nation-One Scheme theme by replacing:
  • National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and
  • Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).

Options 1, 2 and 3 are correct

• Crop risks leading to crop loss covered under the scheme are:
  • Prevented Sowing/Planting/Germination Risk
  • Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting)
  • Post-Harvest Losses
  • Localized Calamities
  • Crop loss due to attack by wild animals

Option 4 is incorrect

• General Exclusions: Losses due to war and nuclear risks, malicious damage, and other preventable risks shall be excluded.

Answer: (c) Only three; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Both statements 1 and 2 are correct

• On January 3, 1831, Savitribai Phule was born in Naigaon, Maharashtra, into the Mali community.
• India’s first woman teacher and a social reformer, she was married at the age of 10 to Jyotirao Phule who educated her at home and later enrolled her in a teacher training institution in Pune.
• Savitribai Phule’s Contributions to Society:
  • Pioneering Women’s Education: In 1848, Savitribai and Jyotirao Phule established India’s first girls’ school in Pune, promoting education for girls, Shudras, and Dalits despite strong societal opposition.
  • Social Welfare Efforts: Provided shelter and protection to widows and rape victims through the ‘Bal-yata Pratibandak Gruha’; Advocated for inter-caste marriages, widow remarriage, and the abolition of practices like child marriage, sati, and dowry.
  • Breaking Caste Barriers: Promoted social equality through Satyashodhak Samaj, rejecting caste and religious barriers.
  • Defied Societal Norms: Led her husband’s funeral procession and performed the last rites, challenging traditional gender roles.
  • Relief Work During Crises: Actively contributed to relief efforts during the 1896 famine and the 1897 Bubonic plague, tragically contracting the plague while aiding others.
  • Literary Contributions: Authored several important works, including her first poetry collection, Kavya Phule, Bavan Kashi Subodh Ratnakar (1892), and Matushri Savitribai Phulenchi Bhashane va Gaani.

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

Explanation

Both statements 1 and 2 are incorrect

Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+):

• A data aggregation platform for monitoring school education across India, integrating data from pre-primary to higher secondary levels.

• Key Features:
  • Online data upload with inbuilt validation checks.
  • Block, district, and state-level verification for data accuracy.
  • Introduced unique student and teacher IDs for precise tracking.
  • Aadhaar integration (voluntary) for 19.7 crore students in 2023-24.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• About Simlipal Tiger Reserve (STR):
  • Location: Mayurbhanj district, Odisha; part of the Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve.
  • Flora & Fauna: Moist mixed deciduous forests, tropical semi-evergreen patches, and grasslands.
  • Melanistic Tigers: The tigers with a genetic condition causing increased melanin production, resulting in black or nearly black fur.

Statement 2 is correct

• Unique Population: Has the largest population of a lineage of pseudo-melanistic tigers globally.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• It is declared as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2009. Has largest elephant population in Odisha; active management has revived mugger crocodile populations.

Answer: (a) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement I is correct

• The Tobacco Board of India has focused on ensuring the growth and sustainability of the tobacco industry, with significant achievements in exports and farmer income.
• Tobacco exports surged to Rs.12,005.89 crore in 2023-24, reflecting a significant growth in volume & foreign exchange contribution.
• The 2023-24 FCV tobacco season saw record production in Andhra Pradesh, with the highest-ever price realisation benefiting farmers & significantly boosting their earnings.
• Tobacco Board:
  • Statutory body established under the Tobacco Board Act 1975, operational since 1st January 1976.
  • Aims to promote the development of India’s tobacco industry, primarily in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
  • Ensures fair pricing, regulation, and sustainable practices for tobacco cultivation and marketing.

Statement II is incorrect

• India’s Tobacco Production and Trade:
  • India is the second-largest producer & exporter of tobacco, following China & Brazil respectively.
  • India contributes 10% of global tobacco acreage and 9% of total production.
  • Tobacco grown on 0.45 million hectares (0.27% of India’s net cultivated area), producing 750 million kg annually. India produces 300 million kg of FCV and 450 million kg of non-FCV varieties.

Answer: (c) Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect and statement 2 is correct

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced a biannual admission cycle in June and December, marking a shift in India’s higher education system.
• Advantages for Students:
  • Enhanced Accessibility & Flexibility: The biannual system lets students enrol twice a year, avoiding the loss of an academic year due to missed deadlines or unforeseen circumstances.
  • Global Synchronisation: Aligning India’s academic calendar with international standards facilitates smoother transitions for students planning to study abroad and participate in exchange programs.
  • Opportunities for Non-traditional Students: The December intake offers individuals returning to education after a break or professionals seeking to reskill the opportunity to restart their academic journey.
  • Relief for Competitive Examination Candidates: Students preparing for exams like NEET, JEE, or UPSC can utilise both admission windows to secure a timely academic progression without losing a year.
  • Personalised Learning Trajectories: The flexibility encourages modular degree structures, allowing students to take breaks for internships or work experience and rejoin academic pursuits in the next cycle.

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