January 30 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Option (a) is the correct answer

• Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) launched the enhanced eCoO 2.0 system to simplify export certification, facilitating smoother trade & improving EoDB for Indian exporters.
• Features of eCoO 2.0 System:
  • The eCoO 2.0 system is a digital platform aimed at simplifying the issuance of Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin (CoO). It promotes digital authentication, reduces paperwork, and ensures faster processing of trade documents.
  • Multi-User Access: Exporters can now authorize multiple users under a single Importer Exporter Code.
  • Aadhaar-based e-Signing: Offers an alternative to Digital Signature Tokens, enhancing flexibility and security.
  • Integrated Dashboard: Provides real-time access to eCoO services, Free Trade Agreement (FTA) information, trade events, and notifications.
  • In-lieu Certificate of Origin: Allows exporters to request rectifications on previously issued certificates through an easy online application process.
  • High Processing Volume: The system processes over 7,000 eCoOs daily and connects 125 issuing agencies, 110 chambers of commerce, and 650+ issuing officers.

Answer: (a) A digital platform for the issuance of Non-Preferential Certificates of Origin; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

All options are correct

• Features of National Critical Mineral Mission (NCMM):
  • Aimed at Innovation: Promote research in advanced mineral processing & cutting-edge technologies for mineral processing and recovery and establish Centers of Excellence.
  • Comprehensive Mineral Value Chain: Encourages both public & private investment in global mining projects encompassing exploration, mining, beneficiation, processing & recycling of critical minerals.
  • Financial Support: ₹16,300 cr. from govt for exploration and recovery of minerals through subsidies and grants & ₹18,000 cr. expected investment from PSUs & private companies.
  • Infrastructure Development: Establishment of mineral processing parks and promotion of critical mineral recycling.
  • Stockpile Strategy: Plans to build a national reserve of critical minerals to ensure long-term supply security.
  • Faster Regulatory Approvals for critical mineral mining projects to ensure smooth operations.
  • Self-Reliance in Critical Minerals: Reduce dependence on imports by enhancing domestic production and acquiring foreign assets.
• Some Critical Minerals Under NCMM:
  • Lithium & Cobalt: Essential for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and electronics.
  • Graphite & Nickel: Used in battery storage and alloys.
  • Rare Earth Elements (REEs): Key for high-tech manufacturing and defense applications.
  • Titanium & Tungsten: Critical for aerospace and industrial applications.
  • Vanadium & Molybdenum: Used in steel production and energy storage solutions.

Answer: (d) All four; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Both Statements are correct

• The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 2015 amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
• New category of mining license: i.e. the prospecting license-cum-mining lease is created. It will be granted by state governments for both notified (with the approval of central government) and other minerals.
• All leases shall be granted through auction by competitive bidding, including e-auction.
• It provides for the creation of:
  1. District Mineral Foundation (DMF)
  2. National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET)

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• DeepSeek is a Chinese AI company based out of Hangzhou founded by entrepreneur Liang Wenfeng.
• Owing to its optimal use of scarce resources, DeepSeek has been pitted against US AI powerhouse OpenAI, as it is widely known for building large language models. DeepSeek-V3, one of the first models unveiled by the company, earlier this month surpassed GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet in numerous benchmarks.
• Deepseek’s R1 model uses only 2,000 GPUs compared to OpenAI’s 16,000+, reducing electricity consumption.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Study finds Deepseek’s annual energy consumption could reach 134 terawatt hours by 2027, equal to the Netherlands’ electricity demand.

Statement 3 is correct

• DeepSeek-V3 stands out because of its architecture, known as Mixture-of-Experts (MOE).
• The MOE models are like a team of specialist models working together to answer a question, instead of a single big model managing everything.
• The DeepSeek-V3 model is trained on 14.8 trillion tokens, which includes large, high-quality datasets that offer the model greater understanding of language and task-specific capabilities.
• Additionally, the model uses a new technique known as Multi-Head Latent Attention (MLA) to enhance efficiency and cut costs of training and deployment, allowing it to compete with some of the most advanced models of the day.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Defence ties between India and Indonesia were strengthened through the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2018), with regular joint military exercises like GARUDA SHAKTI.
• Mitra Shakti is a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Indonesia became India’s second-largest trading partner in ASEAN by 2022. Bilateral trade reached $29 billion in 2023-24.
• Indian investments in Indonesia totaled USD 1,219 million (2000-2022) across 4,750 projects, with significant investments channeled via Singapore, suggesting a higher potential than recorded.

Statement 3 is correct

• Both India and Indonesia are members of the G20 grouping.

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

Explanation

Statements 1 and 3 are incorrect and statement 2 is correct

• The Government of India has approved the Mutual Credit Guarantee Scheme (MCGS) for MSMEs to support the manufacturing sector, aligning with the 2024-25 Budget announcements.
• Key Features of the Scheme:
  • Eligibility: MSMEs with a valid Udyam Registration Number.
  • Loan Coverage: Provides 60% guarantee coverage for loans up to Rs. 100 crore.
  • Loans can cover up to 75% of the project cost for plant and machinery/equipment.
  • Covers loans sanctioned within 4 years from operational guidelines or until Rs. 7 lakh crore in guarantees are issued.
  • Initial Contribution: Borrowers must deposit 5% of the loan amount upfront.
  • Repayment Terms: Upto 8 years with a 2-year moratorium for loans up to Rs. 50 crore. Flexible repayment terms for loans above Rs. 50 crore.
  • Annual Guarantee Fee: No fee during the year of loan sanction; 1.5% p.a. in subsequent 3 years; 1% p.a. thereafter.
• Member Lending Institutions (MLIs):
  • Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs), Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and All India Financial Institutions (AIFIs) that register with the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).

Answer: (d) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Both statements are correct

• Absence of a graveyard for burial is against the right to dignity under Article 21 of the constitution.
• Usually if a split verdict occurs, the case is referred to a larger bench comprising an odd number of judges (three, five, seven and so on) to hear it afresh.
• Recently, SC delivered a split verdict in the Chhattisgarh burial case, addressing the burial rights of a converted Christian against the backdrop of religious discrimination.
• A split verdict arises in cases where the judges on the Bench cannot arrive at a final decision.

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

Explanation

Pairs 1, 3 and 4 are correct

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