Daily Prelims Practise Questions (PPQs) – November 04 2023

Questions

• The questions below are based on PMF IAS Daily Current Affairs – November 2023.

Q1. {Health – Issues} Consider the following statements about ‘State Food Safety Index 2023’:

1. The report is published annually by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. The 2023 index shows a significant improvement in food safety compared to 2019.
3. ‘Food Testing Infrastructure’ parameter has the height weightage in State Food Safety Index.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Q2. {IR – India-US} Consider the following statements regarding 2+2 dialogue:

1. The 2+2 dialogue is a format of the meeting of the foreign ministers of India and its allies on strategic and security issues.
2. India has 2+2 dialogue arrangement with six countries.
3. India’s 2+2 dialogue format was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Q3. {IR – UN} Consider the following statements about ‘Extended Fund Facility (EEF)’:

1. It is used to assist countries experiencing an weak balance of payments.
2. This facility is being provided by the World Bank.
3. Amounts drawn under EFF are to be repaid within 3 years.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Q4. {Envi – Species} Consider the following statements regarding Gentiana Kurroo:

1. It is a perennial medicinal herb that with blue flowers.
2. It is primarily found in the Western Ghats of India.
3. It comes under the ‘Endangered’ category under the IUCN classification.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?

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

Q5. {Envi – Conservation} Consider the following statements regarding various zones of Biosphere Reserves:

1. The core zone of the biosphere reserve is the major protected area that is kept free from human activities.
2. The buffer zone is a zone of cooperation where human activities and conservation are harmonised.
3. Tourism, fishing, and grazing are some of the allowed activities in a Buffer zone.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Q6. {IE – Development} What does the Lewis Model, developed by economist Arthur Lewis, primarily emphasize in the context of Labor and Industrialization?

1. The importance of international trade in industrialization.
2. The role of skilled labour in economic growth.
3. The movement of surplus labour from the traditional sector to the modern industrial sector.
4. The significance of macroeconomic stability in industrialization.

Q7. {IE – Productivity} Consider the following statements:

1. India ranks in top ten globally for average weekly working hours according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).
2. Countries among the top ten in long working hours usually have very high productivity.
3. Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Switzerland are known for their long working hours.
4. Data from the Indian Government shows that men between 15 and 59 in urban India spent an average of over 60 hours a week in paid employment.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Questions With Solution and Explanation

Q1. {Health – Issues} Consider the following statements about ‘State Food Safety Index 2023’:

1. The report is published annually by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
2. The 2023 index shows a significant improvement in food safety compared to 2019.
3. ‘Food Testing Infrastructure’ parameter has the height weightage in State Food Safety Index.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Explanations

Statement 1 is incorrect

• SFSI is released annually by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on World Food Safety Day (7^th June) since 2019.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• After adjusting for a new parameter (Improvement in SFSI Rank) included in the 2023 index, 15 out of 20 states recorded lower 2023 scores compared to 2019.

Statement 3 is incorrect

Answer: (d) None

Q2. {IR – India-US} Consider the following statements regarding 2+2 dialogue:

1. The 2+2 dialogue is a format of the meeting of the foreign ministers of India and its allies on strategic and security issues.
2. India has 2+2 dialogue arrangement with six countries.
3. India’s 2+2 dialogue format was officially recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2021.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Explanations

Statement 1 is correct

• The 2+2 dialogue is a format of the meeting of the foreign and defence ministers of India and its allies on strategic and security issues.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• India has 2+2 dialogues with four key strategic partners:
  1. US
  2. Australia
  3. Japan
  4. Russia

Statement 3 is incorrect

• India’s 2+2 dialogue format was not given any official recognition by the United Nations General Assembly.

Answer: (b) 1 only

Q3. {IR – UN} Consider the following statements about ‘Extended Fund Facility (EEF)’:

1. It is used to assist countries experiencing an weak balance of payments.
2. This facility is being provided by the World Bank.
3. Amounts drawn under EFF are to be repaid within 3 years.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Explanations

Statement 1 is correct

• The Extended Fund Facility is the lending facility of the fund of the IMF to help countries address medium and longer-term balance of payments problems. It was established in 1974.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Extended Fund Facility comes under the IMF, not the World Bank.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Amounts drawn under EFF are to be repaid over 4½–10 years in 12 equal semiannual installments.

Answer: (a) 1 only

Q4. {Envi – Species} Consider the following statements regarding Gentiana Kurroo:

1. It is a perennial medicinal herb that with blue flowers.
2. It is primarily found in the Western Ghats of India.
3. It comes under the ‘Endangered’ category under the IUCN classification.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?

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

Explanations

Statement 1 is correct

• Gentiana kurroo (also called Himalayan gentian or Trayman) is a perennial herb with blue flowers.
• It is a medicinal plant that treats liver ailments, digestive disorders, diabetes, asthma, and urinary tract infections (UTIs).

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Distribution: It is native to the Himalayas region of India (UK, J&K, HP), Nepal, and Pakistan.
• Therefore, it is primarily found in the Himalayan regions.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The IUCN conservation status of Gentiana Kurroo is ‘Critically Endangered.’

Answer: (a) Only one

Q5. {Envi – Conservation} Consider the following statements regarding various zones of Biosphere Reserves:

1. The core zone of the biosphere reserve is the major protected area that is kept free from human activities.
2. The buffer zone is a zone of cooperation where human activities and conservation are harmonised.
3. Tourism, fishing, and grazing are some of the allowed activities in a Buffer zone.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Explanations

Statement 1 is correct

• The core zone is the most protected area of a BR.
• It may contain centers of endemism and serve as a genetic reservoir.
• It is kept free from human activities.
• In India, core are National Parks or Sanctuaries protected by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• A transition zone is a zone of cooperation where human activities and conservation are harmonised.
• Activities allowed include settlements, croplands, managed forests, intensive recreation, and other economic uses characteristics of the region.

Statement 3 is correct

• The buffer zone adjoins or surrounds the core zone.
• Human activities in this area are regulated to protect the core zone’s natural condition.
• Activities allowed include tourism, fishing, grazing, research and educational activities.

Answer: (b) Only two

Q6. {IE – Development} What does the Lewis Model, developed by economist Arthur Lewis, primarily emphasize in the context of Labor and Industrialization?

1. The importance of international trade in industrialization.
2. The role of skilled labour in economic growth.
3. The movement of surplus labour from the traditional sector to the modern industrial sector.
4. The significance of macroeconomic stability in industrialization.

Explanations

• The model assumes a dual economy with traditional agriculture and modern industry.
• The agriculture sector is characterised by zero or negative marginal labour productivity, meaning output does not decrease even when workers leave.
• The industry sector is characterised by positive marginal labour productivity, meaning output increases when workers are added.
• Surplus agricultural workers will move to the modern sector. This will have two benefits:
  1. It will solve the problem of disguised employment in agriculture.
  2. It will boost industrialisation.

Answer: (c) The movement of surplus labour from the traditional agricultural sector to the modern industrial sector.

Q7. {IE – Productivity} Consider the following statements:

1. India ranks in top ten globally for average weekly working hours according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).
2. Countries among the top ten in long working hours usually have very high productivity.
3. Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Switzerland are known for their long working hours.
4. Data from the Indian Government shows that men between 15 and 59 in urban India spent an average of over 60 hours a week in paid employment.

How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Explanations

Statement 1 is correct

• India ranks seventh globally for average weekly working hours, with 48 hours per worker per week, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).
• A significant proportion of the population in the UAE and Qatar comprises Indians, who are among the top ten on the hardworking list.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Countries among the top ten in long working hours, such as Gambia, Bhutan, Lesotho, and the Congo, have very poor productivity.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• On the other hand, countries such as Norway, Denmark, Belgium, and Switzerland, known for their low working hours and great work-life balance, have high productivity.

Statement 4 is correct

• The GoI’s time-use survey in 2019 found that men between 15 and 59 in urban India spent an average of over 60 hours a week in paid employment.

Answer: (b) Only two