October 04 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

All six options are correct

• The Union Cabinet approved Classical language status to Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali & Prakrit.
• India initially recognized six classical languages which includes Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia.
• Tamil was the first to receive classical language status in 2004, followed by Sanskrit in 2005.
• The criteria for granting this status were later revised by the Linguistics Experts Committee, chaired by the Sahitya Academy.
• This committee includes representatives from the Union Ministries of Home and Culture, along with four or five linguistic experts at any given time.

Answer: (d) All six | Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct

• Chincholi WLS is located near Chandrampalli Dam in Kalaburagi district, Karnataka.
• It is the first dry-land wildlife sanctuary in South India.
• It has four dams, including Chandrampalli.

Statement 3 and 4 are incorrect

• Chincholi WLS has dry and moist deciduous forest in the core with acacia and teak plantations on the fringes and lateritic grasslands.
• Notified as a WLS in 2011, it is Karnataka’s northernmost protected area.
• While Chincholi WLS is home to diverse wildlife, including blackbuck, striped hyena, and wolves, it does not house red pandas, which are found in the Himalayan region.
• It also houses many settlements (Tanda) of Lambani community.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only | Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

• The Indian Government notified new rules for the ‘Ecomark’ certification to promote eco-friendly products and encourage sustainable consumption.

Statement 1 is correct

• The ‘Ecomark’ certification promotes eco-friendly products and sustainable consumption.
• The certification covers various products, including food items, cosmetics, soaps, detergents, and paints.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• ‘Ecomark’ is voluntary, not mandatory for all consumer products.

Statement 3 is correct

• The certification is aligned with the ‘LIFE’ mission, focused on reducing environmental impact and promoting green industries.
• The certification process begins with manufacturers applying to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
• If the product meets the required guidelines, the Ecomark certification is granted, valid for three years or until any changes in standards occur.

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only | Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

• Switzerland and Italy redraw their national boundary due to melting Alpine glaciers.
• Large sections of the Swiss-Italian border are determined by glacier ridgelines or areas of perpetual snow, but melting glaciers have caused these natural boundaries to shift.
• The section being redrawn sits beneath Matterhorn, one of Europe’s highest peaks.

Statement 1 is correct

• Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein.

Statement 2 is correct

• Italy is a Mediterranean country with coastlines on three sides, and it shares its northern border with Switzerland.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Switzerland is not part of the European Union, although Italy is a member.

Credit: Europian Union

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only | Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Lake Prespa, comprising Little Prespa and Great Prespa, is a transboundary lake between Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia.
• One of the oldest tectonic lakes in Europe and the highest tectonic lake on the Balkan Peninsula, the lake is part of the Prespa National Park and is designated as a Ramsar Wetland.

• It is a vital habitat for the Dalmatian pelican, hosting the world’s largest breeding colony and is known for its rich biodiversity and ecological significance.
• Currently facing environmental concerns due to human activities, climate change, and water management issues, threatening its ecosystem and water levels, it was in news for being transformed into swamps or dried up.

Option (a) is incorrect

• Lake Ohrid is a nearby lake, also shared by Albania and North Macedonia, but not specifically known for the Dalmatian pelican colony.

Option (b) is incorrect

• Lake Van is in eastern Turkey, not in Albania or Greece.

Option (d) is incorrect

• Lake Kournas is a smaller lake in Crete, Greece and not widely known for the Dalmatian pelican.

Answer: (c) Lake Little Prespa | Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Input Tax Credit (ITC) allows businesses to reduce the tax paid on inputs (goods/services used for business) from the tax payable on outputs (goods/services sold).
• This mechanism avoids double taxation.

Statement 2 is correct

• SC declared that real estate companies can claim ITC on construction costs for commercial structures intended for renting or leasing purposes, as this is considered a taxable supply under GST.

Statement 3 is correct

• As per GST rules, if depreciation is claimed on the tax component of capital goods under the Income Tax Act, then ITC cannot be claimed on that tax component.
• Also, the claimant must have a tax invoice or debit note from a registered dealer and his/her goods/services must be used for business purposes, in order to receive Input Tax Credit.

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3 | Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• It was endorsed by the United Nations Statistical Commission as an international standard in 2012.
• It is an international framework for collecting data linking environmental and economic statistics.

Statement 2 is correct

• SEEA presents information on environmental stocks and flows between the environment and the economy as well as economic activity related to the environment in both physical and monetary terms.
• The SEEA Framework helps countries track progress towards sustainable development and environmental goals.
• It is developed under the patronage of the United Nations, the European Commission, the FAO, the OECD, the IMF, and the World Bank Group.

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