Daily Prelims Practise Questions (PPQs) – October 17 2023

Questions

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

Q1. {Polity – IC} Consider the following statements regarding the Special Marriage Act of 1954:

1. The act provides for marriage between inter-faith or inter-caste couples in India without giving up religious identity.
2. The minimum age to get married under the act is the same for both genders, thus promoting gender equality.
3. The couple seeking to solemnise their marriage under the act must publish their intention to marry within the prescribed time.
4. The latest Supreme Court verdict states that same-sex marriages come under the Special Marriage Act of 1954.

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

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

Q2. {IE – Taxation} Consider the following statements regarding Angel Tax:

1. Angel tax is a tax imposed on the funding received by startups from Angel investors.
2. Angel tax was introduced under the Finance Act of 1961.
3. Only investors from India’s neighbouring countries are given a blanket exemption from Angel Tax.

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

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. None of the above

Q3. {MoRTH – Schemes } Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding the Setu Bandhan Scheme:

1. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Railways.
2. The construction of rail over bridges and rail under bridges comes under this scheme.
3. Safety enhancement is one of the primary focuses of this programme.
4. All the statements are correct.

Q4. {Envi – Conservation} Consider the following statements regarding the Dhanauri Wetland:

1. It is the latest Ramsar site in Uttar Pradesh.
2. A unique feature of this particular wetland is that it does not have a habitat for migratory birds.
3. It is the largest wetland of Uttar Pradesh in terms of volume.

1. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
   1. 1 only
   2. 2 only
   3. 3 only
   4. None

Q5. {S&T – BioTech}: Consider the following statements regarding CAR-T Cell Therapy:

1. CAR-T cell therapy is an effective treatment method for cancer, which has fewer side effects than Chemotherapy.
2. Similar to Chemotherapy or immunotherapy, CAR-T Cell therapy also uses injectable or oral medications.
3. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently approved India’s indigenously developed CAR-T cell therapy.

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

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. None of the above

Q6. {S&T – Space} Consider the following statements regarding regarding Fast Radio Bursts (FRB):

1. They are electromagnetic radiation emissions seen in radio wave frequencies.
2. Only neutron stars can produce Fast Radio Bursts.
3. They can emit as much energy as our Sun does over several weeks.

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

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

Q7. {PIN World – South America} Consider the following statements regarding the Amazon River

1. It is the largest drainage system in the world in terms of the volume of its flow.
2. No part of Chile, Argentina, or Paraguay comes under the basin of the Amazon River.
3. The largest tributary of the Amazon River is Negro River.

1. How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
   1. All
   2. Only one
   3. Only two
   4. None

Questions With Solution and Explanation

Q1. {Polity – IC} Consider the following statements regarding the Special Marriage Act of 1954:

1. The act provides for marriage between inter-faith or inter-caste couples in India without giving up religious identity.
2. The minimum age to get married under the act is the same for both genders, thus promoting gender equality.
3. The couple seeking to solemnise their marriage under the act must publish their intention to marry within the prescribed time.
4. The latest Supreme Court verdict states that same-sex marriages come under the Special Marriage Act of 1954.

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

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The SMA enables marriage between inter-faith or inter-caste couples without giving up their religious identity or resorting to conversion.
• However, once married, any member of an undivided family who follows Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, or Jain religion will be considered separated from the family. This could impact their rights, including inheritance rights.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The minimum age to get married under the SMA is 21 years for males and 18 years for females.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• In January 2021, the Allahabad HC ruled that couples seeking to solemnise their marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 can choose not to publish the mandatory thirty-day notice of their intention to marry.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• The SC, by a 3:2 majority, ruled against legalising same-sex marriage.
• The majority view is that the legislature must decide on bringing in same-sex marriage.
• Therefore, same-sex marriages do not come under the Special Marriage Act of 1954.

Answer: (b) Only one

Q2. {IE – Taxation} Consider the following statements regarding Angel Tax:

1. Angel tax is a tax imposed on the funding received by startups from Angel investors.
2. Angel tax was introduced under the Finance Act of 1961.
3. Only investors from India’s neighbouring countries are given a blanket exemption from Angel Tax.

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

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. None of the above

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Angel tax is a tax imposed on the funding received by startups from angel investors.
• This tax is levied when startups receive funding at a valuation higher than its “Fair market value”.
• It is counted as income to the company and is taxed as “income from other sources”.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The tax was introduced in 2012 under Section 56(2)(viii) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• In May 2023, investors from 21 countries, including the US, UK, and France, were exempted from the levy of angel tax for non-resident investment in unlisted Indian startups.
• The Finance Bill 2023 proposed an amendment to the Income Tax Act,
  • Aiming to include foreign investors within its scope.
  • Both domestic and overseas investors won’t need to pay angel tax when investing in a Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) registered startup.

Answer: (a) Only one

Q3. {MoRTH – Schemes } Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding the Setu Bandhan Scheme:

1. It is an initiative of the Ministry of Railways.
2. The construction of rail over bridges and rail under bridges comes under this scheme.
3. Safety enhancement is one of the primary focuses of this programme.
4. All the statements are correct.

Explanation

Statement (a) is incorrect; statements (b) and (c) are correct

• The “Setu Bandhan” is an initiative by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

• The scheme focuses on the construction of Rail Over Bridges (ROBs), Rail Under Bridges (RUBs), and Bridges on State Roads under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).
• The primary objective of this program is to enhance road safety.
• It aims to replace existing level crossings with bridges to reduce accidents at these locations.

Answer: (a) It is an initiative of the Ministry of Railways (incorrect)

Q4. {Envi – Conservation} Consider the following statements regarding the Dhanauri Wetland:

1. It is the latest Ramsar site in Uttar Pradesh.
2. A unique feature of this particular wetland is that it does not have a habitat for migratory birds.
3. It is the largest wetland of Uttar Pradesh in terms of volume.

1. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
   1. 1 only
   2. 2 only
   3. 3 only
   4. None

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Currently, Dhanauri wetland is not included as the Ramsar site.
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the UP state government to inform about the status of the notification of Dhanauri Wetland as a Ramsar Wetland site.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Dhanauri Wetland (UP) is famous for Sarus Cranes, the state bird of UP.
• During the migratory season, it hosts 50,000 waterfalls

Statement 3 is incorrect

Answer: (d) none

Q5. {S&T – BioTech}: Consider the following statements regarding CAR-T Cell Therapy:

1. CAR-T cell therapy is an effective treatment method for cancer, which has fewer side effects than Chemotherapy.
2. Similar to Chemotherapy or immunotherapy, CAR-T Cell therapy also uses injectable or oral medications.
3. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has recently approved India’s indigenously developed CAR-T cell therapy.

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

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 3 only
4. None of the above

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• CAR-T cell therapy is an effective treatment method for cancer, which has fewer side effects than Chemotherapy.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Unlike Chemotherapy or immunotherapy, which uses injectable or oral medication, CAR T-cell therapies use a patient’s cells.
• In CAR T-cell therapy, the patient’s blood is drawn to harvest T-cells (immune cells that play a significant role in destroying tumour cells).
• T cells are genetically engineered by introducing DNA to produce chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) on the surface of the T cells. After reengineering, T cells are called “CAR T cells”.

Statement 3 is correct

• India’s indigenously developed Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cell Therapy has been approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO).
• The CDSCO functions under the Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
• Named NexCAR19, it is developed by Mumbai-based Immunoadoptive Cell Therapy Private Limited (ImmunoACT), an IIT Bombay-incubated company.

Answer: (b) 1 & 3 only

Q6. {S&T – Space} Consider the following statements regarding regarding Fast Radio Bursts (FRB):

1. They are electromagnetic radiation emissions seen in radio wave frequencies.
2. Only neutron stars can produce Fast Radio Bursts.
3. They can emit as much energy as our Sun does over several weeks.

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

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• FRBs are powerful electromagnetic radiation emissions seen in radio-wave frequencies.
• Their existence is usually for a very short period of time, appearing once, while some reoccur.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The leading hypothesis is neutron stars, specifically magnetars, could produce certain FRBs.
• However, The exact source of FRBs is still under scientific scrutiny and remains unconfirmed.

Statement 3 is correct

• These bursts come from far-off galaxies, and in a millisecond, they can emit as much energy as our Sun does over several weeks.

Answer: (c) Only two

Q7. {PIN World – South America} Consider the following statements regarding the Amazon River

1. It is the largest drainage system in the world in terms of the volume of its flow.
2. No part of Chile, Argentina, or Paraguay comes under the basin of the Amazon River.
3. The largest tributary of the Amazon River is Negro River.

1. How many of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
   1. All
   2. Only one
   3. Only two
   4. None

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Amazon River is the largest drainage system in the world regarding the volume of its flow and the area of its basin.
• It is the second-longest river in the world.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Amazon River basin primarily covers countries in the northern part of South America, such as Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and a small part of Guyana and Suriname.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Negro River, the Amazon’s second largest tributary, reached its lowest level since official measurements began near Manaus 121 years ago.

Answer: (c) Only two