Daily Prelims Practise Questions (PPQs) – October 24-25 2023

Questions

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

Q1. {IR – International Organizations} Regarding the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:

1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. All the UN Member States are part of the General Assembly.

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

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

Q2. {MoSJE – Schemes} Consider the following statements Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana:

1. It is a scheme to reduce the poverty of ST communities by generating additional employment opportunities.
2. The scheme falls under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

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

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q3. {Polity – Bodies} Consider the following bodies:

1. Office of Chief Justice of India
2. Intelligence Bureau (IB)
3. Political Parties
4. Government-funded NGOs
5. Office of the Prime Minister of India

How many of the above come under the Right to Information Act?

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

Q4. {Polity – Bodies – Statutory} Consider the following statements regarding The National Medical Commission (NMC):

1. It is a statutory body established under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1998.
2. With regards to screening tests, NMC is responsible for conducting only the NEET-UG and NEET-PG examinations.
3. The chairpersons and other members of the NMC nominated by the Central government cannot be renominated.

How many of the above pair(s) are/are correctly matched?

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

Q5. {S&T – BioTech} The term ‘cry1Ac’ and ‘cry2Ab’ recently seen in news is related to?

1. Genetically modified crops
2. Language Model for Dialogue Applications
3. Covid variant
4. Exoplanets

Q6. {Polity – IC – Elections} Consider the following statements regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs):

1. The constitution was amended to create a provision for using EVMs in the elections.
2. EVMs have replaced paper ballots in India’s local, state, and general (parliamentary) elections.
3. There are only two Indian PSUs that manufacture EVM machines.

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

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

Q7. {S&T – BioTech} The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a statutory committee, functions under which Ministry?

1. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
2. Ministry of Science and Technology
3. Ministry of Earth Sciences
4. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Questions With Solution and Explanation

Q1. {IR – International Organizations} Regarding the United Nations General Assembly, consider the following statements:

1. The UN General Assembly can grant observer status to the non-member States.
2. Inter-governmental organisations can seek observer status in the UN General Assembly.
3. All the UN Member States are part of the General Assembly.

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

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) may grant non-member states, international organisations, and other entities Permanent Observer Status.

Statement 2 is correct

• The General Assembly decided that observer status would be confined to States and intergovernmental organisations whose activities cover matters of interest to the Assembly.

Statement 3 is correct

• There are 193 UN Member States, all of which are part of the General Assembly.

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Q2. {MoSJE – Schemes} Consider the following statements Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana:

1. It is a scheme to reduce the poverty of ST communities by generating additional employment opportunities.
2. The scheme falls under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.

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

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Pradhan Mantri Anusuchit Jaati Abhuyday Yojana (PM-AJAY) is a scheme to reduce the poverty of the SC communities by generating additional employment opportunities
• It has merged 3 Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely:
  1. Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY)
  2. Special Central Assistance to Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCA to SCSP)
  3. Babu Jagjivan Ram Chhatrawas Yojana (BJRCY)

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The scheme falls under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Q3. {Polity – Bodies} Consider the following bodies:

1. Office of Chief Justice of India
2. Intelligence Bureau (IB)
3. Political Parties
4. Government-funded NGOs
5. Office of the Prime Minister of India

How many of the above come under the Right to Information Act?

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Office of Chief Justice of India comes under the RTI Act.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Intelligence Bureau (IB) does not come under the RTI Act.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Political Parties do not come under the RTI Act.

Statement 4 is correct

• Government-funded NGOs come under the RTI Act.

Statement 5 is correct

• The office of the Prime Minister of India comes under the RTI Act.

Answer: (b) Only three

Q4. {Polity – Bodies – Statutory} Consider the following statements regarding The National Medical Commission (NMC):

1. It is a statutory body established under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1998.
2. With regards to screening tests, NMC is responsible for conducting only the NEET-UG and NEET-PG examinations.
3. The chairpersons and other members of the NMC nominated by the Central government cannot be renominated.

How many of the above pair(s) are/are correctly matched?

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

Explanations

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The National Medical Commission (NMC) is a statutory body that oversees medical education and medical professionals, established under the National Medical Commission Act 2019.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The NMC is responsible for conducting major screening tests, including the NEET-UG, NEET-PG, Foreign Medical Graduates Examination, etc.

Statement 3 is correct

• The NMC chairpersons and other members, nominated by the Central government, cannot be renominated, and 11 part-time members represent state and medical councils.

Answer: (a) Only one

Q5. {S&T – BioTech} The term ‘cry1Ac’ and ‘cry2Ab’ recently seen in news is related to?

1. Genetically modified crops
2. Language Model for Dialogue Applications
3. Covid variant
4. Exoplanets

Explanation

• Cry1Ab and Cry2Ab are two types of insecticidal proteins produced by the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).
• Bt cotton (Bolguard I) is a genetically modified variety of cotton engineered to produce an insecticidal protein (Cry1Ac toxin) derived from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis.

Answer: (a) Genetically modified crops

Q6. {Polity – IC – Elections} Consider the following statements regarding Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs):

1. The constitution was amended to create a provision for using EVMs in the elections.
2. EVMs have replaced paper ballots in India’s local, state, and general (parliamentary) elections.
3. There are only two Indian PSUs that manufacture EVM machines.

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

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The first use of EVMs occurred in the general election in Kerala in May 1982; however, the absence of a specific law prescribing its use led to the Supreme Court striking down that election.
• In 1989, the Parliament amended the Representation of the People Act 1951 to create a provision for using EVMs in elections.
• The EVMs were used for the first time in the general elections (entire state) to the Assembly of Goa in 1999. Since 2001, the EC has used the EVMs for every State Assembly election.

Statement 2 is correct

• It has replaced paper ballots in India’s local, state, and general (parliamentary) elections.

Statement 3 is correct

• There are only two Indian PSUs that manufacture EVM machines.
  1. Bharat Electronic Limited (BEL)
  2. Electronics Corporation of Indian Limited (ECIL)

Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only

Q7. {S&T – BioTech} The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), a statutory committee, functions under which Ministry?

1. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
2. Ministry of Science and Technology
3. Ministry of Earth Sciences
4. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Explanation

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is a statutory body constituted under the ‘Rules for the Manufacture, Use /Import /Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineering Organisms or Cells, 1989’ notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• It functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change.
• The GEAC is India’s apex biotechnology regulatory body.

Answer: (d) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change