Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 17th October 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. FAO Report Title - The pair is correctly matched. The report is indeed titled "The Unjust Climate: Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Poor, Women, and Youth," highlighting the impacts of climate change on marginalized communities.

2. Income Loss due to Heat Stress - The pair is correctly matched. Poor households globally do lose about 5% of their income each year due to heat stress, as reported.

3. FAO Headquarters - This pair is incorrectly matched. The FAO is headquartered in Rome, Italy, not Paris, France.

4. Policy Recommendation by FAO - This pair is correctly matched. The FAO recommends expanding social security nets for vulnerable communities to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Therefore, only two pairs are correctly matched.

Let's evaluate each statement for accuracy:

1. Statement 1: Incorrect. The MSP is not determined solely by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare. It is determined by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

2. Statement 2: Correct. One of the primary objectives of the MSP is to ensure that farmers receive at least 1.5 times the cost of production for their crops. This aligns with the Union Budget 2018-19 commitment to set MSPs at least 1.5 times the All-India weighted average cost of production.

3. Statement 3: Incorrect. The MSP regime does not apply uniformly across all crops cultivated in India. It is announced for a specific set of 22 mandated crops and a fair and remunerative price for sugarcane, totaling 23 crops. Many crops are not covered under the MSP regime, which leaves farmers of those crops vulnerable to market fluctuations.

Thus, only Statement 2 is correct, making Option C the right choice.

1. Statement 1: The FAO report indeed highlights that poorer households globally and in India face significant income losses due to climate-induced phenomena like heat stress. The report specifies that poor households lose about 5% of their income annually due to heat stress, which aligns with the statement.

2. Statement 2: The FAO report emphasizes the importance of anticipatory social protection programs, suggesting they can provide livelihood support before extreme weather events occur. This proactive approach is designed to help reduce poverty and dependency on harmful coping strategies, which supports the statement's correctness.

3. Statement 3: According to the report, rising temperatures have increased reliance on farming for poor households in India, leading to a decline in off-farm incomes by 33%. This directly correlates with the statement provided.

All three statements are accurate reflections of the findings and recommendations in the FAO report concerning the impact of climate change on poor farmers in India. Therefore, the correct answer is Option D: 1, 2 and 3.

The primary objective of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) is to ensure a minimum price for farmers' produce, thereby preventing distress sales and guaranteeing procurement of food grains for distribution. This mechanism helps protect agricultural producers against significant price drops, especially during years of high production, ensuring stability in agricultural markets and income security for farmers.

Statement-I correctly highlights that the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC) is indeed recognized as the largest layered igneous intrusion in the Earth's crust, as mentioned in the provided source material. However, Statement-II is incorrect as it inaccurately states that BIC contains the world's largest reserves of palladium, osmium, and ruthenium. BIC holds the world's largest reserves of platinum-group metals (PGMs), which include metals such as platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, rhodium, and ruthenium, among others. This distinction makes Statement-II inaccurate and hence, the correct answer is option (c).

1. Wheat - Rabi Crop: Correct. Wheat is a major rabi crop in India, and the MSP is set for it during the rabi marketing season.

2. Rice - Rabi Crop: Incorrect. Rice is primarily a kharif crop in India, although it can also be grown in some regions during the rabi season under irrigation. However, it is predominantly associated with the kharif season.

3. Gram - Kharif Crop: Incorrect. Gram (chickpea) is actually a rabi crop, not a kharif crop. It is typically sown in the winter season.

4. Rapeseed & Mustard - Rabi Crop: Correct. Rapeseed & Mustard are rabi crops, grown in the winter season.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

The FAO report underscores that poor households globally experience a notable impact from climate change, with about a 5% loss in income each year attributed to heat stress. This highlights the disproportionate burden that climate-induced stresses place on rural poor communities, affecting their livelihoods and economic stability.

The correct answer is option C. Statement I is incorrect because the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is actually activated when the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches certain levels, particularly during the winter months, not specifically during the summer months as mentioned in Statement I. Statement II is correct as it accurately describes the purpose of GRAP in addressing air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

1. Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is not overseen by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. It is overseen by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). This pair is incorrectly matched.

2. Samarth Scheme aims to train individuals in textile-related skills. This is correctly described. The scheme focuses on capacity building in the textile sector and is implemented by the Ministry of Textiles. This pair is correctly matched.

3. Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) does not separate North Korea and Japan. The DMZ is a buffer zone that separates North Korea and South Korea along the 38th parallel. This pair is incorrectly matched.

4. Ku-band is indeed used for satellite television, internet, and high-speed data transmission. This pair is correctly matched.

Thus, pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is designed as a structured framework to tackle air pollution issues, specifically in the Delhi-NCR region, by providing emergency response protocols when the Air Quality Index reaches certain levels. It aims to address air pollution emergencies effectively, especially during critical periods such as winter when air quality significantly deteriorates, ensuring timely and appropriate measures are implemented to safeguard public health.