Daily Current Affairs MCQ- October 8, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

The country's female Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropped to same level as males

• India has registered a decline in female infant mortality rate.
• In sixteen states, IMR remained higher for female babies than male but the gap had reduced since 2011. According to Sample Registration System Statistical Report 2020, Chhattisgarh had the highest gap in 2020, with a male infant mortality rate of 35 compared to female infant mortality rate of 41.

Infant Mortality

• Infant mortality is the death of an infant before his or her first birthday.
• The infant mortality rate is the number of infant deaths for every 1,000 live births.
• In addition to giving us key information about maternal and infant health, the infant mortality rate is an important marker of the overall health of a society.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Quality Council of India is set to celebrate its Silver Jubilee at the Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi

• Quality Council of India was set up in 1997, jointly by the Government of India and the Indian Industry represented by the three premier industry associations i.e. Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), with Mr Ratan Tata as its first Chairman.
• QCI was established as a National body for Accreditation. It is a non-profit organization registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.
• QCI has launched a marquee campaign–Gunvatta Se Atmanirbharta: India’s quality movement. The campaign aims to celebrate India’s quality hubs, create awareness about India’s landmark achievements and inform people about the many initiatives that India is embracing with an aim to enhance the quality of lives of all our citizens.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Ministerial dialogue of US-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (USISCEP) to be held on 7th October 2022.

• The revamped USISCEP was launched in accordance with U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and President Joe Biden at the Leaders’ Summit on Climate held in April 2021.

Features

• The SCEP organizes inter-governmental engagement across five pillars of cooperation: (1) Power and Energy Efficiency; (2); Responsible Oil and Gas; (3) Renewable Energy; (4) Sustainable Growth and (5) Emerging Fuels.
• India-US Task Force on Biofuels: A new India-US Task Force on Biofuels was also announced to build on the scope of work on cooperation in biofuels sector.
• Renewable Energy: Strengthen the electric grid in India to support large-scale integration of renewables, including through smart grids, energy storage, flexible resources etc.
• Gas Task Force: Rechristening of Gas Task Force to India-US Low Emissions Gas Task Force, which would continue to forge collaboration between U.S. and Indian companies on innovative projects to support India’s vision of gas-based economy.
• India Energy Modeling Forum: Institutionalization of India Energy Modeling Forum with the constitution of Six Task Forces for carrying out research and modelling in different areas. Joint Committees have been set up to deliberate on Energy Data Management, Low Carbon Technologies and Just Transition in Coal Sector.
• (PACE)-R initiative: Include smart grid and grid storage as part of the second phase of the Partnership to Advance Clean Energy (PACE)-R initiative anchored on the Indian side by the Department of Science & Technology.

Hence both statements are correct.

The United Nations peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix is undertaking a visit to India, among the largest troop contributing countries for its operations.

• Jean-Pierre Lacroix will visit India, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and Japan starting from October 6. He will participate in a two-day meeting organised by the Challenges Forum, the event CAF22, which brings together leading policymakers, practitioners and academics on key issues linked to peace operations.
• The CAF22 will be co-hosted by the organisation’s Indian partner the United Service Institution of India (USI). Under the overarching theme "Future of Peace Operations".
• India is one of the largest troop and police contributing countries to U.N. peacekeeping missions and more than 5,700 Indian peacekeepers are deployed in nine out of 12 U.N. peacekeeping missions at present.

UN Peacekeeping

• UN peacekeepers provide security and the political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.
• There are three basic principles that continue to set UN peacekeeping operations apart as a tool for maintaining international peace and security.

1. Consent of the parties:
2. Impartiality
3. Non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate.

• Role of Security Council: The United Nations Charter gives the United Nations Security Council the responsibility to maintain international peace. The Security Council authorize peacekeeping operations through Chapter VII authorizations.
• Financing: As all UN Member States share the costs of peacekeeping, the General Assembly apportions these expenses based on a special scale of assessments, taking into account the relative economic wealth of Member States, with the permanent members of the Security Council required to pay a larger share.
• For its services, UN Peacekeeping has also received the Nobel Peace Prize.
• UN peacekeepers are often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India emerges as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar and world’s 2nd largest exporter of sugar.

• In Sugar Season (Oct-Sep) 2021-22, a record of more than 5000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) sugarcane was produced in the country. Out of this, 35 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production and 359 LMT sugar was produced by sugar mills.
• Ethanol production capacity of molasses/sugar-based distilleries has increased to 605 crore litres per annum and the progress is still continuing to meet targets of 20% blending by 2025 under Ethanol Blending with Petrol (EBP) Programme.

Ethanol Blending with Petrol (EBP) Programme

• The EBP programme was launched by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in 2003, to promote the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels.
• The Government has 10% blending target for mixing ethanol with petrol by 2022 & 20% blending target by 2030. However, considering the encouraging performance, due to various interventions made by the Government since 2014, the target of 20% ethanol blending was advanced from 2030 to 2025-26.

Hence both statements are correct.

International Solar Alliance’s Fifth Assembly to be held in New Delhi from 17th to 20th October, 2022

International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• It is an international organisation with 109 member and signatory countries.
• It works with governments to improve energy access and security worldwide and promote solar power as a sustainable way to transition to a carbon-neutral future.
• ISA’s mission is to unlock US$ 1 trillion of investments in solar by 2030 while reducing the cost of the technology and its financing.
• With the signing and ratification of the ISA Framework Agreement by 15 countries in 2017, ISA became the first international intergovernmental organization to be headquartered in India.

Hence both statements are correct.

PM Modi calls for giving boost to One District One Product scheme & further develop Aspirational Districts.

• ODOP was launched by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, to help districts reach their full potential, foster economic and socio-cultural growth, and create employment opportunities, especially, in rural areas.
• This initiative is carried out with the ‘Districts as Exports Hub’ initiative by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Department of Commerce.
• There may be more than one cluster of ODOP products in one district. The States would identify the food product for a district, keeping in perspective the focus of the scheme on perishables.
• The ODOP product could be a perishable Agri produce, cereal-based product, or a food product widely produced in a district and their allied sectors.
• The ODOP launch date is January 24, 2018, by the Uttar Pradesh Government, and due to its success, was later adopted by the Central Government.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has on Thursday released the 7th monthly instalment of Post Devolution Revenue Deficit (PDRD) Grant of Rs.7,183.42 crore to 14 States.

• The Post Devolution Revenue Deficit Grants are provided to the States under Article 275 of the Constitution.
• The grants are released to the States as per the recommendations of the successive Finance Commissions to meet the gap in Revenue Accounts of the States post devolution.
• The eligibility of States to receive this grant and the quantum of grant for the period from 2020-21 to 2025-26 was decided by the Fifteenth Commission based on the gap between assessment of revenue and expenditure of the State after taking into account the assessed devolution during this period.

Hence both statements are correct.

India abstained on a draft resolution in the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka which was adopted.

UN Human Rights Council

• What is it? It is an inter-governmental body within the UN system.
• Location: It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
• Establishment: It was founded in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR).
• Functions:
  • It investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states.
  • It addresses important human rights issues such as freedom of expression, women's rights, LGBT rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.
  • The UNHRC works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Hence both statements are correct.

Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurates Competition Commission of India’s Regional Office (West) in Mumbai.

• A statutory body established under the provisions of The Competition Act, 2002.
• Established in: 2003.
• Composition: A Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
• Headquarters: New Delhi.
• Preceding agency: Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission.
• Mandate: To implement provisions of The Competition Act, 2002 which –
  • prohibits anti-competitive agreements and abuse of dominant position by enterprises
  • regulates mergers and acquisition (M&A) which can have an adverse effect on competition within India. Thus, deals beyond a certain threshold are required to get clearance from CCI.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.