Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 16th September 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. The CPCB was established under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- Incorrect. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was established in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. It was later empowered under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

2. The CPCB operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
- Correct. The CPCB functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

3. One of the key programs of CPCB is the National Water Quality Monitoring Program (NWQMP).
- Correct. The National Water Quality Monitoring Program (NWQMP) is indeed one of the key programs managed by the CPCB to monitor and collect data on water quality across India.
Thus, the statements 2 and 3 are correct, making Option C the accurate choice.

The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in India primarily aims to ensure that local communities benefit from resource-led development in mining-affected areas. By allocating a share of royalty payments from mining licensees and leaseholders to the foundation, the DMF supports sustainable development and the welfare of communities impacted by mining activities, thereby transforming mineral wealth into tangible social benefits.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. The Indian economic growth has indeed been driven by the services sector, especially in IT, banking, and finance. This shift has led to a significant decline in traditional industries such as apparel and footwear, which are crucial for the livelihoods of many low-skilled workers.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. The manufacturing sector in India has stagnated at around 14% of GDP, falling short of the government's target of 25%. This shortfall has contributed to the widening gap between high-skilled and low-skilled jobs.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. Since 2017, India has reversed the tariff reductions that began in the early 1990s, leading to an increase in the average Most Favoured Nation (MFN) tariff to 18.1% in 2022. This rise in import tariffs on essential intermediate inputs has elevated production costs, diminishing the competitiveness of Indian producers in the global market.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C.

1. National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) - Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

- Correct. The NAMP is indeed overseen by the CPCB, which monitors air quality across India.

2. One Nation, One Election - Ministry of Home Affairs

- Incorrect. The "One Nation, One Election" initiative is primarily spearheaded by the Election Commission of India and involves the Ministry of Law and Justice, not the Ministry of Home Affairs.

3. Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) - Ministry of Rural Development

- Correct. The RCPLWEA is managed by the Ministry of Rural Development to improve road connectivity in Left Wing Extremism affected areas.

4. SAMADHAN Initiative - Ministry of Defence

- Incorrect. The SAMADHAN initiative is related to countering Naxalism and is overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs, not the Ministry of Defence.

Correctly matched pairs: 1 and 3.

1. The 13th Finance Commission noted that local bodies are being "asphyxiated" by financial centralization. This statement is correct. The 13th Finance Commission highlighted the adverse effects of over-centralization on the financial autonomy of local bodies.

2. The Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 primarily focuses on achieving an open defecation-free status. This statement is incorrect. Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 goes beyond achieving an open defecation-free status to ensure sustainable waste management in urban areas and includes solid and liquid waste management in rural regions.

3. District Planning Committees are often subordinate to district bureaucracies, impacting effective integrated planning. This statement is correct. The current governance model often places District Planning Committees under the control of district bureaucracies, which hinders effective integrated urban and rural planning.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B.

Correct Answer- Option C

Statement-I correctly reflects the directive given by the NGT to the CPCB regarding electronic waste management. However, Statement-II incorrectly describes the primary functions of the Central Pollution Control Board. While the CPCB does operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, its main objective is broader and encompasses the prevention, control, and reduction of water and air pollution in India, not solely focusing on water pollution as suggested in Statement-II.

India raised the import tax on edible oils to support local farmers facing challenges due to low oilseed prices. This move aims to protect and promote the interests of domestic farmers by making imported oils relatively more expensive, thus potentially boosting demand for locally produced oils and aiding the agricultural sector.

Statement-I accurately describes the functioning of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in India, highlighting its reliance on contributions from mining licensees and leaseholders to support community-driven development projects in mining districts. The DMF is a crucial mechanism for ensuring that local communities benefit from resource-led development in mining areas.

However, Statement-II is incorrect. The Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) does not operate independently of the DMF. Instead, it complements the DMF by collaborating with existing state and central government schemes to implement development and welfare projects in mining-affected areas. PMKKKY focuses on a wide range of initiatives beyond sustainable livelihoods, including healthcare, education, skill development, sanitation, and water supply. Thus, Statement-II does not accurately portray the scope and objectives of PMKKKY in conjunction with the DMF.

The primary objective of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) established under environmental acts in India is to monitor and control water and air pollution. The CPCB plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable development by ensuring that pollution levels are kept in check, thereby safeguarding environmental and public health.

1. Swachh Bharat Mission 1.0 - Incorrect. Swachh Bharat Mission 1.0 primarily focused on creating a garbage-free urban India and managing solid and liquid waste in urban areas, not rural areas.

2. Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) - Correct. This scheme indeed focuses on development and welfare projects in mining-affected areas.

3. 13th Finance Commission - Correct. The 13th Finance Commission did recommend measures for financial decentralization to enhance the financial autonomy of local bodies.

4. Integrated Planning - Incorrect. Although integrated planning suggests collaborative infrastructure planning, the pair is incomplete as it does not specify it includes both urban and rural bodies, which is essential for the urban-rural continuum.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched.