Daily Current Affairs MCQ- May 14, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

India’s food production could drop 16% and the number of those at risk for hunger could increase 23% by 2030 due to climate change, says a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) on climate change and food systems.

• These projections are part of a IMPACT model that was used to evaluate the impact of climate change on aggregate food production, food consumption (kilocalories per person per day), net trade of major food commodity groups, and the population at risk of going hungry.
• IMPACT, as the model is called, simulates national and international agricultural markets.
• It was developed with inputs from scientists from the Consortium of International Agricultural Research Centers (CGIAR) and other leading global economic modelling efforts.
• The number of Indians at risk from hunger in 2030 is expected to be 73.9 million in 2030 and, if the effects of climate change were to be factored in, it would increase to 90.6 million.
• The aggregate food production index will, under similar conditions, drop from 1.6 to 1.5.
• On a positive note, climate change will not impact the average calorie consumption of Indians and this is projected to remain roughly the same at 2,600 kcal per capita per day by 2030 even in a climate change scenario.

Hence both statements are correct.

A project called the India Hypertension Control Initiative (IHCI) finds that nearly 23% out of 2.1 million Indians have uncontrolled blood pressure.

• The Health Ministry, the Indian Council of Medical Research, State Governments, and WHO-India began a five-year initiative in November 2017 to monitor and treat hypertension.
• Hypertension is defined as having systolic blood pressure level greater than or equal to 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure level greater than or equal to 90 mmHg or/and taking anti-hypertensive medication to lower his/her blood pressure.
• India has committed to a "25 by 25" goal, which aims to reduce premature mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025.
• One of the nine voluntary targets includes reducing the prevalence of high blood pressure by 25% by 2025.

How prevalent is the problem of hypertension?

• Southern States have a higher prevalence of hypertension than the national average, according to the latest edition of the National Family Health Survey.
• While 21.3% of women and 24% of men aged above 15 have hypertension in the country, the prevalence is the highest in Kerala where 32.8% men and 30.9% women have been diagnosed with hypertension.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Army has floated a Request for Information (RFI) to purchase Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMV) for high-altitude areas and for deserts and plains.

• The PMV is essentially a wheeled armoured personnel carrier. It provides protection to the soldiers travelling inside the vehicle from mine blasts and sudden attack by small arms.
• India has the capability of producing PMVs. In April this year, the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) handed over the first of such Infantry Protected Mobility Vehicles (IPMVs) to the then Chief of Army Staff, Gen MM Naravane.
• The TASL is now the first private sector company in the country to produce such wheeled armoured personnel carriers and has developed the IPMV in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

• The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to time. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• The first Law Commission of independent India was established in 1955 for a three-year term. Since then, twenty one more Commissions have been established.
• The first Law Commission was established during the British Raj era in 1834 by the Charter Act of 1833 and was chaired by Lord Macaulay. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• It works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• PRI was constitutionalized through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 to build democracy at the grass roots level and was entrusted with the task of rural development in the country.
• Compulsory Provisions:
  • Organisation of Gram Sabhas;
  • Creation of a three-tier Panchayati Raj Structure at the Zila, Block and Village levels;
  • Almost all posts, at all levels to be filled by direct elections;
  • Minimum age for contesting elections to the Panchayati Raj institutions is 21 years. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • The post of Chairman at the Zila and Block levels should be filled by indirect election;
  • There should be reservation of seats for Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes in Panchayats, in proportion to their population, and for women in Panchayats up to one-third seats;
  • State Election Commission to be set up in each State to conduct elections to Panchayati Raj institutions;
  • The tenure of Panchayati Raj institutions is five years, if dissolved earlier, fresh elections to be held within six months;
  • A State Finance Commission is set up in each State every five years. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Voluntary:
  • Giving voting rights to members of the Central and State legislatures in these bodies;
  • Providing reservation for backward classes. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
  • The Panchayati Raj institutions should be given financial powers in relation to taxes, levy fees etc. and efforts shall be made to make Panchayats autonomous bodies.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• It is an intergovernmental organization with a membership of 193 Member States and Territories.
• India is a member of WMO. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• It originated from the International Meteorological Organization (IMO), which was established after the 1873 Vienna International Meteorological Congress. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Established by the ratification of the WMO Convention on 23^rd March 1950, WMO became the specialized agency of the United Nations for meteorology (weather and climate), operational hydrology, and related geophysical sciences.'
• WMO is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

• Foreign portfolio investment (FPI) consists of securities and other financial assets passively held by foreign investors. It does not provide the investor with direct ownership of financial assets and is relatively liquid depending on the volatility of the market. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Examples of FPIs include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs).
• FPI is part of a country’s capital account and is shown on its Balance of Payments (BOP).
  • The BOP measures the amount of money flowing from one country to other countries over one monetary year.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) brought new FPI Regulations, 2019, replacing the erstwhile FPI Regulations of 2014.
• FPI is often referred to as “hot money” because of its tendency to flee at the first signs of trouble in an economy. FPI is more liquid, volatile, and therefore riskier than FDI. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is a constitutional body envisaged to uphold the values of equality, equity, impartiality, independence enshrined in the Indian Constitution and the rule of law in superintendence, direction, and control over the electoral governance.
• Part XV of the Indian constitution deals with elections and provides for the establishment of the ECI. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Article 324 to 329 of the constitution deals with powers, function, tenure, eligibility, etc of the commission and the members.
• The President appoints Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners based on the recommendations made by the Prime Minister. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • However, Article 324(2) provides that the Parliament is entitled to enact legislation regarding the appointment of Election Commissioners (ECs).
• They have a fixed tenure of six years, or up to the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA)

• It was established in 1998 in pursuance of the resolution passed by participants of the Symposium on Asian Elections in the 21^st century held from January 26-29, 1997 in Manila, Philippines. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Currently 20 Asian Election Monitoring Bodies are members of AAEA.
• Election Commission of India is a founder member EMB of the AAEA and also served on the Executive Board of the AAEA as the Vice Chair during 2011-13 and Chair during 2014-16. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• AAEA is also an Associate Member of the 118 member Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB).
• Recently, India has been unanimously elected as the new Chair of the Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) for 2022-2024 at the recently held meeting of the Executive board and General Assembly at Manila, Philippines.
  • The newly added members to the Executive board include Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Taiwan and Philippines.

• Rakhigarhi is the largest Harappan site in the Indian subcontinent. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Other large sites of Indus valley Civilization (Harappan civilization) in the Indian sub-continent are Harappa, Mohenjodaro and Ganveriwala in Pakistan and Dholavira (Gujarat) in India.
• At Rakhigarhi, excavations are being done to trace its beginnings and to study its gradual evolution from 6000 BCE (Pre-Harappan phase) to 2500 BCE.
  • The site was excavated by Amarendra Nath of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• The recent excavation of the Harappan site of Rakhigarhi by ASI has revealed the structure of some houses, lanes and drainage system.
  • The ASI excavations also revealed pieces of copper and gold jewellery, terracotta toys, besides thousands of earthen pots and seals.
  • Also, DNA samples were collected from two unearthed human skeletons and sent for scientific examination, the outcome might tell about the ancestry and food habits of people who lived in the Rakhigarhi region thousands of years ago.