Daily Current Affairs MCQ- May 5, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Five years after the strategic partnership (SP) model was introduced to increase indigenous defence manufacturing through collaboration with international arms firms, not a single project has been launched under the much-touted 'Make in India' strategy.

In a major policy reform intended to promote Make in India in defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in 2017 the much-anticipated SP model for the Indian private sector.

The model, which was first proposed by the Dhirendra Singh Committee (in its 2015 report), is included in the Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 (DPP 2016).

The model seeks to identify a few Indian private companies as Strategic Partners who would initially tie up with a few shortlisted foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to manufacture big-ticket military platforms.

In the initial phase, the selection of Strategic Partners would be confined to four segments - Fighter Aircraft, Helicopters, Submarines and Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV)/Main Battle Tanks (MBT).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Lokpal of India will finally move into its new permanent office at the World Trade Centre in Nauroji Nagar of south Delhi.

• The office has been purchased for ₹254.88 crore, according to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the administrative Ministry for the Lokpal.
• On March 19, 2019, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh was appointed India’s first Lokpal along with eight other members.
• The appointment itself was made five years after the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act was passed in 2013 to investigate cases of corruption against certain categories of public servants.
• The Lokpal can inquire into allegations of corruption against anyone who is or has been Prime Minister, or a Minister in the Union government, or a Member of Parliament, as well as officials of the Union government under Groups A, B, C and D.
• The body also covers complaints against chairpersons, members, officers and directors of any board or autonomous body either established by an Act of Parliament and any society or trust or body that receives foreign contribution above ₹10 lakh.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India exported merchandise estimated at $38.19 billion in April 2022, a 24.2% increase from a year earlier but 9.5% lower than the record $42.2 billion shipped out in March, official estimates released.

• The trade deficit, however, expanded to $20.07 billion from $18.5 billion in March, as imports grew at a faster 26.6% pace to $58.26 billion. Sequentially, goods imports declined 4.1% last month from March’s level.
• Gold imports fell by a sharp 73% year-on-year to just $1.7 billion, even as coal imports more than doubled to over $4.7 billion from $2 billion a year earlier.
• Petroleum imports comprising crude and products surged 81.2% to exceed $19.5 billion, and made up a third of the total imports in the month.
• India’s goods exports hit a record $420 billion in 2021-22, while imports also hit an all-time high of about $612 billion, leading to a $192 billion deficit in the last financial year.
• Although the non-oil trade deficit remained stable in April, there was a shift in its composition, with a plunge in gold imports being offset by a rise in non-oil, non-gold imports such as coal and chemicals, an unsavoury yet expected fallout of the higher commodity prices engendered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
• Among India’s top 10 export commodities, gems and jewellery exports dipped by a marginal 2.1% in April, while rice exports fell 14.24%.

Hence both statements are correct.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen of Denmark.

• Both leaders reviewed the progress of the Green Strategic Partnership which was the first of its kind arrangement between India and Denmark. During the India-Denmark Virtual Summit in October 2020, the two sides gave their relationship the status of a Green Strategic Partnership.
• Prime Ministers of two sides participated in India-Denmark Business Forum with top business leaders from the two countries at the Confederation of Danish Industry.
• Earlier nine agreements were inked between the two countries in various sectors.

List of agreements signed/announced during the visit of Prime Minister to Denmark

1. Declaration of Intent (DoI) on Migration and Mobility
2. Letter of Intent (LoI) between Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, GOI and Ministry of Business, Industry and Financial Affairs of Denmark on Centre of Excellence in Green Shipping
3. Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between the Ministry of Culture, GoI and Ministry of Culture of Denmark for the years 2022-2026
4. Letter of Intent (LoI) of between Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Environment of Denmark
5. MoU on Cooperation in the field of Skill Development, Vocational Education and Entrepreneurship
6. Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
7. Launch of Energy Policy Dialogue at Ministerial level
8. India to join as mission partner to ICARS (International Centre for Anti-Microbial Resistance Solution)
9. Letter of Intent between Invest India and Technical University of Denmark to facilitate start-up collaboration

2nd India-Nordic Summit

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
• The summit will be hosted by Denmark.
• The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.
• Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitisation and innovation. The visit will help in expanding India's multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic region.

Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

• Transnistria is described as a “remnant of the Soviet Union”, Transnistria declared independence like Moldova did soon after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• When Moldovan troops attempted to take over the territory in 1990-1992, Transnistria was able to resist them because of Russian soldiers based in Transnistria.
  • Since then, it has remained free of Moldovan control. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Moldova is not a member of the European Union & North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• Air Independent Propulsion Technology (AIP) is a technology for conventional non-nuclear submarines. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Submarines are essentially of two types: conventional and nuclear.
  • The conventional submarines use diesel-electric engines, which require them to surface almost daily to get atmospheric oxygen for fuel combustion.
• If fitted with an AIP system, the submarine will need to take in oxygen only once a week.
• The indigenously developed AIP, which is one of the key missions of the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL - DRDO), is considered one of the ambitious projects of the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) for the Navy.
• AIP technology allows a conventional submarine to remain submerged for much longer than ordinary diesel-electric submarines. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Installing AIP increases the length and weight of the boats, requires pressurised liquid oxygen (LOX) storage on-board and supply for all three technologies. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

• Basaveshwara was a 12^th-century poet and philosopher, who is celebrated and held in high regard, especially by the Lingayat community, as he was the founder of Lingayatism.
  • The term Lingayat denotes a person who wears a personal linga, an iconic form of God Shiva, on the body which is received during the initiation ceremony.
• Main Teachings: His spiritual discipline was based on the principles of Arivu (true knowledge), Achara (right conduct), and Anubhava (divine experience) and it brought a social, religious and economic revolution in the 12^th century.
  • This path advocates a holistic approach to Lingangayoga (union with the divine). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • This comprehensive discipline encompasses bhakti (devotion), jnana (knowledge), and kriya (action) in a well-balanced manner.
  • Basaveshwara gave two more very important socio-economic principles.
    • Kayaka (Divine work):
      • According to this, every individual in society should take up the job of his choice and perform it with all sincerity.
    • Dasoha (Equal distribution):
      • There must be an equal income for equal work. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
      • The worker (Kayakajeevi) may lead his day-to-day life by his hard-earned income. But he should not preserve the money or property for tomorrow. He must utilize the surplus money for society and the poor.

EU stepped up its antitrust case against Apple by accusing the company of abusing its dominant position by limiting access to technologies allowing contactless payment.

• The European Commission is the EU's politically independent executive arm.
• EC is known as the guardian of the treaties.
• It is due to its responsibility to represent the European interest and enforce the treaties and legislation that provide the legal foundation for the EU.
• Its members consist of a team of 27 Commissioners (one from each EU country) – led by the Commission President.
• It is located at Brussels (Belgium).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India has been chosen as first Country of Honour ever at Cannes Film Market.

• India will be the official Country of Honour at the upcoming Marche’ Du Film, organized alongside the 75th edition of Cannes Film Festival, in France.
• It is the first time the Marché du Film has an official Country of Honour, and this special focus will continue annually with different nations in the spotlight at future editions.
• Notably France and India are marking 75 years of their diplomatic ties.
• India is also a “Country of Honour at the Cannes Next, under which 5 new Start Ups would be given an opportunity to pitch to the Audio-Visual Industry.

Marché du Film

• The Marché du Film (literally meaning Film Market) is the business counterpart of the Cannes Film Festival and one of the largest film markets in the world.
• Established in 1959, it is held annually in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the fourth edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

• He noted that the coalition has expanded and made valuable contributions. He mentioned the initiative on 'Infrastructure for Resilient Island States' that was launched at COP-26 and CDRI's work on Resilient Airports studying 150 airports around the world.
• The 'Global Assessment of Disaster Resilience of Infrastructure Systems' that is being led by CDRI will help create global knowledge that would be immensely valuable.
• The Prime Minister said that in order to make our future resilient we have to work towards a 'Resilient Infrastructure Transition'. Resilient infrastructure can also be the centrepiece of our wider adaptation efforts.

International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI)

• The International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) is the annual conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• It brings together member countries, organizations and institutions to strengthen the global discourse on disaster and climate resilient infrastructure.
• In 2018 and 2019, the first and second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure took place in New Delhi, India. ICDRI 2021 was hosted virtually. The fourth edition of ICDRI is being organized in partnership with the United States Government, from 4 to 6 May 2022 in New Delhi, in hybrid format.
• CDRI was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at the 2019 UN Climate Summit.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.