Test: Monthly Current Affairs October- 3 - UPSC MCQ

Statement 1 is not correct: The pricing of sugarcane is governed by the statutory provisions of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955. Prior to 2009-10 sugar season, the Central Government was fixing the Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) of sugarcane and farmers were entitled to share profits of a sugar mill on 50:50 basis. As this sharing of profits remained virtually unimplemented, the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 was amended in October 2009 and the concept of SMP was replaced by the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane. The Sugarcane (Control) Order of 1966 confers power upon the State government to fix the remunerative/advised price at which sugarcane can be bought or sold, which shall always be higher than the minimum price fixed by the Central government.
Statement 2 is correct: The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) was enacted by the Central Government in 1955 to control and regulate trade and prices of commodities declared essential under the Act. The Act empowers the Central and state governments concurrently to control production, supply and distribut ion of certain commodit ies in view of rising prices. Foodstuff, including edible oil and seeds, vanaspati, pulses, sugarcane and its products like, khandsari and sugar, rice paddy are included in the Act.

In News- The government of India approved the 14th tranche of electoral bonds which will be open for sale between 19 to 28th of October.
Statement 1 is correct: The electoral bonds were introduced with the Finance Bill (2017) and government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 to boost transparency in political funding.
It is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. It is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India and the citizen or corporate can then donate the same to any eligible political party of his/her choice.
Statement 2 is not correct: Polit ical parties are legally bound to submit their income tax returns annually under Section 13A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. But the finance bill sought to exempt electoral bonds from the IT Act. Statement 3 is not correct: As of now, these bonds are issued by the authorised branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) and are valid for 15 days from the date of the purchase.

In News- Recently, the government notified the Director-General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships.
Option A is correct: In 2019, the Government had passed The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 which talked about setting up of a national authority that will monitor all activities related to ship recycling. Under the Ship Recycling Act, 2019, India has acceded to the Hong Kong Convention for Ship Recycling under International Maritime Organization (IMO). DG Shipping is a representative of India in the IMO and enforces the conventions. So, the government notified the Director-General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships

In News- 14 States have shown a reduction in the Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases (STH) and 9 states have shown a substantial reduction in STH follow-up prevalence survey.
Both statements are correct: Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases (STH), also known as parasitic intestinal worm infection, is known to have detrimental effects on children’s physical growth and well-being and can cause anaemia and under-nutrition. STHs are transmitted via eggs in faeces deposited in the local environment, typically through open defecation or lack of proper hygiene. There are three main types of STH that infect people, roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale). Regular deworming as advised by the World Health Organization eliminates worm infestation among children and adolescents living in areas with high STH burden.

In News- Recently, a giant cat geoglyph was discovered on a hill at the famous Nazca Lines site in Peru.
Option C is correct: Peru’s famous Nazca Lines grabbed the spotlight on social media recently after the discovery of a hit herto unknown massive carving –– that of a resting cat on the slope of a steep hill. The Nazca Lines are a group of very large geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were created between 500 BCE and 500 CE by people making depressions or shallow incisions in the desert floor, removing pebbles and leaving differently coloured dirt exposed. The Lines were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

Option B is correct: Dutch disease refers to the phenomenon wherein countries that are rich in natural resources witness uneven growth across sectors. According to the thesis, when resource-rich countries export their resources to the rest of the world, it causes the exchange rate of their currency to appreciate significantly; this, in turn, affects other sectors in the country by discouraging their exports while encouraging the import of cheaper alternatives. The term was coined by The Economist in 1977 to describe the decline of the manufacturing industry in the Netherlands. The idea, however, was first proposed by economists Peter Neary and Max Corden in a paper published in 1982.

In News- Recently, Russian President has proposed a one-year extension without conditions of the last major nuclear arms reduction accord, the New START Treaty.
Option A is correct: The new Strategic Arms Reduction treaty or (START II) inked in 2010 which caps the possession of nuclear warheads held by both Russia and the US. It is due to expire in 2021 unless renewed. The agreement puts a limit on the number of strategic nuclear warheads such as submarine-launched ballistic missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles. If it falls, it will be the second nuclear weapons treaty to collapse under the leadership of US President Donald Trump. In February, the US withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), accusing Moscow of violating the agreement.

In News- The Army Chief General has said that the next step in defence reforms after the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) would be the formation of integrated theatre commands.
Statements 1 and 3 are correct: The Indian armed forces currently have 17 commands. There are 7 commands each of the Army and the Air Force and the Navy has 3 commands.
Each command is headed by a 4-star rank military officer. There is one joint command in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is the first Tri-Service theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces, based at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. The integrated theatre command envisages a unified command of the three Services, under a single commander, for geographical theatres (areas) that are of strategic and security concern. The integrated theatre commander will not be answerable to individual Services. In this context, the Shekatkar committee has recommended the creation of 3 integrated theatre commands — northern for the China border, western for the Pakistan border, and southern for the maritime role.

Option D is correct: Beirut Declaration enhances the role of religions in promoting human rights. A "Faith for Rights" initiative launched by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in 2017. Building on the 2012 Rabat Plan of Action that laid out religious leaders' core responsibilities in countering incitement to hatred, the Beirut Declaration expands those responsibilities to the full spectrum of human rights. It calls on believers of all fait hs to jo in hands and hearts in articulat ing ways in which they can stand together in defending fundamental rights against discrimination and violence.

Option B is correct: The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigat ion Project is a mult i-purpose irrigat ion project on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally District, Telangana, India. The 3 main purposes of this project are irrigation, transport, and power. The project starts at the confluence point of Pranahita River and Godavari River. It was originally called Dr. B R Ambedkar Pranahita Chevella Sujala Sravanthi Project in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, it was redesigned, extended and renamed as Kaleshwaram project in Telangana in 2014.

In News- Recently, PM has launched what is being seen as the first serious move by India to counter the Kashmir narrative set afloat by Pakistan since 1947.
Option C is correct: Pakistan Army regulars and tribal raiders invaded Kashmir Valley on October 22 in 1947, two months after the Partition of India. The Pakistan Army had codenamed its capture Kashmir mission as Operation Gulmarg. 

In News- Recently, INS Kavaratti has been formally inducted into the Indian Navy at the Naval Dockyard in Eastern Naval Command (ENC), Visakhapatnam.
Option D is correct: The submarine is named after the capital of the Lakshadweep group of islands. It is the last of the four indigenously built Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvettes built under Project 28 (Kamorta class), by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata. The first three built under the Kamorta class – INS Kamorta, INS Kadmatt and INS Kiltan have been commissioned. The ship has up to 90% indigenous content and the use of carbon composites for the superstructure is a commendable feat achieved in Indian shipbuilding.

In News- October 23 is celebrated as World’s Snow Leopard Day every year to protect and conserve snow leopards and other wildlife of the Himalayas.
Option D is correct: On 23rd October 2013, at the first Global Snow Leopard Forum at Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan the 23rd of October was proclaimed as the International Snow Leopard Day and the year 2015 was declared as the International year of the snow leopard. These countries also signed the Bishkek Declaration to conserve the snow leopards. The commitments of the Bishkek Declaration are: Engage the local communities in conservation, promoting sustainable livelihood and addressing human-animal conflicts.
Managing habitats and prey in the range areas.
Control poaching and illegal trade.

In News- Recently, Prime Minister launched Kisan Suryodaya Yojana and other projects worth Rs 4,100 crore in Gujarat via video conference.
Statement 1 is not correct: It aimed at providing day-time electricit y to farmers in Gujarat for irrigation and farming purposes. Rs. 3,500 crore will be spent over the next three years for providing solar power to farmers for irrigation during daytime (5 AM to 9 PM). Through this, India would show the world the path for One Sun, One World, One Grid.
Statement 2 is correct: It is a centrally sponsored scheme being implemented to expand cult ivated areas with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water and improve water use efficiency and ensure "Har Khet Ko Paani". The scheme is implemented by the Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Jal Shakti and Rural Development.

In News- Recently, Kabartal Wetland (Bihar) and Asan Conservation Reserve (Uttrakhand) have been designated as Ramsar sites, making them ‘Wetlands of International Importance’.
Option C is correct: Asan Conservation Reserve has become the first wetland from Uttarakhand to be included in the prestigious Ramsar sites list. Besides Asan, Kabartal Wetland from Bihar was the second new site to get included in this list. Till February 2020, only 37 sites from India were in the Ramsar site list, which has now been extended to 39.

In News- 5th General Council meeting of Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) was held under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways.
Option C is correct: The Ministry constituted a committee under the chairmanship Shri Y. S. Malik, former Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) to give recommendations to transform IAHE into a world-class premier institute in the highway sector. The Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) was created in 1983 to provide training at entry level/refresher courses/ training on specialised areas of highway, bridge & tunnel engineering/ orientation programmes/management development programmes/strategic training programmes etc. to highway engineers and professionals working in Central Government, State Governments, PSUs, Local Bodies, Contractors, Consultants etc.authorities urge people to remain indoors and limit physical activity, particularly heavy exercise and sport.

In News- Recently, The country’s foreign exchange reserves touched a lifetime high of $555.12 billion after it surged by $3.615 billion in the week ended October 16. The term ‘Reserve Tranche’ often seen in relation to this.
Option C is correct: Reserve tranche is a portion of the required quota of currency each member country must provide to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that can be utilized for its purposes.

In News- The Moon has water at places where none had been detected before and has potentially more water than previously believed in regions where it was already understood to exist.
Option C is correct: NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will carr y out a mission to create the first water resource maps of the Moon.

In News- Recently, the Central Government further extended the date for making payment under the Vivad se Vishwas scheme, without additional amount from 31st December 2020 to 31st March 2021.
Option C is correct: Vivad se Vishwas Scheme is a direct tax scheme announced in the Budget 2020, for settling tax disputes between individuals and the income tax department. Ministry Of Finance is the nodal ministry for the implementation of the scheme.

In News- NTPC Ltd entered into a loan agreement with Japanese Government for JPY 50 billion (approx. USD 482 million) under Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)’s GREEN initiative.
Option D is correct: GREEN initiative stands for Global Action fo r Reconciling Economic growth and Environment preservation initiative. The facility is extended under JBIC's outreach for projects, which ensure the conservation of the global environment. JBIC will provide 60 per cent of the facility amount and the balance will be given by commercial banks (viz., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the Bank of Yokohama Ltd, the San-In Godo Bank Ltd, the Joyo Bank Ltd, and The Nanto Bank Ltd), under the JBIC's guarantee.