Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 19th August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

- Statement 1 is correct: The MVI indeed provides a nuanced view of the challenges faced by countries, moving beyond traditional economic measures. This is part of its unique focus to offer a comprehensive analysis of vulnerabilities.

- Statement 2 is correct: The MVI includes dimensions of economic, environmental, and social vulnerability. Economic vulnerability encompasses factors like GDP per capita, debt levels, and trade dependency. Environmental vulnerability considers exposure to natural disasters, climate change impacts, and biodiversity loss. Social vulnerability looks at access to healthcare, education levels, and income inequality.

- Statement 3 is incorrect: The primary aim of the MVI is to aid in creating a resilient and sustainable future for all nations, and it is designed to assist policymakers in pinpointing weaknesses and prioritizing actions for resilience and development. It is not intended for the allocation of military resources.

Hence, the correct answer is Option B.

Statement-I is correct because the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) indeed offers a detailed analysis of vulnerabilities to help in building a resilient and sustainable future for all nations. Statement-II is also correct as the MVI does provide a nuanced view of challenges faced by countries, going beyond traditional economic measures. Statement-II further elucidates and supports the purpose and scope of the MVI as stated in Statement-I. Thus, both statements are accurate, and Statement-II explains and complements Statement-I, making option (a) the correct answer.

Both statements are accurate. Statement-I highlights the inaccuracy of IMD's rain forecasts for Mumbai by 42% in July, while Statement-II provides additional context by mentioning that the IMD revised its predictions several times within a single day on at least four occasions in July. The revisions indicate the dynamic and uncertain nature of the forecasting process, leading to the significant inaccuracies observed in the forecasts. Therefore, Statement-II explains the reason behind the inaccuracy described in Statement-I.

Statement-I correctly defines the REACHOUT scheme as an initiative by the Ministry of Earth Sciences to enhance the understanding and dissemination of Earth system sciences through various activities. Statement-II further elaborates on the scheme's objectives, emphasizing its focus on promoting interest in earth system sciences, particularly concerning climate change, environmental challenges, and natural disasters. Therefore, both statements are accurate, and Statement-II logically builds upon Statement-I, explaining its purpose and goals.

1. Economic Vulnerability: Correctly matched. It includes factors like GDP per capita, debt levels, and trade dependency.

2. Environmental Vulnerability: Incorrectly matched. Environmental Vulnerability considers exposure to natural disasters, climate change impacts, and biodiversity loss, not access to healthcare, education levels, and income inequality.

3. Social Vulnerability: Incorrectly matched. Social Vulnerability looks at access to healthcare, education levels, and income inequality, not exposure to natural disasters, climate change impacts, and biodiversity loss.

4. Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI): Correctly matched. The MVI was indeed recently launched by the UN General Assembly.

Only the first and fourth pairs are correctly matched.

The primary purpose of the lateral entry system, as highlighted in the text, is to bring in external expertise from non-traditional government service backgrounds into mid and senior-level bureaucratic roles. This system aims to address governance and policy challenges by leveraging knowledge and experience from individuals outside the traditional governmental pathways.

1. S-band radar - Located at IMD's Colaba observatory: Correct. The S-band radar is indeed located at IMD's Colaba observatory.

2. C-band radar - Located in Veravali: Correct. The C-band radar is located in Veravali.

3. Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) - Anti-malarial drug: Incorrect. Himalayan nettle is known for its use as a sustainable source of textile fiber, not an anti-malarial drug.

4. Fibraurea tinctoria - Used by Sumatran orangutan for self-medication: Correct. Researchers have observed a Sumatran orangutan using the plant Fibraurea tinctoria to treat a facial wound, which is an example of zoopharmacognosy.

Thus, three out of the four pairs are correctly matched.

• Statement 1: Correct. The Second Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) in 2005 did recommend the lateral entry into the Indian bureaucracy to enhance the governance framework.
• Statement 2: Correct. The ARC, chaired by Veerappa Moily, indeed suggested recruiting professionals from diverse fields such as private industry, academia, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to improve policy implementation and governance.
• Statement 3: Incorrect. While the practice of lateral entry was introduced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure, current central government employees are ineligible for these positions, as stated in the advertisement.

Therefore, only statements 1 and 2 are correct.

PM Modi's proposal of the "Global Development Compact" primarily aimed at promoting trade for development, capacity building for sustainable growth, technology sharing, and providing concessional finance and grants to partner countries. This initiative was designed to leverage India's development experiences to support balanced and sustainable development in nations requiring assistance. It emphasizes mutual support and collaboration among Global South nations to address current challenges and bridge the gap between developed and developing countries.

All three statements are accurate and describe the various factors contributing to the challenges faced by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in forecasting weather for Mumbai.

1. Statement 1: The IMD's weather forecasts for Mumbai have indeed been found to be inaccurate by 42% in July. This is corroborated by the source material, which mentions the inaccuracy rate and the multiple revisions of forecasts within a single day.

2. Statement 2: Mumbai's geographical factors, such as proximity to the sea, urbanization, and other elements, do indeed complicate accurate weather forecasting. The source material explicitly states that these factors contribute to the complexity of predicting weather accurately in Mumbai.

3. Statement 3: Despite using advanced Doppler weather radars, such as the S-band and C-band radars, the IMD still faces challenges in accurately predicting localized heavy rainfall events. The source material highlights this issue, indicating that even with sophisticated technology, forecasting remains difficult.

Hence, all three statements are correct, making Option D the correct answer.