Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 2nd August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 - Aligns with 15th Finance Commission recommendations:
- This is correctly matched. The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 indeed aims to align with the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission.

2. Gobi Desert - Located only in China:
- This is incorrectly matched. The Gobi Desert spans across both northern China and southern Mongolia, not just China.

3. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act - Mandates investigation to be completed in two months:
- This is correctly matched. The POCSO Act mandates that the investigation in cases should be completed within two months from the date of registration of FIR.

4. Disaster Management Act (DMA) 2005 - Established institutional mechanisms for prevention and mitigation of disasters:
- This is correctly matched. The main purpose of the DMA 2005 was to establish institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring disaster management plans and ensuring prevention and mitigation of disasters.

Thus, pairs 1, 3, and 4 are correctly matched. Hence, the correct answer is Option C: Only three pairs.

Statement-I correctly highlights the historical and cultural ties between India and Vietnam, emphasizing their shared struggle for independence. Statement-II accurately mentions the upgrade of the relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership' in 2007. However, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I but rather adds a distinct detail about a specific event in the relationship's timeline. Hence, the correct answer is option (B), where both statements are correct but not interlinked in an explanatory manner.

1. National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS) - Skilling Indian youth in trade disciplines

Correct. The NATS is indeed aimed at skilling Indian youth in trade disciplines.

2. Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) - Launched by Quad countries in 2021

Incorrect. The IPMDA was launched by the Quad countries (Australia, India, Japan, and the United States) in May 2022, not 2021.

3. NATS Stipend - 100% reimbursable to the employer by the Government of India

Incorrect. During the apprenticeship period, apprentices receive a stipend, but only fifty percent of this stipend is reimbursable to the employer by the Government of India.

4. IPMDA Technological Integration - Utilizes satellite-based tracking services

Correct. The IPMDA utilizes satellite-based tracking services for vessel identification and combating dark shipping.

Hence, pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights the issue of sturgeons being heavily exploited globally for their valuable roe (caviar) and meat, leading to a significant decline in their populations. This exploitation poses a serious threat to the survival of sturgeon species.

Statement-II is also accurate in indicating that since 1998, CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has been regulating the international trade of all sturgeon species. This regulation aims to address concerns related to unsustainable harvesting practices and the illegal trade of sturgeons.

The two statements are interconnected and complementary. The exploitation of sturgeons mentioned in Statement-I is mitigated by the regulatory measures implemented by CITES, as mentioned in Statement-II. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II indeed explains the necessity and impact of the regulations described in Statement-I.

The main purpose of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 is to establish institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring disaster management plans, ensuring prevention and mitigation of disasters, and coordinating responses to disasters. This amendment aligns with the need to streamline disaster management efforts and enhance preparedness at various levels of governance.

1. India and Vietnam upgraded their relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership' during the visit of Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to India in 2007: This statement is correct. The visit by Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to India in 2007 marked the upgrade of their bilateral relationship to a 'Strategic Partnership'.

2. Bilateral trade between India and Vietnam grew from US$200 million in 2000 to US$14.14 billion in FY 2021-22, marking a 27% increase: This statement is also correct. The trade between the two countries has seen significant growth, illustrating the strengthening economic cooperation.

3. India has provided Defence Lines of Credit totaling US$600 million to Vietnam as part of their defence collaboration: This statement is correct as well. India has extended substantial Defence Lines of Credit to Vietnam to support its defence modernization and capacity building.

Therefore, all the statements are correct, making Option D the right answer.

A privilege motion in the Indian Parliament primarily serves the purpose of censuring breaches of parliamentary privileges by members or ministers. It is a mechanism through which members can raise concerns about actions that are perceived to violate the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the legislators, ensuring accountability and upholding the integrity of parliamentary proceedings.

Statement-I is correct as the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill 2024 aligns with the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, as mentioned in the source material. However, Statement-II is incorrect because the main purpose of the Disaster Management Act (DMA) 2005 was to establish institutional mechanisms for drawing up and monitoring disaster management plans, ensuring prevention and mitigation of disasters, and coordinated response to disasters, not specifically for aligning with financial commission recommendations.

1. Statement 1 is correct: The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act mandates that the identity of the victim must be kept confidential and forbids the disclosure of the victim's identity in any form of media unless authorized by the special courts established by the Act.

2. Statement 2 is incorrect: The POCSO Act defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years, not 16 years.

3. Statement 3 is correct: The Act considers non-reporting of a sexual offence involving a child as a punishable crime. Any person in charge of an institution (excluding children) who fails to report the commission of a sexual offense involving a subordinate faces punishment.

Given the analysis, the correct answer is Option B

1. Parliamentary Privileges: Correct. Parliamentary privileges are indeed special rights, immunities, and exemptions enjoyed by the members of Parliament to ensure they and the House can perform their duties effectively.

2. Privilege Motion: Correct. A privilege motion is moved by a member when it is believed that a minister or another member has breached parliamentary privileges, aiming to censure the concerned member for their actions.

3. Sturgeons: Correct. Sturgeons are migratory fish known for their ecological role and significance in river ecosystems, particularly in regions like the Danube River.

4. CITES: Correct. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulates international trade of sturgeon species among others to prevent their exploitation and ensure sustainable harvesting.

All four pairs are correctly matched.