Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 2, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

According to a recent report published in the medical journal Lancet, India could have prevented at least 29,400 road deaths (nearly 20% of total road fatalities) in 2018 if it had implemented interventions focusing on speeding, drunk driving, seat belt and helmet use.

UNGA adopts resolution on improving global road safety:

• The UNGA adopted a new resolution on road safety in 2020.
• The UNGA recognizes the role of the Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) in implementing the UN Road Safety Strategy for reducing road traffic crashes and fatalities.
• The UNDSS was formally established in 2005, to support and enable the effective conduct of UN activities by ensuring a coherent, effective and timely response to all security-related threats and other emergencies
• The resolution also includes the following key provisions:
• Endorses the Stockholm Declaration (adopted in 2020, it connects road safety to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development).
• Proclaims Road Safety 2021 - 2030 (a Second Decade of Action), with a goal to reduce deaths and injuries by 50% by 2030.
• This is an adjustment to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.6 - halving the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020.
• Agrees to convene a high-level meeting of the UNGA on road safety by the end of 2022.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought permission from a special court in Bengaluru to declare the US-based founder and CEO of the now liquidated firm Devas Multimedia Private Limited a fugitive economic offender.

Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO)

• An FEO is defined by The Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018.
• As per the act, a person is declared as a fugitive economic offender if:
• an arrest warrant has been issued against him for any specified offences where the value involved is over Rs 100 crore, and
• he has left the country and refuses to return to face prosecution.
• The Act aims to provide for measures to deter fugitive economic offenders from evading the process of law in India by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts.

Hence both statements are correct.

India’s external debt rose to $620.7 billion at end-March 2022, recording an increase of $47.1 billion over the year earlier period, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data showed.

• The external debt to GDP ratio declined to 19.9% at end-March 2022, from 21.2% a year earlier.
• Valuation gains on account of the appreciation of the U.S. dollar vis-à-vis the Indian rupee and major currencies including the Japanese yen and euro was estimated at $11.7 billion.
• Excluding the valuation effect, external debt would have increased by $58.8 billion instead of $47.1 billion at end-March 2022 over end-March 2021, the RBI said.
• India’s long-term debt (with original maturity of above one year) rose to $499.1 billion, recording an increase of $26.5 billion over its level at end-March 2021, RBI data showed. During the same period, the share of short-term debt in total external debt increased to 19.6% from 17.6%.
• Similarly, the ratio of short-term debt to foreign exchange reserves increased to 20%. U.S. dollar-denominated debt remained the largest component of external debt, with a share of 53.2%.
• Separately, the RBI said net claims of non-residents on India increased by $5.6 billion during the fourth quarter of 2021-22 to $359.8 billion in March 2022.

Hence both statements are correct.

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity, has been in force since 1993. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
  • Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the US has signed but not ratified).
• The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada and it operates under the United Nations Environment Programme. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Parties (Countries) under Convention of Biodiversity (CBD), meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP).

G7 (Group of Seven)

• Recently, at the 48^th G7 Summit, the Indian Prime Minister invited the G7 Nations to tap into the huge market for clean energy technologies emerging in the country.
  • Germany holds the presidency of the G7 in 2022. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
  • The German Presidency has invited Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the G7 Summit.
• The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. In addition, the European Union is a 'non-enumerated member' (it's not counted in the name). Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • It is an intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975.
  • All the G7 countries and India are a part of G20.
  • The G7 does not have a formal charter or a secretariat. The presidency, which rotates among member countries each year, is in charge of setting the agenda. Sherpas, ministers and envoys hammer out policy initiatives before the summit.
  • The G7 countries are important players in global trade. The US and Germany in particular are major export nations. Both sold goods worth well over a trillion US dollars abroad in 2021.

• Lithium is an element and in nature tends to concentrate sufficiently in the two minerals, spodumene and lepidolite.
• Lithium can be used in:
  • Special Glasses and Ceramics:
    • Lithium disilicate (Li2Si2O5) is a chemical compound that is a glass ceramic.
    • It is widely used as a dental ceramic due to its strength, machinability and translucency.
  • Alloy Making:
    • Lithium metal is used to make useful alloys.
    • For example, with lead to make ‘white metal’ bearings for motor engines, with aluminum to make aircraft parts, and with magnesium to make Armour plates.
  • Rechargeable batteries:
    • Lithium is used in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles.
  • Air Conditioners:
    • Lithium chloride is one of the most hygroscopic materials known, and is used in air conditioning and industrial drying systems (as is lithium bromide)
• Hence, option D is correct.

• International MSME Day is observed every year on 27^th June all over the world to highlight the significance of MSMEs and how they play a crucial role in being the backbone of the country’s economy.
• Micro-Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises are the organizations that do not usually employ more than 250 employees. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
  • Despite being small in number of employees per enterprise, MSMEs are responsible for creating more than two-thirds of all jobs globally.
    • Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Revised MSME Criteria is as follows:
  • MICRO: Investment < 1 Crore and Turnover < 5 Crore
  • SMALL: Investment < 10 Crore and Turnover < 50 Crore
  • MEDIUM: Investment < 20 Crore and Turnover < 100 Crore
    • Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Partners in Blue Pacific

• Recently, the US and its allies- Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom — have launched a new initiative called ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ for “effective and efficient cooperation” with the region’s small island nations. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
  • Areas where PBP aims to enhance cooperation include “climate crisis, connectivity and transportation, maritime security and protection, health, prosperity, and education”.
• The PBP is a five-nation “informal mechanism” to support Pacific islands and to boost diplomatic and economic ties in the region. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • It speaks of enhancing “prosperity, resilience, and security” in the Pacific through closer cooperation.
  • It means that through the PBP, these countries together and individually will direct more resources towards the Pacific Island Countries to counter China’s aggressive outreach.
  • The initiative members will “elevate Pacific regionalism”, and forge stronger ties with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

The 47th GST Council met under the Chairmanship of Union Minister for Finance & Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in Chandigarh.

The GST Council has inter-alia made the following recommendations:

• 18 per cent of GST will be applied to bank cheque book and 12 per cent will be applied on maps, atlas and globes. The rate rationalisation decision implies that printing, writing and drawing ink will get costlier.
• Non-branded pre-packed lassi, curd, butter milk, food items and grains will now be a part of the GST.
• GST rates on medical items, including ostomy and orthopaedic appliances – splints and other fracture appliances, artificial body parts which are worn or implanted in the body has been reduced to five per cent.
• The GST for transport of good and passengers via ropeway has been reduced from 18 per cent to five per cent. Also, the renting of truck which includes fuel cost will now stand at 12 per cent.
• As part of the revised rates, GST on LED lamps, lights and fixture, their metal printed circuits board, drawing and marking instruments will be increased from 12 per cent to 18 per cent.
• The GST rates have been increased for services supplied by a foreman in a chit fund, jobs related to leather goods and footwear, processing of hides and skins, manufacturing of clay bricks, contracts for roads, bridges, railways, metro among others.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Maiden flight of the Autonomous Flying Wing Technology Demonstrator was carried out successfully by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) from the Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga, Karnataka on July 01, 2022.

• This flight marks a major milestone in terms of proving critical technologies towards the development of future unmanned aircraft and is significant step towards self-reliance in such strategic defence technologies.
• The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is designed & developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru, a premier research laboratory of DRDO.
• It is powered by a small turbofan engine. The airframe, undercarriage and entire flight control and avionics systems used for the aircraft were developed indigenously.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.