Test: Economic Development MCQs (July 2024 Current Affairs) - UPSC MCQ

1. Correct: The share of women in top management positions in India indeed increased from nearly 14% in FY14 to about 22% in FY23. This statement is accurate as per the key findings of the NCAER report.

2. Incorrect: The share of women on company boards in India is around 16%, not 20%. This specific detail is crucial to the statement's accuracy.

3. Correct: Approximately 60% of NSE-listed firms did not have any women in their top management teams as of March 2023. This statistic is highlighted in the NCAER report's findings.

Hence, the correct answer is Option C, as statements 1 and 3 are accurate, while statement 2 is not.

1. The share of Women in Top Management Positions in FY23 - 22% (Correct)
Explanation: According to the NCAER report, the share of women in top management positions increased from nearly 14% in FY14 to about 22% in FY23.

2. The share of Women on Company Boards in India - 16% (Correct)
Explanation: The NCAER report states that the share of women on company boards in India is around 16%.

3. The share of Women in Middle and Senior Management Roles globally - 20% (Incorrect)
Explanation: The global average for women in middle and senior management roles is 33%, while in India it is only 20%.

4. Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) Ratio for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) - 0.6% (Incorrect)
Explanation: The GNPA ratio for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) is 2.8%, not 0.6%. The 0.6% figure refers to the Net Non-Performing Assets (NNPA) ratio.

Hence, only pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) utilize both an internal combustion engine and a battery-powered motor powertrain. The internal combustion engine is generally powered by petrol and is used both for driving and charging the battery when it is depleted. HEVs are considered a bridge between traditional vehicles and fully electric ones, offering a combination of efficiency and convenience.

Statement-I correctly reflects the increase in the share of women in top management positions in India from nearly 14% in FY14 to about 22% in FY23, as per the findings mentioned in the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) report.
However, Statement-II is not accurate. The statement about nearly 60% of the firms not having any women in their top management teams is not explicitly supported by the data provided. The data actually mentions that almost 60% of the firms studied did not have any women in top management teams, including 5 of the top 10 NSE-listed firms by market capitalization, as of March 2023. This information does not directly correlate with the specific timeframe mentioned in Statement-I (FY14 to FY23) or the percentage increase in women in top management positions.

1. Contamination with toxic chemicals diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol - Marion Biotech: Incorrect. The contamination with toxic chemicals diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol was linked to Maiden Pharmaceuticals, not Marion Biotech.

2. Investigation in December 2022 - Maiden Pharmaceuticals: Incorrect. The investigation in December 2022 was regarding Marion Biotech, not Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

3. Data integrity issues - Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO): Correct. Data integrity issues were highlighted by the Central Drug Standards Control Organisation (CDSCO).

4. Deaths of children in Gambia - Maiden Pharmaceuticals: Correct. The deaths of children in Gambia were linked to products from Maiden Pharmaceuticals.

Thus, pairs 3 and 4 are correctly matched.

Cooperatives are people-centered enterprises designed to meet the common economic, social, and cultural needs of their members. Unlike traditional businesses that aim to generate profits for shareholders, cooperatives prioritize the well-being and interests of their members, fostering a sense of community and cooperation.

Statement-I correctly highlights India's significant role as a major supplier of low-cost vaccines globally and the largest provider of generic medicines worldwide.
Statement-II complements Statement-I by indicating that India indeed accounts for 60% of global vaccine production, reinforcing India's status as the largest vaccine producer globally. Thus, both statements are accurate and interconnected, with Statement-II providing additional context and support to Statement-I.

The Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) Ratio for Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) is currently at 2.8%. This ratio indicates the percentage of loans that are not being repaid. Maintaining a low GNPA ratio is crucial for the financial health of banks, as higher NPAs can lead to liquidity issues and impact the overall stability of the banking sector. Banks regularly monitor and manage their non-performing assets to ensure financial stability and mitigate risks associated with bad loans.

Statement-I correctly highlights the vast cooperative network in India across various sectors, demonstrating the extensive reach and impact of cooperatives in the country. On the other hand, Statement-II is inaccurate. The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 primarily focused on constitutional reforms in British India, aiming to introduce self-governing institutions gradually and did not specifically address cooperative movements. Hence, Statement-II does not accurately explain the evolution of cooperatives in India.

Statement 1: Correct. The Indian pharmaceutical industry has indeed faced allegations of violating Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) laws, leading to legal disputes with multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Statement 2: Correct. India is the largest provider of generic medicines globally, holding a 20% share in global supply by volume.

Statement 3: Incorrect. While the Indian pharmaceutical sector does heavily rely on imports for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), the specific figure of over 50% is not mentioned in the provided text. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed as accurate based on the given information.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

1. Indian Famine Commission (1901) - Led to the enactment of the first Cooperative Credit Societies Act in 1904. Correctly matched.

2. Montague-Chelmsford Reforms (1919) - Made cooperation a provincial subject. Correctly matched.

3. Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 - Established the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right (Article 19). Incorrectly matched. The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 established the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right (Article 19).

4. 97 Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 - Introduced the Co-operative Election Authority to oversee board elections in multi-state co-operative societies. Incorrectly matched. The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Act, 2022 introduced the Co-operative Election Authority.

Thus, only two pairs are correctly matched.

The term of a patent granted under the Indian patent system is 20 years from the date of filing the application. This duration is crucial as it provides the patentee with exclusive rights to their invention for a specified period, encouraging innovation and protecting intellectual property.

1. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) - Fully powered by electricity and more efficient compared to hybrid and plug-in hybrids. Correctly matched. BEVs are indeed fully powered by electricity and are more efficient than hybrids and PHEVs.

2. Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) - Uses a petrol engine to charge the battery. Incorrectly matched. FCEVs produce electric energy from chemical energy, typically using hydrogen, and do not use a petrol engine to charge the battery.

3. Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) - Uses both internal combustion engine and a battery charged from an external socket. Incorrectly matched. HEVs use both an internal combustion engine and a battery, but the battery is charged by the engine, not from an external socket.

4. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) - Can run in both Hybrid Mode and All-electric Mode. Correctly matched. PHEVs can indeed run in Hybrid Mode, using both the engine and the battery, and in All-electric Mode, using only the battery.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly highlights that Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) are more efficient compared to Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) as BEVs are powered solely by electricity, while HEVs use both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine.

Statement-II correctly points out that Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) have lower total carbon emissions compared to Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), but it does not directly explain the efficiency comparison between HEVs and Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). Thus, both statements are factually correct but do not have a direct explanatory relationship, leading to option (b) being the correct answer.

1. The first Cooperative Credit Societies Act in India was enacted as a result of the recommendations of the Indian Famine Commission in 1901. - This statement is correct. The Indian Famine Commission of 1901 led to the enactment of the first Cooperative Credit Societies Act in 1904. This act laid the foundation for the cooperative movement in India by enabling the formation of cooperative societies to address the credit needs of rural areas.

2. The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms of 1919 made cooperation a provincial subject, giving a significant boost to the cooperative movement in India. - This statement is correct. The Montague-Chelmsford Reforms, also known as the Government of India Act of 1919, made cooperation a provincial subject. This decentralization allowed provinces to enact their own cooperative laws and policies, which significantly boosted the cooperative movement across India.

3. The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 established the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. - This statement is incorrect. The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2011 indeed established the right to form cooperative societies as a fundamental right, but it was under Article 19, not Article 21. Article 19(1)(c) now includes the right to form associations or unions, including cooperative societies.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B