DAILY

CURRENT AFFAIRS

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Current Affairs MCQs for Practice – 11 March 2022

Question-1

What is the name of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship that was discovered off the coast of Antarctica a century after its sinking?

a)   Discovery

b)   Explorer

c)   Quest

d)   Endurance

Ans-d

Explanation-

Scientists say they have found the sunken wreck of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, more than a century after it was lost to the Antarctic ice. The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust says the vessel lies 3,000 meters below the surface of the Weddell Sea, about 6.4 kilometres south of the location recorded in 1915 by its captain, Frank Worsley.

Question-2

The agriculture sector uses what percentage of total water use in India?

a)   80%

b)   Over 90%

c)   70%

d)   60%

Ans-b

Explanation-

Even at the crop level we consume more water than the global average. Rice and wheat, the two principal crops accounting for more than 75% of agricultural production use 2,850 m3/tonnes and 1,654 m3/tonnes of water, respectively, against the global average of 2,291m3/tonnes and 1,334m3/ tonnes in the same order. The agriculture sector uses a little over 90% of total water use in India.

Question-3

The World Health Organization Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) will be the first global centre for traditional medicine. It will come up in which city?

a)   Vadodara

b)   Jamnagar

c)   Ahmedabad

d)   Surat

Ans-b

Explanation-

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the establishment of the World Health Organization Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (WHO GCTM) at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

Question-4

India’s drug regulator has granted restricted emergency use authorisation to which COVID-19 vaccine for the 12-17 age group?

a)   Sputnik Light

b)   Covovax

c)   Novavax

d)   Sinovac

Ans- b

Explanation-

India’s drug regulator has granted restricted emergency use authorisation to the Serum Institute’s COVID-19 vaccine Covovax for the 12-17 age group subject to certain conditions. It is the fourth vaccine to receive the regulator’s nod for use among those below 18 years.

Question-5

National Land Monetisation Corporation is being formed to monetise what type of land assets?

a)   Private sector land

b)   Sovereign and public sector land

c)   Railway land

d)   Forrest land

Ans- b

Explanation-

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the setting up of a new government-owned firm for pooling and monetising sovereign and public sector land assets. The National Land Monetisation Corporation is being formed with an initial authorised share capital of ₹5,000 crore and paid-up capital of ₹150 crore.

Question-6

The docking of the MV Lal Bahadur Shastri, carrying 200 MT of food grains for the FCI has rekindled hope for the inland water transport system in the Northeast. It sailed from Patna on National Waterway-1 (river Ganga) and passed through National Waterway-2. Which river is NW2?

a)   Narmada

b)   Brahmaputra

c)   Tapti

d)   Godavari

Ans- b

Explanation-

The vessel had on February 5 started sailing from Patna on National Waterway-1 (NW1, river Ganga). It passed through Bhagalpur, Manihari, Sahibganj, Farakka, Tribeni, Kolkata, Haldia, Hemnagar in India, Khulna, Narayanganj, Sirajganj and Chilmari in Bangladesh and again to India on National Waterway-2 (NW2, river Brahmaputra) through Dhubri and Jogighopa covering 2,350 km.

Question-7

Who is the President of the European Commission?

a)   Frans Timmermans

b)   Margrethe Vestager

c)   Jean-Claude Juncker

d)   Ursula von der Leyen

Ans- d

Explanation-

The EU is looking to close off loopholes in the unprecedented barrage of sanctions it unleashed along with Western allies after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion. “We are further tightening the net of sanctions responding to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine,” European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.

Question-8

Consider the following statements:

1.    The unified payments interface (UPI) service, can be used both in smartphones and features phones without the internet.

2.   The Scan and pay function of UPI, available on smartphones, is not available on UPI123Pay, launched by RBI.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

a)   1 only

b)   2 only

c)   Both 1 and 2

d)   Neither 1 nor 2

Ans- c

Explanation-

The unified payments interface (UPI) service, which was limited to smartphones to date, will be now available for feature phones without internet, courtesy of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) UPI123Pay.

UPI123Pay

·       UPI123Pay is a three-step method to initiate and execute services for users.

·       It includes calling an IVR (interactive voice response) number, app functionality in feature phones, missed call-based approach, and also proximity sound-based payments.

·       The missed call feature would allow phones to access their bank accounts and perform routine transactions, such as receiving or transferring funds, regular purchases, bill payments, etc.

·       A user just has to give a missed call on the number displayed at the merchant outlet.

·       The customer will then receive an incoming call to authenticate the transaction by entering the UPI pin.

·       The scan-and-pay function of UPI, available on smartphones, is not there on UPI123Pay.

Question 9

 Consider the following statements regarding the Global Water System Project (GWSP):

1.    It is a joint initiative of the World Bank in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment of member countries.

2.   The ‘Water Future’ has evolved from GWSP, based on the recommendations outlined in the Bonn Water Declaration.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

a)   1 only

b)   2 only

c)   Both 1 and 2

d)   Neither 1 nor 2

Ans- b

Explanation-

Freshwater resources are under stress, the principal driver being human activities in their various forms.

Global Water System Project (GWSP)

·       The GWSP was a joint project of the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP), scientifically sponsored by the International Council for Science (ICSU) and its four Global Environmental Change (GEC) programmes.

·       The four programmes:

1.    International Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme (IHDP)

2.   DIVERSITAS

3.   International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP)

4.   World Climate Research Programme (WCRP).

·       GWSP spearheaded a broad research agenda and initiated new ways of thinking about water as a complex global system, emphasizing the links between natural and human components.

·       Water Future has evolved from GWSP, based on the recommendations outlined in the Bonn Water Declaration.

Question 10

 Consider the following statements regarding the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect:

1.    It is the part of a metropolitan area that is marked by remarkably high temperatures as compared to its rural counterpart.

2.   Urban Heat Island effect is caused by a land breeze that is obstructed by the concrete jungle from reaching the sea.

3.   The difference in temperature is noticed during both day and night and both in the summer and winter seasons are at their peak.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?

a)   2 and 3 only

b)   2 only

c)   1 and 3 only

d)   1, 2 and 3

Ans- a

Explanation-

Urban sprawl causes warmer temperatures in peri-urban areas.

Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect

·       An Urban Heat Island (UHI) is a part of an urban or a metropolitan area that is marked by remarkably high temperatures as compared to its rural counterpart due to excessive human activity.

·       The difference in temperature is noticed usually during the night and when winds are weak.

·       The UHI is noticed when both the summer and winter seasons are at their peak.

·       It usually refers to those areas which have a high level of human activity.

Source- The Hindu Newspaper /PIB/ The Indian Express