UPSC 2023: Weekly GK and Current Affairs Quiz May 27 - Jun 02

Statement 1 is correct: If rice kernels are not sound, it is called broken rice. Generally, broken rice is classified into 2 categories: big and small.

Statement 2 is correct: China has emerged as the top byer of Indian rice during the COVID pandemic period.

Statement 3 is correct: Trade experts say the reason for this increase in export of broken rice to China is the higher demand of rice for making noodles and wine in that country.

Statement 1 is correct: National Judicial Data Grid ( NJDG) provides information relating to judicial proceedings/decisions of all computerized district and subordinate courts of the country.

Statement 2 is correct: Case data is available on NJDG for both civil and criminal cases with the ability to perform drill-down analysis based on the age of the case as well as the State and district.

Statement 3 is incorrect: NJDG mentions reasons for the pendency of cases.

The Prime Minister is the chancellor of a central university, Visva Bharati.

In 2022, for the first time in its centuries-long history, Iraq’s lake Sawa dried up. A combination action of mismanagement by local investors, government neglect and climate change are causes of its drying up.

Statement 1 is correct: Web 1.0 was the first generation of the global digital communications network. It is often referred to as the “read-only” Internet made of static web-pages that only allowed for passive engagement.

Statement 2 is correct: Web 2.0 is the next stage in the evolution of the web as the “read and write” Internet. Users were now able to communicate with servers and other users leading to the creation of the social web. This is the world wide web that we use today.

Statement 3 is correct: Web 3.0 is an evolving term that is used to refer to the next generation of Internet – a “read-write-execute” web – with decentralization as its bedrock. It speaks about a digital world, built leveraging the blockchain technology, where people are able to interact with each other without the need of an intermediary. Web 3.0 will be driven by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning where machines will be able to interpret information like humans.

Statement 4 is correct: Web 5.0 is aimed at “building an extra decentralized web that puts you in control of your data and identity”. Web 5.0 is Web 2.0 plus Web 3.0 that will allow users to ‘own their identity’ on the Internet and ‘control their data’.

Article 39 (Directive Principles of State Policy) in the Constitution Of India states, Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State: The State shall, in particular, direct its policy towards securing:

• that the ownership and control of the material resources of the community are so distributed as best to sub-serve the common good;
• that the operation of the economic system does not result in the concentration of wealth and means of production to the common detriment; Article 39 (b) and (c) are the two most important directive principles that pledge to minimize the concentration of wealth.

• An Act to provide for certain matters in connection with the taking of census. This Act may be called the Census Act, 1948.
• The Decennial Census of India has been conducted 15 times, as of 2011. Census Division assists the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India for timely and successful conduct of Census Operations once in ten years in the country.
• The information gathered during the census is so private that it is not even available to courts of law. The Census Act of 1948 ensures confidentiality. The legislation establishes penalties for both public and census authorities who fail to comply with or violate any part of the Act.
• Hence all the statements are correct.

• National Pension System is now regulated under PFRDA Act, 2013 and regulation framed thereunder by Department of Financial Services and PFRDA. Under the NPS, every Government servant is registered and allotted a Permanent Retirement Account Number (PRAN). Hence statement 1 is correct.
• NPS is now made available for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI). OCI will be considered at par with Non-Resident Indian (NRI) while subscribing to NPS. The option of the NPS Tier II account will not be available for both NRI & OCI Subscribers. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• The NPS Tier 1 account matures when the member reaches the age of 60, however you can defer withdrawal until the age of 70. You can take up to 60% of your corpus tax-free under existing NPS withdrawal guidelines for withdrawal after maturity. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

• The New Development Bank (NDB) was established in 2015 by BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The Bank’s membership is open to members of the United Nations.
• Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Uruguay joined the NDB in 2021.
• Hence option A is correct.

• Considering the importance of availability of labour force data at more frequent time intervals, National Statistical Office (NSO) launched Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) in 2017. Hence statement 1 is correct.
•  The Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) gives estimates of Key employment and unemployment Indicators like, the Labor Force Participation Rates (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR), Unemployment Rate (UR), etc. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR): LFPR is defined as the percentage of persons in the labour force (i.e. working or seeking or available for work)in the population. Hence statement 3 is correct.

In 1919, Rabindranath Tagore during his brief stay at Theosophical college, Madanapalle, a town in Chittoor, A.P., translated his Bengali poem / National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ into English as ‘Morning Song of India’.

• The 44th Constitution Amendment Act of 1978 removed the right to property from the list of Fundamental Rights, and it was later established as a legal right by Article 300-A in Part-12 of the Constitution.
• Adverse Possession is a legal theory that asserts that if a renter has inhabited a property for 12 years and the owner does not take action, the tenant is awarded ownership rights to the property.
• Hence both statements are incorrect.

• Population control and family planning are listed in the Concurrent List. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, is in charge of conducting the decennial Census. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• According to the National Family Health Survey-5, India has made significant progress in population control measures in recent times with the Total Fertility Rates (TFR). TFR of 2.1 is considered the replacement level fertility rate at which population stability is achieved. Hence statement 3 is correct.

• The Press Council of India (PCI) is a statutory body created by the Press Council Act of 1978. It is the apex body for the regulation of Print Media in India. It enjoys independence from the government. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• PCI is responsible for enquiring about the complaints it receives. It can summon witnesses, and demand copies of public records. PCI can issue warnings, and criticize the guilty, it could be journalists, newspapers, newspaper agencies or editors. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.

• The Integrated Guided Missile Development Program (IGMDP) was launched in 1983. This program was launched with an agenda to develop five missile systems in the country – Trishul, Akash, Nag, Prithvi, and Agni.
• Hence D is the correct option.

• Greenwashing is the technique of creating a false image or presenting misleading information about how a company’s products are better for the environment. Greenwashing is defined as making an unfounded claim in order to mislead customers into believing that a company’s products are ecologically beneficial.
• Hence A is the correct option.

• The Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is an initiative by six countries – India and five ASEAN countries – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an international alliance that consists of 8 member states and 4 observers from Eurasia.
• The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is an economic and political organization of eight countries in South Asia.
• BIMSTEC has a total of seven member countries – five from South Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Thailand.
• Hence b is the correct option.

• UNESCO has designated Champaner-Pavagadh as a World Heritage Site and called it the only ‘complete and unchanged Islamic pre-Mughal city’.
• It also includes Kalika Mata Temple on the hill and Jama Masjid at the foothills.
• According to a note kept by the trust, it is believed that in the 15th century, Sultan Mahmud Begada conquered Champaner, where he established his capital and ‘destroyed the spire of the temple’. Sadanshah Pir Dargah was built around that time.
• Hence all the statements are correct.

• In 2022, India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States will establish the I2U2 group.
• The organization’s goal is to re-energize and revitalize American relationships across the world.
• Hence Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Ukraine are not members of the I2U2 group.
• Hence option b is correct.

• The Black Death was the first wave of a roughly 500-year-long pandemic known as the second plague pandemic, and it was one of the most devastating infectious disease disasters in human history.
• Plague is caused by the zoonotic bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is present in small animals and their fleas.
• Hence A is correct.

R2 stands for Responsible Recycling and is a standard specifically created for the electronics recycling industry by Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI). R2 certified companies to have a policy on managing used and end-of-life electronics equipment, components and materials based on strategies such as reuse, materials and energy recovery and/or disposal. This certification is intended for electronics recyclers.

Hence option A is correct.

Normal Rainfall: IMD calls a monsoon season normal when the total amount of rainfall in the country between June and September is within 10%(plus or minus) of the LPA, i.e. between 96-104% of LPA (Long Period Average).
Below Normal: when total rainfall is less than 10% of LPA, i.e. 90-96% of LPA.
Above normal: when total rainfall is more than 10% of LPA, i.e. 104-110% of LPA.
Deficient: when total rainfall is less than 90% of LPA.
Excess: when total rainfall is more than 110% of LPA.

• Statement 1 is not correct, Urea is basic in nature.
• Statement 2 is not correct, Urea (CH4N2O) is an organic chemical made up of nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen.
• Statement 3 is correct, Urea can be used to supplement the diet of cattle and other ruminants.

• Statement 1 is correct, FATF Grey List has countries that are considered safe havens for supporting terror funding and money laundering.
• Statement 2 is correct, the FATF Black list represents “Non-Compliant or Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs)”.
• Statement 3 is not correct, FATF was established at the G7 Summit of 1989 in Paris with an aim to address loopholes in the global financial system after the member states raised concerns about increasing money laundering activities.

• Amal puppet is on a mission to raise awareness about the Syrian refugee crisis.
• The puppet Amal depicts a 10-year-old girl migrant from Syria, who walked 8,000 km looking for her mother in 2021.

Extremely high rates of inflation are generally associated with high rates of money growth and it is often the result of financing large deficits by printing money.

• Statement 1 is not correct, Currently there are 24 DRSCs, out of which 8 are placed within the jurisdiction of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha and 16 within the jurisdiction of the Speaker, Lok Sabha.
• Statement 2 is not correct, The term of office of each Committee is one year from the date of its constitution
• Statement 3 is not correct, The DRSCs consider the Demands for Grants, annual reports and examine bills pertaining to the related Ministries/Departments and their recommendations are just advisory in nature and hence not binding.

• Sarhul is a spring festival associated with Jharkhand.
  • The festival represents the commencement of the new year and according to the tradition, it symbolises marriage between the Earth and the Sun.
  • It is celebrated by tribal groups such as Bhumijs, Mundas and Oraons
• Wanshuwa is an important religious festival of the Tiwa tribes of the Karbi Anglong district in Assam.
  • The festival is celebrated to mark a good harvest and involves prayers for protection from pests and natural calamities.
  • It involves songs, dances and a bunch of rituals performed by people clad in their native attires.
• Nongkrem dance festival is an annual festival associated with Meghalaya.
  • Nongkrem dance is a traditional dance form celebrated by the people of the Khasi tribe.
  • Nongkrem festival is conducted to honour the goddess Ka Blei Synshar worshipped by the tribe.

• Statement 1 is correct, The Portuguese conquest of Goa began when Afonso de Albuquerque captured the city in 1510 from the Adil Shahis who was the then Sultan of Bijapur.
• Statement 2 is correct, Tristao de Braganca Cunha was a prominent Indian nationalist and anti-colonial activist from Goa.
• Statement 3 is not correct, India annexed the then Portuguese Indian territories of Goa, Daman and Diu through an armed action codenamed Operation Vijay in 1961.

• Statement 1 is correct, The Maternity leave should not be availed before eight weeks from the date of expected delivery.
• Statement 2 is correct, As per the Act, the establishments employing 50 or more employees are required to provide creche facilities.
• Statement 3 is not correct, Employers may allow eligible Employees to work from home on a case to case basis depending on the nature of work.