Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 07.12.21

Q1. Consider the following statements about the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)

1. It is applicable to Disturbed areas declared as per the act
2. The Governor of a state can declare a state to be disturbed area only after consultation with state council of ministers

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Why is this required?
The government (either the state or centre) considers those areas to be ‘disturbed’ “by reason of differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities."
How does one officially declare a region to be ‘disturbed’?
Section (3) of the AFSPA Act empowers the governor of the state or Union territory to issue an official notification on The Gazette of India, following which the centre has the authority to send in armed forces for civilian aid. It is still unclear whether the governor has to prompt the centre to send in the army or whether the centre on its own sends in troops.
Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region has to maintain the status quo for a minimum of three months, according to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976.

What about the state government’s role?
The state governments can suggest whether the Act is required to be enforced or not. But under Section (3) of the Act, their opinion can still be overruled by the governor or the centre.

Q2. Which of the following states are under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA)?

1. Assam
2. Nagaland
3. Manipur

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

Q3. Consider the following statements

1. Compensatory afforestation in case of diversion of forest for non forestry purposes is mandatory under Forest conservation act 1980
2. Forest subject is in the state list under schedule 7 of Indian Constitution

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Afforestation funds released to States

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has so far disbursed ₹48,606 crores to 32 States.
1. CAMPA funds are part of long-pending dues of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF), a ₹54,000-crore tranche collected for nearly a decade as environmental compensation from industry, which has razed forest land for its business plans.
2. States have their own established monitoring mechanism to check if the funds are being used for their intended purpose. The Centre also has its own monitoring scheme and approves funds for use by States.
3. The CAF Act 2016, which came into being more than a decade since it was devised, established an independent authority — the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority — to execute the fund.
4. However, it was not until last August that the rules governing the management of the fund were finalised.

Q4. S400 air defence system is being imported by India from

a. Russia
b. Israel
c. USA
d. France

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Rajnath highlights border challenges
The first India-Russia 2+2 ministerial meeting
1. The pandemic, the extraordinary militarization and expansion of armament in our neighbourhood and unprovoked aggression on our northern border since early summer of 2020 have thrown in several challenges.
2. India sought greater engagements in Central Asia and the Indian Ocean Region during the talks.
3. A bilateral logistics support deal Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS), as well as a Navy-to-Navy cooperation MoU were also on the agenda.
4. Russia has also begun deliveries of the S-400 long-range air defence systems, the shipments of which are en route.
5. The deal for 6.1 lakh Ak-203 assault rifles is estimated at over ₹5,000 crores and will be manufactured by a joint venture, Indo-Russian Rifles Private Ltd (IRRPL) in Uttar Pradesh.

Q5. Arrange following subsidy bills of Union government in increasing order

1. Food subsidy
2. Fertilizer subsidy
3. Petroleum subsidy

Select the correct answer from the codes
given below
a. 1, 2, 3
b. 1, 3, 2
c. 3, 2, 1
d. 2, 1, 3

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

Fertilizer subsidy to cost 62% more on input costs: Crisil
1. The Centre’s fertilizer subsidy bill is set to soar 62% over the budgeted amount to ₹1.3 lakh crore this fiscal due to the massive rise in raw material prices despite lower demand, says a report.
2. An unprecedented spike in natural gas prices and other raw materials is set to inflate the fertilizer subsidy bill by a whopping 62% or ₹50,000 crores to ₹1,30,000 crore this fiscal over-budgeted ₹79,530 crores.

3. To encourage farmers to use fertilizers for better crop yield, the government keeps the sale price significantly lower than market rates and reimburses the difference to manufacturers directly.

Q6. Which of the following are part of the core industries index published by the Office of Economic Adviser, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry?

1. Natural gas
2. Fertilizer
3. Textile industry
4. Agriculture

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1, 2 and 3 only
c. 2, 3 and 4 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Q7. Fertilizer Industry may lead to emission of

1. Methane
2. Nitrous Oxide
3. Carbon dioxide

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2, and 3

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

Q8. The famous Hornbill festival is celebrated by tribes of

a. Assam
b. Nagaland
c. Manipur
d. Arunachal Pradesh

Answer : b

Why is the Question ?

Explained: Why did Nagaland civilian deaths have cast a shadow on Hornbill Festival

1. Also called the “festival of festivals”, the 10-day annual programme brings all the 17 tribes of the state on a platform and facilitates the promotion of their culture to the rest of the world.
2. The first edition of the festival – which is named after the Indian hornbill, the large and colourful forest bird which is displayed in the folklore of most of the state’s tribes – was held in 2000.
3. Organised by the State Tourism and Art &Culture Departments, the Hornbill Festival is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama, about 12 km from Kohima.