Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 28.03.22

Q1. Consider the following statements

1. Trade deficit of India is consistently increasing in recent years
2. India is yet to achieve pre covid levels of export

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 : d

Why is the Question ?

A quantum jump in international trade
 The new record of $400 billion of goods exports has made a mark in the global business arena, reclaiming India’s status as a major trading power
 The surge in exports is helping farmers, artisans, weavers and factory workers, and enabling businesses, small and large, to create jobs, scale up operations, become more competitive, and make a mark in the global business arena.
Context:
1. The export target of $400 billion seemed impossible to many in a Covid-ravaged world, where demand was weak, containers were scarce and priced exorbitantly, and the world was facing job losses and conflicts.

2. It was indeed an ambitious mission because the best India achieved in merchandise exports in the past was $330 billion in the pre-Covid days of 2018-19, after which the pandemic battered all global trade.
3. But India bounced back rapidly as policy measures, reforms, export-promotion schemes, major initiatives such as the Production Linked Incentive Scheme, and bold decisions in the
face of adversity propelled India to become the fastestgrowing major economy in the world.
4. Exports boomed, setting a series of monthly records that have added up to historic achievement in 2021-22.

Diversity of exports:

1. Exports are contributing to economic growth, creating jobs and helping small businesses and workers.
2. But it’s not just a story of numbers. There are exciting new developments such as the export of new products, penetration of new markets, rising exports of manufactured products, an impressive 50% growth in engineering exports, and laudable contribution of small businesses and farmers, whose hard work has strengthened global food security.

3. Agricultural exports have risen nearly 25% to a record of nearly $50 billion. India’s farmers provide almost half of the globally traded rice. Farmers have helped wheat exports jump to a record seven million tonnes, which is softening the impact of the disruption in the global wheat trade caused by the crisis in Ukraine, a major supplier.
4. Similarly, coffee exports have risen to a record of nearly $1 billion, an impressive achievement for the sector where 95% of the output is from small growers. Marine exports are also booming, helping many small businesses and fishermen.

Q2. Arrange following minorities in India in increasing order of their population

1. Muslim
2. Christian
3. Buddhist
4. Sikh

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

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

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

States Can Take A Decision On Minority Status For Hindus, Says Centre Affidavit

1. The Union government has put the onus on states and Union territories to grant minority status to Hindus where their numbers are less than those of other communities.
2. The Union ministry of minority affairs informed the Supreme Court that while the central government has notified six communities, namely Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists, Parsis and Jains, as minorities at the national level, it is open for states and UTs to notify Hindus as a religious or linguistic minority where they are less in number.
3. The Centre’s affidavit maintained that notification of any community-specific to a state as a minority comes under the purview of the state concerned.
4. The state governments can also declare a religious or linguistic community as a ‘minority community’ within the state, said the Union government.

The Centre filed its affidavit in response to a petition which has challenged the validity of Section 2(f) of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions Act, 2004 on grounds that it gives unbridled powers to the Centre to restrict minority benefits to the notified six religious communities.

Q3. In which of the following states Hindus are below 10 % of the total population of the state/UTs as per census 2011?

1. Mizoram
2. Nagaland
3. Lakshadweep
4. Punjab

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

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

Answer : a

Why is the Question ?

Q4. Consider the following statements

1. It is an equatorial crop, but under special conditions, it is also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas
2. Kerala is the top producer of Rubber in India
3. Natural rubber is a native of warm humid Amazon forests and is not naturally suited for the colder conditions in Northeast India
4. Genetic modified (GM) rubber allows to tide over the severe cold conditions during winter in the northeast 

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Kerala nurseries bounce back on Northeast rubber wave
1. Riding on a plantation wave that is sweeping Northeast India, the rubber nurseries in Kerala are getting the best out of their grow bags after a decade-long lull.
2. A plan by the Rubber Board to develop rubber plantations in an area of two lakh hectares across the seven northeastern states in a span of five years starting from 2021-22 has unleashed pent-up demand among the rubber nurseries in the State.
3. Besides bringing in a dramatic turnaround in sales, this expanding programme of plantation has also ensured a longer business season in the coming years as nurseries play catchup.
4. According to officials with the Rubber Board, a whopping 51 lakh rubber saplings, sourced from the nurseries across Kerala, will soon be making their way to plantations across the Northeast and West Bengal in special trains.