Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 16-07-2022

Q1. The Abraham Accords were in News recently. They seek to establish peace in

1. West Asia
2. South Africa
3. South Asia
4. Central Asia

Answer (a)

Explanation:

The Abraham Accords are a joint statement made between Israel, the United States and the United Arab Emirates on August 13, 2020. It also refers to the agreement reached between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE to normalise relations between the three.

The Abraham Accords stipulated that the UAE and Bahrain would establish their respective embassies in Israel and work together with Israel across a range of sectors, including tourism, trade and security.

The religious significance is that it would allow for Muslims to one of the holiest sites in Islam, the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

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Following the signing of the accords, Sudan and Morocco also normalised relations with Israel in the same year. It is speculated that more countries will follow suit but given the factitious nature of Middle-Eastern politics it seems highly unlikely in the short-term at least.

Foreign relations experts are of the opinion that the rise of Iran’s clout in the region has played a significant role in signing of the accords. Iran has been a long-time enemy of Israel and its leaders have vowed to continue the fight for Palestine’s independence regardless of who makes peace with Israel.

Q2. Which of the follwoing countries are major partners in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)?

1. Iran
2. Russia
3. India

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Iran cos to boost port services for India-Russia trade

• Iranian shipping companies plan to put in place a regular service between Bandar Abbas port and two ports in India to handle cargo expected to be shipped from Russia, even as authorities in Tehran have taken steps to include Chabahar port in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).

• Following several calls from the Indian side for Chabahar port in southeastern Iran to be formally included in INSTC, authorities in Tehran have informed the INSTC Secretariat that the port on the Gulf of Oman is now deemed to be part of the sea, road and rail transport corridor as the original INSTC agreement signed in 2002 covers all ports and transport networks with Iranian territory.
• Several factors have led to the renewed focus on INSTC, which was established more than two decades ago, including the Russian side’s push to use the corridor in the face of crippling Western sanctions, Iran’s readiness to serve as a transit route in order to boost trade, and the Reserve Bank of India’s decision to allow payments and settlement of exports and imports in Indian rupees.
• There is growing urgency among Russian exporters to use INSTC to move their goods to India in recent days, especially since traditional routes via the Black Sea and Suez Canal cannot be used currently.
• The Vladivostok route too is not workable or cost-effective for most goods and that’s another reason for the focus on INSTC.
• However, Chabahar can effectively be used as part of INSTC only after the railway line from the port to Zahedan is completed, as this will link the port to Iran’s countrywide railway network and enable the fast movement of cargo from the borders of Central Asian states and northern ports on the Caspian Sea such as Anzali and Amirabad.

Q3. Which of the following countries share border with Ukraine?

1. Belarus
2. Poland
3. Latvia

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1 and 2 only

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Q4. Which of the following countries are currently members of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)?

1. India
2. Belarus
3. Turkmenistan

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 only
4. 1 and 2 only

Answer (a)

Explanation:

Iran and Belarus may be the newest SCO members

• Iran and Belarus are likely to be the two newest additions to the China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) grouping.
• China, Russia and four Central Asian states — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan — were the founding members of the SCO, while India and Pakistan joined the grouping in 2017 in its first round of expansion.
• China and Russia are looking to frame the grouping as a counter to the West — particularly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and diplomats sought to draw a sharp contrast between the SCO and NATO.

• There has been discussion in the international arena that the trend of non-alignment is back, China said. The expansion of NATO is totally different as the SCO is a cooperative organisation based on non-alignment and not targeting a third NATO is based on Cold War thinking. The logic of NATO is to create new enemies to sustain its own existence.
• China said the SCO “believes one should not build its safety at the expense of other countries”, a statement China has used previously to blame NATO for the Ukraine crisis.
• China also hit out at “small circles” — a term China has used in the past to criticise the Quad — underlining India’s somewhat unique position in the SCO, whose two most important members, China and Russia, are increasingly positioning the grouping directly at odds with the West.

Q5. Consider the following statements about the ‘Flag Code of India 2002’

1. There shall be no restriction on the display of the National Flag by members of the general public, private organizations, educational institutions etc.
2. Only flags of khadi are allowed

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (a)

Explanation:

What is the Flag Code and how has it been changed recently?

• The use, display and hoisting of the National Flag in the country is guided by an overarching set of instructions called the ‘Flag Code of India 2002’. It brings together all laws, conventions, practices, and instructions for the display of the National Flag. It governs the display of the National Flag by private, public, and government institutions.
• The Flag Code of India took effect on January 26, 2002. As per Clause 1 of the Flag Code of India, there shall be no restriction on the display of the National Flag by members of the general public, private organizations, educational institutions etc. consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag.

What led to the recent amendment?

• The Flag Code of India, 2002 was amended vide Order dated December 30, 2021, and a National Flag made of polyester or machine-made flag has also been allowed.
• Now, the National Flag shall be made of hand-spun, hand- woven or machine-made cotton/polyester/wool/silk/khadi bunting, as per the amended flag code.
• The government will soon launch ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’– a nationwide campaign to encourage people to hoist the Tricolour at their homes to mark the 75th Independence Day.
• The amended flag code will facilitate the availability of flags on such a large scale and also make them affordable for the general public.
• Once the flag code was amended, the government reached out to manufacturers and e-commerce sites to boost its The Ministry has also held meetings with e- commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart to make sure these sites would be a platform to buy flags.

Why is it being criticised?

• The amendment to the flag code has, however, been questioned by those who feel the move will break the association between the Tricolour, the Independence movement and khadi.
• A section of Khadi weavers and activists have launched an agitation to protest the amendment.