14 June 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Miss Universe contest.

1. Miss Universe is an international beauty contest conducted once in three years.
2. It is conducted by a United States based organisation.
3. Till now India has won the title thrice since its inception.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1, 2
2. 2, 3
3. 1, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

    B – EXPLANATION

Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the United States–based Miss Universe Organization. Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants. Miss Universe 2021 was the 70th Miss Universe pageant.

The current Miss Universe is Harnaaz Sandhu of India. This is India’s first victory in 21 years, and its third in the history of the pageant.

Q2. UN convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities includes which of these rights for the differently abled?

1. Rights to personal mobility
2. Rights to live independently and be included in the community
3. Rights to participate in political and public life
4. Rights to recreation and sport

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 3, 4
2. 1, 2
3. 1, 2, 4
4. 1, 2, 3, 4

D – EXPLANATION

    Rights specific to this convention include the rights to accessibility including the information technology, the rights to live independently and be included in the community (Article 19), to personal mobility (article 20), habilitation and rehabilitation (Article 26), and to participation in political and public life, and cultural life, recreation and sport (Articles 29 and 30).

Q3. Survival International sometimes seen in news advocates the rights of

1. Trafficked human beings
2. Refugees
3. Tribal people
4. Leprosy patients

     C – EXPLANATION

Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous and/or tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples.

The organisation’s campaigns generally focus on tribal peoples’ desires to keep their ancestral lands. Survival International states that it aims to help foster tribal people’s self-determination.

Q4. $1 trillion platinum coin, recently seen in news is related to

1.  European Union (EU)
2. USA
3. China
4. Russia

   B – EXPLANATION

The bipartisan fight between U.S. Democrats and Republicans over the ceiling on U.S. Government debt has thrown up an interesting idea. Some in the Democratic camp have suggested that a $1 trillion platinum coin may be issued to bypass the debt ceiling if Republicans refuse to raise it.

The $1 trillion platinum coin is a token coin with a face value of $1 trillion that can be issued by the U.S. Treasury and deposited at the U.S. Federal Reserve, America’s central bank. It will help the U.S. Government to get from the Fed the money that it needs to fund its spending programmes without increasing its overall liabilities.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding the observations made by Supreme Court with respect to Right to privacy:

1. Right to privacy is as sacrosanct as human existence and is inalienable to human dignity and autonomy.
2. This is an absolute right.
3. Any surveillance done on an individual by the state is an infringement of that person’s right to privacy.
4. Any violation of right to privacy by the state in national interest, has to follow procedures established by the law.

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2, 3
2. 3, 4
3. 1, 3, 4
4. 1, 2, 3, 4

   C – EXPLANATION

The Court, pointing to its own judgment in K S Puttaswamy, has said that “right to privacy is as sacrosanct as human existence and is inalienable to human dignity and autonomy”.

While agreeing that it is not an absolute right, the Court has said any restrictions “must necessarily pass constitutional scrutiny”. Any surveillance or snooping done on an individual by the state or any outside agency is an infringement of that person’s right to privacy.

Hence, any violation of that right by the state, even in national interest, has to follow procedures established by the law.

Q6. Consider the following statements about Indo-Israel Relations:

1. India is Israel’s largest trade partner in Asia and seventh largest globally.
2. Operation Breathing Space was conducted by Israel to work with Indian authorities on the Covid-19 response.
3. The Indian armed forces have inducted the Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) from Israel.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

D – Explanation:  

• India is Israel’s third-largest trade partner in Asia and seventh largest globally. Both countries currently have USD 4.14 billion of trade (April 2020 – February 2021), a figure that doesn’t include the defence trade which has been increasing. Hence, statement 1 is correct.Israeli companies have invested in India in energy, renewable energy, telecom, real estate, water technologies, and are focusing on setting up Research & Development centres or production units in India.The first recipients of grants from the Israel-India Industrial R&D andTechnological Innovation Fund (I4F) were announced in July 2018, including companies working to better the lives of Indians and Israelis through efficient water use, improving communications infrastructure, solar energy use, and life-changing surgeries. The fund aims to help Israeli entrepreneurs enter the Indian market.Israel has been among the top four arms suppliers to India for almost two decades now, notching military sales worth around USD 1 billion every year.The Indian armed forces have inducted a wide array of Israeli weapon systems over the years, which range from Phalcon AWACS (airborne warning and control systems) and Heron, Searcher-II and Harop drones to Barak anti-missile defence systems and Spyder quick-reaction anti-aircraft missile systems. The acquisitions also include a host of Israeli missiles and precision-guided munitions, from Python and Derby air-to-air missiles to Crystal Maze and Spice-2000 bombs. Hence, statement 2 is correct.At the 15^thJoint Working Group (JWG) meeting on Bilateral Defence Cooperation between India and Israel, both countries agreed to form a Task Force to formulate a comprehensive Ten-Year Roadmap to identify new areas of cooperation.In 2020, an Israeli team arrived in India with a multi-pronged mission, codenamed Operation Breathing Space to work with Indian authorities on the Covid-19 response. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Q7. Hamas is an extremist group operating in?

1. Syria
2. Yemen
3. Iraq
4. Gaza Strip

D – Explanation:

• HAMAS was formed in late 1987 at the beginning of the first Palestinian intifada (uprising).Its roots are in the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, and it is supported by a robust sociopolitical structure inside the Palestinian territories. HAMAS’ strength is concentrated in the Gaza Strip and areas of the West Bank.Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q8. The Golden Crescent region comprises?

1. Afghanistan
2. Iran
3. Thailand
4. Myanmar

Select the correct answer code:

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

A – Explanation:

• The Golden Crescent is the name given to one of Asia’s two principal areas of illicit opium production (with the other being the Golden Triangle), located at the crossroads of Central, South, and Western Asia. This space overlaps three nations, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.The Golden Triangle is the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers.Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q9. As per the 2015 JCPOA deal between Iran and P5+1 nations, Iran was not meant to enrich Uranium above ______, while enriched Uranium above _____ can be used for nuclear weapons?

5. 83%, 90%
6. 67%, 80%
7. 67%, 90%
8. 83%, 80%

C – Explanation:

• Recently, Iran’s atomic agency disclosed that its stockpile of 20% enriched uranium has reached over 210 kilograms. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA is a nuclear deal between Iran and the World Powers.According to the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was not meant to enrich uranium above 3.67%. Enriched uranium above 90% can be used for nuclear weapons.This deal promises Iran economic incentives in exchange for limits on its nuclear programme, and is meant to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q10. India and Israel have recently entered into a Bilateral Innovation Agreement (BIA) to promote?

1. Development of dual use technologies
2. Development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines
3. Innovation in agriculture and irrigation
4. Deployment of cyber defence tools

A – Explanation:

• Recently India and Israel have signed a Bilateral Innovation Agreement for the development of dual use technologies. Dual use goods are products and technologies normally used for civilian purposes but which may have military applications. Hence “dual-use” refers to technology that can be used for both peaceful and military aims.The agreement will help promote startups and generate technology in the areas of Drones, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Photonics, Biosensing, Brain Machine, Natural Language Processing, etc.Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.