Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 01 MARCH 2019

Q1. Consider the following statements :

1) Cancer was reported to account for the highest out of pocket expenditure among all diseases in 2014, a substantial portion of which is spent on drugs.  It has also emerged as the major cause of distress financing among affected families leading to their impoverishment.
2) The NPPA (National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority) currently fixes prices of drugs placed in the National List of Essential Medicines under Schedule-I of the DPCO(Drugs (Prices Control) Order).  So far, around 1000 drugs have been price capped through this modality.
3) But the NPPA has no power to bring the prices of non-scheduled cancer drugs under control through trade margin rationalisation as per rules.

Which of the above statements are true ?

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all of the above

Q2. Consider the following crop seasons in India and the corresponding crops grown in that period :

1) Kharifseason : Tobacco,Linseed
2) Rabi season : Ground nut ,Jowar
3) Zaidseason :Watermelon,Fruits

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched ?

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 2 & 3 only
d) 1 & 3 only

Q3. The Government of Republic of India and the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam signed an Agreement for the Exchange of Information and Assistance in Collection with respect to Taxes (TIEA).

Which of the following statements with respect to TIEA are true ?
1) The Agreement enables exchange of information, including banking and ownership information between the two countries for tax purposes.
2) It is based on international standards of tax transparency and exchange of information and enables sharing of information on request as well as on automatic basis.
3) The Agreement also provides for mutual assistance in collection of tax revenue claims between both countries.

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all of the above

Q4. Which of the following statements regarding the newly introduced schemes for tribal welfare are true ?

1) The ministry of tribal affairs has launched MSP for minor forest produce(MFP),which will offer remunerative Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 50 commercially viable items to the tribals. MFPs now cover the entire range of forest produces.
2) “Friends of Tribes” initiative of the Ministry under which the TRIFED has tied up CSR funds to promote tribal livelihoods.
3) The Van Dhan scheme which promotes enterprise and marketing skills in tribals, aims to increase the share of the value chain of the Minor Forest Produces to 30%.

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all of the above

Q5. Which of the following animals is the first mammal which got extinct recently due to the harmful effects of climate change?

a) Australian gecko
b) Bramble cay melomys
c) Shrew
d) Red panda

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ANSWER:

1(a), 2(b), 3(d), 4(a), 5(b)