Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 04 July 2020

Q1. India has accumulated the world’s fifth-largest foreign exchange reserves at more than $500 billion, making it a bright spot in an otherwise dismal economy. Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) A strong reserve buffer is a cushion against market volatility, and gives foreign investors and credit rating companies added comfort that the government can meet its debt obligations.
2) The level of reserves is enough to cover 13 months of imports and is equivalent to nearly a fifth of the country’s gross domestic product.
3) The level of debt that foreigners are likely to hold, including sovereign bonds, is likely to go up as India works to open its debt market to non-residents.

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

Q2. Botswana is investigating hundreds of unexplained elephant deaths in one of Africa`s premier tourist destinations. Botswana is home to a third of Africa`s elephants, and there are concerns that whatever is causing the deaths, first recorded in May, could affect animals in neighbouring countries. Which of the following countries shares a boundary with Botswana ?

1) Namibia
2) South Africa
3) Chad
4) Zimbabwe
5) Nigeria

Options :
a) 1,2& 3 only
b) 2,4 & 5 only
c) 1,2 & 4 only
d) 1,3 & 5 only

Q3. The Mars Colour Camera (MCC) onboard ISRO's Mars Orbiter Mission has recently captured the image of Phobos, the closest and biggest moon of Mars.Which of the following statements regarding the discovery stands true ?

1) According to ISRO, "the violent phase that Phobos has encountered is seen in the large section gouged out from a past collision (Stickney crater) and bouncing ejecta.
2) Stickney is the smallest crater on Phobos along with the other craters Shklovsky, Roche &Grildrig.
3) ISRO had launched the spacecraft on its nine-month- long odyssey on a homegrown PSLV rocket from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on November 5, 2013.

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

Q4. Recently, the health ministry had identified a list of critical medical equipment and had requested the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) to ensure its availability at affordable prices.
With respect to the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority( NPPA ) , which of the following statements stands true ?

1) It was established in 1997 as an independent body of experts under Department of Pharmaceuticals, Union Ministry of chemicals and Fertilizers.
2) One of its main functions is to collect/maintain data on production, exports and imports, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and formulations.
3) Under the provisions of DPCO 2013, only the prices of drugs that figure in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) are monitored and controlled by the regulator, the National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority.

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

Q5. The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), under the aegis of Ministry of Culture, Government of India, is celebrating AsadhaPoornima on July 4, 2020, as Dharma Chakra Day. This day commemorates Buddha's First Sermon to his first five ascetic disciples at the Deer Park,Rsipatana.The day is also celebrated by Buddhists all over the world as the day of Dharma Chakra Parvattana or “Turning of the Wheel of Dharma”. The deer park of Rsipatana is currently in which of the following cities ?

a) Lucknow
b) Varanasi
c) Ahmedabad
d) Gangtok

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Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 04 July 2020