Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 05 September 2019

Q1. India has pipped the Netherlands to move into the list of top ten countries in terms of total gold reserves. Which of the following statements regarding the datas stands true ?

1) In terms of individual countries, India actually ranks ninth since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) occupies the third position after the U.S. and Germany.
2) India’s entry into the list of top ten countries comes at a time when the quantum of monthly purchases is the highest in over three years.
3) India’s gold reserves have grown substantially in the past couple of decades from 357.8 tonnes in the first quarter of 2000 to the current 618.2 tonnes.

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

Q2. Consider the following pairs of mineral deposits in India with their corresponding locations where they are found in abundance :

1) Monazite :Cuddapah
2) Copper :Singhbhum
3) Gold :Kolar

Which of the above pairs are correctly matched ?

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

Q3. Consider the following statements :

1) Government has been implementing Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme wherein OMCs sell petrol blended with ethanol up to 10%.
2) Increased ethanol blending in petrol has many benefits including reduction in import dependency, support to agricultural sector, more environmental friendly fuel, lesser pollution and additional income to farmers.
3) With a view to limit sugar production in the Country and to increase domestic production of ethanol, Government has taken multiple steps including, allowing diversion of B heavy molasses and sugarcane juice for ethanol production.

Which of the above statements are true ?

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

Q4. Which of the following statements regarding Bio mining stands true ?

1) Biomining is a technique of extracting metals from ores and other solid materials typically using prokaryotes or fungi.
2) These organisms secrete different organic compounds that chelate metals from the environment and bring it back to the cell where they are typically used to coordinate electrons.
3) Biomining techniques cannot be used for environmental purposes since they are harmfull to the ecology.

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