Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 11 August 2020

Q1 Recently finance minister had inaugurated the new online dashboard for National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP). Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) NIP was created to enable a forward outlook on infrastructure projects which will create jobs, improve ease of living, and provide equitable access to infrastructure for all, thereby making growth more inclusive.
2) It has outlined plans to invest more than ₹102 lakh crore on infrastructure projects by 2024-25, with the Centre, States and the private sector to share the capital expenditure in a 50:25:25 formula.
3) The dashboard is being hosted on the India Investment Grid, IIG. IIG is an interactive and dynamic online platform that showcases d and real-time investment opportunities in the country.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q2 Political events in Belarus are being closely watched by Russia, whose oil exports run through Belarus to the West and which has long regarded the country as a buffer zone against NATO, and the West, which has tried to lure Minsk from Moscow’s orbit.

Which of the following countries shares boundary with Belarus ?
1) Lithuania
2) Belgium
3) Latvia
4) Georgia
5) Poland
Options :
a) 1,2 & 3 only
b) 2,3 & 5 only
c) 1,3 & 5 only
d) 2,3 & 4 only

Q3 World Biofuel Day is observed every year on 10th August to create awareness about the importance of non-fossil fuels as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels. Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) This day also honors the research experiments by Sir Rudolf Diesel who ran an engine with peanut oil in the year 1893. His research experiment had predicted that vegetable oil is going to replace fossil fuels in the next century to fuel different mechanical engines.
2) Biofuels have multiple benefits such as reduction on import dependence, ensuring a cleaner environment, generating additional income for farmers and employment generation.
3) The major initiatives taken by government of India to increase ethanol blending include administrative price mechanism for ethanol, simplifying the procurement procedures by OMCs, amending the provisions of Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 etc.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q4 The Minister for Environment and Forest recently released document on Best Practices and launched a portal on Human Elephant Conflict on the eve of World Elephant Day, 2020.Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) Asian elephants are listed as “Endangered" on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. This has been done most of the range states except India, have lost their viable elephant populations due to loss of habitats & poaching etc.
2) The current population estimates indicate that there are about 50,000 -60000 Asian elephants in the world. More than 60 % of the population is held in India.
3) Amongst elephants only African elephants has been listed in the Appendix I of the Convention of the Migratory species in the recently concluded Conference of Parties of CMS 13 in Gujarat in February 2020.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q5 India recently signed a contract for development of five eco-tourism zones in Addu atoll located in which of the following island nations ?

Options :
a) Madagascar
b) Maldives
c) Seychelles
d) Mauritius

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Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 11 August 2020