Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 18 February 2020

Q1. Which of the following statements regarding the recently published State of India’s birds report 2020 stands true ?

1) The State of India’s Birds 2020 (SoIB) assessment raises the alarm that several spectacular birds, many of them endemic to the sub-continent, face a growing threat from loss of habitat.
2) The report states, migratory shorebirds, along with gulls and terns, seem to have increased their numbers most amongst the waterbirds, consistent with population trends among Arctic-breeding shorebirds based on independent assessments.
3) Among widely known species, the common sparrow, long seen as declining in urban spaces and the possible reasons for this is a decrease in insect populations as well as nesting places.

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

Q2. Which of the following includes the preferred type of habitats of one horned rhinoceros across the world ?

1) Savannas
2) Wetlands
3) Grassland plains
4) Dense forests

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 3 & 4 only
c) all of the above
d) 1 & 3 only

Q3. The Government of India signed a $450 million global loan agreement to support the national programme to arrest the country’s depleting groundwater levels and strengthen groundwater institutions .Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) AtalBhujalYojana (ABHY) – National Groundwater Management Improvement Programme will be implemented in selected states and these states span both the hard rock aquifers of peninsular India and the alluvial aquifers of the Indo-Gangetic plains.
2) The programme will, among others, enhance the recharge of aquifers and introduce water conservation practices; promote activities related to water harvesting, water management, and crop alignment; create an institutional structure for sustainable groundwater management; and equip communities and stakeholders to sustainably manage groundwater.
3) The project is being supported by Asian Development Bank ( ADB ).

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

Q4. Moody’s has revised its growth forecasts for India downward to 5.4% for 2020 and 5.8% for 2021, from its previous projections of 6.6% and 6.7%, respectively. Which of the following statements regarding its observations regarding current status of Indian economy stands true ?

1) India’s economy has decelerated rapidly over the last two years. Improvements in the latest high frequency indicators such as PMI data suggest that the economy may have stabilised.
2) A key to stronger economic momentum would be the revival of domestic demand, both rural and urban. But equally important is the resumption of credit growth in the economy.
3) Credit impulse in the economy has deteriorated throughout the last year as a result of the drying up of lending from non-bank financial institutions as well as from banks.

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

Q5. International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) of the 39-member Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has decided to review the status of Pakistan being included in its grey list. Which of the following cities forms the headquarters of FATF ?

a) Berlin
b) Paris
c) Geneva
d) Manilla

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Answer :

1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (b)