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Q 1. With reference to the Live-fire exercises, consider the following statements:
- They are exercises in which live ammunition is used to create training conditions that are as close to real combat scenarios as possible.
- They are used by law enforcement and firefighters as a form of field training.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C)
Recently, China began its live-fire exercise near Taiwan, launching at least 11 ballistic missiles into the country’s coast, a day after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
Statement 1 is correct: They are exercises primarily used by military personnel, in which live ammunition is used to create training conditions that are as close to real combat scenarios as possible. During live-fire training, soldiers are placed in simulated combat situations and are given the opportunity to use their weapons and equipment (like ships, aircraft, tanks and drones).
Statement 2 is correct: Live-fire exercises are also used by law enforcement and firefighters as a form of field training, to train them to act calmly in real-life emergency situations in the future. Such exercises are invaluable in maintaining the combat readiness of troops, the cohesiveness of units, and instilling confidence in their ability to use their weapons and equipment correctly. It also involves testing the effectiveness of vehicles, weapon platforms and weapons systems (such as intercontinental ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and anti-aircraft weapons), so that any design flaws can be resolved before the weapons are fully operational.
Q 2. With reference to the Porcupine doctrine, consider the following statements:
- It was proposed in 2012 by the Chinese President Xi Jinping to counter the USA.
- It focuses on fortifying a weak state’s defences to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses rather than taking on its strengths.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (B)
Recently, Taiwan’s ‘porcupine strategy’ to deter a potential Chinese invasion was in the news.
Statement 1 is not correct, and Statement 2 is correct: The “porcupine doctrine”, which was proposed in 2008 by US Naval War College research professor William S Murray, is a strategy of asymmetric warfare focused on fortifying a weak state’s defences to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses rather than taking on its strengths.
The aim of the strategy, also known as ‘asymmetrical warfare’, is to make Taiwan’s defence so secure that any attacker faces a ruinous cost. It also focuses on weapons that are easily concealed such as portable Javelin and Stinger missiles over expensive and easy-to-hit tanks, warships etc.
Q 3. The term ‘pro-choice’ was in the news recently. It is associated with:
- Abortion rights
- Property rights
- Citizenship rights
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (A)
Option (A) is correct: Kansas (in the USA) voters recently rejected the abortion ban in victory for the pro-choice movement. The pro-choice movement has sought to keep abortion safe, legal, and accessible to women. Advocates of abortion rights began using the term “pro-choice” in the years after the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which found that the Constitution of the United States protects abortion rights. They adopted the term to emphasize that their cause is women’s choice, not abortion per se, and to counter the antiabortion, or “pro-life,” movement’s description of them as “pro-abortion.” People in the pro-choice movement believe that women should have control over their reproductive lives as a legal fact and fundamental right, and that abortion should be available to all women.
Q 4. Which of the following goals is/are targeted by the Monetary Policy?
- Inflation
- Unemployment
- Exchange Rates
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D)
Option (D) is correct: Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Increased Repo Rate By 50 Basis Points. A 50-basis point (bp) hike in the repo rate shows the singular focus on inflation of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
Monetary policy is a set of tools used by a nation’s central bank to control the overall money supply and promote economic growth and employ strategies such as revising interest rates and changing bank reserve requirements. Goals of Monetary Policy is to target:
- Inflation: Contractionary monetary policy is used to target a high level of inflation and reduce the level of money circulating in the economy.
- Unemployment: An expansionary monetary policy decreases unemployment as a higher money supply and attractive interest rates stimulate business activities and expansion of the job market.
- Exchange Rates: The exchange rates between domestic and foreign currencies can be affected by monetary policy. With an increase in the money supply, the domestic currency becomes cheaper than its foreign exchange.
Q 5. In its original form, the Energy Conservation Act of 2001 is mainly applicable on:
- Industrial complexes
- Commercial complexes
- Large residential buildings
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (B)
Option (b) is correct: Recently, a Bill to amend a 20-year law called the Energy Conservation Act was introduced in Parliament. One of the most significant provisions of the Bill is to create a domestic carbon market. In order to facilitate the achievement of more ambitious climate change targets and ensure a faster transition to a low-carbon economy, the government is seeking to strengthen a 20-year law, called the Energy Conservation Act of 2001, which has powered the first phase of India’s shift to a more energy-efficient future.
Importantly, the amendment Bill seeks to widen the scope of energy conservation to include large residential buildings as well. Till now, the energy conservation rules applied mainly to industrial and commercial complexes.
The Lok Sabha has recently passed the Bill on 8 Aug 2022.
