Daily MCQs 20 September

Q 1. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a free trade agreement (FTA) belonging to which of the following grouping?

a. Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

b. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

c. European Union

d. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

Answer: (a)

Recently, India and Cambodia co-chaired the 19th ASEAN-India Economic Ministers’ meeting in Cambodia.

Option (a) is correct: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and its five FTA partners (Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea). The entry into force of the RCEP Agreement is a manifestation of the region’s resolve to keep markets open; strengthen regional economic integration; support an open, free, fair, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system; and, ultimately, contribute to global post-pandemic recovery efforts.

India was a member of the RCEP drafting committee from its inception in 2011, but in November 2019, it decided to opt-out, claiming that some of its main concerns were not being addressed.

Q 2. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding INSPIRE Scheme? 

1. The scheme is one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

2. It aimed at making all the financial transactions in our country completely digital in a decade.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither I nor 2

Answer: (a)

Recently, the 9th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) for the INSPIRE Awards -MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge), has commenced.

Statement 1 is correct: The INSPIRE (Innovation in Science Pursuit for Inspired Research) scheme is one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Government of India has successfully implemented the INSPIRE scheme since 2010. The scheme covers students in the age group of 10-32 years and has five components.

Statement 2 is not correct: Its objective is to communicate to the youth population of the country the creative pursuit of science and attract talent to the study of science at an early stage and build the required critical human resource pool for strengthening and expanding the Science & Technology system and Research & Development base.

Q 3. Which of the following statement is not correct about the Montreal Protocol?

a. The Montreal Protocol is a worldwide agreement to stop the production of substances causing ozone-depletion.

b. It was adopted on 16 September 1987.

c. It has led to the phase-out of 99% of ozone-depleting chemicals in refrigerators, air-conditioners and many other products.

d. India is not a party to the Montreal Protocol.

Answer: (d)

Recently, India observed 28th World Ozone Day. Every year, 16th September is observed as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer (World Ozone Day) to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol. The theme of World Ozone Day 2022 is “Montreal Protocol@35: global cooperation protecting life on earth”.

Option (d) is correct: The Montreal Protocol is a worldwide agreement to stop the production of substances causing ozone-depletion. It was adopted on 16 September 1987; the Protocol is to date the only UN treaty ever that has been ratified by every country on Earth – all UN Member States. It has led to the phase-out of 99% of ozone-depleting chemicals in refrigerators, air-conditioners, and many other products. India is a party to the Montreal Protocol since June 1992.

Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol

• On October 15, 2016, with the United States’ leadership, 197 countries adopted an amendment to phase down HFCs under the Montreal Protocol in Kigali, Rwanda.
• The Kigali Amendment aims for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) by cutting their production and consumption.
• The goal is to achieve over 80% reduction in HFC consumption by 2047.
• Given their zero impact on the depletion of the ozone layer, HFCs are currently used as replacements of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in air conditioning, refrigeration and foam insulation, however they are powerful greenhouse gases.
• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is legally binding and will come into force from January 1, 2019.
• Under the amendment: 
• • developed countries will reduce HFC consumption beginning in 2019.
  • most developing countries will freeze consumption in 2024,
  • some developing countries including India with unique circumstances will freeze consumption in 2028.
• The plan also provides financing to certain countries, to help them transition to climate-friendly alternatives.
• With the Kigali Amendment, the Montreal Protocol has become an even more powerful instrument against global warming.

Q 4. With reference to the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), consider the following statements:

1. It was approved in 2020 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

2. The implementation period is four years, from financial year 2020-21 to FY 2023-24.

3. The Mission will promote technical education at higher engineering and technology levels related to technical textiles and its application areas.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 1 and 3 only

c. 2 only

d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)

The Ministry of Textiles recently cleared 23 strategic research projects worth around Rs 60 crores in Specialty fibres, Sustainable Textiles, Geotextiles, Mobiltech and Sports textiles under the National Technical Textiles Mission.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct: National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM) was approved in 2020 by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) with total outlay of Rs.1480 Crore. The implementation period is four years, from FY 2020-21 to FY 2023-24.

Statement 3 is correct: The aim of the mission is to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles by taking the domestic market size from USD 40 billion to USD 50 billion by 2024. It also supports the ‘Make in India’ Initiative promoting domestic manufacturing of related machinery and equipment. The Mission will promote technical education at higher engineering and technology levels related to technical textiles and its application areas.

Q 5. Consider the following statements, with reference to the Commonwealth Nations:

1. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of member States and has no charter, treaty or constitution. 

2. All the territories/countries once under the British empire (jurisdiction/rule/mandate) automatically joined the Commonwealth as its members.

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: (a)

The death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, marks not only the end of an era for the British monarchy but also a turning point for the 14 Commonwealth realms of which she was the Head of State.

The Commonwealth of Nations is a group of 56 countries composed mostly of former British colonies. It was established by the London Declaration in 1949. While members of the Commonwealth are predominantly located in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific, with many of them emerging economies, the three European members of the group are Cyprus, Malta, and the U.K. 

Statement 1 is correct: The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of member States and has no charter, treaty or constitution. 

Statement 2 is not correct: For becoming a member of the Commonwealth, a country needs to apply for its membership. Further, not all the former British colonies are the member of Commonwealth like the USA.