[MISSION 2024] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 26 December 2023

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: India is facing a jobs crisis, marked by low labour demand for regular wage work.
• Option A: This statement is incorrect. Jobless growth doesn’t necessarily mean there is no increase in the overall productivity of the workforce. It specifically refers to a situation where economic growth is not accompanied by a proportional increase in employment.
• Option B: This statement is correct. Jobless growth is characterized by economic expansion without a corresponding growth in employment opportunities. It may result from increased automation, technological advancements, or other factors that limit job creation despite overall economic growth.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/indias-jobs-crisis/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Disguised unemployment occurs when there are more people engaged in a particular job or sector than are necessary for its efficient operation. In such a scenario, some workers are not making a significant contribution to productivity, and their removal would not negatively impact overall output.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/indias-jobs-crisis/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Metal engraving, a traditional craft practised across North Africa and West Asia for centuries, has gained international recognition by being added to UNESCO’s intangible heritage list.
• UNESCO defines “intangible” as “expressions that have been passed from one generation to another, have evolved in response to their environments and contribute to giving us a sense of identity and continuity…”
• It ascribes importance to “the wealth of knowledge and skills that is transmitted through it from one generation to the next,” which necessitates their preservation. The document states that the safeguarding of an ICH means ensuring that it “remains an active part of life for today’s generations that they can hand on to tomorrow.”
• The adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the ICH by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2003 was a crucial step towards preserving intangible heritage from across the globe. UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was established in the year 2008.
• The list does not attribute or recognize any standard of excellence or exclusivity.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/north-african-metal-art/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• What is the Colombo Security Conclave?
  • The CSC is a trilateral maritime security grouping formed in 2011, consisting of India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Mauritius is the fourth member, and Bangladesh and Seychelles attended as observers with invitations to join the group.
• The CSC focuses on enhancing and strengthening regional security in five pillars:
  • Maritime Safety and Security
  • Countering Terrorism and Radicalization
  • Combating Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime
  • Cyber Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Technology
  • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/colombo-security-conclave/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About RoDTEP:

• The Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) scheme has been introduced with the aim of neutralizing the taxes and duties incurred on exported goods that are not credited, remitted, or refunded in any manner, and thus, remain embedded in the export goods.
• The scheme provides a rebate for all hidden central, state, and local duties, taxes, and levies on exported goods that have not been refunded under any other existing scheme.
• The scheme is designed to be compliant with World Trade Organization (WTO) principles.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/rodtep/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• Context: China, the leading global processor of rare earths, has imposed a ban on the export of technology essential for extracting and separating these strategic metals.
• The rare earth minerals (REM) are a set of seventeen metallic elements. These include the fifteen lanthanides on the periodic table in addition to scandium and yttrium that show similar physical and chemical properties to the lanthanides.
• They are called ‘rare earth’ because earlier it was difficult to extract them from their oxides forms technologically.
• For instance, magnets made from rare earths are many times more powerful than conventional ones.
• Some REEs are available in India — such as Lanthanum, Cerium, Neodymium, Praseodymium and Samarium, etc. Others such as Dysprosium, Terbium, and Europium, which are classified as heavy REEs (HREEs), are not available in Indian deposits in extractable quantities. Hence, there is a dependence on countries such as China for HREEs, which is one of the leading producers of REEs, with an estimated 70 per cent share of the global production.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/rare-earth-processing-technologies/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have observed rapid evolution in a flowering plant, Viola arvensis (field pansy), in Paris, France. The plant is producing less nectar and smaller flowers to attract fewer pollinators, displaying signs of self-pollination.
• Cross-pollination involves the transfer of pollen between different plants, often facilitated by external agents, while self-pollination occurs within the same flower or between flowers of the same plant.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/self-pollination/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: INS Imphal, the third warship of Project 15B forming the Visakhapatnam class stealth-guided missile destroyers, is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy.
• The commissioning of INS Imphal holds special significance, being the largest and most advanced destroyer named after a city from the northeast.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/12/26/ins-imphal-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: With a view to strengthening and institutionalizing the mechanism for maintaining financial stability, enhancing inter-regulatory coordination and promoting financial sector development, the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was set up by the Government as the apex level forum in December 2010 (much before NITI AAyog was even setup). So, 1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2: The Chairman of the Council is the Finance Minister and its members include the heads of financial sector Regulators (RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA & FMC) Finance Secretary and/or Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Secretary, Department of Financial Services, and Chief Economic Adviser. So, 2 is correct.
• Statement 3: Without prejudice to the autonomy of regulators, the Council monitors macro prudential supervision of the economy, including functioning of large financial conglomerates, and addresses inter-regulatory coordination and financial sector development issues. So, 3 is correct.
• It also focuses on financial literacy and financial inclusion.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2017

Ans: (a)

Explanation

• Statement 1: As per ASI Website, “While there is some evidence of architectural activity going back to the period of Mahendravarman-I (AD 600-30), the father of Mamalla, most of the monuments are attributed to the period of Narasimhavarman-I Mamalla (AD 630-68) – the Pallava ruler.
• On the other hand Ajanta caves were excavated in different periods (circa. 2nd century B.C. to 6th century A.D.) according to the necessity. So, clearly 1 is wrong.
• Statement 2: Mahabalipuram contains rock-cut rathas, sculptured scenes on open rocks like Arjuna’s penance, the caves of Govardhanadhari and Mahishasuramardini, the Jala-Sayana Perumal temple (the sleeping Mahavishnu or Chakrin at the rear part of the Shore temple complex). So, it is more linked to the Vaishnavites.
• On the other hand, Ajanta is linked more to the Buddhist religious denomination.
• Statement 2 is also wrong.
• Statement 3: Both have rock-cut monuments, because cave cut Chaityas, Viharas and Stupas can be clearly seen at Ajanta. Also, the mural paintings that are made at Ajanta involve some rock-cutting as per ASI.
• Mahabalipuram is famous for rock monuments as described above.
• Only 3 is correct.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2017