Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 27 DECEMBER 2018

Q1. Which of the following statements with respect to International Whaling Commission are true ?

1) The commission was formed with an objective to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.
2) In addition, the Commission encourages, co-ordinates and funds whale research, publishes the results of scientific research and promotes studies into related matters such as the humaneness of the killing operations
3) Currently Japan and Russia are the main countries who support the moratorium adopted by IWC on commercial whaling.

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

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to Fly ash :

1) Fly ash consists of fine particles of ash that mix and escape from chimneys of coal-fired boilers and is now collected by using electrostatic precipitators before they escape.
2) India produces lot of fly ash with high calcium content, meaning they are not highly cementitious materials.
3) Fly ash is treated with sodium hydroxide to convert it into a geopolymer making it stronger for making road pavements.

Which of the above statements are true ?

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

Q3. Which of the following statements with respect to expansion of cabinet are true ?

1) The 91st amendment act made a specific provision that, the total number of Ministers, including Prime Minister, in no case can exceed 15 per cent of the total number of the Parliament.
2) Before the 91st Amendment of the Constitutioncame to effect the Prime Minister had discretion to appoint any number in his council of ministers. But the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act in 2003 made a drastic change in curbing such power of the Prime Minister.
3) However, in the case of smaller States like Sikkim, Mizoram and Goa having 32, 40 and 40 members in the Legislative Assemblies respectively, a minimum strength of seven ministers is proposed.

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

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to drought tolerance :

1) Drought tolerance is the ability to which a plant maintains its biomass production during arid or drought conditions.
2) Plants are more susceptible to drought stress during the reproductive stages of growth, flowering and seed development. Therefore, the combination of short-term plus long-term responses allow for plants to produce a few viable seeds.
3) Some of the short term responses include inhibition of growth, hydraulic changes, signal transport, assimilation of transport.

Which of the above statements are true ?

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