UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

09 Jul 2024 08:56

Q2. Consider the following countries:
1.  Iraq
2.  Afghanistan
3.  Pakistan
4.  India

How many of the above-mentioned countries share a border with Iran?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

09 Jul 2024 08:53

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

08 Jul 2024 09:56

Q4. With reference to the Union Budget in India, consider the following statements:

1.  A budget is a forecast of the government’s revenue and expenses for the upcoming financial year.

2.  The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, is the nodal body responsible for preparing the Budget document.

3.  The Union Budget in India is presented in the Lok Sabha by the finance minister in the name of the President of India.

How many of the above-mentioned statements are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

08 Jul 2024 09:49

Q2. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

Education is listed in the union list of the Indian Constitution.

Statement-II:

Both the central government and state governments have the authority to make laws and policies related to education.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c)  Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d)  Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:35

Q6. With reference to the river Teesta, consider the following statements:

1.   The source of the river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra but it flows through Sikkim.

2.  River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.

3.  River Teesta flows into the Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:32

Q4. With reference to the Indus Waters Treaty, consider the following statements:

1.  The Indus Waters Treaty is signed between India and Pakistan.

2.  The treaty fixed and delimited the rights and obligations of both countries concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system.

3.  Under the treaty, India got control over the three eastern rivers Beas, Ravi, and Sutlej.

4.  The treaty allows India to use the western river waters for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-consumptive use.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:28

Q2. With reference to the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), consider the following statements:

1.  The Union Cabinet Secretary is the Chairman of the National Crisis Management Committee.

2.  NCMC is set up by the Government of India to effectively coordinate and implement relief measures during natural calamities.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:25

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

24 Jun 2024 08:10

Q4. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

The Pushpak Reusable Landing Vehicle (RLV) is a spacecraft developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Statement-II:

The RLV aims to significantly reduce the cost of space missions by enabling multiple uses of the same vehicle.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c)  Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d)  Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

24 Jun 2024 08:01

Q1. With reference to the Centre-State Financial Relations, consider the following statements:

1.  The Central Government has exclusive power to levy taxes on subjects enumerated in the Union List.

2.  The 101st Amendment Act conferred concurrent powers upon both Parliament and State Legislatures to make laws governing GST.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

22 Jun 2024 12:08

Q3. With reference to the Chenab River, consider the following statements:

1. The Chenab River originates in the Lahaul and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh.

2. According to the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan is entitled to the Chenab’s waters.

3. The Chenab flows through the Jammu and Kashmir before joining the Indus River.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

22 Jun 2024 12:02

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

22 Jun 2024 11:56

PATENT

Syllabus: ECONOMY

Context: Patent filings by Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) at patent offices in India, the United States and Europe suggest that only its scientists and personnel are credited as ‘inventors’ of the vaccine with no mention of ICMR scientists. As per the public record, India’s first indigenously developed coronavirus vaccine, Covaxin, was a joint collaboration between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) with intellectual property (IP) rights jointly shared between the two organisations.

Learning Points:

* A patent is a statutory right granted to inventors for their inventions.

* It allows them to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing the patented product or process without their consent.

* In exchange, inventors must fully disclose their invention.

* The Indian patent system is governed by the Patents Act, 1970, which has undergone amendments in 2003 and 2005.

Key Changes Introduced Under Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024:

* Reduced Timeline for Request for Examination (RFE): The timeline for filing an RFE is now reduced from 48 months to 31 months from the priority date. This accelerates the patent examination process.

* Simplified Submission of Form 3: Applicants can file a single updated Form 3 after receiving the First Examination Report (FER).

* Certificate of Inventorship: To recognize inventors’ contributions to patented inventions.

* Frequency of Filing Statements: The frequency of filing working patents has been reduced from once a year to once every three years.

* Amendments in Pre-grant and Post-grant Opposition Procedures: Adjustments in time frames for recommendations by an Opposition Board and applicant responses.

* Divisional Applications: Now possible for inventions disclosed in provisional or complete applications.

* Term of a Patent: Every patent granted has a term of 20 years from the date of filing the application. For applications filed under the national phase of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the term is 20 years from the international filing date.

Intellectual Property (IP):

* IP encompasses various “creations of the mind” that receive property rights. It includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, and more.

Types:

* Copyright: Protects original works of authorship (e.g., books, music, software). Creators have exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute their works.

* Trademark: Identifies goods or services, distinguishing them from others. Trademarks prevent misuse and confusion (e.g., Coca-Cola®).

* Others: IP also covers trade secrets, industrial designs, and geographical indications.

Scope:

* Unlike patents, which focus on inventions, IP covers a broader range of creative and expressive works.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

22 Jun 2024 11:41

CAECILIAN SPECIES

Syllabus: ENVIRONMENT

Context: New species of Striped Caecilian (Ichthyophis spp) discovered in Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. The tiger reserve houses 24 species of amphibians and 74 species of reptiles. It is also home to 21 of the 29 species of tortoises and freshwater turtles found in India.

Learning Points:

* The Caecilians are elongated, segmented, limbless amphibians.

* They resemble earthworms or snakes due to their lack of limbs.

* Some species are eyeless, while others have small hidden eyes.

Classification:

* Caecilians belong to the order Gymnophiona (or Apoda), which means “without legs.”

* They share a group with frogs and salamanders.

Habitat:

* Most caecilians inhabit moist tropical and subtropical regions.

* Their distribution spans South and Central America, South and Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

* Caecilians are primarily terrestrial, spending much of their lives underground.

* They burrow in forests, grasslands, savannas, shrublands, and wetlands.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

21 Jun 2024 09:20

Q3. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a register of all Indian citizens.

Statement-II:

The purpose of the NRC is to document legal citizens of India, allowing authorities to identify and deport illegal immigrants.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c)  Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d)  Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

09 Jul 2024 08:54

Q1. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

The Axiom-4 mission is a private spaceflight to the International Space Station conducted by Axiom Space in collaboration with ISRO.

Statement-II:

The Axiom-4 mission aims to facilitate commercial activities in space, including scientific research, technological development, and space tourism.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c)  Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d)  Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

08 Jul 2024 09:57

Q5. With reference to the NIRMAN Scheme, consider the following statements:

1.  NIRMAN is a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative by Coal India Limited (CIL).

2.  It aims to reward meritorious candidates from its operational districts who have qualified the UPSC Preliminary examination for Civil Services & Forest Service in 2024.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

08 Jul 2024 09:51

Q3. With reference to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), consider the following statements:

1.  The National Register of Citizens is a register of all Indian citizens.

2.  The purpose of the NRC is to document legal citizens of India, allowing authorities to identify and deport illegal immigrants.

3.  The National Register of Citizens was first implemented in the northeastern state of Manipur.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:37

Q7. With reference to the renaming of a state, consider the following statements:

1.  The renaming of a state can be initiated either by the Parliament or the State Legislature.

2.  Before introducing the bill, the President sends it to the respective State Assembly for their views within a stipulated time.

3.  The views of the state assembly are not binding on either the President or the Parliament.

4.  The bill must be passed by a simple majority to become law.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:34

Q5. With reference to the river Teesta, consider the following statements:

1.  The Teesta River originates from the Pahunri glacier in Sikkim.

2.  It flows through Assam and West Bengal.

3.  It merges with the Brahmaputra in Bangladesh.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:30

Q3. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) aimed at promoting economic integration, connectivity, and cooperation among countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Statement-II:

Unlike traditional trade blocs, IPEF won’t negotiate tariffs or market access.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b)  Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c)  Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d)  Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

25 Jun 2024 08:26

Q1. With reference to the Nord Stream pipelines, consider the following statements:

1.  Nord Stream is a network of offshore natural gas pipelines.
2.  It provides a reliable and cost-effective natural gas source for European countries.

3.  It run under the Black Sea from Russia to Germany.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

24 Jun 2024 08:12

Q5. Consider the following countries:

1.  India
2.  China
3.  Pakistan
4.  Iran
5.  Afghanistan
6.  Tajikistan

How many of the above-mentioned countries are the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

24 Jun 2024 08:03

Q2. With reference to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), consider the following statements:

1.  FDI involves the transfer of funds and resources from one country to another.

2.  Foreign investors often bring advanced technologies, processes, and management practices to the host country.
3.  Under the automatic route, FDI is allowed without the need for prior approval from the RBI or the government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

24 Jun 2024 08:00

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

22 Jun 2024 12:05

Q2. With reference to the Patents, consider the following statements:

1.  A patent is a statutory right granted to inventors for their inventions.

2.  The Indian patent system is governed by the Patents Act, 1970.

3.  It allows them to exclude others from making, using, selling, or importing the patented product or process without their consent.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

22 Jun 2024 12:01

ARMENIA

Syllabus: INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

Context: The Armenian government officially recognized the State of Palestine. It was prompted by the “catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza,” and Armenia’s commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.

Learning Points:

* Armenia is a landlocked country situated in the South Caucasus region of the Caucasus.

* It lies within the Armenian plateau and is geographically part of West Asia.

* The capital city of Armenia is Yerevan (Erevan).

Borders:

* To the north and east, Armenia shares borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan.

* To the south and west, it is bordered by Iran, Azerbaijan’s exclave Nakhchivan, and Turkey.

Mountainous Terrain:

* Armenia is characterized by its rugged landscape, with mountains dominating the scenery.

* The highest peak is Mount Ararat.

Countries recognising Palestine as a sovereign state.

* As of June 2024, 145 out of the 193 United Nations member states recognize the State of Palestine as a sovereign state.

* Among the G20 nations:

  Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkey recognize Palestine.

  Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States do not recognize Palestine.

* Recently, Armenia also joined the list of countries recognizing Palestine.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

22 Jun 2024 11:48

CHENAB RIVER

Syllabus: INDIAN GEOGRAPHY

Context: Indian Railways achieved a historic milestone by conducting a successful trial run on the Chenab Rail Bridge.

Decoding the context: Standing 1,178 feet above the Chenab River, the bridge is 35 metres taller than Paris’ iconic Eiffel Tower. The bridge runs between Bakkal and Kauri in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, and forms a crucial link from Katra to Banihal.

Learning Points:

* The Chenab River originates near the Bara Lacha Pass in the Zaskar Range’s Lahul-Spiti region in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

* It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi.

* In its upper reaches, it is also known as the Chandrabhaga.

* The Chenab flows through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir before joining the Indus River from Pakistan’s Punjab plains.

  It flows west through Jammu and Kashmir union territory, between the steep cliffs of the Siwalik Range (south) and the Lesser Himalayas (north).

  Turning southwest, it continues into Pakistan, descending from the uplands into the broad alluvial lowlands of Punjab province.

  After receiving the Jhelum River near Trimmu, the Chenab empties into the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River.

* According to the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan is entitled to the Chenab’s waters.

* The tributaries of the Chenab River include Miyar Nalla, Sohal, Thirot, Bhut Nalla, Marusudar, and Lidrari.

* Notably, the world’s highest railway bridge, the Chenab Bridge, spans this river in Jammu and Kashmir.

* The bridge is part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project and stands at an impressive 1,315 meters long and 359 meters above the riverbed level, making it the world’s highest railway bridge.

* The Chenab Bridge was designed with innovative features, including blast resistance and reduced maintenance efforts, reflecting engineering excellence in challenging terrain.

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

21 Jun 2024 09:23

Q4. With reference to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), consider the following statements:

1.  It is a federal police organization in India operating under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

2.  Its security umbrella covers critical infrastructure facilities such as nuclear installations, space establishments, airports, seaports, and power plants.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS SIMPLIFIED

21 Jun 2024 09:18

Q2. With reference to the Minimum Support Prices (MSP), consider the following statements:

1.  The government announces MSP for 24 major agricultural commodities twice a year.

2.  MSP announces after the Kharif and Rabi sowing seasons.

3.  The MSP is determined based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices.

How many of the statements given above are correct?