IAS Current Affairs is more tended towards the Current Affairs Analysis and their Backgrounders. The current event is only the tip of the iceberg and the UPSC Civil Services Exam asks about the background of that event. The Political, Economical and the Sociological dimensions of the current affairs are also important for the IAS Exam. These Current Affairs questions are framed keeping in view the pattern of IAS Exam.
1. Who among the following has conferred with Vyaas Samman for the year 2014?
a. Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi
b. Narendra Kohli
c. Vishwanath Tripathi
d. Kamal Kishore Goenka
Answer: c
Explanation:
Vishwanath Tripathi, the eminent Hindi writer has been selected for the prestigious Vyas Samman for the year 2013. He has been chosen for his memoir 'Vyomkesh Darvesh' that is a biography of the noted Hindi scholar Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi.
Tripathi, who is 82-year-old has around 20 publications by his name that includes memoirs, novel and poetry collection. Surya Prasad Dikshit, the Hindi litterateur headed the selection committee for the award.
2. The 9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (RPBD) held in which of the following cities?
a. Ahmedabad
b. Los Angeles
c. Tokyo
d. Newyork
Answer: b
Explanation:
The 9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (RPBD) held at Los Angeles, California, USA from 14 November to 15 November 2015.
The Theme for RPBD Los Angeles was– The Indian Diaspora: Defining a New Paradigm in India-US Relationship, capturing the ethos of ongoing relationship between India and USA and the important role being played by Diaspora in this regard.
The 9th session of RPBD was organised by Consulate General of India, San Francisco, and the Embassy of India, Washington DC in collaboration with the major community organizations of People of Indian Origin in the USA and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA).
3. Consider the following statements related to National Health Profile 2015 which was released recently:
I. NHP 2015 for the first time also incorporates the health data from ESIC and Railways.
II. It was prepared annually by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI).
III. This was the 11th edition of NHP since it was first launched in 2006.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. I and II
b. II and III
c. I and III
d. All of the above
Answer: a
Explanation:
The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda on 22 September 2015 had released the National Health Profile (NHP) 2015 prepared by the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI). The E-book (digital version) of NHP was also released for the first time. This was the 11th edition of NHP.
The National Health Profile is released every year by CBHI since its launch in 2005. The National Health Profile covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, along with comprehensive information on health infrastructure and human resources in health.
4. Consider the following statements related to National Health Profile 2015 that was released on 22 September 2015:
I. Mouth cancer will register the highest spike by 2020 among men in India.
II. The cancer among women in India will increase by 23 percent by 2020.
III. Gall bladder cancer will register the maximum increase among women in India.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. I and II
b. II and III
c. I and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
NHP 2015 for the first time also incorporates the health data from ESIC and Railways. The NHP 2015 indicates that significant progress has been made in the country for various health outcomes, which is an encouraging signal.
As per NHP 2015 data, there will be 19 percent increase in cancer among men by 2020 with mouth cancer registering the highest spike and a 23 percent increase among women with gall bladder cancer showing the sharpest increase. The cancer incidence in men will rise from the current 522164 to 622203 in 2020.
Despite the countrywide ban on gutkha, mouth cancer will register a 51 percent jump. There will be a 48 percent increase in prostate cancer, 31 percent increase in liver cancer and 22 percent increase in lung cancer.
Current Affairs for IAS Prelims 2016
5. Consider the following statements regarding National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) 68th Round data on Status of Education and Vocational Training:
I. About 2.2 percent persons have received formal vocational training and 8.6 percent non-formal vocational training in the age-group of 15-59.
II. 18.2 percent of households in rural areas and 5.9 percent in urban areas do not have a single literate member in the age-group 15 years and above.
III. About 57.7 percent of people in the age group 5-29 years were estimated as ‘currently attending’ educational institutions.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) on 22 September 2015 released the data of 68th Round on Status of Education and Vocational Training in India.
This report is based on the employment and unemployment survey conducted in the 68th round of NSS during July 2011 to June 2012. The survey was spread over 12737 FSUs (7469 villages and 5268 urban blocks) covering 101724 households (59700 in rural areas and 42024 in urban areas) and enumerating 456999 persons (280763 in rural areas and 176236 in urban areas).
6. Which movie on 30 November 2015 bagged the Golden Peacock Award for the Best Film at the 46th International Film Festival of India?
a. Sealed Cargo
b. Embrace of the Serpent
c. Enclave
d. Cinemawala
Answer: b
Explanation:
Internationally co-produced adventure drama film Embrace of the Serpent on 30 November 2015 was awarded with the Golden Peacock Award for the Best Film at the 46th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa.
The Best Film Award comprises the Golden Peacock and a citation with prize money of 40 lakhs rupees to be shared between the Director and the Producer of the movie.
7. Mission Innovation was launched in which of the following cities?
a. Paris
b. London
c. New York
d. New Delhi
Answer: a
Explanation:
World leaders on 30 November 2015 launched Mission Innovation for accelerating clean energy revolution across the world. The mission was launched by 20 participating countries, including India, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris-Le Bourget, France.
As part of this initiative, the participating countries double their clean energy research and development funding by 2020. And, it was launched alongside Bill Gates led Breakthrough Energy Coalition that aims at reducing demand for fossil fuels.
8. Which of the following initiative was launched by India and France is:
a. International Solar Alliance
b. Mission Innovation
c. Together We Go!
d. Anticipate, Absorb, Reshape
Answer: a
Explanation:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the President of France François Hollande, on 25 January 2016 laid the foundation stone of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) headquarters in National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) in Gwalpahari, Gurgaon.
India dedicated 5 acre land at NISE to ISA for hosting its Secretariat and also contributed 175 crore rupees for ISA corpus fund for an initial period of five years. Thereafter it is expected to generate its own resources and become self-financing.
It was jointly launched in Paris by India and France on 30 November 2015 during the United Nations climate change conference (COP21). It is the India’s first international and inter-governmental organization of 121 Countries to have headquarters in India with United Nations as Strategic Partner.
9. Which of the following statements is correct about Paris Climate Change Conference?
a. The universal agreement’s main aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 1 degree Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 0.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
b. To reach these ambitious and important goals, appropriate financial flows will be put in place, thus making stronger action by developed countries and the most stable possible, in line with their own national objectives.
c. The Paris Agreement for the first time brings all nations into a common cause based on their historic, current and future responsibilities.
d. The 0.5 degree Celsius limit is a significantly safer defence line against the worst impacts of a changing climate.
Answer. a
Explanation:
The universal agreement’s main aim is to keep a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
The 1.5 degree Celsius limit is a significantly safer defence line against the worst impacts of a changing climate. Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability to deal with the impacts of climate change. To reach these ambitious and important goals, appropriate financial flows will be put in place, thus making stronger action by developing countries and the most vulnerable possible, in line with their own national objectives.
Current Affairs December 2015 - II
10. The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was observed globally on which date?
a. 29 November
b. 30 November
c. 1 December
d. 2 December
Answer: d
Explanation:
The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery was observed globally on 2 December 2015. The day is observed to focus on the elimination of human trafficking, child labour and other forms of modern-day slavery.
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there are currently an estimated 21 million forced labour victims worldwide, creating 150 billion US dollars in illegal profits in the private economy each year.
To tackle with the situation, ILO has adopted a new legally binding Protocol designed to strengthen global efforts to eliminate forced labour and which will enter into force in November 2016.
11. Navy day is celebrated every year to commemorate the success of which operation of Indian Navy that was carried out during the 1971 Indo-Pak war?
a. Operation Python
b. Operation Gibraltar
c. Operation Trident
d. Operation Grand Slam
Answer: c
Explanation:
44th Navy Day was observed on 4 December 2015. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to naval personnel and commended their dedication to protect the maritime interests of nation. The occasion saw screening of Navy Telefilms 2015 titled ‘Empowering India through Maritime Security and Indigenisation’ on DD National.
The Navy day is celebrated every year to commemorate the success of Operation Trident of Indian Navy on Karachi Harbour during the 1971 Indo-Pak war.
In one-night attack the Indian Navy sank three vessels near the largest Pakistani port of Karachi. Operation Trident resulted in the first use of anti-ship missiles in the region.
12. Vyachakurahalli village became first smokeless village in the country in December 2015. Identify the state to which it belongs to?
a. Karnataka
b. Kerala
c. Tamil Nadu
d. Telangana
Answer: a
Explanation:
After Vyachakurahalli village in Karnataka was declared the country’s first “smokeless village” a couple of weeks ago, a tiny hamlet called Govindpura has become the first “smokeless village” of Gujarat, a state where over 63 lakh homes still use age-old sources of fuel like crop residue, firewood and cow-dung cakes, as fuel used for cooking.
13. Which of the following country is producing RX1E, the first domestically developed electricity-powered aircraft in the country?
a. USA
b. Japa
c. China
d. Russia
Answer: c
Explanation:
China's first domestically developed electricity-powered aircraft known as RX1E was on 4 December 2015 approved for production by Civil Aviation Administration of China.
RX1E electric light-sport aircraft was developed by Shenyang Aerospace University and it will be China's first manned electric light aircraft.
14. From which of the following country India received highest amount of FDI between 2000 and 2015?
a. Singapore
b. Netherlands
c. Mauritius
d. Germany
Answer: c
Explanation:
FDI in India witnessed an increase of 29 per cent and reached US$ 40 billion during April 2015-March, 2016 as compared to US$ 30.93 billion in the same period last year.
According to the data released by Grant Thornton India, the total merger and acquisitions (M&A) and private equity (PE) deals in the month of April 2016 were valued at US$ 5.5 billion (100 deals), which is 2.2 times higher as compared to April 2015.
During FY 2015-16, India received the maximum FDI equity inflows from Singapore at US$ 13.69 billion, followed by Mauritius (US$ 8.35 billion), USA (US$ 4.19 billion), Netherlands (US$ 2.64 billion) and Japan (US$ 2.61 billion). Healthy inflow of foreign investments into the country helped India’s balance of payments (BoP) situation and stabilised the value of rupee.
India has also overtaken China as world's top foreign direct investment (FDI) destination with US$ 63 billion of FDI announced in 2015 including high-value project announcements across the coal, oil and natural gas, and renewable energy sectors.
15. Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Long Term Ecological Observatories (I-LTEO) programme:
I. India on 7 December 2015 launched the Indian Long Term Ecological Observatories (I-LTEO) programme to scientifically monitor eight different biomes (natural landscapes) across the country.
II. The initiative was launched on the sidelines of the Conference of Parties-21 (COP-21) of UNFCCC in Paris.
III. The programme aims to identify and monitor targeted socio-ecological challenges and help build capacity within India.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
India on 7 December 2015 launched the Indian Long Term Ecological Observatories (I-LTEO) programme to scientifically monitor eight different biomes (natural landscapes) across the country. The initiative was launched on the sidelines of the Conference of Parties-21 (COP-21) of UNFCCC in Paris.
The programme aims to identify and monitor targeted socio-ecological challenges and help build capacity within India. The studies under the programme will indicate the need for imminent adaptation measures.
16. Which of the following was the focus area of the Handbook of Statistics 2015 released by the UNCTAD?
a. Special Economic Zones
b. Exports & Imports
c. Foreign Direct Investment
d. Administrative Reforms
Answer: a
Explanation:
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on 8 December 2015 released Handbook of Statistics 2015. The annual publication provided a collection of statistics and indicators relevant to the analysis of international trade, investment and development for 2014.
As per the handbook, the total global exports for 2014 were valued at 24 trillion US dollars, up by 1.2 per cent compared with 2013. And, India's total merchandise export for 2014 was valued at 321 billion US dollars against 314 billion US dollars in 2013.
17. Which of the following country has approved the use of world’s first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia?
a. India
b. Mexico
c. South Africa
d. Canada
Answer: b
Explanation:
The Mexican authorities on 9 December 2015 approved the use of the first-ever vaccine against dengue fever, which will be publicly available for the first time.
French manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur declared that the Mexican authorities have granted marketing authorization to Dengvaxia, the vaccine against dengue fever.
Sanofi has requested regulatory approval of Dengvaxia vaccine in 20 countries across Asia and Latin America, but Mexico was the first to green flag it.
18. Which of the following two countries announced Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue to expedite bilateral peace process?
a. Pakistan and Afghanistan
b. India and Pakistan
c. Bangladesh and Myanmar
d. China and Japan
Answer: b
Explanation:
India and Pakistan on 9 December 2015 agreed to replace 8-point Composite Dialogue Process (CDP) with 10-point Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue (CBD).
The decision was stated in the joint statement that was issued after a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad.
19. As per the Global Illicit Financial Flows Report which of the following country is the world’s top exporter of illicit money?
a. China
b. India
c. Russia
d. Saudi Arabia
Answer: a
Explanation:
The Global Financial Integrity (GFI) on 15 December 2014 released the Global Illicit Financial Flows Report 2014 titled Illicit Financial Flows from the Developing World- 2003-2012.
The report finds that the developing world lost 6.6 trillion US dollars in illicit financial flows from 2003-2012. Illicit outflows are alarmingly increasing at an average rate of 9.4 percent per year. 991.2 billion US dollars flowed illicitly out of developing and emerging economies in 2012. The illegal capital outflows originate from crime, corruption, tax evasion and other illicit activity.
The top five exporters of illicit capital over the past ten years on average are: China, Russia, Mexico, India, and Malaysia.
20. Which of the following committee has recommended to make the commission as a permanent and statutory body with powers of Civil Court to lend it more credibility?
a. National Commission for Backward Classes
b. Equal Opportunity Commission
c. National Commission for Minorities
d. National Commission for Safai Karamcharis
Answer: d
Explanation:
National Commission for Safai Karamcharis presented its Annual Report 2014-15 to the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot on 11 December 2015.
In its Annual Report, the Commission has made following important recommendations:
• Make the Commission a permanent and statutory body with powers of Civil Court to lend it more credibility
• The Contract system should be abolished and ensure payment of minimum wages for Safai Karamcharis
• Death victims among Safai Karamcharis should be compensated with a minimum 10 lakh rupees as has already been ordered by the Supreme Court.
• Protection of rights, ensuring risk allowance, implementation of effective financing schemes for rehabilitation of Safai Karamcharis, etc.,
• Need for strengthening the Commission with regard to budget allocations as well as staff strength.
An UPSC aspirant must have to be updated with Current events and issues of national and international importance. The relevance of Current Affairs is not only in UPSC IAS Prelims Exam but it also has greater relevance in UPSC IAS Mains as well as in the Interview level. The proper knowledge of Current Affairs helps UPSC IAS aspirants to write their answers in UPSC IAS Mains Exam in various dimensions which is the need of pattern of Civil Services IAS Exam.
