Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 18, 2023

Ans. 1 Option C is correct Explanation
• The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor project includes India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the US. Hence, Option C is correct.
• The project will aim to enable greater trade among the involved countries, including energy products.
• It will include a railway and ship-rail transit network and road transport routes.
• The corridor will include a rail link as well as an electricity cable, a hydrogen pipeline, and a high-speed data cable.
• In the coming times, it will be a major medium of economic integration between India, West Asia, and Europe.

Ans. 2 Option C is the correct Explanation
• The work of the Ethics Committee and the Privileges Committee often overlap.
• A corruption allegation against an MP can be sent to either body since it involves an accusation of serious breach of privilege and contempt of the House. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• In the case of the Ethics Committee, only an MP can be examined for misconduct. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The mandate of the Committee of Privileges is to safeguard the freedom, authority, and dignity of Parliament.
• Thus, a person who is not an MP can also be accused of breach of privilege for actions that attack the authority and dignity of the House.

Ans.3 Option D is correct Explanation
• The Anti-Defection Law was passed in 1985 through the 52nd Amendment to the Constitution to combat “the evil of political defections”.
• Any question regarding disqualification arising out of defection is to be decided by the presiding officer of the House. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• According to it, a member of a House belonging to any political party becomes disqualified, if
o he voluntarily gives up his membership in such a political party
o he votes or abstains from voting in such House contrary to directions issued by his political party and such an act has not been condoned by the party
o If any independently elected member joins any political party. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
o If any nominated member joins any political party after the expiry of six months.
• The Anti-Defection Law is applicable to both members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, as well as state legislative assemblies. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Ans. 4 Option B is correct Explanation
• The Central Road and Infrastructure Fund was established in 2000 under the Central Road Fund Act, 2000.
• It falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The fund is financed through a cess levied along with excise duty on petrol and diesel. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• 2018 Amendment: To use proceeds of the road cess under CRIF to finance other infrastructure projects like waterways, some portion of the railway infrastructure, and even social infrastructure. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Ans. 5 Option C is the correct Explanation
• The International Space Station (ISS) is the largest artificial object in space and the largest satellite in low Earth orbit.
• This high-flying satellite is a laboratory for new technologies and an observation platform for astronomical, environmental, and geological research.
• Five different space agencies representing 15 countries built the USD 100-billion International Space Station and continue to operate it today.
• The International Space Station was taken into space piece-by-piece and gradually built in orbit. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It consists of modules and connecting nodes that contain living quarters and laboratories, as well as exterior trusses that provide structural support, and solar panels that provide power.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced plans to retire and decommission the International Space Station (ISS) by 2031. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Ans. 6 Option D is the correct Explanation
• Dhanauri Wetland is a bird-watching area located in Dhanauri village in Uttar Pradesh. Hence, option D is correct.
• It is a natural wetland that hosts more than 217 bird species, including over 150 Sarus cranes and serves as a vital birding and nesting site.
• It has received recognition as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International and has been documented by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).
• It plays a crucial role in supporting the vulnerable Sarus crane population (State Bird of UP).

Ans. 7 Option A is correct Explanation
• The Amazon River is the world’s largest river by water volume and width. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It is the second-longest river in the world after the Nile.
• It accounts for one-fifth of the total volume of freshwater entering the oceans globally. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• It is sometimes referred to as the “lungs of the Earth” due to its role in regulating the planet’s oxygen and carbon cycles.
• Its journey begins high in the Andes Mountains and it empties into the Atlantic Ocean on the northeastern coast of Brazil.
• It has the largest drainage area of any river system.
• Its watershed spans the countries of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Bolivia. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• Tributaries: The Rio Negro, the Madeira River, the Xingu River, etc.

Ans. 8 Option B is correct Explanation
• Buff-breasted Sandpiper is one of the most delicately beautiful of the shorebirds.
• Unlike most shorebirds, they forage in dry, grassy habitats, not wetlands. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• It breeds in the open arctic tundra of North America
• It is a very long-distance migrant, spending the non-breeding season mainly in South America, especially Argentina.
• It migrates mainly through central North America and is uncommon on the coasts.
• The male Buff-breasted Sandpipers gather in groups on display territories called “leks” where they flash their eye-catching underwings to compete for females’ attention. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Ans. 9 Option D is correct Explanation
• Navtej Singh Johar vs. Union Of India (2018) case decriminalized homosexuality. Hence, option D is correct.
• It dismissed the position taken by SC in the Suresh Kumar Koushal case (2013) that the LGBTQ community constitutes a minuscule minority and so there was no need to decriminalize homosexual sex.

Ans. 10 Option C is correct Explanation
• Palk Strait is a narrow stretch of water that separates the Indian state of Tamil Nadu from the northern part of Sri Lanka.
• Palk Bay, located to the south of Palk Strait, is a shallow bay that lies between the southeastern coast of India (Tamil Nadu) and the northern coast of Sri Lanka.
• It is larger and extends further south than the Palk Strait.
• The Gulf of Mannar is situated to the south of both Palk Strait and Palk Bay.
• It is a large bay in the Indian Ocean that lies between the southeastern tip of India (Tamil Nadu) and the western coast of Sri Lanka. Hence, option C is correct.