Daily Current Affairs Quiz: September 29, 2023

Ans. 1 Option B is correct EXPLANATION
• The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change.
• It was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.
• Participation in the IPCC is open to all member countries of the WMO and the United Nations. It currently has 195 members. The Panel, made up of representatives of the member states, meets in Plenary Sessions to take major decisions.

Ans.2 Option C is correct EXPLANATION
• A Non-performing Asset is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment has remained overdue for a period of 90 days.
• The NPA ratio is the proportion of such NPAs in total loans.
• Banks are required to classify NPAs further into Substandard, Doubtful, and Loss assets.
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has the authority to define the criteria for identifying an asset as an NPA.
• Banks need to make provisions for NPAs based on the category of the asset and the length of time it has been classified as an NPA.

Ans.3 Option D is correct EXPLANATION
• Primary forests are mature, natural forests that have remained undisturbed in recent history.
• They often store more carbon than other forests and are rich sources of biodiversity.
• Primary forest loss is almost irreversible in nature
• Even if the green cover regrows, a secondary forest is unlikely to match the extent of biodiversity and carbon sequestering capabilities of a primary forest.
• According to the University of Maryland, primary forest cover loss in tropical areas in 2022 was 10% more than in 2021.

Ans. 4 Option A is correct EXPLANATION
• Electric vehicles run on electricity stored in batteries, and they do not emit any tailpipe emissions like conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
• As a result, they contribute to reducing air pollution and improving air quality.
• EVs have lower maintenance costs compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles.
• EVs do not require oil changes, and their regenerative braking systems reduce wear on brake pads, among other factors that contribute to lower maintenance costs.
• While the production and disposal of EV batteries do have environmental impacts, studies have shown that the overall
environmental benefits of electric vehicles outweigh these impacts

Ans. 5 Option B is correct EXPLANATION
• The power to punish for contempt is a constitutional power vested in this court which cannot be abridged or taken away even by legislative enactment.
• It emphasized that the rationale behind the contempt jurisdiction is to maintain the dignity of the institution of judicial forums.
• The expression ‘contempt of court’ has not been defined by the Constitution.
• However, Article 129 of the Constitution conferred on the Supreme Court the power to punish contempt of itself.
o Article 215 conferred a corresponding power on the High Courts.
• The Contempt of Courts Act, of 1971 defines both civil and criminal contempt.
• Civil contempt refers to wilful disobedience to any judgment of the court.
• Criminal contempt can be invoked if an act:
o Tends to scandalize or lower the authority of the court.
o Tends to interfere with the due course of any judicial proceeding.
o Obstruct the administration of justice.

Ans. 6 Option C is correct EXPLANATION
• This year 2023, India and France are celebrating 25 years of their strategic partnership
• India, France, UAE Trilateral Initiative is aimed at ensuring maritime domain awareness and security from the east coast of Africa to the far Pacific.
• Despite having good relations, France and India don’t have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between them.
• FTA is an agreement between the countries or regional blocks to reduce or eliminate trade barriers, through mutual negotiations with a view to enhancing trade.

Ans. 7 Option A is correct EXPLANATION
• Foreign direct investment or FDI pertains to international investment in which the investor obtains a lasting interest in an enterprise in another country
• The investor has control over the management or functioning of the firm or business entity whose asset is bought.
• An investor is active under FDI
• Direct investments in assets are made
• Investments made are long-term in nature
• FDI is stable in nature when compared to FPI

Ans. 8 Option A is correct EXPLANATION
• For preparing BoP accounts, economic transactions between a country and the rest of the world are grouped under – Current account and Capital account
• Current Account
o It shows the export and import of visible (also called merchandise or goods representing trade balance) and invisible
(also called non-merchandise).
o Invisibles include services, transfers, and income.
• Capital Account
o It shows capital expenditure and income for a country.
o It gives a summary of the net flow of both private and public investment into an economy.
o External Commercial Borrowing (ECB), Foreign Direct Investment, Foreign Portfolio Investment, etc form a part of
the capital account.

Ans. 9 Option B is correct EXPLANATION
• Between 2016 and 2022, 60% of Internet shutdowns across the world took place in India.
• The Home Secretary has the power to decide on shutdowns and the review takes place in a committee.
• No one below the level of a Joint Secretary can impose a shutdown.
• Rule 5 of the Temporary Suspension Rules says that a review committee has to be formed within five working days (of the issue of directions for suspension of services)
• The Supreme Court has held in various decisions, including in Anuradha Bhasin and Faheema Shirin, that access to the Internet has to be preserved.
o A shutdown needs to be temporary, limited in scope, lawful, and proportionate.
o The grounds include a threat to the nation, to national sovereignty, integrity and defence, or to avoid incitement to, or
commission of, a cognizable offense.

Ans. 10 Option D is correct Explanation
• It is a UN treaty that defines who a refugee is and establishes the rights of such persons and also of those who are granted asylum.
• It is the main legal document that governs the working of the UNHCR.
• It is also called the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951.
• It also talks about the responsibilities and legal obligations of countries that grant asylum status to people.
• Apart from that, the Convention also defines those who are not eligible for asylum status, such as war criminals.
• India is not its signator