Daily Current Affairs Quiz: October 24, 2023

Ans.1 Option B is correct nExplanation
• Visa shopping” refers to obtaining visas for countries that individuals may or may not visit during the granted visa period. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• It is a strategy used to increase the chances of obtaining visas for countries of their choice in the future.
• The Schengen Agreement, signed in 1985, created the Schengen Area, which includes multiple European countries that allow for passport-free travel and free movement of individuals between member states. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• This agreement is frequently associated with the concept of visa shopping.

Ans.2 Option D is correct Explanation:
• NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) accreditation primarily evaluates the quality of teaching and faculty in educational institutions.
• It assesses various aspects, including the student-teacher ratio, teacher qualifications, teaching methods, and other related factors to determine the quality of education provided by the institution.

Ans. 3 Option C is correct Explanation
• Dust suppressants are typically salts of calcium or magnesium that can absorb moisture. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The “dust suppressant powder” when mixed along with water, is sprayed on roads to keep the dust down for longer.
• CPCB Study: The use of dust suppressants, when mixed with water, is more effective in controlling pollution compared to conventional water spraying methods. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• It led to a notable 30% reduction in dust concentration, particularly PM10, PM2.5,
and PM1, for up to six hours.

Ans. 4 Option A is correct Explanation
• Optoelectronics is a fast-emerging technology field that consists of applying electronic devices to sourcing, detection, and control of light.
• It is largely based on semiconductor materials.
• These exhibit suitable bandgap energies for absorbing near-infrared and visible light, and their electric conductivity is also essential for such applications.
• Examples of optoelectronic devices consist of Telecommunication lasers, Optical fiber, Blue lasers, LED traffic lights, Photodiodes, Solar cells, etc. Hence, option A is correct.

Ans. 5 Option B is correct Explanation
• Dollar–DollarRupee swap is a forex tool whereby the central bank uses its currency to buy another currency or vice versa. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• In a Dollar-Rupee buy/sell swap, the central bank buys dollars (US dollars or USD) from banks in exchange for Indian Rupees (INR). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• It immediately gets into an opposite deal with banks promising to sell dollars at a later date.

Ans. 6 Option C is correct Explanation
• Various policies undertaken by the government at national as well as sub- national levels to reduce the accumulation of debts and reduce deficits is known as fiscal consolidation.
• Fiscal consolidation can be achieved by increasing revenue and decreasing expenditure.
• The fiscal deficit is the most important indicator of the government’s financial health. The fiscal deficit, on the other hand, represents the amount of government borrowing for that given year.
• The Government’s two major deficits are the Revenue Deficit and the Fiscal Deficit.

Ans. 7 Option B is correct Explanation
• The National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) is an organization formed to promote international trade in the cooperative sector, specifically by enhancing exports.
• It is not a government agency but a private corporation with a focus on cooperative sector exports.

Ans. 8 Option B is correct Explanation
• Eco-sensitive zones (SEZs) are designated around protected areas or wildlife sanctuaries with the primary purpose of regulating and restricting certain activities to protect the environment and wildlife in
the vicinity.
• Statement 1 is incorrect because ESZs are not established to allow unrestricted human activities and development but rather to control and manage such activities to minimize negative impacts on the ecology and wildlife.

• Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case of failure of a contraceptive method or device.
• It allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy for this reason. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• Opinion of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) is needed for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.
• Opinion of two RMPs is needed for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of
gestation.
• The opinion of the State-level medical board is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks in case of substantial fetal abnormalities. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• It also increases the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of
women.

Ans. 10 Option B is correct Explanation
• The creamy layer is a concept that puts an income ceiling on people availing caste-wise reservations in government jobs and education. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The term was introduced by the Sattanathan Commission in 1971, which directed that the “creamy layer” should be excluded from the reservations (quotas) of civil posts. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Till now, this is only applicable for reservations under the Other Backward Classes quota.
• SCs and STs are excluded since it was argued that their backwardness was based purely on untouchability for which economic improvement was not a remedy. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.