UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we will cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on Economy to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the MCQs on International Relations. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.

Consider the following statements:

1. India was the largest rice exporting country in the world from 2018 to 2022.

2. In 2023, India banned the export of broken and non-basmati white rice.

3. Rice export from India in 2022 accounts for around 40 per cent of the world’s rice exports.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following statements about Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS):

1. It is carried out by National Statistical Office.

2. Labour data for urban areas is published annually.

3. Labour data for rural areas is released every quarter.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following:

It is a major natural fibre crop in India. The raw crop was originally thought to be a raw material source for the packaging industry. However, it has developed as a versatile raw material for a wide range of uses, including textiles, paper, construction, and automotive industries, as well as ornamental and furnishing products.

The above lines refer to which of the following crop?

(a) Cotton

(b) Flax

(c) Coir

(d) Jute

With reference to the Solar Power Scheme for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), consider the following statements:

1. The Scheme covers electrification of One Lakh un-electrified households in PVTG areas.

2. The project contains a provision for delivering solar lighting to areas where grid electricity is not accessible.

3. The scheme does not cover UT of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Consider the following statements:

1. Grey Hydrogen is produced via natural gas or coal gasification combined with carbon capture storage (CCS).

2. Green Hydrogen is produced via coal or lignite gasification.

3. Blue hydrogen is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

FYI:

— Thailand has replaced its Ambassador to WTO Pimchanok Vonkorpon Pitfield from here following a strong protest lodged by India on her contentious comment on New Delhi’s rice procurement programme,.

— India has formally registered its protest with the Thai government and has also expressed displeasure with the WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, agri committee chair Kenya and UAE.

— India and Thailand are both important rice exporters. Certain developed and developing nations have claimed in various forums that India’s national stockpile of commodities such as rice influences global market pricing.

— India was the largest rice exporting country in the world from 2018 to 2022 followed by Thailand and Vietnam. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— In 2023, India banned the export of broken and non-basmati white rice in view of uncertainty around rice production here and other rice-producing countries due to geopolitical scenario, El Nino sentiments, and extreme climatic conditions to check domestic prices and ensure adequate availability in the market here. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Rice export from India was 22.24 million tonne in 2022, which accounts for 40.63 per cent of the world’s rice exports. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— According to the report, the labour force participation rate (LFPR), or those working or seeking or available for work in the labour force, was the highest in four years at 39.3 per cent in 2020-21, as was the worker population ratio (WPR) at 36.3 per cent. WPR is defined as the percentage of employed persons in the population.

— The National Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics of Programme and Implementation (MoSPI) conducts the PLFS for rural and urban areas. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Labour data for rural areas is published annually, while that for urban areas is released every quarter. There is a gap of at least a year in the release of the annual PLFS report. Hence, statement 2 and statement 3 are not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— The scarcity of rain in the jute-producing districts in the southern part of West Bengal has slowed down the supply of golden fibre to mills. The retting process of the plants is being held back due to a lack of rainfall in the southern districts of the state.

— Jute is an important natural fibre crop in India next to cotton. In trade and industry, jute and mesta crop together known as raw jute as their uses are almost the same.

— Raw jute plays an important role in the country’s economy. Raw jute was originally considered a source of raw material for packaging industries only. But it has now emerged as a versatile raw material for diverse applications, such as textile industries, paper industries, building, and automotive industries, uses as a soil saver, uses as decorative and furnishing materials, etc.

— Raw jute is a bio-degradable and annually renewable source, it is considered an environment-friendly crop and it helps in the maintenance of the environment and ecological balance.

— Further attraction of Jute lies in its easy availability, and inexhaustible quantity at a comparatively cheaper rate. Moreover, it can easily be blended with other natural and manmade fibres.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: farmer.gov.in)

FYI:

— The New Solar Power Scheme (for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) Habitations/Villages) is being implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy from 2023-24 to 2025-26 as part of the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN).

— In 18 states—Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal—as well as the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands—the Scheme provides for the electrification of one lakh unconnected households through the installation of off-grid solar systems where electricity is available. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 3 is not correct..

— The project contains a provision for delivering solar lighting to 1500 Multi-Purpose Centres (MPCs) in PVTG areas where grid electricity is not accessible. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: vikaspedia.in)

FYI:

— The National Green Hydrogen Mission (NHGM) was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 January 2022, with the intended objectives of –

(1) Making India a leading producer and supplier of Green Hydrogen in the world

(2) Creation of export opportunities for Green Hydrogen and its derivatives

(3) Reduction in dependence on imported fossil fuels and feedstock

(4) Development of indigenous manufacturing capabilities

(5) Attracting investment and business opportunities for the industry

(6) Creating opportunities for employment and economic development

(7) Supporting Research and Development projects

— The plan is to provide incentives to promote the manufacturing of low-cost green hydrogen in a bid to cut emissions. Green hydrogen will play a huge role in countering climate change.

— The NGHM is a key component in India’s attempt at energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables, with the government announcing its new nationally determined contributions after COP 26 in Glasgow.

— The government had committed to reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent by 2030 (from its 2005 level) and achieving about 50 per cent cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2030.

Types of Hydrogen Based on Extraction Methods

— Grey Hydrogen: It is produced via coal or lignite gasification (black or brown), or via a process called steam methane reformation (SMR) of natural gas or methane (grey). These tend to be mostly carbon-intensive processes. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Blue Hydrogen: It is produced via natural gas or coal gasification combined with carbon capture storage (CCS) or carbon capture use (CCU) technologies to reduce carbon emissions. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Green Hydrogen: It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy. The carbon intensity ultimately depends on the carbon neutrality of the source of electricity (i.e., the more renewable energy there is in the electricity fuel mix, the “greener” the hydrogen produced). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.india.gov.in)

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Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 48)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 48)

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Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 47)

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