UPSC 2021 Prelims CURRENT AFFAIRS Answer Key with Explanation

Question Bank 9 Pages

Union Public Service Commission (Prelims)

Current Affairs

QJP

Contributed by

Qabool Jaswant Patel

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UPSC 2021 Prelims
CURRENT AFFAIRS Answer Key with Explanation

1. R2 Code of Practices’ constitutes a tool available for promoting the adoption of
(a) Environmentally responsible practices in electronics recycling industry
(b) Ecological management of ‘Wetlands of International Importance’ under the Ramsar
Convention
(c) Sustainable practices in the cultivation of agricultural crops in degraded lands
(d) Environment Impact Assessment’ in the exploration of natural resources
Answer: A
Explanation
● R2 stands for Responsible Recycling and is a standard specifically created for the
electronics recycling industry by Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI).
● SERI is the housing body and ANSI-accredited Standards Development Organization for
the R2 Standard: Responsible Recycling Practices for Use in Accredited Certifications
Programs.

2. Consider the following statements:
1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: C
Explanation
● St. Francis Xavier, the greatest Roman Catholic missionary of modern times who was
instrumental in the establishment of Christianity in India, the Malay Archipelago, and
Japan.
● In Paris in 1534 he pronounced vows as one of the first seven members of the Society of
Jesus, or Jesuits, under the leadership of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Statement 1 is correct.
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https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Francis-Xavier
● Statement 2 is incorrect: Though he died in China, his body was brought to Goa. Though
it was buried initially, the body was dug up, and then shipped to Goa. There is a church
dedicated to St Francis on the island and missionaries visit the open grave to this day, in
order t0 pay homage to the saint.
● Statement 3 is Correct - The feast of St. Francis Xavier takes place on 3rd december
every year and is one of the most sacred festivals of Goa to witness at least once in a
lifetime.
https://www.goa.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Notification-List-of-public-
holidays-2021.pdf

3. Consider the following statements:
1. 21
st
February is declared to be the International Mother Language Day by UNICEF.
2. The demand that Bangla has to be one of the national languages was raised in the
Constituent Assembly of Pakistan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Explanation
● UNESCO declared 21st February as International Mother Language Day in 1999 and the
World has been celebrating the same since 2000. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
● The day also commemorates a long struggle by Bangladesh to protect its mother language
Bangla. The demand was raised first by Dhirendranath Datta from East Pakistan on 23
February 1948, in the constituent Assembly of Pakistan. Hence statement 2 is correct.
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/cultural-diversity/languages-and-
multilingualism/international-mother-language-day/
https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/pakistanis-demand-their-government-
recognize-bengali-official-language-1947-1952

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4. Consider the following statements:
Statement 1: The United Nations Capitals Development Fund (UNCDF) and Arbor Day
Foundation have recently recognized Hyderabad as 2020 Tree City of the Word.
Statement 2: Hyderabad was selected for the recognition for a year following its
commitment to grow and maintain the urban forests.
Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both statements 1 and statement 2 are correct and statement 2 is the correct
explanation for statement 1
(b) Both statements 1 and statement 2 are correct but statement 2 is not the correct
explanation for statement 1
(c) Statements 1 is correct but statement 2 is not correct
(d) Statements 1 is not correct but statement 2 is correct
Answer: D
Explanation
● Hyderabad is the only city from India to have been recognised as a 2020 Tree City of the
World by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for
its commitment to growing and maintaining urban forests. Hence statement 1 is
incorrect.
● It has been selected for this recognition in response to its commitment to growing and
maintaining urban forestry. Hence statement 2 is correct.

5. Consider the following statements in respect of the Laureus World Sports Award
which was instituted in the year 2000:
1) American golfer Tiger Woods was the first winner of this Award
2) The Award has been received mostly by ‘Formula One ‘players so far.
3) Roger Federar received this Award the maximum number of times compared to
others.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3
Answer: C
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Explanation
● Statement 1 is correct as Tiger wood was the first person to receive the award in 2000.
● Statement 2 is incorrect as Formula one racers have won it only 4 out of 21 times till
now.
● Statement 3 is correct as Federer has won the maximum number of times - 5 times.

6. Consider the following statements in respect of the 32 nd Summer Olympics:
1. The Official moto for this Olympics is ‘A new World ‘.
2. Sports Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this
Olympics
Which of the above statements is /are correct?.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Explanation
● Official motto for Tokyo olympics is ‘United by emotion’ and hence statement 1 is
incorrect
● All the sports mentioned in Statement 2 were included in the Tokyo Olympics and hence
Statement 2 is correct.

7. Consider the following Statements in respect of the ICC World Test
Championship:
1. The Finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England
Which of the above statements is /are correct?.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: D
Explanation
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● The points system was awarded for the entire series irrespective of the number of
matches. The points for each series was 120. And New Zealand became the first team to
qualify for finals because it had maximum points based on series wins. Hence both
statements are incorrect.

8. Consider the following statement:
1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in
international waters.
2. India has received licences for seabed minerals exploration in international waters.
3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international waters.
Which of the statement given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 onlu
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1,2 and 3
Answer: B
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect:
● The UN's International Seabed Authority (ISA) grants prospecting, exploration and
exploitation licenses for all mining activities in the seabed of the international waters,
which are beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/mining/mining-at-deep-sea-46049
● Statement 2 is Correct: India has received licences for seabed minerals exploration in
international waters.
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/why-is-india-pulled-to-deep-sea-
mining/article28809029.ece
● Statement 3 is Correct:‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international
waters.
● A rare-earth mineral contains one or more rare-earth elements as major metal
constituents.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-02242-y

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9. With reference to recent developments regarding ‘Recombinant Vector
Vaccines’, consider the following statements:
1. Genetic engineering is applied in the developments of these vaccines.
2. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: C
Explanation
● Recombinant vector vaccines are live replicating viruses that are engineered to carry
extra genes derived from a pathogen—and these extra genes produce proteins against
which we want to generate immunity.
● These vaccine genomes may evolve to lose the extra genes during the process of
manufacture of the vaccine or during replication within an individual, and there is a
concern that this evolution might severely limit the vaccine’s efficacy.
● Bacteria and viruses are used as a vectors..
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/bacterial-vector
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6668849/

10. Consider the following statements:
1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-
stranded DNA genomes.
2. Common cold is sometimes caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a
retrovirus.
Which of the above statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Statement 1 is incorrect:
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● Adenoviruses are medium-sized (90–100 nm), non-enveloped, icosahedral viruses
composed of a nucleocapsid and a linear, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome.
● Retroviruses are single-stranded RNA animal viruses that employ a double-stranded DNA
intermediate for replication. The RNA is copied into DNA by the enzyme reverse
transcriptase.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/adenovirus-
genome#:~:text=Organization%2C%20and%20Replication-
,The%20adenovirus%20genome%20is%20a%20single%20linear%20molecule%20of
%20double,%E2%80%9367.6%25%20G%20%2B%20C.
Statement 2 is Correct:
● Common cold is sometimes caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a
retrovirus. (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
https://www.cdc.gov/adenovirus/index.html#:~:text=Adenoviruses%20are%20comm
on%20viruses%20that,adenovirus%20infection%20at%20any%20age.
https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-science/overview

11. The term ‘ACE2’ is talked about in the context of
(a) genes introduced in the genetically modified plants
(b) Development of India’s own satellite navigation system
(c ) radio collars for wildlife tracking
(d) spread of viral diseases
Answer: D
Explanation
● Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, or ACE2 is a “receptor,” the protein that provides the
entry point for the coronavirus to hook into and infect a wide range of human cells.
https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-ace2-receptor-how-is-it-connected-to-
coronavirus-and-why-might-it-be-key-to-treating-covid-19-the-experts-explain-136928

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12. With reference to India, consider the following statement:
1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such
accused is locked up in police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to
interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Explanation
● Police Custody means that police have the physical custody of the accused while
Judicial Custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned Magistrate. In
the former, the accused is lodged in a police station lockup while in the latter, it is the
jail. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
● In judicial custody police cannot interrogate accused without permission of
Magistrate and hence statement 2 is correct.

13. With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1. When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to such prisoner
because it becomes a matter of his/her right.
2. State Governments have their own prisoners Release on Parole Rules.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: B
Explanation
● Parole is a matter of grace and not a matter of right. Further parole may be denied to a
prisoner even when he makes out sufficient cause for release on parole if the competent
authority is satisfied on valid grounds that the release of a prisoner on parole would be
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against the interest of the society of the prison administration.Hence statement 1 is
incorrect.
● State Governments have their own parole rules.
● Prisons’ is a State subject under the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.
● The management and administration of prisons fall exclusively in the domain of state
governments and are governed by the Prisons Act, 1894, and the Prison Manuals of the
respective state governments.
● The Prisons Act further says that only states can make rules regarding the release of
prisoners on furlough, parole and remission, as part of the correctional process in jail
reforms. Hence Statement 2 is correct
https://indiankanoon.org/doc/186590629/

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