Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – September 01, 2022 [Mock Test]
September 1, 2022 September 6, 2022
1. Consider the following pairs:
- Saharawi – Western Sahara
- Khoisans – South Africa
- Imazighen – Morocco
How many pairs given above is/are matched correctly?
[A] Only 1 pair
[B] Only 2 pairs
[C] Only 3 pairs
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 3 pairs]
Notes:- The Saharawi people are an ethnic group and nation native to the western part of the Sahara Desert, which includes the Western Sahara, southern Morocco, much of Mauritania, and the extreme southwest of Algeria. They speak Hassaniya dialect of Arabic.
- The Khoisans are known to be the first people to inhabit South Africa. The Khoisans are known to be the first people to come in contact with the Dutch settlers in South Africa in the 17th century. The community was derogated by the European settlers with names like Bushmen and Hottentots. The scientists, after studying the genetic variation among the DNA of more than 3,000 Africans for over a decade, found that the San were the most genetically diverse group which means that the San were the oldest population of humans in South Africa and on Earth.
- Berbers or Imazighen are an ethnic group indigenous to North Africa, specifically Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.
2. Consider the following statements:
- I2U2 stands for India, Israel, the UAE and the US.
- It aims to strengthen the economic partnership through six areas of cooperation i.e. water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 & 2]
Notes:- I2U2 stands for India, Israel, the UAE, and the US, and was also referred to as the ‘West Asian Quad’ by Ahmed Albanna, Ambassador of the UAE to India.
- It aims to discuss “common areas of mutual interest, to strengthen the economic partnership in trade and investment in our respective regions and beyond”.
- Six areas of cooperation have been identified by the countries mutually, and the aim is to encourage joint investments in water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security.
3. With respect to the Agnipath scheme, consider the following statements:
- It is a short-service scheme.
- It is only for personnel below officer ranks.
- There will not be any pension benefit.
- It is to recruit soldiers only for Armed forces.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] Only 1 & 3
[B] Only 2, 3 & 4
[C] Only 1, 2 & 4
[D] Only 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Only 1, 2 & 3]
Notes:- Recently, the government has unveiledAgnipath scheme, a short-service scheme for recruiting soldiers across the three services. The youth joining the army will be called Agniveer.
- Around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years. Afterfour years, only 25% of the batch will be recruited back into their respective services, for a period of 15 years.
- It is only for personnel below officer ranks.
- Aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 23 years will be eligible to apply.
- The scheme envisions that, the average age in the forces is 32 years today, which will go down to 26 in six to seven years.
- It aims to reduce the defence pension bill. As per Army calculations, the savings for the government in this ‘Tour of Duty model’ of recruitment from just one sepoy would be around 11.5 cr (the army initially proposed a 3-year service model).
- Upon the completion of the 4-years of service, a one-time ‘Seva Nidhi’ package of Rs 11.71 lakhs will be paid to the Agniveers that will include their accrued interest thereon. They will not receive any pension benefit.
