UPSC Daily Current Affairs Quiz : 06 August

Correct Answer: A (1 and 2 only)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Flash floods in the Himalayas are often caused by cloudbursts, Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), and intense rainfall over a short duration.
• Statement 2 is correct: Widespread deforestation, hill-cutting for roads, and construction near rivers have reduced natural absorption and worsened runoffs.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: The IMD has developed early warning systems, including Doppler Weather Radars, though forecasting small-scale cloudbursts remains difficult due to their localised nature.

Answer:  B) BrahMos Supersonic Missile
Explanation: India signed a $375 million deal with the Philippines in 2022 for the export of the BrahMos missile system.

Correct Answer :  B: 1, 2, and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1  Correct: Trump did accuse India of indirectly supporting Russia's war effort via oil imports.
• Statement 2  Correct: India uses rupee and UAE-dirham-based trade mechanisms for Russian crude, reducing dollar dependency.
• Statement 3  Incorrect: WTO discourages unilateral tariff hikes. Retaliatory tariffs must follow dispute settlement procedures unless under national security exceptions or specific WTO-allowed provisions.
• Statement 4  Correct: India cited national interest and economic security to defend its Russian oil imports.

Correct Answer: B. 2 and 4 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1  Incorrect: EU sanctions have targeted Indian companies involved in reprocessing Russian oil (e.g., Rosneft-partnered refineries), not sovereign oil firms or direct oil trade with the Russian government.
• Statement 2  Correct: The MEA’s recent statement justified India's imports by citing “global market compulsions” and “vital national interest.”
• Statement 3  Incorrect: India has not announced any formal withdrawal from EU/U.S. FTA talks, although suspending or delaying them is being considered as a future countermeasure.
• Statement 4  Correct: India’s Russian oil imports surged from less than 1% pre-2022 to as much as 40% by 2023.

Answer: B
Explanation: The term "technocratic welfare state" refers to the use of technology, data, and algorithms to determine eligibility and delivery of welfare benefits, often sidelining democratic deliberation and local discretion.