Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – March 1, 2023 [Mock Test]
March 17, 2023 March 17, 2023
1. Which of the following criterias have been identified by the United Nations for a country to be classified as a Least Developed Country?
- The country should be vulnerable to natural disasters.
- It must perform poorly on a composite human assets index.
- It must have a gross national income (GNI) per capita below the threshold of USD 1,230 over a five-year average.
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 1 & 2
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 1 & 2]
Notes:- According to the UN, an LDC is defined as “a country that exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with low levels of income, human capital and economic diversification, high levels of economic vulnerability, and a population that is disproportionately reliant on agriculture, natural resources, and primary commodities.”
- The UN identifies three criteria for a country to be classified as an LDC:
- It must have a gross national income (GNI) per capita below the threshold of USD 1,230 over a three-year average.
- It must perform poorly on a composite human assets index based on indicators including nutrition, health and education.
- The country must demonstrate economic vulnerability such as being prone to natural disasters and possessing structural economic constraints.
- LDCs also enjoy duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) access to the markets of developed countries.
- LDCs are also eligible for loans with special terms for development, which include loans with a lower interest rate and a longer repayment time than those given to other nations.
2. Consider the following statements about Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) for least-developed countries:
- It is a 10-year programme (2021-2030).
- It aims to make countries competent to achieve net zero emissions.
- Its focus areas include climate change, environment degradation, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic etc.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 2
[B] Only 3
[C] Only 1 & 2
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 3]
Notes:- The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) was held under the theme of ‘From Potential to Prosperity’ in Qatar.
- The Doha Political Declaration focuses on the effective implementation of the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) for least-developed countries.
- Doha Programme of Action (DPoA) is a 10-year program (2022-2031) which aims to put the 46 most vulnerable countries in the world back on track to achieve UN-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
- DPoA (2022-2031) consisted of six key focus areas including eradicating poverty, leveraging the potential of science and technology to fight against multidimensional vulnerabilities and to achieve the SDGs, addressing climate change, and environmental degradation, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and building resilience against future shocks for risk-informed sustainable development.
3. With respect to the Lead Bank Scheme, consider the following statements:
- It was introduced during fourth five-year plan.
- It was based on the recommendation of Usha Throat committee.
- Block was identified as the smallest geographical unit for the scheme.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Only 1]
Notes:- The Lead Bank Scheme is a scheme which aims at providing adequate banking and credit in rural areas through an ‘service area approach’, with one bank assigned for one area. It was introduced in December 1969 (Fourth Five Year Plan).
- On the recommendation of the Gadgil Study Group and Banker’s Committee, the Scheme was introduced by RBI.
- D R Gadgil committee recommended that the banks should provide integrated banking facilities in unbanked areas; adoption of ‘Area Approach’ – in unbanked areas –each bank should adopt an area; help Agriculture & Supplemental Security Income (SSI); ‘district’ identified as the smallest geographical unit for the scheme.
- Nariman committee appointed by RBI endorsed the ideas of area approach in its report recommended that each bank should concentrate on certain districts where it can act as ‘LEAD BANK’.
- A high- power committee was constituted by the Government of India and it was headed by the Usha Thorat, former Deputy Governor of RBI, in order to suggest some reforms in the LBS.
