Daily Quiz #15 UPSC Prelims Marathon – October 19, 2019

Explanation: India has been ranked very low at 76th place out of 82 countries on a new Social Mobility Index compiled by the World Economic Forum, while Denmark has topped the charts. The report, released ahead of the 50th Annual Meeting of the WEF, also lists India among the five countries that stand to gain the most from a better social mobility score that seeks to measure parameters necessary for creating societies where every person has the same opportunity to fulfil his potential in life irrespective of socioeconomic background. Increasing social mobility, a key driver of income inequality, by 10% would benefit social cohesion and boost the world’s economies by nearly 5% by 2030, the WEF said.

Explanation: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has released the Global Investment Trend Monitor report. The global foreign direct investment (FDI) remained flat in 2019 at $1.39 trillion a 1% decline from a revised $1.41 trillion in 2018. These investments came in the backdrop of weaker macroeconomic performance and policy uncertainty for investors including trade tensions. United States remained the largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) followed by China and Singapore. India was also among the top 10 recipients of FDI in 2019 attracting $49 billion in inflows. Further, the report showed that cross-border Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) declined 40% in 2019 to $490 billion which is the lowest level since 2014.

Explanation: Recently, Ministry of Law and Justice has issued an order declaring the United Arab Emirates to be a reciprocating territory under Section 44A of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. Reciprocating territory means that decrees passed by courts in the UAE can now be executed in India as if they were passed by Indian civil courts. The mechanism for conferring such a status to foreign civil decrees has been outlined in Section 44A of the CPC. Apart from Dubai, the other countries that have been declared to be reciprocating territories are: United Kingdom, Singapore, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Trinidad & Tobago, New Zealand, the Cook Islands (including Niue) and the Trust Territories of Western Samoa, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Aden.

Explanation: Recently, the Indian army showcased its artillery firepower capability at Exercise Topchi at Deolali Camp near Nashik. Exercise Topchi which means a gunner in English is an annual exercise by the School of Artillery, Deolali. The exercise aims to showcase the Indian Army’s artillery firepower, aviation and surveillance capabilities. The army assets such as the indigenous Advanced Light Helicopters, Ultra Light Howitzer M777, self-propelled gun K Vajra gave a glimpse of the increasing lethality of the Indian army.

Explanation: Ministry of Human Resource Development and Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs are partnering together for Online Youth Parliament Programme to commemorate 70 years of Constitution. It was launched in 1966 in Schools under the Directorate of Education, Government of NCT of Delhi and NDMC, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas and Universities/ Colleges. The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. The scheme encompasses conducting the National Youth Parliament Competition every year.