Daily MCQ practice 08 April 2022

 Q. Recently, the USA decided to support India’s membership in multi-lateral export control regimes called the “Australia Group” and the “Wassenaar Arrangement”. What is the difference between them? (2011)

• The Australia Group is an informal arrangement which aims to allow exporting countries to minimize the risk of assisting chemical and biological weapons proliferation, whereas the Wassenaar Arrangement is a formal group under the OECD holding identical objectives.
• The Australia Group comprises predominantly of Asian, African and North American countries whereas the member countries of Wassenaar Arrangement are predominantly from the European Union and American Continents.

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

Ans: (d)

Exp:

• The Australia Group is a multilateral export control regime and an informal group of countries (now joined by the European Commission) established in 1985 (after the use of chemical weapons by Iraq in 1984) to help member countries to identify those exports which need to be controlled so as not to contribute to the spread of chemical and biological weapons.
• The Wassenaar Arrangement, formally established in July 1996 is a voluntary export control regime for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies is a multilateral export control regime.

                      The Wassenaar Arrangement is a grouping of 42 countries, of which India is the latest entrant.

Q. With reference to ‘Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)’, consider the following statements: (2016)

It is an organization of the European Union in working relation with NATO and WHO.

It monitors the chemical industry to prevent new weapons from emerging.

It provides assistance and protection to States (Parties) against chemical weapons threats.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Exp:

• The coming into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) on 29th April, 1997 led to the establishment of international chemical weapons disarmament regime headed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
• Its headquarters are in the Hague, Netherlands

Q. Among the following who are eligible to benefit from the “Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act”? (2011)

(a) Adult members of only the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe households

(b) Adult members of below poverty line (BPL) households

(c) Adult members of households of all backward communities

(d) Adult members of any household

Ans: (d)