Daily Current Affairs - Civil Services - 13-11-2020

Daily Current Affairs,DCA-CS,November 2020,

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• SECTION 1 - TEN NEWS HEADLINES

1. Economy – Govt. rolls out ₹1.19 lakh crore stimulus – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced a fresh set of relief and stimulus measures for the economy worth ₹1.19 lakh crore, including a scheme to boost re-employment chances of formal sector employees who lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures, announced a day after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the country had entered into a technical recession in the first half of 2020-21, include a ₹65,000 crore additional outlay for providing fertilizer subsidies to farmers. Ms. Sitharaman said the economy’s rebound as per recent indicators was not just driven by pent-up demand but reflected strong economic growth. The measures included the production-linked incentive scheme for 10 sectors with a proposed expenditure of ₹1.46 lakh crore over five years.
2. Polity & Governance – Twitter gets 5 days to explain Leh map error, runs risk of suspension – Social media giant Twitter runs the risk of facing suspension and even being blocked in India, with the government warning the company of legal consequences over the issue of showing Leh as part of Jammu and Kashmir instead of the Union Territory of Ladakh. An FIR can also be filed against Twitter India top official. Top sources in the government said they viewed the matter as “a deliberate attempt by Twitter to undermine the will of sovereign Parliament of India”, which had declared Ladakh as a UT of India with its headquarters in Leh. Earlier, after Leh was shown as being a part of China, a notice was sent to Twitter founder Jack Dorsey (this has been corrected, though the India country tag still needs to be updated).
3. World – PM joins Asean call for free, secure SCS – Amid efforts to finalise a code of conduct for the contested South China Sea (SCS) waters, where several Asean nations remain embroiled in maritime boundary disputes with China, India has joined Asean in again reiterating the significance of freedom of navigation and overflight and of adherence to international law, especially the UNCLOS. Addressing the 17th India-Asean summit, held virtually, PM Modi said there was ample closeness between India’s ‘Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative’ and Asean’s ‘Outlook on Indo-Pacific’. Despite the reservations repeatedly expressed by China and Russia, India has maintained that the Indo-Pacific is a free, open, transparent and inclusive concept with Asean at its centre.
4. Covid-19 – 40m doses of Covid-19 vaccine ready at Pune’s Serum Institute – In order to ensure early availability of its Covid-19 vaccine once approved, Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has already manufactured 40 million doses of the candidate developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca, under the ‘at-risk’ manufacturing and stockpiling licence from the Indian drug regulator. The company plans to stockpile 200-300 million doses by January and around 50% of its capacity is expected to cater to local requirements.
5. Polity & Governance – 28 states, UTs usher in ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ – In the past 14 months, 28 states and Union Territories have joined the ‘One Nation One Ration Card’ platform, enabling 68.8 crore beneficiaries to get subsidised foodgrains from their place of work or residence under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Under this scheme, the distribution of subsidised foodgrains is possible through nationwide portability of ration cards and the beneficiary can get foodgrains from any fair price shop (FPS) across the country. This has become possible by collating all details of beneficiaries in a central database, seeding the Addhaar number of beneficiaries and by installation of ePoS devices at FPS. Subsidised foodgrains were provided after biometric authentication using the ePoS devices. The government has set the March 2021 deadline for nationwide portability of ration cards covering 81 crore beneficiaries. Earlier, a ration card holder could buy foodgrains only from an FPS that was assigned to his/ her in the locality in which the beneficiary lives.
6. Economy – You can buy home at 20% lower rate – It is now possible to buy a residential unit from a developer at 20% lower than the value arrived at according to the circle rate — also known as the ready reckoner rate of the area — without attracting penal income tax. The developer will also not attract income tax for such a deal. The new norm is for residential units up to Rs 2 crore and will remain enforced until June 30, 2021. The government has also increased allocation to give subsidy under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana (PMAY-Urban) by Rs 18,000 crore, over and above the Rs 8,000 crore already allocated in the Budget. Under PMAY, the government gives interest subsidies up front on loans between Rs 2.35 lakh and Rs 2.7 lakh. The ministry said the move would create 78 lakh jobs, and improve production and sale of steel & cement, resulting in a multiplier effect in the economy.
7. Business – PUBG plans return, govt may not budge – PUBG Corporation has said that it is “preparing to launch” PUBG Mobile India, a new version created for the local market, months after India banned the popular game for ties with Chinese internet conglomerate Tencent. However, the offer will not cut much ice with the government, which remains steadfast on its decision to ban the gaming app in view of the stated concerns. PUBG Corp plans to invest around $100 million in India, with its parent company Krafton. The game developer also plans to set up an Indian subsidiary and said it will hire over 100 local employees across business, e-sports, and game development.
8. Economy – Our vaccine 92% effective in interim trial, claims Russia – Retail inflation soared to a 77-month high in October led by a surge in food prices, while industrial output climbed to positive territory in September after six successive months of contraction, ushering in both cheer and apprehension for policymakers trying to put the economy back on track. Data showed inflation as measured by the consumer price index jumped to a near six-and-ahalf year high of 7.6%, higher than the 7.3% in the previous month. Rural inflation was at 7.7%, while urban was at 7.4%. The October 2020 number was the highest since the 8.3% recorded in May 2014.
9. Internal Security – Besides Ladakh, India & China seek to settle other ‘outstanding issues’ – India and China are pushing for settlement of “other outstanding issues” apart from disengagement in eastern Ladakh, raising hopes that any deal that may be worked out may include other “problem areas” on the Line of Actutal Control (LAC). There have been reports that India and China are considering disengagement proposals in eastern Ladakh where the two armies have been in a stand-off situation since May. This could include not only the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Tso but could also the outstanding issue on the Depsang plains, where Indian patrols have been stopped by the Chinese side.
10. Defence – India launches fifth Scorpene sub, may be delivered to Navy in 2022 – The country’s fifth Scorpene submarine ‘Vagir’ has been `launched’ at the Mazagon Docks (MDL). The diesel-electric 1,565-tonne vessel, which will now undergo extensive tests, harbour and sea trials, is likely to be delivered to the Navy in 2022. Under the over Rs 23,000 crore ‘Project-75’ under way at MDL for construction of six French-origin Scorpene submarines, the Navy has commissioned two vessels, INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi, till now. The third submarine ‘Karanj’ is now in the last phase of sea trials, while the fourth ‘Vela’ has just begun them. The sixth named ‘Vagsheer’ is likely to be ready for commissioning by 2023.

Important Exam Notifications
S. No.	Institution	Exam or Post Name	Vacancies or Seats	Qualification	Last Date to Apply	Link for Details
1	NRFMTTI	Multi Tasking Staff (Technical)	6	ITI (Relevant Trade)	30 DAYS	http://nerfmtti.nic.in/Recruitment/Filling%20up%20of%20posts%20of%20Multi%20Tasking%20Staff%20(Technical)%20in%20FMT&TIs%20by%20Direct%20recruitment.pdf
2	TRIFED	Procurement Executive	40	12th Class with Comp. knowledge	17 to 25-11-2020 Walk in	https://img.freejobalert.com/uploads/2020/11/Notification-TRIFED-Procurement-Executive-Posts.pdf
3	IIT, Guwahati	SRF, Associate Pro. Eng., Pro. Scientist	14	B.Tech, PG, Ph.D	NOV-16-2020	https://iitg.ac.in/ckfinder/userfiles/files/NANOSPNxDIT00041xxAC011_Rev%20(16-11-20).pdf
4	BEL	Trainee Eng -I, Pro. Eng. -I & Trainee Eng -II	385	B.E/ B.Tech/ B.Sc/ MCA	NOV-21-2020	http://www.freejobalert.com/bel/16294/#Trainee-Engineer
5	BEL	Trainee Eng. I, Officer I, Project Eng. I, Officer I	549	B.E/ B.Tech/ B.Sc (Engg), PG/ PG Dip.	NOV-25-2020	http://www.freejobalert.com/bel/16294/#Engineer-Officer
6	Deputy Comm., Bongaigaon	Junior Assistant	8	Any Degree	NOV-27-2020	https://niyukti.assam.gov.in/bongaigaon_ja/files/advertise.pdf
7	IIT, Guwahati	SRF, Associate Pro. Eng, Project Scientist	14	B. Tech, PG, Ph. D	NOV-16-2020	https://iitg.ac.in/ckfinder/userfiles/files/NANOSPNxDIT00041xxAC011_Rev%20(16-11-20).pdf

 

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• SECTION 2 - DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

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• 1. CONSTITUTION AND LAW (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

1.1 Not Available Today

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• 2. ECONOMY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper

2.1 Retail inflation at a six-year high 

 

 

Data analysis -

• Retail inflation jumped to a six-year high of 7.61% in October 2020 from a year ago, compared to an increase of 7.27% in September, a reading that is well above the Reserve Bank of India’s acceptable limit of 4% (+/-2) for the seventh straight month.
• The country’s consumer-price index - a measure of what households pay for everyday items, including fuel, clothing and electricity - is now at its highest level since May 2014, fuelled by persistent high food prices.
• Combined (rural and urban) food price inflation rose 11.07% in October on the back of costlier onions, potatoes and other vegetables, up from 9.73% in September.
• Vegetable prices surged 22.51% in October after increasing 20.73% in September.
• Prices of meat and fish increased 18.7% in October against a 17.6% rise in the previous month, while pulses rose 18.34% in October against a 14.67% rise in September.
• Among major categories that make up the consumer price index, fuel and light inflation jumped 2.28%, compared to a 2.87% rise in September, while health costs climbed 5.22%, against a 4.9% surge in the previous month.
• Household goods and services prices recorded a 2.83% growth, marginally down from September’s 2.9%.

Important details –

• High food costs affect poorer households more than affluent ones.
• The poor tend to spend a higher proportion of their monthly budgets on food because according to the well-known Engel’s Law, as household income rises, the percentage of income spent on food declines, relative to other expenditure.
• The upsurge in vegetable prices was driven by damage to stored and freshly harvested onion stocks due to heavy rains last month in states, such as Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• Higher onion exports this year, of over 2 million tonne till August, also exacerbated domestic shortage.
• To curb prices, the government had on Sept 14 banned export of onions. To help quicken imports, the government on October 21 relaxed fumigation norms for imported onions.
• Elevated retail prices not just affect consumers but also shrink the Reserve Bank’s room to lower interest rates further to boost growth at a time when the pandemic has battered key sectors.
• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India, in its first ever ‘nowcast’ note, had said the country had “entered a technical recession in the first half of 2020-21 for the first time in its history”.
• Growth in the first quarter fell 23.9%. The government has also announced a third round of stimulus worth Rs 2.65 lakh crore to steer the economy out of a deep slump.

2.2 India in historic technical recession

 

 

RBI’s first ‘nowcast’ –

• Gross domestic product contracted 8.6 per cent in the quarter ended September.
• India's economy probably shrank for a second straight quarter, pushing the country into an unprecedented recession. The economy had slumped about 24 per cent in April to June.
• India has entered a technical recession in the first half of 2020-21 for the first time in its history.
• The median forecast in a reliable survey of economists sees a contraction of 10.4% in the July-September quarter.
• The Central Bank’s number is buoyed by cost cuts at companies that boosted operating profits even as sales dipped.
• Economists have said that there is a grave risk of generalization of price pressures, unanchoring of inflation expectations feeding into a loss of credibility in policy interventions.
• They have also highlighted risks to global growth from a second wave of coronavirus infections.

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• 3. ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3, Essay paper)

3.1 Not Available Today

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• 4. FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Prelims, GS Paper 2, Essay paper)

4.1 Weekly Round-up – Foreign Affairs II

• Pakistan: Gilgit-Baltistan granted provisional provincial status - Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on November 1, 2020 granted Gilgit-Baltistan a provisional provincial status. Gilgit-Baltistan had limited autonomy, and was ruled by the Gilgit-Baltistan Empowerment and Self-Governance Order of 2009.
• Covid-19: UK PM imposes stay-at-home order in England till Dec 2 - UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson on November 1, 2020 imposed stay-at-home order in England from November 3 to December 2 in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases.
• Georgia: Ruling Georgian Dream wins parliamentary election - Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party won the country’s parliamentary election held on October 31, 2020 with 48.1% of the vote. Georgian Dream nominated the current prime minister, Giorgi Gakharia to stay on in his post.
• New Zealanders agree to legalise euthanasia in referendum - New Zealanders have voted in favour of legalising euthanasia in a binding referendum. The euthanasia measure, which would also allow assisted suicide, would apply to people who have terminal illnesses, are likely to die within six months, and are enduring unbearable suffering.
• Germany: New Berlin airport inaugurated - The newly constructed Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt, named after the former West German chancellor, was inaugurated in Germany on October 31, 2020.
• Global FDI flows fell 49% in first half of 2020: UNCTAD - Global foreign direct investment (FDI) flows fell 49% in the first half of 2020 compared to 2019 due to the economic fallout from COVID-19, UNCTAD revealed in its Global Investment Trends Monitor released on October 27, 2020.
• Japan to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050 - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has said that the country will achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. As per Japan’s current energy plan, 56 per cent of its energy requirements come from fossil fuels.
• World Day for Audiovisual Heritage celebrated on Oct 27 - The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage was celebrated on October 27, 2020 with its theme as: ‘Your Window to the World’. The day provides an occasion to raise general awareness of the need to take urgent measures and to acknowledge the importance of audiovisual documents.
• Ban on public events can curb Covid transmission rate by 24%: Lancet study - Ban on public events can bring down the COVID-19 reproduction number (R) number -- a key measure of virus transmission -- by 24% in less than a month, according to a modelling study published in The Lancet journal. An R value above 1 indicates a growing outbreak, whereas an R value below 1 indicates a shrinking outbreak. The research used data from 131 countries.
• Pakistan govt inaugurates its first transport project under CPEC - The first transport project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was inaugurated in Lahore on October 26, 2020. The project was completed in six years at the cost of over $2.2 billion. The overhead Lahore Orange Line Metro Train will operate between Lahore’s Dera Gujjran to Ali Town on 27 km stretch.
• Turkish President calls for a boycott of French goods - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 26, 2020 joined calls for a boycott of French goods, ramping up a standoff between France and Muslim countries over Islam and freedom of speech. Erdogan has led the charge against President Emmanuel Macron over his robust defence of the right to mock religion following the murder of a French schoolteacher who had shown his class cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
• World Cities Day observed on Oct 31 - World Cities Day was observed on October 31, 2020 with its theme as ‘Valuing Our Communities and Cities’. The Day is expected to push forward cooperation among countries in meeting opportunities and addressing challenges of urbanization.
• US: Amy Barrett confirmed as U.S Supreme Court justice - The US Senate has voted to confirm the appointment of Amy Barrett to U.S. Supreme Court. Barret was President Trump’s choice to fill the vacancy caused by the demise of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
• Tanzania: John Magufuli re-elected President - John Magufuli was declared re-elected as President of Tanzania on October 30, 2020 with 84% of votes, while his Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) ruling party took 97% of the 264 elected Parliament seats.

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• 5. GOVERNMENT SCHEMES (Prelims, GS Paper 2, GS Paper 3)

5.1 Not Available Today

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• 6. MISCELLANEOUS (Prelims, Various GS Papers)

6.1 Weekly Round-up – Sports

• John Peers & Michael Venus win doubles at €472,590 ATP tennis - John Peers (Australia) and Michael Venus (Nee Zealand) won the men’s doubles title at the €472,590 ATP tennis tournament at Antwerp, Belgium by defeating India’s Rohan Bopanna and Matwe Middelkoop of Netherlands in the final 6-3, 6-4 in October 2020.
• Alexander Zverev wins Cologne Championship tennis - Germany’s Alexander Zverev won the men’s singles title at Cologne Championship tennis in Germany on October 25, 2020 by beating Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 6-1 in the final. On October 19, he had won Cologne Indoors final.
• Aryna Sabalenka wins Ostrava Open tennis - Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus won the women’s singles title at the Ostrava Open WTA tennis tournament the Czech Republic by beating her compatriot Victoria Azarenka 6-2, 6-2 on October 25, 2020.
• Rutuja Bhosale wins ITF women’s tennis tournament at Sharm El Sheikh - India’s Rutuja Bhosale won the women’s singles title at the $15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament at Sharm El Sheikh by beating Anna Siskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 7-5 in the final on November 1, 2020.
• Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton became Formula One’s record all-time race-winner on October 25, 2020 when he claimed his 92nd victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix to pass Michael Schumacher at the top of the list. He was followed by his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas in second place while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third.
• Lewis Hamilton wins Formula One Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix - Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the Formula One Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at Imola in Italy on November 1, 2020 followed by another Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas in second place and Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo in third. Mercedes have won seventh consecutive constructors’ championship in 2020 with four races remaining.
• Aleem Dar breaks record of most ODIs as on-field umpire - 52-year-old Aleem Dar of Pakistan on November 1, 2020 broke the record for most ODIs as an on-field umpire when he stood for his 210th match in the series’ second match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi. He surpassed South African Rudi Koertzen’s record of officiating in most ODIs. Dar also holds the record for Tests (132) as well as most international matches (387).

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• 7. POLITY (Prelims, GS Paper 2)

7.1 Submarine Vagir launched

 

 

Highlights –

• The fifth Scorpene class submarine Vagir for the Indian Navy has been launched in Mumbai.
• The submarine will now undergo comprehensive and rigorous tests and trials for more than a year to ensure delivery of a combat worthy submarine, capable of operation in all modes and regimes of deployment.
• The crew will also sail the submarine for “sea acceptance trials” after which the submarine will be delivered to the Navy.
• The addition of the submarine will prove to be critical for the Indian Navy which is operating at a less than ideal strength given India’s vast coastline.
• The Vagir submarine has the ability to launch a crippling attack on an enemy with torpedoes as well as tube-launched anti-ship missiles whilst underwater or on surface.  
• Vagir has the ability to carry out multifarious missions typically undertaken by any modern submarine, which include anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and area surveillance.
• Six Scorpene submarines were to be manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), Mumbai, under programme Project-75 with a $3 billion contract.
• Two have already been commissioned into the Indian Navy. The third and fourth submarines are undergoing sea trials, whilst the sixth and last submarine is being readied.

7.2 Election results 2020

 

 

Bihar –

• The NDA, under the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar, is all set for another term in Bihar by crossing the majority mark of 122 seats.
• All NDA partners- BJP, JD(U), Vikassheel Insaan Party, and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)- together won 125 seats of the 243 assembly constituencies.
• While the BJP won 74 assembly seats, chief minister’s party JD(U) won 43 seats, Vikassheel Insaan Party registered victory in four constituencies, and so did the HAM.
• The Congress won 19 of the 70 seats it contested in the Bihar assembly elections. Tejashwi Yadav's RJD or Rashtriya Janata Dal emerged as the largest party with 75 seats.

UP by-election results –

• The Bharatiya Janata Party won 6 out the 7 Assembly seats in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly bypolls.
• The Samajwadi Party only managed to retain power in Malhani as Lucky Yadav defeated independent candidate Dhananjay Singh by 4,632 votes in his late father Parasnath Yadav's bastion.
• With the BJP and the SP retaining their seats, the 403-member assembly will now again have 310 MLAs from the BJP and 49 from the SP.
• Karnataka bypolls –
• The ruling BJP in Karnataka has won the byelections to two assembly constituencies, wresting the seats from opposition Congress and JDS.
• It created history, recording its first-ever victory in the Sira assembly segment in Tumakuru district with party candidate Dr C M Rajesh Gowda romping home with a margin of over 12,000 votes.

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• 8. SOCIAL ISSUES (Prelims, GS Paper 1, GS Paper 2)

8.1 Postman to help central government pensioners

 

Highlights –

• India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) have successfully launched the initiative of the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW): “Doorstep Service for submission of Digital Life Certificate (DLC) through Postman”.
• The facility to submit life certificate online through Jeevan Pramaan Portal was launched by the PM in November, 2014 with the objective to provide a convenient and transparent facility to pensioners for submission of Life Certificate.
• With a view to making this facility available across the country, DoPPW roped in the IPPB and utilised its huge network of Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks in providing doorstep facility to pensioners for submission of life certificate digitally.
• IPPB has customised its Bank software and dovetailed the same with Jeevan Pramaan software of MeitY and UIDAI, to provide DLC services at the doorstep of pensioners.
• The facility will be in addition to other facilities such as withdrawal of money from bank accounts, while sitting at home.
• IPPB is utilising its national network of more than 1,36,000 access points in Post Offices and more than 1,89,000 Postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks with smart phones and biometric devices to provide Doorstep Banking Services.
• As a result, a huge number of pensioners across the country will be able to avail doorstep service through Postmen/ Gramin Dak Sevak, without visiting a bank branch or standing in a queue outside the bank branches.

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• 9. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (Prelims, GS Paper 3)

9.1 Not Available Today

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• 10. FACTS, CHARTS, RANKINGS and EDITORIALS (Prelims + GS Mains)

10.1 Not Available Today

 

10.2 Daily dose of  FIVE Facts -

• According to Kolkata-based Botanical Survey of India (BSI), 180 plant species were discovered in India in 2019.
• INSAS stands for Indian Small Arms System.
• Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah became the new ruler of Kuwait in September 2020.
• International Translation Day was celebrated on September 30.
• Aditya Puri, MD, HDFC Bank, was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Euromoney Awards of Excellence 2020.

10.3 Today's best editorials to read

• We offer you 7 excellent editorials from across 10 newspapers we have scanned. 

CLICK HERE TO OPEN AND READ!

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• SECTION 3 - MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)

Solve the online quiz given, right now. Check scores, and relative performance!

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