UNCTAD - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

1)   What is India’s target for port capacity in the year 2020 as per the Maritime Agenda?

a. 3030 MT
b. 3130 MT
c. 3131 MT
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: 3130 MT

Explanation:
Close to 95% of India’s trade (by value) and 68% in terms of value is by sea. UNCTAD has estimated that India with 11.7 million 20 foot equivalent units of container and a world share of 1.7% ranked 9th in 2015 in containership operations among developing nations. Cargo traffic of Indian ports rose by 8.2% to 1052.21 MT in 2014-2015. India’s Maritime Agenda envisages 3130 MT of port capacity by 2020.


2)   UNCTAD released the Trade and Development Report 2015 entitled ____________________ on October 6th 2015.

a. Making the International Financial Architecture Work for Development
b. Making the Infrastructure Generation Work for Development
c. Making the Policy Initiatives Work for Sustainable Development
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Making the International Financial Architecture Work for Development

Explanation:
UNCTAD released the Trade and Development Report 2015 at its Geneva HQ which found that the global economy is growing at 2.5% following 2008 financial meltdown and rebound in 2010. The growth rate for 2015 is expected to remain more or less unchanged from last year, at 2.5 per cent and developed nations are projected to grow at around 1.9 per cent, compared with 1.6 per cent in 2014. The reasons for this include growth in the eurozone and Japan’s moderate acceleration, although from very low rates. US is expected to continue post crisis growth trajectory and between 2012 and 2014, world merchandise trade increased between 2 to 2.5%.The report expects that India’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to grow at 7.5 per cent in 2015 as the pressure on current account deficit has been easing due to the lowering oil prices in the international market. India’s exports fell from 8.5% in 2013 to 3.2% in 2014 on account of negative trend in international economy.