Current Affairs - MCQ Online Test (1) - UPSC MCQ

Answer: b

Explanation:

Western Ghats is a 1,500-km biodiversity-rich geological formation along the western Indian coast, which is also rich in minerals. Demarcation of an ESA is an effort to protect the fragile eco-system from indiscriminate industrialisation, mining and unregulated development. Two committees were appointed in the last eight years to identify the areas that needed to be kept out from such activities. The first of these, called the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, headed by noted environmentalist Madhav Gadgil had recommended that the entire region should be made out of bounds for new industrial activities. The other one, headed by Kasturirangan, had suggested that only about 37 per cent of the entire region needed be demarcated into an ESA.

Answer: a

Explanation:

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has published its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant `priority pathogens’ -a catalogue of 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. This is bad news for India as most of these 12 superbugs are present in the country.

Answer: a

Explanation:

High nitrogen steels (HNS) are a new class of high alloy martensitic, austenitic or duplex grades with up to 0.9 mass% of N in solid solution. They are applied e.g. to stainless tools and bearings, in chemical engineering and for high strength non-magnetic components.

HNS is not only tough but also has good strength. In addition to being non magnetic as well as corrosion resistant, the HNS cost is about 40% less compared to Rolled Homogenous Armour Steel (RHA). This material has potential for a number of defence and civil applications like armouring, mine trawls, oil industries etc.

Answer: c

Explanation:

National Science Day is celebrated all over India with great enthusiasm on 28th of February every year in order to commemorate the invention of the Raman Effect in India by the Indian physicist, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman on the same day in the year 1928.

The Raman Effect is a change in the wavelength of light that occurs when a light beam is deflected by molecules.

Answer: c

Explanation:

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is a marine wildlife sanctuary located in Odisha. It extends from Dhamra River mouth in the north to Mahanadi river mouth in the south. It is very famous for its nesting beach for olive Ridley sea turtles. It is the one of world’s most important nesting beach for turtles. Tens of thousands of eggs laid by Olive Ridley sea turtles this year in this sanctuary are getting destroyed due to shrinking coastal space.

Answer: d

Explanation:

The newly constructed Tezu airport will be the first civilian airport of Arunachal Pradesh. Tezu will smoothen transport to several high-altitude districts near the India-China border. The ancient inhabitant of this land of valley and rivers are the Mishmi tribes. The Mishmi tribes have traditions and customs dating back to the times of Mahabharata. According to Hindu traditions, Lord Krishna’s first queen Rukmini was a Mishmi Damsel.

Mission Kakatiya is the Telangana government’s flagship programme aimed at restoring minor irrigation sources like tanks and other water bodies to help small and marginal farmers. The name ‘Mission Kakatiya’ is given in the remembrance and tribute to the Kakatiya rulers who developed large number of the irrigation tanks. The 12th and the 13th centuries saw the emergence of the Kakatiyas. They were at first the feudatories of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyana, ruling over a small territory near Warangal. Prataparudra I established a sovereign dynasty in 1163 CE. The dynasty saw powerful leaders like Ganapathi Deva and Rudramadevi.

Answer: d

Explanation:

Kurukh, an endangered tribal language of the Dravidian family, is set to get a new lease of life in West Bengal. It is spoken by the Oraon tribal community. The language is marked as being in a “vulnerable” state in UNESCO’s list of endangered languages. Jharkhand has recognised Kurukh as a language

Answer: b

Explanation:

Senior tribal leader from Chhattisgarh and ex parliamentarian Shri Nand Kuamr Sai recently assumed charge as the chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). NCST was established by amending Article 338 and inserting a new Article 338A in the Constitution through the Constitution (89th Amendment) Act, 2003.

Answer: c

Explanation:

A digital India initiative of the government of India has transformed the digital profile of India significantly. Some of the key indicators of this are:

• Bharat Net is an optical Fibre Network to connect the villages of India has seen rapid growth. 

• MyGov is a new platform created for participative governance.

• Jeevan Pramaan Portal is a new initiative to provide convenience to pension holders.

• Digi Locker is a new initiative to provide safe, online document storage to the citizen.

• eNAM is an online National Agriculture, Market, created so that farmers can get the best price for their produce. 

• Land records have been computerised in 31 states and Union Territories.  Record of Rights (RORs) made online for 22 States/UTs.

• Digi Dhan Abhiyaan is done to promote digital payments across the country.

Taking this pace of digital development the Union Budget 2017 has not only given an impetus to the existing efforts but has clearly outlined the roadmap for the future of digital development of India.

Answer: b

Explanation:

Rip tides are strong sea currents which push away from the shore as a strong storm is near. They are formed by the strong winds pushing water towards the shore. Tropical cyclone winds push waves up against the shoreline even if they are hundreds of miles away, so rip tide warnings are often the first indication of a nearby hurricane.

Rip currents are a potential source of danger for people in the shallow water with breaking waves in seas, oceans and lakes. Rip currents are the proximate cause of 80% of rescues carried out by beach lifeguards. In a rip current, death by drowning occurs when a person has limited water skills and panics, or when a swimmer persists in trying to swim to shore against a strong rip current, thus eventually becoming exhausted and unable to stay afloat.

Answer: c

Explanation:

The international naval exercise “AMAN-17” is being held in Karachi, Pakistan. More than 35 countries are participating in the event. The multinational exercise, themed “together for peace,” has been planned by the Pakistan Navy.

AMAN 17 exercise will feature harbour and sea phases where participants will witness a variety of activities including Search & Rescue (SAR) Operations, gunnery drills, anti-piracy demonstrations, replenishment at Sea (RAS) and maritime counterterrorism demonstrations.

It involves ships, aircraft, helicopters, Special Operations Forces (SOF), Explosives Ordinance Disposal (EOD), marine teams and observers from regional as well extra-regional navies. This exercise provides a platform for the navies involved – some of which do not work together very often – to hone their skills and build cooperation and friendship to promote peace and stability.

Answer: b

Explanation:

The judicial powers and functions of the governor are that he can grant pardons, reprives, respites and remissions of punishment or suspend, remit and commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends.

He cannot pardon a death sentence. Even if a state law prescribes for a death sentence, the power to grant pardon lies with the President and not the governor. But, the governor can suspend, remit or commute a death sentence.

Governor cannot grant pardon, reprieve, respite, suspension, remission or commutation in respect to punishment or sentence by a court-martial (military court).

Answer: a

Explanation:

As per the NSSO Survey, only 6% of rural households have a computer. This highlights that more than 15 crore rural households do not have computers and a significant number of these households are likely to be digitally illiterate. The PMGDISHA being initiated under Digital India Programme would cover 6 crore households in rural areas to make them digitally literate. This would empower the citizens by providing them access to information, knowledge and skills for operating computers / digital access devices.

The outlay for this project is to usher in digital literacy in rural India by March 2019. PMGDISHA is expected to be one of the largest digital literacy programmes in the world. To ensure equitable geographical reach, each of the 250,000 Gram Panchayats would be expected to register an average of 200-300 candidates.

Digitally literate persons would be able to operate computers/digital access devices (like tablets, smartphones, etc.), send and receive emails, browse the internet, access Government Services, search for information, undertaking cashless transactions, etc and hence use IT to actively participate in the process of nation building.

The implementation of the Scheme would be carried out under the overall supervision of Ministry of Electronics and IT in active collaboration with States/UTs through their designated State Implementing Agencies, District e-Governance Society (DeGS), etc.

Answer: b

Explanation:

In India, GI registration is governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 which came into force in September 2003. Darjeeling tea was the first product to be accorded with a GI tag in India.

The GI tag is an indication which is definite to a geographical territory. It is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods.

For a product to get GI tag, the goods need to be produced or processed or prepared in that region. It is also essential that the product has special quality or reputation.

Nilambur teak is popularly known as the Mecca of teak. Nilambur teak, internationally known for its superior quality and elegant appearance, will soon be added to the list of Kerala produces with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Answer: a

Explanation:

“Hunar Haat” is being organised by the National Minorities Development & Finance Corporation (NMDFC) under USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) scheme of Ministry of Minority Affairs.

The second edition of Hunar Haat has begun in New Delhi with the theme as “Craft Aur Cuisine Ka Sangam”. It is being organised by the Minority Affairs Ministry to encourage, promote and provide a national and international market to master artisans/craftsmen belonging to the Minority communities from across the country.

India successfully test-fired Prithvi missile interceptor a gen-next state-of-the-art interceptor missile and hence achieving a significant milestone in its ongoing Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) programme.

Prithvi Defence Vehicle is the interceptor indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) which is capable of killing an incoming missile with a strike range of around 2,000 km outside the earth’s atmosphere.

India is the fifth nation in the world to have a robust Ballistic Missile Defence system. Other countries are US, Russia, Israel and China.

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Indian Navy has installed solar panels on board survey ship INS Sarvekshak which is based in Kochi coast. With this, Sarvekshak has become the first ship in India, perhaps first in the world, to use solar energy on board.

The solar panels have the capacity to produce 5.4 KV of electricity, which is sufficient for internal lighting of the vessel round-the-clock.

Answer: a

Explanation:

In India, the Extradition Act, 1962, regulates the surrender of a person to another country or the request for the arrest of a person in a foreign land. According to the act, any conduct by a person in India or elsewhere mentioned in a list of extradition offences punishable with a minimum one year of imprisonment qualifies for an extradition request. Currently, India has extradition treaties with 38 countries.

Extradition refers to the surrender of a criminal to one country by another. The process of extradition is regulated by treaties between the two countries. Extradition is important because it helps to maintain the sanctity of the penal code of one country or territory.

The crime done by the accused should fall in the category of dual criminality. This 

means that it should be a punishable offence according to the laws of both countries – the one where the accused has taken refuge and the one that seeks extradition. Persons charged for political reasons are generally not extradited.

There are countries where capital punishment is banned. If a fugitive has taken refuge in such a country, and if the establishment of that country thinks that, if extradited, the accused might get capital punishment, the country most likely refuses to extradite

Answer: c

Explanation:

PSLV-C37 is a mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle program, which carried 104 satellites to the orbit. PSLV-C37 broke the earlier records of launching 37 satellites by a Russian rocket and of 29 satellites launched by NASA. PSLV-C37 launched 104 satellites in a single mission from the ISRO space centre at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on 15th February 2017 making it the highest number of satellites launched by a single launch vehicle.

The rocket launched 104 satellites of which three are Indian, 88 are from the USA and the rest from Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. The three Indian satellites launched are Cartosat-2D, INS-1A and INS-1B. The other foreign satellites contributed to approximately 820 kilogrammes making the total payload of approximately 1,500 kilogrammes. 

ISRO claimed that it would recover half the budget of the mission from the foreign countries whose satellites it would launch.

Answer: c

Explanation:

The government plans to come out with ‘Indradhanush 2.0’, a comprehensive plan for the recapitalisation of public sector lenders, with a view to making sure they remain solvent and fully comply with the global capital adequacy norms, Basel-III.

The Reserve Bank of India had asked banks to recognise some top defaulting accounts as non-performing assets (NPAs) and make adequate provisions for them. It has had a debilitating impact on banks’ numbers and their stocks.

Under Indradhanush roadmap announced in 2015, the government had announced to meet their capital requirement in line with global risk norms, known as Basel-III. The mission includes the seven key reforms of appointments, the board of bureau, capitalisation, de-stressing, and empowerment, the framework of accountability and governance reforms.

Answer: b

Explanation:

South Asia is a rapidly growing region that is home to one-fifth of the world’s population. SARTTAC will allow the IMF to meet more of the high demand for technical assistance and training from the region.

SARTTAC is a collaborative venture between the IMF, the member countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka), and development partners.

The Centre aims at helping its member countries strengthen their institutional and human capacity to design and implement macroeconomic and financial policies that promote growth and reduce poverty in a rapidly growing region that is home to one-fifth of the world’s population.

SARTTAC will allow the IMF to meet more of the high demand for technical assistance and training from the region.

Answer: d

Explanation:

Kambala is traditionally a simple sport which, essentially, to entertain rural people of the area. The 'track' used for Kambala is a slushy paddy field. The contest generally takes place between two pairs of buffaloes, each pair race in wet rice fields, controlled by a whip-lashing farmer. Historically, the winning pair of buffaloes was rewarded with coconuts and bananas.

Kambala is held traditionally under the sponsorship of local landlords and households or Patel of the village, in coastal Karnataka, India. The Kambala season generally starts in November and lasts until March. Currently, more than 45 races are held annually in Coastal 

Karnataka, including smaller remote villages like Vandaru, Gulvadi etc.

Answer: a

Explanation:

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in the country and it has now become home to the first of its kind loktak floating elementary school. The school has been inaugurated at Langolsabi Leikai of Champu Khangpok village in Manipur. It aims to provide education to drop out students, who were rendered homeless due to the recent evacuation of phumdis.

The school has been opened under the initiative undertaken by All Loktak Lake Fisherman’s Union with the support of an NGO – People Resources Development Association (PRDA). The school will not only cater to the need of the children but for the illiterate adults as well. The school will be accommodated around 25 students and two teachers from the community.

The Loktak Lake is referred as the “lifeline of Manipur” as it is highly productive and many lives depend on the lake for endurance. The lake is also an Important Bird Area as it’s a potential breeding site for waterfowl and is a staging site for migratory birds.

This ancient lake serves as a source of water for hydropower generation, irrigation and drinking water supply. The lake is also a source of livelihood for the rural fisherman who lives in the surrounding areas and on phumdis, also known as “phumshongs”.