1) Consider the following statements with respect to Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB) Programme
It facilitates the transfer of tax audit knowledge and skills to developing country tax administrations.
It is jointly launched by UNDP and OECD.
India is not a part of this programme.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
The TIWB initiative intended to support developing countries to strengthen national tax administrations through building audit capacity and to share this knowledge with other countries.
It is jointly launched by UNDP and OECD.
The Union Cabinet has recently approved the Signing of Terms of Reference (TOR) governing the engagement of the designated Indian Expert to provide tax assistance to Swaziland (now known as Eswatini) under the Tax Inspectors without Borders Programme between India and Eswatini.
India being a global leader in this respect has a very important role to play in South-South Cooperation in tax matters.
2) “Umesh Sinha Committee” sometimes seen in the news recently was constituted for which of the following purposes?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
A Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Sr. Deputy Election Commissioner Sh. Umesh Sinha.
It was constituted to review and suggest modifications and changes in the provisions of the Section 126 and other sections of the Representation of the People Act 1951, provisions of Model Code of Conduct and any other ECI instruction in this regard.
It has submitted its report recently.
3) Consider the following statements with respect to National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
It will be a mid-term, 10 year action plan with 2019 as the first year.
It aims to reduce Particulate Matter (PM) pollution by 20-30% across India, atleast by 2024.
2018 is considered as the base year for this programme.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
The Centre has launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to reduce particulate matter (PM) pollution by 20-30% in at least 102 cities by 2024.
This is not a pan-India, but a city-specific programme.
The NCAP will be a mid-term, five-year action plan with 2019 as the first year.
For achieving the NCAP targets, the cities will have to calculate the reduction in pollution keeping 2017’s average annual PM levels as the base year.
4) Consider the following statements
An amendment to a fundamental right coming under Part III does not require ratification by the legislatures of one half of the States.
Principle of equality is one of the foremost basic features of the Constitution.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
The proviso to Article 368 makes it clear that when a Constitution amendment of a fundamental right is in question, the Bill concerned need not be sent to the States’ Legislative Assemblies for ratification.
Only Constitution amendments which affect the Centre-State relations or division of powers in a federal structure require subsequent ratification by the States’ Legislatures before the Presidential assent.
Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy can be amended by a special majority of parliament and does not require consent of states.
From the various judgements, the following have emerged as basic features of the Constitution or elements / components / ingredients of the ‘basic structure’ of the constitution:
Supremacy of the Constitution
Sovereign, democratic and republican nature of the Indian polity
Secular character of the Constitution
Separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary
Federal character of the Constitution
Unity and integrity of the nation
Welfare state (socio-economic justice)
Judicial review
Freedom and dignity of the individual
Parliamentary system
Rule of law
Harmony and balance between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
Principle of equality
Free and fair elections
Independence of Judiciary
Limited power of Parliament to amend the Constitution
Effective access to justice
Principles (or essence) underlying fundamental rights.
Powers of the Supreme Court under Articles 32, 136, 141 and 142
Powers of the High Courts’ under Articles 226 and 227.
5) Consider the following statements
Tons and Giri rivers are the tributaries of River Yamuna.
Renukaji Dam Project is proposed to be constructed on the river Giri in Himachal Pradesh.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Three storage projects are proposed to be constructed on the river Yamuna and two of its tributaries - Tons and Giri in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh of Upper Yamuna Basin.
These include Lakhwar project on river Yamuna in Uttarakhand , Kishau on river Tons in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and Renukaji on river Giriin Himachal Pradesh.
An agreement for Renukaji Dam Multipurpose Project will be signed among six states - Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.
6) Consider the following statements with respect to Kharai Camels
They are a unique breed of camel found only in Kutch.
They depend on mangroves for their food.
Industrialisation stands to be the biggest threat for its existence.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
The Kharai is a unique breed of camel found only in Kutch, which feeds on mangroves.
Salt-making industries operating in the area are threatening its food supply and existence.
7) Consider the following statements with respect to Container Corporation of India (CONCOR)
It is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) company, incorporated under the Companies Act.
It comes under the Ministry of railways.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
CONCORis a Navratna Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Indian Ministry of Railways incorporated under the Companies Act.
The maiden coastal voyage of SSL Mumbai, a vessel of Container Corporation of India (Concor) was recently flagged off from Kandla Port to Tuticorin via Mangalore and Cochin.
This is a unique example of multi-modal logistics solution through integrated rail and coastal movement.
This modal shift in the logistics chain was an important beginning that would help to bring down logistics costs and make Indian goods more competitive in the global markets in the very near future.
8) Consider the following pairs
Hubble Telescope – U.S.A
Kepler Telescope – U.S.A
CHIME Telescope – Canada
Which of the pair(s) given above is/are space telescopes?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Scientists have recently detected the second repeating fast radio burst (FRB) ever recorded, a discovery that may help determine the origin of these mysterious signals which have been linked with advanced alien technology in the past.
The discovery of this extragalactic signal was made through the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), an interferometric radio telescope in the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory in British Columbia,Canada. (It is not a space telescope)
9) Consider the following statements with respect to Swaziland
It is a landlocked country fully bordered by South Africa.
It was formerly called as Eswatini.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Eswatinierstwhile known as Swaziland is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west and south.
The Union Cabinet has recently approved the Signing of Terms of Reference (TOR) governing the engagement of the designated Indian Expert to provide tax assistance to Swaziland (now known as Eswatini) under the Tax Inspectors without Borders Programme between India and Eswatini.
10) Consider the following statements with respect to Indus Food 2019
It is India’s export-focussed Food & Beverage products trade fair.
It is the second edition of the event that held annually.
This year’s theme is ‘World Food Supermarket’.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
INDUS FOOD-II with the theme of ‘World Food Supermarket’ will be held on 14th and 15th January, 2019, at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida.
Organized annually, Indusfood is India’s official, export-focussed F&B Trade fair showcasing the country’s best line-up of food & agri products to global buyers.
