1) Consider the following statements with respect to Atal Bhujal Yojana
It is a pan-Indian program aimed at sustainable ground water management through community participation.
The funding pattern is 50:50 between Government of India and World Bank.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) aimed at sustainable ground water management with community participation in select over-exploited and ground water stressed areas in seven States (Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh).
ABHY is designed as a Central Sector Scheme with a total outlay of Rs. 6,000 Crore and is proposed to be implemented with World Bank assistance.
The funding pattern is 50:50 between Government of India and World Bank.
2) “International Intellectual Property Index” was recently released by which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
India has climbed eight places to rank 36th in the latest annual International IP Index released by the US Chambers of Commerce.
In 2018 International Intellectual Property Index, India was ranked 44 out of 50 countries.
3) Consider the following statements with respect to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
States cannot deny entry to the CBI to probe cases referred by the Constitutional courts.
Withdrawal of consent to CBI by a state government can be effected prospectively and not retrospectively.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
The CBI, which functions under the provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, 1946, can probe offences in a state with prior approval of the state government concerned.
Further, Constitutional courts can also entrust any case or class of case for investigation in exercise of inherent jurisdiction even without the consent of the respective state government.
Further, in the cases which are referred by the Constitutional courts, the entry of CBI cannot be denied by that state as these do not require the consent of the state.
Withdrawal of consent, if any, by a state government can be effected prospectively and not retrospectively.
4) Consider the following statements with respect to Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
It is an Inter-governmental International organisation.
All sovereign States of the Indian Ocean Rim are eligible for membership of the association.
India is the current Chair of IORA.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
It is an Intergovernmental organization which was established on 1997.
It is a dynamic organisation of 22 Member States and 9 Dialogue Partners.
All sovereign States of the Indian Ocean Rim are eligible for membership of the Association.
India is a member.
IORA’s apex body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) which meets annually.
The Republic of South Africa assumed the role of chair for 2017-2019.
The meeting of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Cluster Group on Disaster Risk Management (DRM) to strengthen cooperation in disaster response concluded recently.
5) “Water Conservation Fee” sometimes seen in the news recently is?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Ground water extraction in India is regulated by Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) under Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation had recently notified revised guidelines to regulate and control ground water extraction in India, which was proposed to be effective from 01.06.2019.
As per these revised guidelines, Water Conservation Fee (WCF) would be levied for use of ground water depending on the category of area, type of industry and quantum of ground water withdrawal.
6) Consider the following statements with respect to e-NAM portal
It is a pan-Indian electronic trading portal which seeks to replace the existing APMC market through a virtual platform.
This portal only supports intra-state trade and does not support inter-state transactions.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) is a pan-Indian electronic trading (e-trading) portal which seeks to network the existing physical regulated wholesale market (known as APMC market) through a virtual platform to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
Inter State trade of agricultural produce in wholesale mandis through National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform is gathering pace in recent times.
7) Consider the following statements with respect to Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty
It is a treaty among UN member countries that prohibited development, testing and possession of conventional as well as nuclear missiles.
The treaty did not cover sea based or air launched missiles.
Recently, U.S.A has decided to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
Under the INF Treaty, the United States and Soviet Union agreed to ban all land-based ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometres.
The ban applied to missiles with both nuclear and conventional warheads, but it did not apply to sea-based or air-delivered missiles.
The U.S. has recently decided to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia.
The U.S.’s unilateral withdrawal from a nuclear treaty threatens to trigger a new arms race.
8) “Ekkalam” is an aerophone musical instrument mainly used in which of the following states?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
The ekkalam is an aerophone instrument mainly used in Tamil Nadu, India.
It is made of brass or copper. It consists of four valves that are fastened to each other, with a bell at one end.
This instrument produces sound by vibration of air injected by the player, altering the pitch by changing the lip tension and the power of air flow.
It is played in temple festivals or celebrations.
It is usually played along with a drum or with another ekkalam.
9) Consider the following statements with respect to Ratoon cropping
It is a form of cultivation in which a second crop is allowed to grow from the remains of one already harvested.
Ratooning can be used endlessly as the yield and quality increases after each cycle.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Ratoon cropping is a form of cultivation in which a second crop is allowed to grow from the remains of one already harvested.
It is also called stubble cropping as the new plants grow from the stubble of the harvested crop.
Sugarcane, pineapple and banana are crops in which this method is practised.
Ratooning cannot be used endlessly as the yield and quality decrease after each cycle.
In sugarcane, for example, two or three ratooning crops are possible. After which fresh planting has to be done.
Rice ratooning is also possible if adequate water is available for the second crop.
10) Consider the following statements with respect to Tornado
It is a violent, whirling windstorm that moves in funnel fashion, with the broad end of the funnel scraping dark clouds in the sky and the narrow end, touching the earth.
Tornadoes occur only in the United States of America.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
A tornado is a violent, whirling windstorm that moves in funnel fashion, with the broad end of the funnel scraping dark clouds in the sky and the narrow end, touching the earth.
The wind speeds are tremendous, usually about 177 kilometres per hour but sometimes touching 480 kilometres per hour or more.
The violently rotating winds blow down almost everything in their path, and a powerful updraft of air inside the funnel can suck up large objects and carry them long distances.
Tornadoes can happen practically anywhere in the world but they occur mostly in the United States.
