1) “Cheat Devices” sometimes seen in the news recently, was associated with which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recently slammed a Rs 500 Crore penalty on Volkswagen for installing ‘Cheat Devices’ in their cars which helped the company cheat through emission tests.
This comes after the German auto major has not deposited Rs 100 crore in accordance with NGT’s November 16, 2018 order.
On November 16, 2018, the tribunal had said that the use of 'cheat device' by Volkswagen in diesel cars in India leads to the inference of environmental damage and had asked Volkswagen to deposit an interim amount of Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
2) In which of the following sectors, FDI is notallowed in India?
Defence
Space
Gambling
Construction of Farm Houses
Tobacco
Alcohol
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
According to RBI, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the investment through capital instruments by a person resident outside India in an unlisted Indian company; or in 10 percent or more of the post issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company.
Investment by a person resident outside India is prohibited in the following sectors:
Lottery Business including Government/ private lottery, online lotteries.
Gambling and betting including casinos.
Chit funds (except for investment made by NRIs and OCIs on a non-repatriation basis).
Nidhi company.
Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs).
Real Estate Business or Construction of Farm Houses.
Manufacturing of Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes. The prohibition is on manufacturing and other activities including wholesale cash and carry, retail trading etc. and is governed by FEMA.
Atomic energy
Railway operations.
Citizen / entity from Bangladesh or Pakistan require prior Government approval.
Citizen / entity of Pakistan cannot invest in defence and spaceindustries either.
3) Consider the following statements with respect to Hazardous and Other Wastes Amendment Rules, 2019
It totally bans the import of solid plastic wastes in to India, except when they are carried out by agencies situated in Special Economic Zones (SEZ).
It mandates the exporters of silk waste to get prior permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Recently the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has amended the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2016.
Some of the salient features of the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Amendment Rules, 2019 are as follows:
Solid plastic waste has been prohibited from import into the country including in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and by Export Oriented Units (EOU).
Exporters of silk waste have now been given exemption from requiring permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Electrical and electronic assemblies and components manufactured in and exported from India, if found defective can now be imported back into the country, within a year of export, without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Industries which do not require consent under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981, are now exempted from requiring authorization also under the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, provided that hazardous and other wastes generated by such industries are handed over to the authorized actual users, waste collectors or disposal facilities.
4) Consider the following statements
Conventional submarines using diesel engines are vulnerable to detection and attack whereas nuclear powered submarines are hard to detect.
INS Arihant and INS Chakra are the only indigenous submarines that are propelled by nuclear reactors in India.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Conventional submarines with their diesel engines cannot run underwater for lack of air.
It can remain submerged for only as long as its on-board electric batteries provide power.
When the batteries are drained, typically in 8-48 hours, the submarine must surface to run its generators and recharge batteries. A surfaced submarine is vulnerable to detection and attack.
In contrast, an SSN’s nuclear reactor can run underwater, allowing it to remain submerged indefinitely, when it is extremely hard to detect.
India and Russia have recently signed a 10-year lease for a new Russian SSN, which will join the Indian fleet around 2025.
The Indian navy have already operates a Russian SSN, called INS Chakra, which was taken on a 10-year lease in April 2012.
India has indigenously designed and built a nuclear-propelled, nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), called INS Arihant.
A second SSBN, called INS Arighat, is to follow shortly, with two more in the pipeline.
5) e-Dharti Geo Portal sometimes seen in the news recently, is launched by which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
Union ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has recently launched e-Dharti app which is a new online system where all the three main modules under the jurisdiction of Land and Development Office (L&DO) i.e. Conversion, Substitution and Mutationhave been made online for the citizens.
The Ministry also launched e-Dharti Geo Portal, through which the lessee of the property will be able to see the basic details of property along with map showing its location.
6) Consider the following statements with respect to National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG)
It aims to promote good governance through Capacity Building on Public Policy and Governance both at National and International Level.
It has been set up under the aegis of Ministry of Home affairs.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are incorrect?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
National Centre for Good Governance (NCGG) has been set up by the Government of India (GoI) under the aegis of Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
It aims to promote good governance through Capacity Building on Public Policy and Governance both at National and International Level and carrying out studies/ action research on issues relating to governance.
The NCGG and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) have recently signed a MoU.
Under the MoU, IICA will support NCGG for utilization of infrastructure facilities during the training programme of NCGG at Delhi and for academic & intellectual interactions for 5 years.
7) Consider the following statements with respect to Nidhi Company
It is a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
They are regulated by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
A Nidhi company is registered under the Companies Act, 1956 and is regulated by Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).
8) Consider the following statements with respect to National Defence Fund (NDF)
The Fund is used for the welfare of the members of the Armed Forces, including Para Military Forces and their dependents.
The Fund is administered by an Executive Committee, with Defence minister as Chairperson and Finance and Home Ministers as Members.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
The National Defence Fund was set up to take charge of voluntary donations in cash and kind received for promotion of the national defence effort, and to decide on their utilisation.
The Fund is used for the welfare of the members of the Armed Forces (including Para Military Forces) and their dependents.
The Fund is administered by an Executive Committee, with PM as Chairperson, and Defence, Finance and Home Ministers as Members.
9) Bolo App, sometimes seen in the news recently, was launched by which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Bolo is an app launched by GOOGLE.
It is a speech-based reading-tutor app aimed at rural kids, who would otherwise may not have access to a good education support system.
10) Match the following:
Kiru Hydro Electric Project – a. Uttar Pradesh
Buxar thermal Power Project – b. Bihar
Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant– c. Jammu & Kashmir
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has recently approved the investment sanction for construction of 624 Mega watt Kiru Hydro Electric Project in Jammu and Kashmir.
The CCEA also approved the investment for 1320 Mega Watt Khurja Super Thermal Power Plant atBulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh.
Investment for 1320 Mega Watt Buxar thermal Power Project in Bihar was also approved.
