1) With respect to Bharat Stage (BS) norms, consider the following statements:
BS I was introduced in 2000 by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
BS VI refers to the sixth stage of the Bharat Stage Emission norms that will come into effect from 1 April 2020.
BS norms are applicable to all two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and construction equipment vehicles.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Bharat Stage norms are the automotive emission norms which the automotive manufacturers have to comply to sell their vehicles in India.
BS I was introduced in 2000 by the Central Pollution Control Board under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
BS VI refers to the sixth stage of the Bharat Stage Emission norms that will come into effect from 1 April 2020.
BS norms are applicable to all two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and construction equipment vehicles.
Bharat Stage-VI (BS - VI) norms for two-wheelers have been released recently.
2) Consider the following statements with respect to Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI)
It is a not for profit company registered under section-25 of Companies Act, 1956.
It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Solar Energy Corporation of India ltd" (SECI) is a CPSU under the administrative control of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
It is the only CPSU dedicated to the solar energy sector.
It was originally incorporated as a section-25 (not for profit) company under the Companies Act, 1956.
However, through a Government of India decision, the company has recently been converted into a Section-3 company under the Companies Act, 2013.
The mandate of the company has also been broadened to cover the entire renewable energy domain.
3) Which of the following countries shares border with Atlantic Ocean?
Namibia
Mali
Angola
Gabon
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
4) The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has recently directed its officials to explore the possibility of installing “solar trees” in residential complexes of government employees. Solar Trees mentioned here refers to?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Solar Power Tree is a structure that is designed like a tree with branches made of steel to hold the photovoltaic panels.
5) Consider the following statements with respect to Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
It looks after the maintenance of central government buildings and erecting of fences on the country’s international borders.
It comes under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which comes under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, also looks after the maintenance of central government buildings and erecting of fences on the country’s international borders.
6) Which of the following animals have been listed in Schedule V of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?
Mice
Fruit bats
Black Buck
Pangolin
Common crow
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
The Goa government will look into the demand of farmers to declare certain wild animals as vermin for a certain period of the year.
“Vermin” means any wild animal specified in Schedule V of WPA.
Schedule V animals are
Rats
Mice
Fruit bats
Common crow
7) Forest Dieback in environmental studies refers to?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Forest dieback is a condition in which trees or group of neighbouring trees progressively die from the top downward, resulting in large areas of severely degraded forest.
Forest dieback is when a large number of trees or an entire forest suddenly dies often without an obvious cause.
Factors that may lead to forest diebacks include drought, temperature changes, pathogens, parasites or pollution such as acid rain.
8) Consider the following statements with respect to Ocean Plastics Charter sometimes seen in the news recently
It is an UN agreement outlining concrete steps to eradicate plastic pollution.
It is a non-binding agreement called on participating countries to commit to making all plastics reusable, recyclable or recovered by 2030.
India is a signatory to this charter.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
The Ocean Plastics Charter championed by Canada and endorsed by the European Union, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom at the G7 Summit in 2018.
It is a landmark agreement outlining concrete steps to eradicate plastic pollution.
The Charter recognises the need for urgent action by all sectors of society to address and prevent the far-reaching devastating impacts of marine litter on the health and sustainability of our oceans, seas and coastal communities.
The United States and Japan did not join the pact.
The non-binding Ocean Plastics Charter called on participating countries and the EU to commit to making all plastics reusable, recyclable or recovered by 2030.
9) Consider the following statements regarding the State of Tripura
It is surrounded by Bangladesh on its three sides
It also shares its border with the states of Assam and Mizoram
The Tropic of Cancer is passing through this state.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
10) Consider the following statements regarding the composition of the council of ministers:
Deputy Ministers are not members of the Cabinet.
Parliament secretaries often hold the rank of the Minister of State.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
The council of ministers consists of three categories of ministers, namely, cabinet ministers, ministers of state, and deputy ministers.
The difference between them lies in their respective ranks,emoluments, and political importance.
