1) With respect to Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan Campaign sometimes seen in the news recently, consider the following statements:
It aims to maintain the rural amenities including libraries clean and easily accessible.
It was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) are undertaking a mass cleanliness-cum-awareness drive in 50 identified beaches under the “Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan”.
The identified beaches are in 10 coastal States/Union Territories (UTs) namely Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.
The beaches have been identified after the consultation with the States/UTs.
Environment Education Division of the Ministry and Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the aegis of Environment Ministry will be responsible for the overall coordination for the drive in 50 beaches.
2) With respect to Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative sometimes seen in the news recently, consider the following statements:
It primarily aims to foster innovation and technology development in Defence, Aerospace and Irrigation technologies by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators.
It would be funded and managed by the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) works under the aegis of Ministry of Defence.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) launched by the Government in April 2018, primarily aims at creation of an ecosystem to foster innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries including MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes & academia, and provide them grants/funding and other support to carry out R&D which has good potential for future adoption for Indian defence and aerospace needs.
iDEX will be funded and managed by a ‘Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)’ which has been formed as a ‘not for profit’ company as per Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013 for this purpose, by the two founder members i.e. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) - HAL & BEL.
iDEX will function as the executive arm of DIO, carrying out all the required activities while DIO will provide high level policy guidance to iDEX.
3) Consider the following statements with respect to International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
It is also known as Seed Treaty.
The objectives of this treaty include fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of world’s plant genetic resources.
It also recognizes farmers' rights, subject to national laws.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) is also known as Seed Treaty.
It is a comprehensive international agreement for ensuring food security.
The objectives of this Treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security.
It also recognizes farmers' rights, subject to national laws.
4) Consider the following statements with respect to BRICS summit
It will be held annually.
11th edition of the BRICS summit will be held in Brasilia, Brazil.
The theme for the 11th summit is Collaboration for inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
The theme of the 11th BRICS summit is "Economic Growth for an Innovative Future.”
5) World’s first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) portterminal to be built in which of the following states?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Gujarat Government has recently given its nod to the world’s first CNG port terminal at Bhavnagar.
It will be developed jointly by U.K.-headquartered Foresight Group and Mumbai-based Padmanabh Mafatlal Group.
6) JARVIS sometimes seen in the news recently is associated with?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
Uttar Pradesh is using an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered video analytics solution, JARVIS, to keep an eye on prison activities, including unauthorised access and violence.
The AI-powered video analytics tool is now live with 700 cameras from 70 prisons for multi-purpose analytics, including frisking, unauthorised access, crowd analysis, violence, camera working and intrusion detection amongst others.
7) Mihir Shah Committee sometimes seen in the news recently is associated with which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
The Union Water Resources Ministry has finalised a committee to draft a new National Water Policy (NWP).
It will be chaired by Mihir Shah, who is a former Planning Commission member and a water expert.
The committee has 10 principal members.
The NWP currently in force was drafted in 2012 and is the third such policy since 1987.
The committee is expected to produce a report within six months.
8) Consider the following statements with respect to Suranga Bawadi
It is an integral part of the ancient Karez system of supplying water through subterranean tunnels.
It was built in the 16th century by Ali Adil Shah – I of Bijapur Sultanate.
It was recently included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Suranga Bawadi, an integral part of the ancient Karez system of supplying water through subterranean tunnels built during Adil Shahi era in Vijayapura, is now set to get funding for restoration.
A New York-based non-governmental organisation has included it in the World Monument Watch list for 2020 along with 24 other monuments from across the world.
The monument has been selected under the ‘Ancient Water System of the Deccan Plateau’ by World Monuments Fund [the NGO], which monitors restoration of ancient monuments across the globe.
Though the Karez system was built in the 16th century by Ali Adil Shah–I, his successor, Ibrahim Adil Shah–II, brought in several changes by adding more structures to strengthen it.
According to historians, the Adil Shahis built the magnificent underground system to supply water to the city, which had a population of nearly 12 lakh then.
9) Consider the following statements with respect to Cheraman Juma Masjid
It was built during the reign of Delhi Sultanate.
It is the first structure in India to have arches and domes.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
The Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungalloor, Kerala is the India’s first-ever mosque built in 629 A.D.
Delhi sultanate starts from 1206 A.D.
10) Which of the following is true regarding India’s Electricity Demand?
India’s electricity demand fell in the recent times.
Industrial states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu witness steady growth in demand.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
India’s electricity demand fell 13.2% in October from the same month last year, registering the steepest fall in 154 months.
Except Himachal and J&K the other states registered a fall in electricity demand in October 2019 from the same month a year before.
