1) Consider the following statements with respect to Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative (SRMI)
It is an initiative of the World Bank– Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (WB-ESMAP), in partnership with International Solar Alliance (ISA).
It aims to support countries in developing sustainable solar programs that will attract private investments and so reduce reliance on public finances.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
The World Bank – Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (WB-ESMAP), in partnership with, Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and International Solar Alliance (ISA) developed the Solar Risk Mitigation Initiative(SRMI).
SRMI aims to support countries in developing sustainable solar programs that will attract private investments and so reduce reliance on public finances.
It has three components to mitigate the risk of solar deployment:
The enabling Environment: Supporting the development of sustainable renewable roadmaps with medium-term targets based on sound planning and resource assessments, and providing concessional climate finance blended with development finance and technical support to ensure that countries have the right enabling environment to reduce country risk
Transparent Procurement: Supporting the selection of private sector developers and investors in a competitive and transparent manner to address country and project risk
Viable Risk Mitigation Coverage: developing viable risk mitigation coverage to cover residual project risks targeting solar (grid and off-grid) and storage deployment financed and operated by private investors.
2) Virupapura Gaddi sometimes seen in the news recently isan oval islet formed by which of the following Rivers?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
The Supreme Court has recently confirmed the Karnataka government authorities’ decision to demolish restaurants, hotels, guest houses and other buildings constructed in Virupapura Gaddi, an oval islet formed by the Tungabhadra River and located west of the Hampi World Heritage site.
3) Anganphou Hunba' programme was recently launched in which of the following states?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
Manipur CM has recently launched 'Anganphou Hunba'(Early Paddy Crop) programme at Arapti Mayai Leikai in Imphal East.
4) Consider the following pairs with respect to military exercises:
Exercises – Countries
Vajra Prahar – India and US
Ajeya Warrior – India and UK
Dharma Guardian – India and Japan
Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Vajra Prahar – India and US
Ajeya Warrior – India and UK
Dharma Guardian – India and Japan
5) Future of Earth 2020 Report was released recently by?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Five global risks that have the potential to impact and amplify one another in ways that may cascade to create global systemic crisis, have been listed by “The Future of Earth, 2020”, which was released recently by the South Asia Future Earth Regional Office, Divecha Centre for Climate Change and Indian Institute of Science.
The report, released by K. Kasturirangan, former Chairman, ISRO, lists failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation; extreme weather events; major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse; food crises; and water crises, as the five global risks.
The report was prepared with the aim of reducing carbon footprint and halting global warming below 2 degree Celsius by 2050.
6) Consider the following statements with respect to the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution of India
The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951 inserted 9th Schedule to the Constitution to protect the land reform and other laws present in it from the judicial review.
Now all the acts under the Ninth Schedule are open to judicial review.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Recently, a LJP leader Chirag Paswan said that reservation should be put under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
His comments came days after the Supreme Court ruled that reservation in the matter of promotions in public posts was not a fundamental right, and that a state cannot be compelled to offer quota if it chooses not to.
The Ninth Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which cannot be challenged in courts.
Currently, 284 such laws are shielded from judicial review.
The Schedule became a part of the Constitution in 1951, when the document was amended for the first time.
It was created by the new Article 31B, which along with 31A was brought in by the government to protect laws related to agrarian reform and for abolishing the Zamindari system.
While Article 31A extends protection to ‘classes’ of laws, Article 31B shields specific laws or enactments.
Now, all acts placed under the Ninth Schedulepost 24th April 1973 are open to judicial review.
7) Consider the following statements with respect to Sarojini Naidu
Her birthday is celebrated as International Women's Day.
The book titled Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity was written by Sarojini Naidu.
She was the first woman Governor of an Indian state after independence.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
Sarojini Naidu's141st Birth Anniversary was on 13th February 2020.
India celebratesSarojini Naidu's birthday as ‘NationalWomen's Day’ every year on February 13.
She became the second woman president of the Indian National Congress.
She was the first woman Governor of an Indian state, Uttar Pradesh from 15th August 1947 to 2nd March 1949 after independence.
The first book about Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah titled Muhammad Jinnah: An Ambassador of Unity was written by Sarojini Naidu.
It was published by University of Michigan Library in 1918.
8) Consider the following statements with respect to INS Shivaji
It is the India’s largest Short take-off but assisted recovery (STOBAR) aircraft carrier.
It is the is a modified Kiev-class aircraft carrier and the flagship of the Indian Navy.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Recently, the Presidentof India presented ‘Colour’ to the INS Shivaji.
INS Shivaji is an Indian Naval station located in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
It houses Naval Engineering College that trains officers of Indian Navy and Indian Coastal Guards.
It was commissioned on 15th February 1945 as HMIS Shivaji.
There are 3 premier institutions at INS Shivaji. It includes Centre of Excellence, Centre of Marine Engineering and Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence School.
The courses at INS Shivaji are conducted by AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education).
INS Vikramaditya is the Indian Navy’s largest short take-off, but assisted recovery (STOBAR) aircraft carrier.
9) Mount Merapi which was in news recenlty is located in
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Indonesia's Mount Merapieruptedrecently as fiery red molten lava streamed down from the crater and it belched clouds of grey ash 2,000m into the sky.
It is one of the world's most active volcanoes.
It sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a vast zone of geological instability where the collision of tectonic plates causes frequent quakes and major volcanic activity.
10) Global Futures Report is released by
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Recently, the Global Futures Report has been released jointly by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Global Trade Analysis Project and the Natural Capital Project.
According to the report, the world economy will suffer a total cumulative loss of $10 trillion by 2050 unless humanity reverses destruction of nature.
However, annual Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be 0.02% higher by 2050 if the world adopted a more sustainable model of living, the report said.
It warns of potential risks to the world’s economic prosperity if we don’t act urgently to halt nature loss.
The study uses new economic and environmental modelling to calculate the costs of nature’s decline across 140 countries and all key industry sectors.
