Monday, 7 October 2019

UPSC WEEKLY CURRENT AFFAIRS 30 TO 05 OCT. 2019



1.      Consider the following statements regarding e-course on ‘Vulnerability Atlas of India’.


1.       The e-course on ‘Vulnerability Atlas of India’ has been launched by Niti Ayog.
2.       The objective of the course is to create awareness and understanding about natural hazards and help in identification of regions with high vulnerability such as earthquakes, and landslides.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both
d)     None

2.      Consider the following statements about Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).


1.       The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) is under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
2.       The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central & state regulators for regulation of drugs & cosmetics.

3.       The regulation of manufacture, sale and distribution of Drugs is primarily the concern of the Central Authorities.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     1, 2
c)      2, 3
d)     1, 2, 3

3.       Consider the following statements regarding Delimitation of Constituencies.

1.       In the delimitation process, the number of seats allocated to different states in Lok Sabha and the total number seats in a  Legislative Assembly remains the same.
2.       The Delimitation Commission in India is a high-power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.
3.       The first delimitation exercise in 1950-51 was carried out by the President with the help of the Election Commission.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a.       1 only
b.       1, 2
c.       3 only
d.       2, 3

 4.      Consider the following statements regarding Tuberculosis.


1.       Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air.
2.       TB affects the lungs, the brain, the kidneys and the spine.
3.       People with Tuberculosis who do not respond to at least isoniazid and rifampicin, are said to have multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB).

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a.       1, 3
b.       2, 3
c.       1, 2
d.       1, 2, 3

5.      Consider the following statements regarding the report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) on global food wastage.

1.       Nearly half of the food that is produced each year goes uneaten.
2.       The uneaten food is responsible for emitting planet-warming greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
3.       Cereals are the food group that face the maximum wastage.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a)      1, 2
b)     2 only
c)      2, 3
d)     1, 2, 3

6.      Consider the following statements regarding the recently launched NISHTHA programme.

1. NISHTHA is a capacity building programme for “Improving Quality of School Education through Integrated Teacher Training“.
2. The initiative is first of its kind wherein standardized training modules are developed at national level for all States and UTs.
3. NISHTHAis under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1, 2
 b) 1, 3
 c) 2, 3
 d) 1, 2, 3

7.        Consider the following statements regarding Mount Leo Pargyil.

1.       Leo Pargyil is the third highest peak of Himachal.
2.       It lies in the Zanskar range.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a.       1 only
b.       2 only
c.       Both
d.       None

8.      Consider the following statements regarding Index of Eight Core Industries.

1. The Eight Core Industries comprise 50 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
2. Refinery Products has the maximum weight in Index of Eight Core Industries.
3. The growth of the Eight Core Industries has been declining steadily since 2015.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a.       1, 2
b.       2, 3
c.       2 only
d.       1, 2, 3

9.      Consider the following statements regarding Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

1. CITES is legally binding on state parties to the convention, which are obliged to adopt their own domestic legislation to implement its goals.
2. It is administered by IUCN.
3. Trade is not permittable for the species covered under Appendix I of CITES.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

 a) 2 only
 b) 1, 2
 b) 1, 3
 d) 2, 3

10. Consider the following statements regarding World Trade Organization (WTO).

1. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
2. WTO can cut the cost of doing business internationally.
3. All the African countries are the members of WTO.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1, 3
 b) 2, 3
 c) 1, 2
 d) 1, 2, 3

11. Consider the following statements about domestic systemically important bank (D-SIB).

1. RBI declares only Public Sector Banks as domestic systemically important bank.
2. Banks become systemically important due to their size, cross-jurisdictional activities and interconnection.
3. Banks whose assets exceed 2% of GDP are considered part of this group.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1, 2
 b) 2 only
 c) 2, 3
 d) 1, 2, 3

12. Consider the following statements regarding Janaushadhi Suvidha.

1. Janaushadhi Suvidha is the Sanitary Napkin launched under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
2. It is biodegradable when it comes in contact with oxygen after being discarded.
3. It is distributed free of cost at Janaushadhi Kendras.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1, 2
 b) 1, 3
 c) 2, 3
 d) 1, 2, 3

13. Which of the following are the Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) elements from India that have been inscribed on the UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

1. Kutiyattam
2. Ramlila
3. Kalbelia folk dance
4. Mudiyettu

Select the correct code:

 a) 1, 2
 b) 1, 2, 3
 c) 2, 3, 4
 d) 1, 2, 3, 4

14. Consider the following statements about Hepatitis C.

1. Hepatitis C is a liver disease.
2. The most common modes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood.
3. Hepatitis C also spreads through breast milk, food and water.
4. People with HIV infection are at increased risk of Hepatitis C virus infection.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1, 2, 4
 b) 1, 3, 4
 c) 2, 3, 4
 d) 1, 2, 3, 4



15. Consider the following statements regarding Terracotta Grinder.

1. Terracotta Grinder was launched by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
2. It can be used to grind wasted and broken pottery items for re-use in pottery-making.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1 only
 b) 2 only
 c) Both
 d) None

16. Consider the following statements regarding Baltic Nations.

1. It is an official union of three sovereign states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) in Northern Europe on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.
2. All three countries are members of NATO.
3. All three are classified as high-income economies by the World Bank and maintain a very high Human Development Index.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1, 2
 b) 3 only
 c) 2, 3
 d) 1, 3

17. Consider the following statements about Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).

1. Both are gauged by the government.
2. Both are based on surveys and hence, represent only a sample of the entire formal manufacturing sector.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1 only
 b) 2 only
 c) Both
 d) None

18. Consider the following statements regarding Eastern Economic Forum.

1. Eastern Economic Forum is an international forum held each year for the purpose of encouraging foreign investment in all East Asian Countries.
2. Recently the 5th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) summit was held in Vladivostok, Russia.
3. Engaging closely with East Asia is in line with India’s “Act East Policy”.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1, 2
 b) 1, 3
 c) 3 only
 d) 2, 3

19. Consider the following statements

1. ‘World Tourism Organization’ is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism
2. India is the host country for celebration of World Tourism Day 2019.

Select the correct statements

a)      1 Only
b)     2 Only
c)      Both 1 & 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

20. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘International Astronomical Union (IAU).

1. It is an intergovernmental organisation under the UN to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation.
2. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland

Select the correct statements

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2


21. ‘World Digital Competitiveness Ranking’ is brought out by

a)      World Economic Forum
b)     World Trade Organisation
c)      IMD World Competitiveness Centre
d)     Kaspersky Lab

22. Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Starship Spacecraft’

1. It is a being developed by SpaceX and European Space Agency.
2. It serves as a large, long-duration spacecraft capable of carrying passengers or cargo to Earth orbit, and between destinations on Earth.

Select the correct statements

a)      1 Only
b)     2 Only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

23. Which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The Punjab State is divided into three regions namely Majha, Doaba and Malwa.
2. The Malwa area makes up majority of the Punjab region.

Select the correct statements

a)      1 Only
b)     2 Only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

24. Consider the following statements with respect to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan:

1.       Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban) operates under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation.
2.       The programme has received funds and technical support from the World Bank, and by state governments under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan schemes.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

25. Consider the following statements with respect to Minimum Alternate Tax:

1.       Minimum Alternate Tax is a direct tax.
2.       It is imposed on book profit of companies.
3.       MAT is applicable to “Zero tax companies”.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

a)      1 only
b)     1 and 2 only
c)      2 and 3 only
d)     3 only

26. Which of the following schemes are included under the National Food Security Act, 2013:

1.       Midday Meal Scheme
2.       Public Distribution Scheme
3.       Integrated Child Development Services scheme

Choose the correct option:

a)                  1 only
b)                 1 and 2 only
c)                  2 and 3 only
d)                 1, 2 and 3

27. Which of the following is the most suitable definition of “Unemployment Trap”:

a)      A situation where more people are employed than actually needed.
b)     A situation arising from the mismatch between the jobs available in the market and the skills of the available workers in the market.
c)      A situation where unemployment benefits discourage the unemployed to go to work.
d)     A situation where persons are deemed unemployed, since records of their work are never maintained.

28. Consider the following statements with respect to School Education Quality Index (SEQI):

  1. SEQUI comprises of 3 critical indicators that assess the delivery of quality school education in the states and Union Territories.
  2. Self-reported data from the states also forms a part of the survey data.
  3. SEQUI 2019 is the first-ever edition of the index.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     2 and 3 only
c)      1 and 3 only
d)     1, 2 and 3

29.   Consider the following statements:

1.       Centaurs are celestial bodies located between Jupiter and Neptune.
2.       The Centaurs have highly unstable orbits around the sun.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

a.       1 only
b.       2 only
c.       Both 1 and 2
d.      Neither 1 nor 2

30. Consider the following statements with respect to Election Commission of India:

1.       It is an autonomous constitutional authority.
2.       It is responsible for getting conduct the elections of President, Vice President and Municipal Corporations.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

31. Consider the following statements regarding Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC),

1.       It is a large system of ocean currents that carry cold water from the North Atlantic towards tropics.
2.       It is like a conveyor belt which is driven by differences in temperature, salt content and the water density.
3.       Warming of Indian Ocean will lead to higher salinity in the waters of the tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     2 only
c)      1, 2 and 3
d)     2 and 3 only

32.  Which of the following statement(s) regarding Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC is/are correct?

1.       It is an organization committed to improving air quality and protecting the climate through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.
2.       Its activities are financed through a multi-donor Trust Fund which is administered through UN Environment.
3.       India has formally joined the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) in 2019.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      1 and 3 only
d)     1, 2 and 3

33. Consider the following statements regarding Pandit Deendayal Upadhayaya

1.       He started the monthly “Rashtra Dharma” meant for spreading the ideology of Hindutva nationalism.
2.       He wrote a Hindi drama on Chandragupta Maurya and a biography of Shankaracharya.
3.       He was elected for Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a)       1, 2 and 3
b)      1 and 2 only
c)       1 and 3 only
d)      2 and 3 only

34.   Zonal councils are established by which of the following act?

a)      A The Constitution (First Amendment) Act, 1951.
b)     B Representation of Peoples acts 1951.
c)      C Inter-state river water disputes Act, 1956.
d)     D States Reorganisation Act, 1956.


35. “Crimea” is situated between which of the following sea(s)?

a)      Black sea and Sea of Azov
b)     Sea of Azov and Caspian Sea
c)      Black sea only
d)     Black sea and Mediterranean Sea

36. Consider the following statements regarding Census of India

1.       The first census was conducted in India synchronously in different parts in 1972.
2.       The 2021 census is the 16th census of India.
3.       The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     2 only
c)      2 and 3 only
d)     1, 2 and 3

37. Consider the following statements about All India Survey on Higher Education 2018-19:

1.       Gross Enrolment Ratio for male population is 26.3% and for females, it is 26.4%.
2.       More female teachers in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in India than males.
3.       UP and Karnataka have more female enrolment in higher education.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     1 only
c)      1, 2 and 3 only
d)     1 and 3 only

38. What changes Coastal Regulation Zone Regulations (CRZ) 2019 has brought about:

a)      Two separate categories for CRZ-III (Rural) areas
b)     The government has decided to freeze the Floor Space Index and permit FSI for construction projects to do away with CRZ 2011 notification.
c)      The CRZ rules were formed after SC directed the government to do so after ordering demolition of Maradu Apartments in Kerala.
d)     The new CRZ norms aim to promote agricultural development based on scientific principles.

39. The proposed Higher education Commission of India will replace

1.       University Grants Commission (UGC)
2.       All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
3.       Medical Council of India
4.       Central Advisory Board of Higher Education (CABE)

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

a)      Only 1
b)     Only 2
c)      1, 2 and 3
d)     1, 2, 3 and 4

40. Consider the following statements about Quad Grouping:

1.       Quad Group is a closed group consisting of India, Australia, Japan & USA.
2.       Japan pioneered the initiative in 2007 as a coalition of maritime democracies.
3.       First Quad talks were held in 2015 in India.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 2 only
b)      1 only
c)      1, 2 and 3 only
d)      2, and 3 only

41. “Confluence” an Indian cultural event is celebrated in which of the foreign country

a)       Israel
b)     Afghanistan
c)      Australia
d)     United Arab Emirates (UAE)

42. Consider the following statements regarding Global Oceans,

1.       The ocean supplies 99% of the Earth's biologically-habitable space.
2.       Seawater has a heat capacity four times larger than air.
3.       The average depth of the global ocean is about 3700 m.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 3 only
b)     2 and 3 only
c)      3 only
d)     1, 2 and 3

43. Consider the following statements regarding “vitamin B12”

1.       Vitamin B12 is the most critical element in the metabolism of every cell in the human body.
2.       This vitamin is only found in animal meat and to a lesser extent in milk products
3.       India doesn’t have nation-wide data on B12 deficiency

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 3 only
b)     2 only
c)      2 and 3 only
d)     1,2 and 3

44. Consider the following statements regarding “The Financial Action Task Force (FATF)”

1.       The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental organization
2.       The FATF is a policy-making body
3.       Those countries which are considered as the safe heaven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are included in Black list of FATF.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     2 only
c)      2 and 3 only
d)     1, 2 and 3

45. Consider the following statements regarding Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)

1.       CARICOM was formed in 1973 after the founders had enacted the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
2.       The Caribbean Community and Common Market was established to replace the Caribbean Free Trade Area
3.       Seat of Secretariat is in Georgetown, Guyana

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      1 and 3 only
b)     2 only
c)      2 and 3 only
d)     1,2 and 3

46. Consider the following statements regarding “Ganga data collector app”

1.       Ministry of Environment and forest has launched a mobile application “Ganga Data Collector” under the “Biodiversity and Ganga Conservation” project.
2.       Ganga basin covers Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh along with other states

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

47. Consider the following statements regarding “MOSAIC Mission”

1.       The mission is launched by NASA
2.       Objective of the mission is to find rare earth minerals beneath Earth’s surface

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

48. Consider the following statements about bio-fencing:

1.       It is planting of trees or shrubs on farm or field boundaries that provide protection against cattle and wildlife.
2.       This biotic method is environment-friendly and harvesting of such plants can also be economical for farmers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

49. Consider the following pairs:
     
Reservoir/  Dam                            River

1.       Khadakwasla                    Mutha river
2.       Tilaiya                                  Sone river
3.       Bansagar                             Barakar river

Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      2 and 3 only
d)     1, 2 and 3

50. Consider the following statements:

1.       India Economic Summit is organized by the World Economic Forum.
2.       World Economic Forum releases the Global Competitiveness Report.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      A 1 only
b)     B 2 only
c)      C Both 1 and 2
d)     D Neither 1 nor 2

51. With reference to ‘Youth Co: Lab’, consider the following statements:

1.       It aims to accelerate the social entrepreneurship and innovation in young India.
2.       It was launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      A 1 only
b)     B 2 only
c)      C Both 1 and 2
d)     D Neither 1 nor 2


52. Consider the following statements:

1.       FAME India scheme aims to promote the manufacturing of enterprises machinery.
2.       It is the scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      A 1 only
b)     B 2 only
c)      C Both 1 and 2
d)     D Neither 1 nor 2

53. Consider the following statements:

1.       Central Pollution Control Board is a statutory organization constituted under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
2.       CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)      A 1 only
b)     B 2 only
c)      C Both 1 and 2
d)     D Neither 1 nor 2

54. Consider the following statements

1. Minor Planets are celestial objects orbiting the Sun that are large enough for their gravity to pull them into a spherical shape.
2. Names of celestial bodies are finally approved by a committee at the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 only
b.   2 only
c.   Both 1 and 2
d.   Neither 1 nor 2


55. “Asian Development Outlook” is annually published by?

a.   Asian Development Bank
b.   Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
c.   Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
d.   Both A and B

56. School Education Quality Index (SEQI) sometimes seen in the news recently was developed by?

a.   World Bank
b.   NITI Aayog
c.   Ministry of Human Resources and Development
d.   All of the above

57. G5 Sahel is an institutional framework established by which of the following countries?

1. Mali
2. Chad
3. India
4. Australia
5. Mauritania

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a.   3 and 4 only
b.   1, 2 and 5 only
c.   All except 4
d.   All of the above

58. Consider the following statements with respect to Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)

1. It is the sustained changes in the difference between sea surface temperatures of the tropical western and eastern Indian Ocean.
2. It has three phases neutral, positive and negative.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 only
b.   2 only
c.   Both 1 and 2
d.   Neither 1 nor 2

59. Consider the following statements with respect to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

1. It is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change.
2. It has 195 member states.
3. It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 and 2 only
b.   2 only
c.   1 and 3 only
d.   1, 2 and 3

60. Consider the following statements with respect to Domestic Systemically Important Bank (D-SIBs)

1. These are banks that are systemically important due to their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, complexity and lack of substitute and interconnection.
2. Banks whose assets exceed 5% of GDP are considered part of this group.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 only
b.   2 only
c.   Both 1 and 2
d.   Neither 1 nor 2

61. Consider the following statements with respect to Enforcement Directorate (ED)

1.       The prime objective of the ED is the enforcement of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA).
2.       It comes under the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2


62. Which of the following is/are not the initiatives of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)?

1. ARISE
2. Atal Tinkering Labs
3. Atal New India Challenges
4. Mentor India Campaign
5. Atal Pension Yojana

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a.   5 only
b.   1 and 5 only
c.   1, 4 and 5 only
d.   None

63. Which one of the following is the main objective of Paryatan Parv 2019 sometimes seen in the news recently?

a.   To promote tourism
b.   To promote innovation
c.   To promote neat and tidy India Mission
d.   None of the above

64. Consider the following statements with respect to Vayoshreshtha Samman-2019

1. The Awards will be given to organisations/individuals rendering distinguished service for the cause of elderly persons from any country.
2. The award was instituted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
3. Self nominations for the Sammans shall not be considered by the Screening Committee and the Selection Committee.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   2 only
b.   1 and 2 only
c.   2 and 3 only
d.   1, 2 and 3

65. With respect to UNICEF, consider the following statements:

1. It is an integral part of the United Nations (UN).
2. It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

66. Consider the following statements

1.       NH 766 passes through this Reserve.
2.       This reserve was brought under Project Tiger in 1973.
3.       It is part of interconnected forests that include Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary and Nagarhole National Park.

Identify the tiger reserve that correctly matches with the above description?

a)      Kali Tiger Reserve
b)     Nagarhole Tiger Reserve
c)      Periyar National Park
d)     None of the above

67. Consider the following statements with respect to Nizam Osman Ali Khan

1. He is the eleventh Nizam of Hyderabad.
2. The Nizam had transferred pounds and shillings in 1948 to the high commissioner of India on the assumption of the possibility of joining Pakistan.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 only
b.   2 only
c.   Both 1 and 2
d.   Neither 1 nor 2

68. Consider the following statements with respect to Trans-Fats

1. Industrial trans-fats are made by adding carbon to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid, and to increase the shelf life of foods.
2. They are largely present in partially hydrogenated vegetable fats/oils, vanaspati, margarine and bakery shortenings, and can be found in baked and fried foods.
3. FSSAI has recently launched a logo for trans-fat-free claim made by FBOs (food business operators), which was voluntary.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 and 2 only
b.   2 only
c.   2 and 3 only
d.   1, 2 and 3

69. Which of the following is/are called as the Cotton four (C4) countries?

1. Mali
2. India
3. Chad
4. Kenya

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

a.   1 and 3 only
b.   2 and 3 only
c.   1, 2 and 3 only
d.   1, 2, 3 and 4

70. Consider the following statements with respect to India’s first e-waste clinic that was setup recently

1. It will be jointly setup by the Ministry of Environment and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
2. It was planned to be setup in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 only
b.   2 only
c.   Both 1 and 2
d.   Neither 1 nor 2

71. Which of the following is nominated as the Central Nodal Agency to facilitate installation of Electric Vehicles Charging Infrastructure in India?

a.   Rural Electrification Corporation
b.   Energy Efficiency Services Limited
c.   Bureau of Energy Efficiency
d.   Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

72. Halt the Hate sometimes seen in the news recently is an initiative launched by which of the following?

a.   Amnesty International
b.   Ministry of Home Affairs
c.   Green Peace International
d.   Ministry of Women and Child Development

73. Consider the following statements with respect to Urdu Language

It is written from right to left.
It is one of the official languages under the Constitution of India.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

a.   1 only
b.   2 only
c.   Both 1 and 2
d.   Neither 1 nor 2

74. Which one of the following fundamental rights is also available to a foreigner in Indian soil?

a.   Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion/race, caste, sex or place of birth
b.   Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment Protection' of life and personal
c.   Protection of life and personal liberty according to procedure established by law
d.   To practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business

75. With reference to the Youth Co:Lab, consider the following statements:

1.       It was launched by UNESCO.
2.       It aims to accelerate youth-led social entrepreneurship and innovation in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a.       1 only
b.       2 only
c.       Both 1 and 2
d.       Neither 1 nor 2

76. With reference to the World Cotton Day, consider the following statements:

1.       WTO is hosting the event at the request of the Cotton – 4 countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali.

2.       The objective of World Cotton Day is to give exposure and recognition to cotton and all its stakeholders in production, transformation and trade and promote research and development on cotton.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a.       1 only
b.       2 only
c.       Both 1 and 2
d.       Neither 1 nor 2

77. With reference to the Electric Vehicle Charging Guidelines, consider the following statements:

1. All Mega Cities & expressways connected to these Mega Cities to be taken up for coverage in first phase.
2. Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) has been nominated as the Central Nodal Agency to facilitate installation of Charging Infrastructure.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

                A.            1 only
                B.            2 only
                C.            Both 1 and 2
                D.            Neither 1 nor 2

78. With reference to the recent Monetary Policy Statement announced by Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), consider the following statements:

1. It reduced the policy repo rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) by 25 basis points to 5.15 % from 5.40 % with immediate effect.

2. The reverse repo rate under the LAF stands reduced to 4.90 %, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate to 5.40 %.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a.       1 only
b.       2 only
c.       Both 1 and 2
d.       Neither 1 nor 2

79. Audio Odigos, recently seen in news, is launched by:

a.       Union Ministry of Tourism.
b.       Union Ministry of Minority Affairs
c.       Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
d.       Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

80. With reference to the new strategic disinvestment policy, consider the following statements:

1.       Under the new policy, the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) under the Ministry of Finance has been made the nodal department for the strategic stake sale.
2.       Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises will identify PSUs for strategic disinvestment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a.       1 only
b.       2 only
c.       Both 1 and 2
d.       Neither 1 nor 2


81. With reference to Bharat 22 Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF), consider the following statements:

1.       Bharat 22 ETF invests in the 22 companies that comprise the S&P BSE Bharat 22 index.
2.       The ETF will be managed by ICICI Prudential Asset Management Company.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)                  1 only
b)                 2 only
c)                  Both 1 and 2
d)                 Neither 1 nor 2

82. What is ‘Parichay’, recently seen in news?

a)      Acollaborative legal aid clinic launched by Law schools across India for people excluded from the updated National Register Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
b)     A platform for girls and women in rural areas to raise voice against sexual harassments.
c)      A new platform for online processing of applications for pension revision in respect of pre-2016 pensioners.
d)     None of the above

83. What is “Einstein Challenge", recently seen in news?

a.       It aims to propagate the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi through innovations.
b.       It aims to propagate the idea of Albert Einstein’s theory of special relativity.
c.       It aims to propagate the issues of climate change, loss of biodiversity, over-use of natural resources and environmental and health issues.
d.       None of the above.

84. Which one of the following is the objective of ‘Mo Sarkar’ programme that was in news recently?

a)                  It is financial inclusion program of the state of West Bengal.
b)                 It aims to provide service with dignity to people who are coming to government offices for different purposes in Odisha.
c)                  It is a central government pension scheme primarily targeted at the unorganised sector.
d)                 None of the above

85. Joint Military Exercise Ekuverin, recently seen in news, is between India and which one of the following countries?

                A.            Maldives
                B.            Thailand
                C.            Bhutan
                D.            Nepal

86. Joint Military Exercise Nomadic Elephant, recently seen in news, is between India and which one of the following countries?

                A.            Maldives
                B.            Thailand
                C.            Bhutan
                D.            Mongolia

87. With reference to Mauritius, consider the following statements:

1.       It is an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean.
2.       The islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues form part of the Mascarene Islands, along with nearby Réunion, a French overseas department.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)                  1 only
b)                 2 only
c)                  Both 1 and 2
d)                 Neither 1 nor 2

88. With reference to the ‘PRAKASH portal’, consider the following statements:

1.       It aims for transparency and better coordination in coal supplies to power plants.
2.       It is developed by DRDO.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

                A.            1 only
                B.            2 only
                C.            Both 1 and 2
                D.            Neither 1 nor 2

89. With reference to Elephant endotheliotropic herpes viruses (EEHV), consider the following statements:

1.       When EEHV is triggered, the elephant dies of massive internal bleeding and symptoms which are hardly visible.
2.       The disease is usually fatal, with a short course of 28-35 hours.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

                A.            1 only
                B.            2 only
                C.            Both 1 and 2
                D.            Neither 1 nor 2

90. with reference to As per the recently notified Apprenticeship (Amendment) Rules, 2019 consider the following statements:-

1.       The hiring limit of apprentices has been raised to 15 per cent of total strength of an establishment.
2.       The minimum stipends for graduate or degree apprentice have been doubled to Rs 9,000 per month per apprentice.

Which of the above statement is/are correct:-

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

91. With reference to Tropical Cyclone consider the following statements

1.       Typhoons is the regional name for Tropical Cyclones that occurs in Western Pacific.
2.       Northern Pacific Basin is the most active place for tropical cyclone.

Which of the above statement is/are correct:-

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

92. Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana is an initiative of which of the following ministries?

a)      Ministry of Rural Development
b)     Ministry of Textiles
c)      Ministry of MSME
d)     Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation

93. Consider the following statements about the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions

1.       It has been launched by the Ministry of Finance
2.       It will provide a cost-free complaint redressal related to digital transactions conducted via bank and non-bank entities regulated by RBI.

Select the correct option using the codes given below

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

94. Consider the following statements about Swachhta Udyami Yojana

1.       It aims to provide livelihood to manual scavengers and also to promote cleanliness.
2.       National Safari Karmacharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is the implementing agency
3.       NSKFDC also provides concessional loan to entrepreneurs among manual scavengers

Choose the correct option using the codes given below

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     2 and 3 only
c)      1 and 3 only
d)     1 2 and 3

95. Consider the following statements about Global Initiative on Academic Network (GIAN) programme

1.       Its objective is to increase footfall of reputed international faculty to Indian institutes and boost academic excellence
2.       Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), under the Department of Science and Technology implements the scheme

Select the correct option using the codes given below

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2

96. Which of the flowing Indian sites are included in Montreux Accord?

1.       Keoladeo National Park
2.       Chilika lake
3.       Loktak lake
4.       Kolleru lake

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

a)      1 and 3 only
b)     1 2 and 3 only
c)      1 3 and 4 only
d)     1 2 3 and 4

97. Consider the following statements about Noctiluca algae, seen recently in news:

1.       Noctiluca algae is a parasite and occurs in patches or blooms in Arabian Sea.
2.       Its bioluminescence characteristic i.e. glow in dark has earned it name ‘sea sparkle’.
3.       They compete with fish for food and choke their supply.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     2 and 3 only
c)      1 and 3 only
d)     1 2 and 3

98. Consider the following statements about Coral Reef conservation:

1.       The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) had declared 2018 as the third International Year of the Reef.
2.       ICRI is an informal partnership between nations and organizations which strives to preserve coral reefs.
3.       India is one of the founding members of the organization.

Select the correct option using the codes given below:

a)      1 and 2 only
b)     2 and 3 only
c)      1 and 3 only
d)     1 2 and 3

99. ‘Vayoshreshtha Samman’ is conferred for the contribution in which field?

a)      Minority Women
b)     Elderly Persons
c)      Environment Protection
d)     Sustainable Development

100.         With reference to Document Identification Number(DIN), consider the following:-

1.       DIN system will become operational from 1 October 2019.
2.       DIN will be mandatory for the authenticity of any document issued by CBDT.

Which of the above statement is/ are correct?

a)      1 only
b)     2 only
c)      Both 1 and 2
d)     Neither 1 nor 2




WEEKLY CURRENT AFF UPSC
DATE 30 TO 06 OCT 2019

1.      Solution: b)
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched an e-course on ‘Vulnerability Atlas of India’. The objective of the course is to create awareness and understanding about natural hazards and help in identification of regions with high vulnerability such as earthquakes, and landslides.
The e-course would be a tool for effective and efficient disaster mitigation and management in the field of architecture, civil engineering, urban and regional planning, housing and infrastructure planning, construction engineering.
The Ministry also the launched “Angikaar Campaign”, which aims to converge with schemes/services of various urban missions and other central ministries. The campaign will be rolled out in all PMAY(U) cities.

2.      Solution: b)
 The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) under Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) of India.
The Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules 1945 have entrusted various responsibilities to central & state regulators for regulation of drugs & cosmetics.
The regulation of manufacture, sale and distribution of Drugs is primarily the concern of the State authorities while the Central Authorities are responsible for approval of New Drugs, Clinical Trials in the country, laying down the standards for Drugs, control over the quality of imported Drugs, coordination of the activities of State Drug Control Organisations and providing expert advice with a view of bringing about the uniformity in the enforcement of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

3.      Solution: a)
Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and state Assembly seats to represent changes in population.
In this process, the number of seats allocated to different states in Lok Sabha and the total number seats in a Legislative Assembly may also change.
The main objective of delimitation is to provide equal representation to equal segments of a population.
It also aims at a fair division of geographical areas so that one political party doesn’t have an advantage over others in an election.

4.      Solution: d)
 What is tuberculosis (TB)?
It is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine.
In most cases, TB is treatable and curable; however, persons with TB can die if they do not get proper treatment.

5.      Solution: b)
 A new report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation has quantified global food wastage — nearly one-third of the food that is produced each year goes uneaten, costing the global economy over $940 billion.

6.      Solution: d)
 The Department of School Education and Literacy has launched a National Mission to improve learning outcomes at the elementary level through an Integrated Teacher Training Programme called NISHTHA under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha in 2019-20.

7.      Solution: d)
 An Indian Army team successfully summited Mount Leo Pargyil.
Leo Pargyil is the third highest peak of Himachal and is considered to be among the most challenging and technically difficult peak to scale. It lies in the Zanskar rang

8.      Solution: c)
 The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04 per cent).
Growth in the eight core sectors in August slumped to the lowest in four years and four months. That is, the -0.5% registered in August 2019 was the lowest since April 2015.

9.      Solution: d)
 CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

10. Solution: c)
 The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that is concerned with the regulation of international trade between nations. The WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which commenced in 1948. It is the largest international economic organization in the world.

11. Solution: c)
 SBI, ICICI and HDFC remain Systemically Important Banks.
 D-SIB means that the bank is too big to fail. According to the RBI, some banks become systemically important due to their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, complexity and lack of substitute and interconnection. Banks whose assets exceed 2% of GDP are considered part of this group. The RBI stated that should such a bank fail, there would be significant disruption to the essential services they provide to the banking system and the overall economy.

12. Solution: a)
 ‘JANAUSHADHI SUVIDHA’, is the Oxo-biodegradable Sanitary Napkin, under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP).
Jan Aushadhi Suvidha comes with a special additive, which makes it biodegradable when it comes in contact with oxygen after being discarded.
In a huge push for women hygiene, the government slashed price of sanitary napkins sold from its Jan Aushadhi Kendras to just 1 per piece from 2.50 earlier.

13. Solution: d)
 From India the Intangible Cultural Heritages added into this list include:
  • Tradition of Vedic chanting
  • Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
  • Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
  • Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas.
  • Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
  • Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
  • Chhau dance
  • Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir.

14. Solution: a)
 Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus: the virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, ranging in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, lifelong illness.
  • The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a bloodborne virus and the most common modes of infection are through exposure to small quantities of blood. This may happen through injection drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, and the transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products.
  • There is currently no vaccine for hepatitis C; however research in this area is ongoing.

15. Solution: b)
 Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) launched first-ever ‘Terracotta Grinder’. This machine can be used to grind wasted and broken pottery items for re-use in pottery-making.


16. Solution: c)
 Baltic Nations is a geopolitical term, typically used to group the three sovereign states in Northern Europe on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
  • The three countries do not form an official union, but engage in intergovernmental and parliamentary cooperation. The most important areas of cooperation between the three countries are foreign and security policy, defence, energy and transportation.
17. Solution: b)
There are two key parameters that the government and private sector analysts use to gauge the level of activity in the manufacturing sector — the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) and the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).


18. Solution: d)
Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) was established by a decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in 2015, with the aim of supporting the economic development of Russia’s Far East, and to expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Speaking at the Plenary Session of the 5th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in Vladivostok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would extend a $1 billion line of credit towards the development of the Russian Far East.

19. Solution (c)
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations specialized agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It is the leading international organization in the field of tourism, which promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism knowledge. It encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to maximize the contribution of tourism to socio-economic development, while minimizing its possible negative impacts, and is committed to promoting tourism as an instrument in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), geared towards eliminating poverty and fostering sustainable development and peace worldwide. Its headquarters are located in Madrid.

20. Solution (d)
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects, including research, communication, education and development, through international cooperation. Its individual Members — structured into Divisions, Commissions, and Working Groups — are professional astronomers from all over the world, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, who are active in professional research, education and outreach in astronomy. The IAU also has Junior Members. The IAU has 13682 members. The Individual and Junior Members Directory contains 11128 names in 107 countries worldwide (these Individual Members are labeled as “active” in the IAU database: they have a valid, public email, and are affiliated to at least one Division.). Out of those countries, 82 are National Members. In addition, the IAU collaborates with various scientific organizations all over the world.

21. Solution (c)
The Ranking, produced by the IMD World Competitiveness Center, measures the capacity and readiness of 63 nations to adopt and explore digital technologies as a key driver for economic transformation in business, government and wider society.

22. Solution (b)
The SpaceX Starship is a fully reusable second stage and space vehicle being privately developed by SpaceX. It is being designed to be a long-duration cargo- and passenger-carrying spacecraft.

23. Solution (c)
The name Punjab is made of two words Punj (Five) + Aab (Water) i.e. land of five rivers. These five rivers of Punjab are Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, and Jhelum. Only Sutlej, Ravi and Beas rivers flow in today’s Punjab. The other two rivers are now in the state of Punjab, situated in Pakistan. The Punjab State is divided into three regions: Majha, Doaba and Malwa.

24.   Answer: c
Explanation:
The mission contains two sub-missions: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Gramin or rural), which operates under the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation; and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban), which operates under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Urban) operates under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. The programme has received funds and technical support from the World Bank, corporations as part of corporate social responsibility initiatives, and by state governments under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan schemes.

25.   Answer: a
Explanation:
The Minimum Alternative Tax (MAT) is imposed on book profit of companies who record nil or negligible profit to pay the usual corporate income tax.  Book profit means the net profit as shown in the profit & loss account. MAT is an indirect tax. The objective of the introduction of MAT is to bring into the tax net “zero tax companies” which in spite of having earned substantial book profits and having paid handsome dividends, do not pay any tax due to various tax concessions and incentives provided under the Income-tax Law.

26.   Answer: d
Explanation:
National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 was passed with the objective to provide for food and nutritional security in the human life cycle approach, by ensuring access to adequate quantity of quality food at affordable prices to people to live a life with dignity. It converts into legal entitlements existing food security programmes of the Government of India, including the Midday Meal Scheme, the Integrated Child Development Services and the Public Distribution System.
27.   Answer: c
Explanation:
Unemployment trap is a situation when unemployment benefits discourage the unemployed to go to work. People find the opportunity cost of going to work too high when one can simply enjoy the benefits by doing nothing. While the purpose of social security and welfare systems is to provide relief to the unemployed, they end up providing them with an incentive not to return to work.

30.   Answer: b
Explanation:
NITI Aayog recently released the first-ever School Education Quality Index (SEQI) – 2019. For the purpose of survey, 2015-16 is considered the base year and 2016-17, the reference year. Developed through a collaborative process including key stakeholders such as MHRD, the World Bank and sector experts, the index consists of 30 critical indicators that assess the delivery of quality education. The School Education Quality Index assesses States on the basis of learning outcomes, access, equity and infrastructure and facilities, using survey data, self-reported data from States and third-party verification. Among 20 large States, Kerala was the best performer with a score of 76.6%, while Uttar Pradesh came in last with a score of 36.4%. Rajasthan and Karnataka clinched the top second and third spots in the overall performance rankings.


28.   Answer: c
Explanation:                                         
Minor planet is a term used to refer to a celestial object – that is not a planet or comet – which orbits the Sun. Minor planets fall into including asteroids, Trans-Neptunian objects, and centaurs. Centaurs are icy planetesimals located between Jupiter and Neptune. They cross the orbits of one or more of the giant planets in their journey around the Sun, and interactions with these outer planets cause the orbits of Centaurs to be inherently unstable.

29.   Answer: a
Explanation:
The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India. The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state Legislative Assemblies, state legislative Councils, and the offices of the President and Vice President of the country. The Election Commission is not responsible for conducting elections to the Municipal Corporations. Members of the Municipal Corporations are elected by the people directly through elections. Elections to the Municipal Corporations are conducted under the superintendence, direction and control of the State Election Commissions.

GSSCORE

31.   Correct option: (d)
32.   Correct option: (d)

33.   Correct option: (b)
Explanation:
 Statement 3 is incorrect: He contested for Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh, but did not get elected as he failed to gain enough political traction.

34. Correct option: (d)
Explanation:
 Option (d) is correct: The Zonal Councils are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956. Supplementary notes: About Zonal councils:
 The Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the constitutional) bodies. They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, States Reorganisation Act of 1956.

35. Correct option: (B)
Statement 1. incorrect: The census was conducted non-synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the countr y. This effort culminating in 1872 has been popularly labelled as the fi rst population census of India However, the fi rst synchronous census in India was held in 1881.
 Statement 3 is incorrect: The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Offi ce of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India under Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.

36. Correct Option: (d)
Explanation:
 2nd statement is incorrect: More male teachers in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in India than females. Supplementary Notes:
 The survey, undertaken as an annual, webbased, pan-India exercise on the status of Higher Education since 2010-11, covers all the Higher Educational Institutions in the country.
 The survey collects data on several parameters like teachers, student enrolment, programmes, examination results, education fi nance, infrastructure, etc.

37. Correct Option: (a)
Explanation:
 Statement (a) is correct: CRZ rules 2019 provide for 2 separate categories for CRZ – III (Rural areas) Supplementary notes:
Under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) issued notifi cation in 1991, for regulation of activities in the coastal area.


38.   Correct Option: (d) Explanation:
 All the statements are correct Supplementary notes:
The Draft bill on Higher Education Commission of India (Repeal of University Grants Commission Act, 1956) Bill, 2018 was made public to attract public opinion.

39. A
40. C
41. D
42.  D
43.  A
44.  D
45.  B
46.  D
47.  C

48.  Correct option: (a)
Explanation:
 Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Tilaiya dam was constructed across the Barakar River at Tilaiya in Koderma district in Jharkhand. It was the fi rst of the four multi-purpose dams included in the fi rst phase of the Damodar Valley Corporation.
 Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Bansagar Dam is a multipurpose river Valley Project on Sone River situated in the Ganges Basin in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

49. D Article 72
Explanation
Article 61 deals with the impeachment of the President.
Article 58 defines the eligibility condition for individuals to contest for the Presidential elections.
Article 77 deals with the Conduct of business of the Government of India.
Article 72 empowers the President to grant pardons to persons who have been tried and convicted of any offence. Hence, option D is the correct answer.

50. C Both 1 and 2
Explanation
Recently, the 33rd edition of India Economic Summit took place in New Delhi which was organized by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
Global Competitiveness Report is released by the World Economic Forum. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

51. A 1 only
Explanation
‘Youth Co: Lab’ aims to accelerate the social entrepreneurship and innovation in young India. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
It was launched jointly by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

52. B 2 only
Explanation
Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME) in India scheme aims to promote electric mobility in the country. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
It is the scheme of the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

53. D Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
It is a statutory organization that was constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Hence, statement 2 is not correct

54. Answer : b
  • Minor planets are celestial objects orbiting the Sun that are not large enough for their gravity to pull them into a spherical shape. 
  • Names of celestial bodies are finally approved by a committee at the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a global organisation of professional astronomers, which also decides on definitions of fundamental astronomical and physical constants.
  • In the case of small Solar System bodies, the discoverer has the privilege to suggest the name.
  • The discoverer holds this privilege for 10 years since the discovery.
  • But there is a process to be followed, and not all names are acceptable.


55.   Answer : a
  • The Asian Development Outlook is an annual publication (available online and in print) produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

56. Answer : d
  • School Education Quality Index (SEQI) was developed by NITI Aayog to evaluate the performance of States and Union Territories (UTs) in the school education sector. 
  • Developed through a collaborative process, including key stakeholders such as Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), the World Bank and sector experts, the index consists of 30 critical indicators.

57. Answer : b
  • G5 Sahel is an institutional framework for coordination and regional cooperation in development policies and security matters in West Africa, established by five African states: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

58.  Answer : c

59. Answer : d
  • The IPCC is the UN body for assessing the science related to climate change.
  • It was established by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 to provide political leaders with periodic scientific assessments concerning climate change, its implications and risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation strategies.
  • It has 195 member states.

60. Answer : a
  • D-SIB means that the bank is too big to fail.
  • According to the RBI, some banks become systemically important due to their size, cross-jurisdictional activities, complexity and lack of substitute and interconnection
  • Banks whose assets exceed 2% of GDP are considered part of this group.

61. Answer : d
  • The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) is a law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India.
  • It is part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
  • The prime objective of the Enforcement Directorate is the enforcement of two key Acts of the Government of India namely, the Foreign Exchange Management Act 1999 (FEMA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002 (PMLA).

62. Answer : a
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
AIM’s objective is to develop new programmes and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy, provide platform and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, create awareness and create an umbrella structure to oversee innovation ecosystem of the country.
Six major initiatives of AIM:

63. Answer : a
  • Organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Paryatan Parv 2019 will be held from 2nd to 13th October, 2019 across the country.
  • The idea of Paryatan Parv is to propagate the message of ‘Dekho Apna Desh’, with the objective to encourage Indians to visit various tourist destinations of the country and also to spread the message of ‘Tourism for All’.
64. Answer : c
  • Vayoshreshtha Samman is a Scheme of awards instituted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and gradually upgraded to the status of National Awards, for institutions involved in rendering distinguished service for the cause of elderly persons especially indigent senior citizens and to eminent citizens in recognition of their service/achievements.
  • The sammans are open to all Indian Institutions, organisations and individuals without any distinction or discrimination on grounds of race, sex, caste or creed.

65.   Answer : c
  • UNICEF, an integral part of the United Nations, works with governments, communities, civil society organizations, the private sector, and other partners worldwide to advance children’s rights.
  • It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
66. Answer : d
67. Answer : d
  • The UK High Court has recently ruled in favour of India and dismissed Pakistan's claim over funds belonging to the late seventh Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan at the time of Partition in 1947 and now worth around 35 million pounds.
  • The Nizam had transferred 1,007,940 pounds and nine shillings in 1948 to the high commissioner of Pakistan in Britain in 1948on the assumption of the possibility of joining Pakistan.

68. Answer : c
  • Industrial trans-fats are made by adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid, and to increase the shelf life of foods.
  • Trans-fats are largely present in partially hydrogenated vegetable fats/oils, vanaspati, margarine and bakery shortenings, and can be found in baked and fried foods.
  • FSSAI has recently launched a logo for trans-fat-free claim made by FBOs (food business operators), which it stated was voluntary.

69. Answer : a
The “Cotton Four” (C4) countries are
  1. Mali
  2. Chad
  3. Benin
  4. Burkina Faso
70. Answer : d
  • The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) have joined hands to set up the country’s first e-waste clinic in Bhopal. CPCB will offer technical support.
  • The clinic is being conceived in compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016.
71. Answer : c
  • Power Minister has recently approves amendments in Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Guidelines and Specifications.
  • At least one Charging Station to be available in a grid of 3 Km x 3 Km in the cities and one Charging Station at every 25 Km on both sides of highways/roads.
  • For inter-city travel, Fast Charging Station to be installed at every 100Kms Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) nominated as the Central Nodal Agency to facilitate installation of Charging Infrastructure.
72. Answer : a

73. Answer : c

74. Answer : c
75. B.   2 only
76. C.    Both 1 and 2
77. A.   1 only
78. C.    Both 1 and 2
79. A.   Union Ministry of Tourism.
80. A.   1 only

81. C.    Both 1 and 2

82.   A.    A collaborative legal aid clinic launched by Law schools across India for people excluded from the updated National Register Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

83.   A.    It aims to propagate the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi through innovations.

84.   B.    It aims to provide service with dignity to people who are coming to government offices for different purposes in Odisha.

85.  A.  Maldives

86. D.   Mongolia

87. B.   2 only

88. A.   1 only

89. C.    Both 1 and 2

90. Answer: C
Difficulty Level: Medium
Explanation:
As per the notified Apprenticeship (Amendment) Rules, 2019, the hiring limit of apprentices has been raised to 15 per cent of total strength of an establishment, and the minimum stipends have been doubled to Rs 5,000 and Rs 9,000 per month.
The stipend for graduate apprentices or degree apprentices has been increased to Rs 9,000 per month. For school pass outs, between Class 5th and 9th, the stipend has been increased to Rs 5,000 per month.

91.   Answer: C
Difficulty Level: Medium
Explanation:
A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops between 180° and 100°E in the Northern Hemisphere. This region is the Northwestern Pacific Basin, and is the most active tropical cyclone basin on Earth, accounting for almost one-third of the world's annual tropical cyclones. The Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) for tropical cyclone forecasts is in Japan, with other tropical cyclone warning centers for the northwest Pacific in Hawaii (the Joint Typhoon Warning Center), the Philippines and Hong Kong.

92.   Answer: b
Difficulty level: Easy
Explanation
·Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana is an initiative of Ministry of Textiles. The objective of the scheme is to provide insurance cover to handloom weavers in case of natural death (Rs. 60,000/-), accidental death (Rs.1,50,000/-), total disability (Rs.1,50,000/-) and partial disability (Rs. 75,000/-).
·In addition to above, a scholarship of Rs.300/- per quarter per child is available to students studying in standards IX to XII. The benefit is restricted to two children of the member covered.

93.   Answer: d
Difficulty level: Medium
Explanation
·Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched the Ombudsman Scheme for Digital Transactions (OSDT) for redressal of complaints against System Participants as defined in the said Scheme.
·The Scheme, launched under Section 18 of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, will provide a cost-free and expeditious complaint redressal mechanism relating to deficiency in customer services in digital transactions conducted through non-bank entities regulated by RBI.
·Complaints relating to digital transactions conducted through banks will continue to be handled under the Banking Ombudsman Scheme.

94.   Answer: d
Difficulty level: Medium
Explanation
·It aims to provide livelihood to safai karamcharis and liberate manual scavengers and also promote cleanliness.
·National Safari Karmacharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) is implementing the scheme.
·NSKFDC provides concessional loan to Entrepreneurs among safai karmacharis and identified manual scavengers including women beneficiaries.
o For viable community toilet projects and sanitation related vehicles to collect the garbage, to consolidate the ongoing efforts for realising the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

95.   Ans: a
Difficulty level: Medium
Explanation
·GIAN in higher education is scheme of HRD Ministry that aims to boost the quality of the country’s higher education through international collaboration.
·It facilitates participation of high quality international academicians for delivering short-term courses and programs in Indian institutions

96.   Answer: A
Difficulty level: Medium
Explanation
·Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

97.   Answer: d
Difficulty level: Hard
Explanation:
·The phenomenon of Mumbai’s beaches glowing in the dark maybe a consequence of global warming and not industrial pollution, according to a year-long investigation by Indian and American scientists.
·The Noctiluca algae, commonly known as sea tinkle, is a parasite and occurs in patches or ‘blooms’ in the Northern Arabian Sea.
·They glow at night due bioluminescence, and have earned them the nickname ‘sea sparkle’.

98. Answer: a
Difficulty level: Hard
Explanation:
·The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) is an informal partnership between Nations and organizations which strives to preserve coral reefs and related ecosystems around the world.
·The Initiative was founded in 1994 by eight governments: Australia, France, Japan, Jamaica, the Philippines, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

99.   Answer: B
Difficulty Level: Easy
Explanation:
The President of India conferred the “Vayoshreshtha Samman” to eminent senior citizens and institutions in recognition of their services towards the cause of elderly persons.
According to the last census, the population of senior citizens in our country was approximately 10.5 crore, which was about 8.5% of our total population. The average life expectancy has increased in recent decades due to improvement in health services and other reasons. It is estimated that by the year 2050, the number of senior citizens will be approximately 19% of our total population.
Steps for the welfare of elderly persons include the National Programme for Healthcare of the Elderly wherein specialized services will be provided for their treatment. Under the National Health Insurance Scheme implemented with the help of State Governments, additional health insurance is being provided.

100.           Answer: C
Difficulty Level: Medium
Explanation:
Documentation Identification Number (DIN) system of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has come in force from 01.10.2019. From now onwards every CBDT communication will have to have a documentation identification number,
















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