GK Quiz | 11 March 2020

1. Marakkar clan is famous in history for revolt against the colonization by

1. Britishers
2. French
3. Portuguese
4. All of the above

Ans. C

Explanation

The Marakkar clan leaders were related to naval chieftains of Zamorin of Calicut during the 16^th and 17^th century. The Zamorin was the title given to the rulers of Calicut on the Malabar coast. The Zamorins fought against Portuguese, along with the Marakkar clan, for over a century. There are different theories related to the origin of Marakkars. According to one theory, they were from Arab and migrated to Kozhikode via Tunisia. According to other theory, they were the affluent businessmen from the Cochin kingdom who later migrated to Calicut. They were mainly Muslims, but some Hindus were also there in the clan.

When the kingdom was faced with the attack of Portuguese the help of the clan was sought. Then four Chief Admirals were appointed having the title of Kunjali. There were 4 Kunjalis i.e Kuttyali Marakkar (Kunjali Marakkar I, appointed in 1507), Kutty Pokker (Kunjali Marakkar II), Pathu Marakkar (Kunjali Marakkar III) and Muhammad Ali Marakkar (Kunjali Marakkar IV, appointed in 1595). The Marakkars faced the Portuguese by using small naval ships. The Marakkars utilized the technique of Guirella war. From 1595, the relation between Zamorin and Kunjali Marakkar IV started deteriorating. In 1597, Zamorins signed a peace treaty with Portuguese and after that, Kunjali Marakkar IV was arrested and beheaded.

Hence, C is the correct answer.

 

2. Which of the following is true about PMFBY or Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna?

1. The insurance cover is compulsory for the person having crop loanee account or KCC account to whom the credit limit is sanctioned for the notified crop.
2. The expenditure to be shared by the union and state has to be on a 50:50 basis.
3. Both A and B
4. None

Ans. D

Explanation

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna is an insurance cover scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture. It provides that farmers will only pay a 2% premium for the Kharif crops, 1.5% for the Rabi crop and 5% for the annual commercial and horticulture crops. The rest of the premium is to be financed by the union and respective state governments. Changes brought up under PMFBY are:

• Now, it is not mandatory for the loanee farmers to take on the insurance cover under the scheme.
• In case the states are not able to pay to farmers by 31 March for Kharif crops and 30 September for Rabi crops, then they will lose the right to implement the scheme.
• The empanelled private companies will have to enroll for a period of minimum 3 years for the operation of the scheme.
• The centre contribution to the premium for the unirrigated land has been reduced from 50% to 30%, and for irrigated land it is 25%. For the Northeastern states, the subsidy contribution to the centre has been increased to 90%. Earlier the centre and state contribution was 50%.

Hence, D is the correct answer.

 

3. Gender Social Norm Index is released by which of the following?

1. United Nations Development Program
2. World Economic Forum
3. International Labour Organisation
4. World Bank

Ans. A

Explanation

Gender Social Norm Index is an index published by UNDP as part of Human Development Reports. The 2020 index is the 1^st index released. The mandate of the index is to measure how various social beliefs obstruct gender quality across various fields like work, education, politics, etc. According to the index, around 80-90% of the women and men, in 2018, held some biases against the women. About 50% of the world population feel that men are better political leaders.

About 40% feel that men make better business executives and have more right to jobs in case of scarcity. On an average, only 24% of the women hold the parliamentary post with only 10 female heads of the government.

Women work more than men, but they contribute to care work, which is unpaid. Only 6% of the women featured in the S&P 500 companies list as CEOs. In India, around 98.28% of women face at least one type of bias.

Hence, A is the correct answer.

 

4. Which of the following most appropriately describes Constitutional Morality?

1. It means properly adhering and maintaining the basic structure of the constitution.
2. It means maintaining a proper balance between the legislative, executive and judicial mandate and resolving the conflict among the 3 organs in the limits of the constitution.
3. It involves considering the follow-up of the constitution not just by law but as a force of personal moral will.
4. It involves maintaining the mandate that people are not for laws, but laws are for the people.

Ans. C

Explanation

Constitutional morality means adherence to the core principles of the constitution by the spirit as one moral duty. So, it also involves adhering and maintaining the basic structure of the constitution. The constitutionality will be maintained when there will be effective cooperation and resolution of the conflict among the 3 organs (legislature, executive and judiciary) in the limits of the constitution. Maintaining the living will of the constitution is one of the main tenants of the progressive constitution. If, with time, the constitution is not changed, it becomes stagnant and defunct. So it should maintain the spirit that people are not for laws, but laws are for the people.

Hence, C is the correct answer.

 

5. Arrange the different oil refineries of India from north to south?

1. Digboi Oil Refinery
2. Numligarh Oil Refinery
3. Guwahati Oil Refinery
4. Bongaigaon Oil Refinery

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

1. 1-2-3-4
2. 2-1-3-4
3. 1-2-4-3
4. 3-1-2-4

Ans. C

Explanation

All the oil refineries are located in Assam in India. The correct sequence from north to south is Digboi refinery, Numligarh, Bongaigaon and Guwahati oil refinery.

 

6. Which of the following is true about the GISAID initiative?

1. It is an initiative to share the genome sequencing of all the viruses.
2. It is an initiative by WHO to share the data related to the development of new vaccines across the world.
3. It is an inter- governmental initiative to curtail the spread of novel Coronavirus.
4. None of the above.

Ans.  A

Explanation

The Global Initiative for sharing of all influenza data (GISAID) promotes the international sharing of all influenza virus sequences, related clinical and epidemiological data associated with human viruses, and geographical as well as species-specific data associated with avian and other animal viruses, to help researchers understand how the viruses evolve, spread and potentially become pandemics.

The Initiative ensures that open access to data in GISAID is provided free-of-charge to everyone, provided individuals identify themselves, and agree to uphold the GISAID sharing mechanism governed through its Database Access Agreement.

GISAID calls on all users to agree to the basic premise of upholding scientific etiquette, by acknowledging the originating laboratories providing the specimen and the submitting laboratories who generate the sequence data, ensuring fair exploitation of results derived from the data, and that all users agree that no restrictions shall be attached to data submitted to GISAID, to promote collaboration among researchers on the basis of open sharing of data and respect for all rights and interests. (Source: GISAID website)

GSAID acts as a Non- Profit organization with its headquarter in Munich, Germany, and was established in 2008.

Recently, India has shared the 2 genome sequences of SARS-COV-2.

Hence, A is the correct answer.

 

7. Which of the following is incorrect about Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)?

1. It is an international treaty ensuring the equal status to women in society and became effective in 1981.
2. India is a signatory but hasn’t ratified the convention.
3. It is also called the Bills of Rights of Women.
4. UN General Assembly is the custodian of the convention.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

1. 1,2 and 3
2. 2,3 and 4
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 2 only

Ans. D

Explanation

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty that sought to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women. It became effective in 1981 under the aegis of the United Nations General Assembly. There are 189 parties to the convention. It has various provisions ensuring the rights of women and remove discrimination. So it is also called the ‘Bill of Rights’ for women. India has signed and ratified the convention, and it became a party to it in 1993.

Hence, D is the correct answer.