GK Quiz | 25 May 2020

1. Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana is a scheme to provide income support to farmers. It is a scheme of which state?

1. Chhattisgarh
2. Maharashtra
3. Karnataka
4. Andhra Pradesh

Ans. A

Explanation

Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana has been started by the Chhattisgarh government and aims to provide income support to the farmers. The scheme is for farmers sowing 14 types of crops i.e 1 rabi and 13 Kharif crops.

Direct transfer of Rs 5700 crore into farmer’s accounts in four installments. In the next phase of the scheme, landless labour and agriculturists will be covered.

Hence, the correct answer is A.

 

2. Which of the following is true about the Nallamala forest?

1. The forest lies in the Eastern Ghats.
2. Only subsistence agriculture is practiced here.
3. It is a part of Nagarjunasagar – Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. A

Explanation

Nallamala forest lies in the Eastern Ghats and is the largest stretch of forest in South India after the Western Ghats. It is a part of Nagarjunasagar- Srisailam Tiger Reserve. It is an undisturbed forest lying on Nallamala hills and only subsistence agriculture is practiced here. Chenchu tribe is found in the Nallamala forest and is spread in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Hence, the correct answer is A.

 

3. Which of the following statements is true?

1. According to the National Steel Policy 2017, India aims to achieve steel production up to 300 million tonnes by 2030.
2. There has been a decline in steel production from 2019 to 2020.
3. Both statements are true.
4. None of the statements is true.

Ans. C

Explanation

According to the World Steel Report of the World Steel Association, the crude steel production has declined by 65%. From 2019 to 2020, there has been a decline of 14 % in crude steel production in India. For the first time, China is facing output decline of 1.7%.

Under the National Steel policy 2017, India aims to achieve an output of 300 million tonnes by 2030. It also aims to make India self-sufficient.

Hence, the correct answer is C.

 

4. Which of the following is true about Katkari Tribe?

1. It belongs to the state of Maharashtra.
2. It has been designated as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribe.
3. They were earlier listed under the Criminal Tribes Act 1871.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. D

Explanation

Katkari tribe is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribe from Maharashtra. The tribe is also known as the Kathodi tribe. They speak Marathi and the katkari language. The tribal people are also found in Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan.

“Adivasi Ekatmik Samajik Sanstha” of Shahapur, Thane, Maharashtra is in news for organizing the tribe under Van Dhan Yojna and marketing medical plant Giloy along with other products.

Note: There are 75 Particularly Vulnerable tribes in India as recognized by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the maximum number of tribes is in Odisha.

Hence, the correct answer is D.

 

5. Which of the following is true about the Commission on Limits of Continental Shelf?

1. The commission enables the state parties to set up the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles of the baseline.
2. The limits set by the guidelines of the UN Convention on the Law of Sea are final and binding and there is no redressal in case of a dispute.
3. Both statements are true.
4. None of the statements is true.

Ans. A

Explanation

The UN Commission on Limits of Continental Shelf is a commission set up under the pursuance of UNCLOS to enable the state parties to set up the limits of the continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles of the baseline.

The limits set up should not limit other state’s rights. The limits set following the guidelines of the UN Convention on Law of Seas are final and binding. In case there is a conflict the state parties are supposed to make a revised submission to the commission.

Somalia and Kenya for over a decade are involved in a maritime dispute over the limits of a continental shelf set by them beyond 200 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean. Both had made their submissions before the commission but the problem sprang up again in 2011.

Hence, the correct answer is A.

 

6. Which of the following is true about South Atlantic Anamoly?

1. It refers to the weakening magnetic field of Earth between Africa and South America.
2. It can affect the movement of ocean waves.
3. It shows the there may be a reversal in Earth’s magnetic field.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. D

Explanation

South Atlantic Anamoly refers to the weakening magnetic field of Earth between Africa and South America. This may be a sign of reversal of Earth’s magnetic field which generates due to the movement of the metal and the liquid present in the core and expands to a large extent over the Earth’s surface. The last reversal happened around 7.8 lakh years ago and it usually takes tens of thousands of years for the reversal to take place.

(Source: osr.org)

The anomaly can affect the communication with satellites, protection of winds from solar flares, and other harmful objects in the space and may also affect the movement of oceanic waves.

Hence, the correct answer is D.

 

7. Sahamalaza-Iles Radama Biosphere Reserve is located in which of the following islands?

1. Reunion Island
2. Madagascar Island
3. Seychelles
4. Comoros

Ans. B

Explanation

Sahamalaza-Iles Radama Biosphere Reserve is located in the North-Western part of Madagascar island and the region is known for the abundance of amphibians. Scientists have discovered a frog named Christoph Froschauer which has been proposed to be classified as Critically Endangered.

Hence, the correct answer is B.

 

8. Which of the following statement is true?

1. Agrobacterium is a plant or crop pathogen.
2. It can be used to create disease-resistant crops.
3. Both A and B
4. None

Ans. C

Explanation

Agrobacterium or Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a single-celled micro-organism found in soil that also acts as a pathogen and a natural genetic engineer. The organism through the proteins released by plants in the soil recognizes the plant, move towards it and after making contact with the plant, it chemically releases the viral genes of DNA (T DNA), which enters into the plant and changes the genetic information of plants.

It is known to cause crown glass disease which limits the growth of the plants. Scientists can alter the T DNA to remove all the information that is harmful to the plants and insert new information. This has been successful in creating a healthy breed of Papaya in Hawaii, in producing golden rice, etc.

Hence, the correct answer is C.

 

9. Which of the following can be a health indicator for the coral reefs?

1. Water temperature
2. Extent of sedimentation
3. Presence of sand hallows around the reefs
4. Salinity

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. A

Explanation

Coral Reefs also called marine rainforests are formed of the colonies of the coral polyps living in a mutualistic relationship with zooplanktons. They are calcareous and need temperature of the range of 20- 35° C, the salinity of water of about 27-40%, shallow water (depth of not more than 200 meters), sediment-free clean water, etc.

(Source: The Economist)

Scientists have observed sand hallows around coral reefs which is the sand stretch and is created when the marine biodiversity eats up the plants and vegetation in the reefs. This scientist's belief is a sign of healthy corals and marine ecosystems.

Hence, the correct answer is C.