GK Quiz | 01 and 02 March 2020

1. Which of the following is true about the Delimitation Commission?

1. The delimitation is done after each census.
2. The current delimitation is done according to the Delimitation Act 2002, under which the central government is to constitute a commission.
3. In the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the delimitation is to be done according to the 2011 census.
4. In Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland, the delimitation has not been done by the 2008 order.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. A

Explanation

Statement 1: The delimitation means readjustment of the seats in the Lok Sabha and State Assembly and division of each state into territorial constituencies for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections, as per their population (Article 82 and 170). Parliament has the authority to determine how it is to be done. The delimitation of seats is usually done after each census for both Lok Sabha and State assemblies.  However, according to Article 82, the delimitation shall be effective as the President may by an order specify. So, Parliament has enacted the Delimitation Commission Acts of 1952,1962,1972 and 2002. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Statement 2: According to the 2002 Act, the central government is empowered to constitute a commission, and thus the President issue order and appoint members. The commission consists of 3 members. The chairman should be a judge of the Supreme court or has been a judge of SC or shall be a judge of the Supreme Court and members include the Chief Election Commissioner or any person nominated to be so in the ex-officio capacity and State Election Commissioner in the ex-officio capacity. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Statement 3: According to article 62(1)(b) of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, the delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir shall be carried out per the 2002 act but according to the census of 2011 instead of 2001. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Statement 4: After the President’s order of 2008, the delimitation has not been carried out in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Nagaland. Now that order has been reversed, and the reallocation of seats in Lok Sabha and state assemblies in 4 states can be done taking effect from the date as ordered by the President. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, all statements are correct.

Hence, A is the correct answer.

 

2. Which of the following are matched correctly?

1. Lassa Fever: Lassa mammarenavirus
2. Kala-azar: Leishmania
3. Measles: Rubella virus

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. A

Explanation

Lassa Fever: According to WHO, Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic illness caused by the Lassa virus, a member of the arenavirus family of viruses. Humans get infected through household items and food contaminated by urine or feces of infected Mastomys rats. The disease is endemic in West Africa.

Kala-azar: It is a disease caused by parasite Leishmania Donovani. The disease is also called Leishmaniasis. It is transmitted by the bite of the female sandfly. Its symptoms include loss of appetite, anemia, enlargement of liver spleen, etc.

Measles: It is caused by Measles morbillivirus. It is a contagious infectious disease. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, inflammation of the brain, etc. It mainly infects children. Rubella is caused by the Rubella virus.

Hence, only 1 and 2 are matched correctly.

So, B is the correct answer.

 

3. Which of the following is true about Lepakshi's painting?

1. The painting is a part of the cultural contribution of the Vijaynagara empire.
2. These are miniature paintings depicting mainly Ramayana and Mahabharata scenes.
3. Both A and B
4. None of the above

Ans. A

Explanation

Lepakshi paintings mainly trace their origin to the Lepakshi town of Andhra Pradesh. They are found in Virupaksha temple in Hampi, paintings ar Tiruparakurnam near Tiruchy, etc. The main features are faces that are shown in profile, and figures are mainly two dimensional. The lines are still but fluid. The paintings were developed during the 14^th-15^th century and were later adopted by Nayaka rulers.

Hence, A is the correct answer.

 

4. Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan is launched under which ministry?

1. Ministry of Women and Child Development
2. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
3. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
4. Both A and B

Ans. A

Explanation

Suposhit Maa Abhiyaan was launched under the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The main objective is to keep newborn children and pregnant women healthy. Under this over a month, 1000 pregnant women will be given nutritious food, and the health check-up of children will be carried out.

Hence, A is the correct answer.

 

5. Which of the following statement is incorrect about Shale gas?

1. Shale gas is present in fine sedimentary rock formations.
2. It can be extracted through Hydraulic Fracturing and Horizontal Drilling.
3. It is not environment-friendly as it involves large use of water.
4. India does not have any reserves of shale gas and thus needs to import from the U.S, which has abundant reserves.

Ans. D

Explanation

Shale gas is the natural gas found in fine-grained sedimentary rocks. It is an unconventional source of energy and involves extraction by the use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. It is different from conventional natural gas as conventional gas moves from the resource-rich permeable rock to the surface with an impermeable layer on the top. So the conventional gas present near the surface is easy to mine.

Shale gas is present in the surface within the resource-rich impermeable rock. Thus involves the use of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling, which are comparatively costly. In hydraulic fracturing, water, chemical and sand are pumped into the well to unlock the shale formations. Shale gas drilling involves the use of much water and releases wastewater. Also, there is a high risk of leakage and the atmosphere getting contaminated.

India has not mined the shale gas but has marked the shale reserves for gas extractions at 6 places i.e. Cambay (Gujarat), Assam-Arakan (North East), Gondwana (Central India), Krishna Godavari onshore (East Coast), Cauvery onshore, and Indo-Gangetic basins.

Hence, D is the correct answer.

 

6. Which of the following shows the correct sequence of the budget procedure?

1. Presentation of budget
2. Recommendation of President
3. General discussion
4. Scrutiny by departmental committees
5. Voting on demand for grants
6. Passing of appropriation bill
7. Passing of finance bill

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

1. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7
2. 2-1-3-4-5-6-7
3. 3-1-2-4-5-6-7
4. 4-3-2-1-5-6-7

Ans. B

Explanation

The provision of budget or Annual Financial Statement is in article 112 of the constitution. The budget involves various stages i.e.

• Since the financial budget is a money bill, it needs the approval of the President to be presented in the Lok Sabha.
• After the approval, the budget is presented by the Finance Minister in the Lok Sabha.
• After the few days of the presentation of the budget, it is put up for general discussion which takes place in both houses of Parliament.
• After the general discussion, it is sent for departmental scrutiny. 24 departmental committees of Parliament discuss and examine the demand of grants related to various departments, which were established in 1993 and expanded in 2004. These are presented to Parliament.
• After the scrutiny, the demand for grants is put to vote in the Lok Sabha, and voting can be done on the expenditure that is made upon the Consolidated Fund of India. During this stage, the budget is discussed in detail and cut motions like policy cut, economy cut and token cut motion can be passed by the Lok Sabha.
• After the voting, the appropriation bill is passed. It is a bill that grants permission to the government to withdraw money from the Consolidated Fund of India.
• In the end, the Financial bill is moved to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government of India. While no amendments can be moved in the appropriation bill, the amendments can be moved in the Finance bill.

Hence, B is the correct answer.

 

7. Sea of Crete lies between which of the following countries?

1. Greece and Bulgaria
2. Greece and Turkey
3. Bulgaria and Serbia
4. Syria and Turkey

Ans. B

Explanation

The Sea of Crete lies between Turkey and Greece in the Mediterranean Sea. Recently, Greece has prevented more than 10,000 refugees from crossing Turkey’s border.

Hence, B is the correct answer.

 

8. Which of the following is incorrect about Khasi hill?

1. It is a part of Shillong Plateau.
2. It is drained by Bhramaputra and Surma rivers.
3. The Cherrapunji scrap is a part of Khasi hills
4. It is the westernmost part of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hill range, which later meets with the Purvanchal range.

Ans. D

Explanation

Khasi hill is a part of the Garo-Khasi-Jaintia range in Meghalaya which merges with Purvanchal ranges. It lies on Shillong plateau, and Cherrapunji scrap is a part of Khasi hill. It is also called Scotland of the East. The hills are arranged from west to east as Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia hill.

Hence, D is the correct answer.

 

9. Which of the following countries are part of the Hindukush region?

1. India
2. Afghanistan
3. China
4. Pakistan
5. Tajikistan

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

1. 1,2,3,4 and 5
2. 1,3,4 and 5
3. 2,3,4 and 5
4. 1,2,4 and 5

Ans. C

Explanation

The Hindukush region is the westernmost part of the Hindukush Himalayan Region and is spread across Afghanistan, China, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. It is the westernmost extension of Pamir mountain, Karakoram and Himalayas.

Hence, C is the correct answer.

 

10. Which of the following is true about Hepatitis C?

1. Hepatitis C is a liver disease that can be both chronic and acute.
2. India has signed an agreement with the United Nations’ Medicines Patent Pool to allow for the production of generic drugs for Hepatitis C within the country.
3. Both A and B
4. None of the above.

Ans. C

Explanation

Hepatitis C is a viral liver disease that can both chronic and acute. It is caused by the hepatitis C virus. It is a major cause of liver cancer. According to WHO, the hepatitis C virus is a bloodborne virus. The infection spreads through exposure to small quantities of blood. This may spread through injection drug use, unsafe injection practices, unsafe health care, transfusion of unscreened blood and blood products, and sexual practices that lead to exposure to blood.

United Nations’ Medicine Patent Pool has signed a licensing agreement with 6 Indian drug makers to sell generic antiretrovirals (ARV) and the hepatitis C drug Daclatasvir in low and middle-income countries.

Hence, C is the correct answer.