GK Quiz | 08 and 09 May 2020

1. Which of the following is not true about Indoor Farming?

1. Indoor farming is also known as vertical farming and use techniques like hydroponics, aeroponics.
2. It involves controlled environment agriculture.
3. It involves the use of pesticides, insecticides, etc.
4. All of the above

Ans.  C

Explanation

Indoor farming or vertical farming is the cultivation of crops in vertical stacks. It employs soil-less farming techniques like hydroponics, aquaponics, and aeroponics. The concept of vertical farming was proposed by Dickson Despommier. In soil-less medium liquid solutions of nutrients are used and no pesticide, fungicide is used.

Hence, the correct answer is C.

 

2. Which of the following is correct regarding Safeguard against chemical disasters?

1. NGT is the appellate authority under The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997 to tackle environmental appeals of chemical disasters.
2. The convention on transboundary effects of industrial accidents does not cover nuclear accidents.
3. The number of deaths from chemical accidents has increased from 2015 to 2018 in India.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. D

Explanation

The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997 was enacted to hear appeals related to the environmental effects of chemical disasters. The act has now been replaced by the NGT Act 2010. The NGT has all the powers to hear the appeals related to the environmental effects of industrial chemical disasters.

The convention on transboundary effects of industrial accidents is a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) convention signed in Helinski and came into force in 2000. It aims to protect people and the environment against industrial disasters. The convention has 41 parties, but Russia and U.S.A are not part of it. The convention shall not apply to

• Nuclear accidents or radiological emergencies;
• Accidents at military installations;
• Dam failures, except for the effects of industrial accidents caused by such failures;
• Land-based transport accidents except for Emergency response to such accidents and Transportation on the site of the hazardous activity;
• Accidental release of genetically modified organisms;
• Accidents caused by activities in the marine environment, including seabed exploration or exploitation;
• Spills of oil or other harmful substances at use.

In India, the number of deaths has decreased from chemical disasters from 2015-2018, but the injury cases have increased.

Hence, the correct answer is D.

 

3. Which of the following is true about Fallow Deer?

1. Fallow Deer is not found in India.
2. Its IUCN status is Least Concerned.
3. Only the male fallow deer have antlers, while females do not have antlers.

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

Fallow Deer is a ruminant mammal found in Europe, America, Africa, etc. However, they are not found in India. The IUCN status of the Fallow Deer is Least Concerned.  The male fallow Deer is called a buck and the female Fallow Deer is called a hoe. Only bucks have antlers. Turkey has achieved great success in reviving the population of Fallow Deer from 7 to 500 as they were killed for their antlers and meat.

Hence, the correct answer is A.

 

4. Which of the following is true about Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme?

1. The minimum subscription that one can avail is 1 gram of gold.
2. Universities and charitable institutes can invest in the Gold Bond Scheme.
3. RBI is the issuer of the Gold bonds.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. C

Explanation

Sovereign Gold Bonds are issued by RBI. These are the bonds denominated in grams of gold. As per RBI persons resident in India as defined under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 are eligible to invest in SGB. Eligible investors include individuals, HUFs, trusts, universities, and charitable institutions. Individual investors with subsequent change in residential status from resident to non-resident may continue to hold SGB till early redemption/maturity. The minimum denomination in which a bond can is issued is 1 gram. The bonds are issued in multiples thereof. The maximum limit differs from investor to investor.

Hence, the correct answer is C.

 

5. Which of the following is true about the New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) program?

1. It is the public-private partnership collaboration involved in promoting research activities in the country to invent new technologies.
2. It is a competition based hackathon that aims to promote technology related to hyperloop.
3. It aims to induce research in the case of innovative energy storage systems.
4. None of the above is true.

Ans.  A

Explanation

New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) is a program started by CSIR in 2000 as part of the New Millennium initiative. It is the largest public-private partnership initiative in the research field and aims to develop niche areas where India can develop its leadership in 10-15 years. It has taken up 57 projects ranging across various sectors like Agriculture & Plant Biotechnology, General Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, Drugs & Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, Materials, Information and Communication Technology, and Energy.

Hence, the correct answer is A.

 

6. The Stringency index is released by which of the following?

1. INTERPOL
2. The Oxford University
3. Economic Intelligence Unit
4. World Trade Organisation

Ans. B

Explanation

Stringency Index has been developed by Oxford University as part of the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. The index rank on the bases of scores ranging from 0-100. The high score means higher stringency. India has been ranked the most stringent for its containment policies related to COVID-19.

Hence, the correct answer is B.

 

7. Which of the following is true about the Sample Registration System Survey measuring various demographic indicators from 2008-2017?

1. The birth rate is steadily declining from 2008-2017.
2. Overall Infant Mortality Rate has increased over a decade.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans. A

Explanation

According to SRSS data released in 2019 enumerating the demographic aspects of India from 2008-2017 following points can be noted:

• Birth rate /1000 population had declined from 22.8 to 20.2 in 2017; however, there is no steady decline.
• Death rate over the decade has declined from 7.4 to 6.3 per thousand population; however, there is no steady decline.
• The Infant Mortality Rate had declined from 53 in 2008 to 33 in 2017.
• Madhya Pradesh has the worst Infant Mortality Rate, while Nagaland has the best IMR.
• Chhattisgarh has the highest death rate, while Delhi has the lowest death rate.
• Bihar has the highest birth rate, while Andaman and Nicobar have the lowest birth rate.
• The rural-urban differential in case of birth rate has lowered over the last 4 decades form 1970-2018.

Hence, the correct answer is A.

 

8. Which of the following is true about Mass Nesting of Olive Ridley Turtle?

1. Global warming affects the mass nesting of the turtles because of an increase in sand temperature.
2. Olive Ridley Turtles are important because they form an important part of the food chain by feeding on invertebrates.
3. The turtles are found in all the oceans of the world.
4. The IUCN status of the Olive Ridley Turtles is Endangered.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

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

Ans. C

Explanation

Olive Ridley turtles are one of the smallest sea turtles besides kemp turtles. They are found in warm and tropical waters all over the world and are an important part of the food chain as they feed on invertebrates in the marine region. They do mass nesting, which is called Arribadas. They are widely killed for their meat and thus, their IUCN status is Vulnerable.

These turtles do mass nesting in coastal sands, and therefore it is important to protect their eggs. In India, Odisha coast is the largest ground for mass nesting of the turtles. The major nesting sites in India are the mouth of the Rushikuliya river, Mahanadi river, and Gharimatha river.

Hence, the correct answer is C.

 

9. Which of the following passes are correctly matched with their description?

1. Lipulekh pass: Connect Himachal Pradesh with Tibet
2. Aghil pass: Connect Ladakh and China
3. Bomdi La: Connect Sikkim with Bhutan
4. Burzil Pass: Connect Srinagar with Gilgit

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

1. 1,2,3,4
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. None of the above

Ans. B

Explanation

• Lipulekh pass connects Uttrakhand to Tibet region. It is one of the ways to Kailash Mansarovar.
• Aghil pass connects Ladakh and Xingxiang province of China.
• Bomdi La pass connects Arunachal Pradesh and Tibet region.
• Burzil Pass connects Srinagar and Gilgit Baltistan region

Hence, the correct answer is B.

 

10. Which of the following statement is correct?

1. The closest island nation to India is Sri Lanka.
2. Sri Lanka falls in torrid zone.
3. Both statements are true.
4. None of the statements is true.

Ans. C

Explanation

Sri Lanka is the closest island nation to India, and it falls in the torrid zone (the zone between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn).

Hence, the correct answer is C.