GK Quiz | 1 September 2020

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to Caucasus-2020:

1. It is a part of a four-year exercise cycle of the France army.
2. India will participate in this multilateral exercise.
3. The only previous edition of the exercise was held in 2014.

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

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 1,2 and 3
4. None

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: Recently, India has withdrawn its participation in Kavkaz 2020.

About Kavkaz 2020, also known as Caucasus 2020:

• It is a tri-service exercise is part of a four-year exercise cycle of the Russian army.
• Previously, the exercise was held in 2012 and 2016.
• In 2020, it will be conducted in the Astrakhan province of Southern Russia.
• Member countries of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Central Asian countries are participating in this exercise.

So, all statements are incorrect and hence, option D is correct.

 

Q2. Shetrunji and Bhadar dams, recently seen in news, are located in which state?

1. Rajasthan
2. Karnataka
3. Punjab
4. Gujarat

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Due to heavy rains, Shetrunji and Bhadar dams have overflowed simultaneously.

Shretrunji dam is the largest in Saurashtra region. It is located in Bhavnagar district and has a designed gross storage capacity of 308.68 million cubic metre (mcm).

Bhadar dam is the second largest in the Saurashtra region. It is located in Rajkot district and has a gross storage capacity of 188.14 million cubic metre (mcm). It is across Bhadar river which originates from Jasdan taluka of Rajkot.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding the National Register of Citizens (NRC):

1. It was specifically made for Assam to separate illegal immigrants from legitimate residents of Assam.
2. It was first prepared after the 1981 Census of India.

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

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

Solution:  A)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: About the National Register of Citizens (NRC):

• NRC was specifically made for Assam to separate illegal immigrants from legitimate residents of Assam.
• It was first prepared after the 1951 Census of India
• It includes demographic information about all those individuals who qualify as citizens of India as per the Citizenship Act, 1955.

So, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect. Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q4. With reference to the National Population Register (NPR), consider the following statements:

1. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.
2. A person who has resided in a local area for the past 1 year or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 1 year or more is defined as a usual resident
3. NPR was last prepared in 2000.

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

1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1,2 and 3
4. None

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About National Population Register (NPR):

• NPR is a Register of the usual residents of the country.
• Its objective is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country.
• It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR.
• It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.
• It is a pan-India exercise excluding Assam.
• A person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more is defined as a usual resident
• It was last prepared in 2010 along with Census 2011.

So, statement 1 is correct and statements 2 and 3 are incorrect. Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to the Roll On Roll Off (RO-RO) services:

1. These services are combination of the best features of road and rail transports.
2. RO-RO train services were first introduced in Indian Railways on Konkan Railways in 1999.
3. RORO services reduce congestion on the roads and carbon footprint.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3:  Recently, the first-ever RORO service of South Western Railway from Nelamangla (near Bengaluru) to Bale (near Solapur) has been started. This is the first-ever RORO service of South Western Railway.

About Roll-On Roll-Off (RO-RO) services:

• These are a combination of best features of road and rail transports.
• RORO is a concept of carrying road vehicles loaded with various commodities, on open flat railway wagons.
• RO-RO train services were first introduced in Indian Railways on Konkan Railways in 1999
• Advantages of RORO:
• Reduces congestion on the roads
• Relief to crew of truck as it avoids long-distance driving.
• No hassles of check posts/toll gates
• Saves precious fuel
• Faster movement of goods and essentials, reducing Time taken by trucks to reach destinations due to traffic congestion in between cities.
• Reduces carbon footprint
• Ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential commodities.
• Seamless Inter-operability between roadways & railways-Inter-modal transport on existing track.

So, all statements are correct and hence, option C is correct.

 

Q6. Which of the following is/are the functions of the National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA)?

1. To fix and revise the prices of Scheduled drugs.
2. To ensure the availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
3. To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 1995/2013.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 3 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 1,2 and 3
4. None

Solution: C)

Explanation:

About National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority:

• It was set up on 29 August 1997 as an independent regulator under the department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
• Functions:
• To ensure the availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
• To fix and revise the prices of Scheduled drugs under Drug (Price Control) Orders issued from time to time.
• To collect and maintain data on exports and imports, production, market share of individual companies, profitability of companies etc. for bulk drugs and formulations.
• To undertake and/or sponsor relevant studies in respect of pricing of drugs/formulations.
• To implement and enforce the provisions of the Drugs Price Control Order (DPCO), 1995/2013 in accordance with the powers delegated to it.
• To render advice to the Central Government on changes/revisions in the drug policy and assistance in the parliamentary matters relating to the drug pricing.
• To deal with all legal matters arising out of the decisions of the Authority.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q7. Coal gasification can be used for -

1. Electricity generation
2. Production of chemical feedstocks and synthetic natural gas
3. Making ammonia

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

India aims for 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by 2030.

About Coal gasification:

• It is one of the more water-intensive forms of energy production.
• It is the process of producing syngas - a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), natural gas (CH4), and water vapour (H2O)—from coal and water, air and/or oxygen.
• Uses:
• It is primarily for electricity generation, or for production of chemical feedstocks and synthetic natural gas.
• The hydrogen obtained from coal gasification can be used for various purposes such as making ammonia, powering a hydrogen economy, or upgrading fossil fuels.
• Natural gas from coal gasification can be cooled until it liquifies for use as a fuel in the transport sector.
• Coal-derived syngas can be converted into transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel or into methanol which itself can be used as transportation fuel or fuel additive.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q8. Consider the following statements about Pangong Tso Lake:

1. It is located in Arunachal Pradesh.
2. It is the second highest saltwater lake of the world.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: About Pangong Tso Lake:

• It extends from Ladakh, India to the Tibetan Autonomous Region, China.
• It is very close to Chusul Valley, which was one of the battlefronts between India and China during the 1962 war.
• It is about 135 km long and situated at over 14,000 feet. It is the world’s highest saltwater lake.
• Its one-third lies in India and the other two-thirds in China.

So, both statements are incorrect and hence, option C is correct.

 

Q9. which of the following is/are the Baltic countries?

1. Estonia
2. Belarus
3. Lithuania
4. Poland

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Baltic states include the countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These are bounded on the west and north by the Baltic Sea, and on the east by Russia.

The three countries do not form an official union, but engage in intergovernmental and parliamentary cooperation. Foreign and security policy, defence, energy, and transportation are the most important areas of cooperation between the three countries.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q10. Consider the following statements about Renati Cholas:

1. They ruled the present day Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
2. They used the Telugu language in their inscriptions belonging to the 6^th and 8^th centuries.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: Recently, a rare inscription dating back to the Renati Chola era has been unearthed in a remote village of Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.

The inscription was written in archaic Telugu readable in 25 lines. It was assigned to the 8th Century A.D., when the region was under the rule of the Chola Maharaja of Renadu. It seems to throw light on the record of a gift of six marttus (a measuring unit) of land gifted to a person Sidyamayu (one of the Brahmins serving the temple at Pidukula village).

About Renati Cholas or the Telugu Cholas of Renadu:

• They ruled over Renadu region, the present day Kadapa/ Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Originally, they were independent but later on, forced to the suzerainty of the Eastern Chalukyas
• They had the unique honour of using the Telugu language in their inscriptions belonging to the 6th and 8th centuries
• The earliest of this family was Nandivarman (500 AD) who claimed descent from the family of Karikala Chola. He had three sons Simhavishnu, Sundarananda and Dhananjaya.

So, both statements are correct and hence, option C is correct.