GK Quiz | 10 September 2020

Q1. India’s first Kisan Rail was flagged off between Devlali in Maharashtra and _____.

1. Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh
2. Danapur in Bihar
3. Anantpur in Andhra Pradesh
4. Singreni in Telangana

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Recently, the first Kisan Rail of South India and second Kisan Rail of India was flagged off between Anantpur (Andhra Pradesh) and New Delhi.

The first Kisan Rail was inaugurated between Devlali in Maharashtra and Danapur in Bihar.

Kisan Rail Scheme is one of the flagship initiatives of the Ministry of Railways announced during the Budget 2020-21. The scheme aims at providing seamless connectivity to markets. This initiative will help in achieving the government’s target of doubling farmer’s income by 2022.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q2. Which of the following statements is not true?

1. Child Mortality Rate had declined in India from 126 in 1990 to 34 in 2019.
2. Infant mortality rate refers to the number of deaths of children below the age of 5 years per 1,000 live births.
3. Under the New National Health Policy 2017, India has set a target to reduce the child mortality rate to 25 by 2030.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: The UNICEF, the WHO, the Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the World Bank Group have recently released new mortality estimates. According to this estimate, the child mortality rate in India has declined from 126 in 1990 to 34 in 2019.

 

Child Mortality rate refers to the number of deaths of the children below 5 years of age per 1,000 live births in a year.

Statement 3: Under the Sustainable Development Goals, the countries have committed to reducing the child mortality rate to 25 by 2030. India has set a target to reduce the Child Mortality rate to 23 by 2025 under the new National Health Policy 2017.

So, Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect and Statement 1 is correct. Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about Jigyasa Program:

1. It is a student-scientist connect programme that promotes scientific temperament.
2. It was launched by CSIR in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan.

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 Webinar on Scientific & Technological Interventions by CSIR-CMERI combating COVID-19 under Jigyasa programme was organized.

About Jigyasa Program:

• It was launched by CSIR in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS).
• It is a scientist-student connect program that promotes scientific temperament.
• It brings together scientists and teachers for nurturing young minds.
• It focuses on extended classroom learning and research-based laboratory based learning.
• CSIR is widening its Scientific Social Responsibility (SSR) through this program.
• The program follows various models of engagement:
• Laboratory visits
• Popular Lecture Series
• Scientists as Teachers and Teachers as Scientists
• Visits of Scientists to Schools
• Teacher’s Workshop
• Science Exhibitions

So, all statements are correct. Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q4. Which statement is not true with respect to Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana?

1. The scheme is launched for the sustainable development of fisheries sector in India.
2. An investment of over Rs. 20,000 crores will be made for the implementation of the scheme from 2020-21 to 2022-23.
3. The scheme aims to increase fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25.
4. It will be implemented as an umbrella scheme.

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana for the responsible and sustainable development of fisheries sector. The sector provides livelihood to about 16 million fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and almost twice the number along the value chain.

About PMMSY:

• An investment of over Rs. 20,000 crores will be made for the implementation of the scheme over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. It is the highest ever in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector.
• It will be implemented as an umbrella scheme with two components- Central Sector scheme and Centrally Sponsored scheme.
• One of the key objectives of this scheme is to enhance exports to Rs 1 lakh crore by 2024-25.
• The scheme aims to increase fish production by an additional 70 lakh tonne by 2024-25.
• The scheme also aims to reduce post-harvest losses from 20-25% to around 10% and to double fishers and fish farmers’ income.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q5. EASE 2.0 index is related to which of the following?

1. Banking reforms
2. Doing business in India
3. Ease of living
4. States’ Startup ecosystems

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Recently, EASE 2.0 Banking Reforms Index that ranks Public Sector Banks on the basis of their performance on various themes has been released.

EASE (Enhanced Access and Service Excellence) Reforms were launched in January 2018 by the government of India and Public Sector Banks.

EASE 2. 0 Index has 6 themes - Responsible Banking, Customer Responsiveness, Credit Off-take, PSBs as UdyamiMitra, Financial Inclusion & Digitalisation and Governance and HR

Results of EASE 2.0 Index

• Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India, and erstwhile Oriental Bank of Commerce are the top three performing banks.
• The average EASE Index score has increased by 37% between March 2019-March 2020.
• The gross NPAs of PSBs have declined from Rs. 8.96 lakh crore in March 2018 to Rs. 6.78 lakh crore in March 2020.
• The number of PSBs under the Prompt Corrective Action Framework has also been reduced to three during the implementation of EASE reforms.

(Source: PIB)

Hence, option A is correct.