GK Quiz | 17 September 2020

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Adjournment motion:

1. It is introduced only in the Lok Sabha to draw the attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance.
2. It should not raise a question of privilege.
3. It should be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: About Adjournment motion:

• It is allowed only in the Lok Sabha. Its main objective is to draw the attention of the House to a definite matter of urgent public importance.
• It is not in Rajya Sabha as it involves an element of censure against the government.
• It needs the support of 50 members to be admitted.
• The discussion on this motion needs to last at least 2.5 hours.
• It should raise a matter which is definite, factual, urgent and of public importance. It should not cover more than one matter.
• It should be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence.
• It should not deal with any matter that is under adjudication of court.
• It should not raise a question of privilege, any question that can be raised on a distinct motion, and should not revive discussion on a matter that has been discussed in the same session.

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

 

Q2. Which of the following statement is not true about Living Planet Report 2020?

1. According to the report, the population of vertebrate species has largely declined in the past half- century.
2. Freshwater species populations have reduced by 84% on average since 1970.

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: D)

Explanation:

World Wide Fund for Nature publishes the Living Planet Report every two years.

According to the recently released Living Planet Report 2020, the population of vertebrate species has largely declined in the past half- century.

Key findings of the report:

• The report shows an average 68% decline in global vertebrate species populations, between 1970 and 2016. The decline stands at 45% in the Asia Pacific.
• Freshwater species populations have reduced by 84% on average since 1970.
• Our Ecological Footprint has exceeded the Earth’s rate of regeneration since 1970.
• Megafauna are more vulnerable because they were subjected to intense anthropogenic threats and overexploitation.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about Sputnik V:

1. It is a Russian COVID Vaccine.
2. It is the first COVID-19 vaccine to be approved.
3. It is named after the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the China.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RFID), which is piloting Russia’s Sputnik candidate vaccine, has partnered Hyderabad-based drug maker Dr Reddy’s Laboratories to cooperate on clinical trials and distribution of Sputnik V vaccine in India.

About Sputnik V:

• It is a Russian COVID Vaccine.
• The vaccine has been named as Sputnik, after the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik-I launched by the Soviet Union.
• It is the first Covid-19 vaccine to be approved.
• It is based on the DNA of a SARS-CoV-2 type adenovirus.
• It consists of two types of a human adenovirus, each carrying an S-antigen of the new corona virus.

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

 

Q4. Consider the following statements about an engineered materials arrestor system:

1. Its main purpose is to stop an aircraft overrun with no human injury and minimal aircraft damage.
2. It is built at the end of a runway to reduce the severity of the consequences of a Runway excursion.

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: The Supreme Court sought responses from the Centre and the DGCA on a plea seeking installation of Engineered Materials Arrestor System (EMAS) at airports having table-top runways to ensure safety of aircrafts which overshoot runways or abort takeoffs.

About Engineered materials arrestor system (EMAS):

• It is a bed of engineered materials built at the end of a runway to reduce the severity of the consequences to aircrafts overshooting runaways or aborting takeoffs.
• This technology arrests such aircrafts and prevents loss of life or damage to the flying machine and this technology has already been deployed in over 125 runways across the world.
• Its purpose is to stop an aircraft overrun with no human injury and minimal aircraft damage
• It is similar in concept to the runway truck ramp or race circuit gravel gap made of gravel or sand
• It was first installed in John F Kennedy International Airport, New York, USA in 1996.

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

 

Q5. With reference to the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2020, consider the following statements:

1. It will give more powers to the Lieutenant-Governor (LG).
2. It provides that the L-G could not act in his discretion in any matter that is beyond the purview of the powers of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi.
3. It seeks to amend the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3:  In 1991, the Union Territory of Delhi with a Legislative Assembly came into being in 1991 under Article 239AA of the Constitution. The article was inserted by ‘the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991’.

About National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2020:

• It seeks to amend the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991
• It provides that the L-G could act in his discretion in any matter that is beyond the purview of the powers of the Legislative Assembly of Delhi in matters related to the All India (Civil) Services and the Anti Corruption Branch. The validity of any decision taken as per such discretion shall not be questioned.
• It proposes to clearly spell out the functions of the Council of Ministers and the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) by giving more discretionary powers to the L-G.

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

 

Q6. Consider the following statements:

1. In India, the salary of legislators is determined annually as per the average consumer price index of the previous year.
2. Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020 seeks to amend the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 to reduce the salaries of MPs by 50%.

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: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: As per the Finance Act, 2018, salary, daily allowance, and pension of MPs will be increased every five years, on the basis of the cost inflation index. MPs are empowered to determine their salaries by enacting laws under article 106 of the Constitution.

Salary, Allowances and Pension of Members of Parliament (Amendment) Bill, 2020 seeks to amend the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act, 1954 to reduce the salaries of MPs by 30% and the Salaries and Allowances of Ministers Act, 1952, to reduce the sumptuary allowance of Ministers by 30%.

Rules notified under the 1954 Act to reduce certain allowances of MPs for one year. These include constituency allowance and office expenses allowance.

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

 

Q7. Consider the following statements with reference to the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY):

1. Under PMSSY, a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will be set up at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
2. It is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3. One of its components is to upgrade the government medical colleges in various states.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)

• Under PMSSY, a new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will be set up at Darbhanga, Bihar.
• It is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• It was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.
• Both the Centre and the state will share the project cost for upgradation of each medical college institution
• It has the following two components:
• Setting up new AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)
• Upgradation of government medical colleges in various states.

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

 

Q8. Consider the following statements about Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020:

1. It exempted aircrafts belonging to the naval, military, or air forces of the Union.
2. It provides statutory status to the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).
3. It provides that the central government cannot cancel the licences, certificates or approvals granted to a person under the Act in any case.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Aircraft (Amendment) Bill, 2020:

• It provides statutory status to regulatory institutions like the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
• It proposes to increase the fine amount for violations of rules from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs 1 crore for aviation industry players.
• The Act exempted aircrafts belonging to the naval, military, or air forces of the Union and it expands this exemption to include aircrafts belonging to any other armed forces other than these three.
• It provides powers to central government to cancel the licences, certificates or approvals granted to a person under the Act if the person contravenes any provision of the Act.

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