GK Quiz | 18 August 2020

Q1. A "Public authority" is any authority or body or institution of self-government established-

1. by or under the Constitution
2. by any other law made by Parliament/State Legislature
3. by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Under section 2(h) of the RTI Act, Public authority refers to any authority or body or institution of self-government established or constituted

• by or under the Constitution
• by any other law made by Parliament/State Legislature.
• by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government, and includes any-
• body owned, controlled or substantially financed;
• non-Government organisation substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q2. With reference to the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), consider the following statements:

1. It was formed in 2018 under section 132 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013.
2. It enforces compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards.
3. It cannot investigate professional misconduct committed by members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI).

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 National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA):

• It was formed in 2018 under section 132 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013.
• It consists of a chairperson (appointed by the Central Government) and not more than 15 members.
• It monitors and enforces compliance with accounting standards and auditing standards
• It makes recommendations to the Central Government on the formulation of accounting and auditing policies and standards to be adopted by companies.
• It can investigate professional misconduct committed by members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for prescribed class of body corporate or persons.
• It can probe listed companies and those unlisted public companies having annual turnover of no less than Rs 1,000 crore or paid-up capital of no less than Rs 500 crore.

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

 

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Institute of Chartered Accountants of India:

1. It is a statutory body.
2. It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Finance.

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 Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

• It is the national professional accounting body of India. 
• It was formed on 1^st July 1949 as a statutory body.
• It was established under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.
• It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
• It is aimed at regulating the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India.

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

 

Q4. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has recently constructed a 180-feet bailey bridge in which state?

1. West Bengal
2. Uttarakhand
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Arunachal Pradesh

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has recently constructed a 180-feet bailey bridge in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand under three weeks. The bridge will provide connectivity to 20 villages in Uttarakhand.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q5. Consider the following statements about Ganga River Dolphin:

1. It uses ultrasonic sound waves to catch its prey.
2. It can only live in freshwater.
3. It is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.

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: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: The government will soon launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin for the conservation of Asiatic Lion and Dolphins respectively.

About Ganga River Dolphin:

• It is popularly known as ‘Susu’ and can only live in freshwater.
• It is blind because it doesn’t have an eye lens.
• It uses ultrasonic sound waves to catch its prey
• Protection status:
• It is listed as ‘Endangered’ on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.
• It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972
• It is included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), in Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)

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

 

Q6. According to the Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, criminal contempt is defined as the Publication of any matter or the doing of any other act which

1. scandalizes or lowers the authority of any court
2. prejudices or interferes with the due course of any judicial proceeding
3. obstructs the administration of justice

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

As per Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, criminal contempt is defined as the Publication of any matter or the doing of any other act which scandalizes or lowers the authority of any court; or prejudices or interferes with the due course of any judicial proceeding; or obstructs the administration of justice.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q7. Consider the following statements:

1. A statement which is only against the judge in his or her individual capacity and not in discharge of his or her judicial function amounts to criminal contempt.
2. A statement which affect the administration of justice or functioning of courts would not constitute criminal contempt.

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: There is a thin line that separates criticism and contempt. Whether a comment constitutes criminal contempt would necessarily be decided on the facts of each case. Criminal contempt does not seek to afford protection to judges from statements which they may be exposed to as individuals.

The Supreme Court has held that if a comment is made against the functioning of a judge, it would have to be seen whether the comment is fair or malicious.  If the comment is made against the judge as an individual, the Court would consider whether the comment seeks to interfere with the judge’s administration or is simply in the nature of libel or defamation.

A statement which is only against the judge in his or her individual capacity and not in discharge of his or her judicial function would not constitute criminal contempt.

A statement would amount to criminal contempt if it affects the administration of justice or functioning of courts since public perception of the judiciary plays a vital role in the rule of law.

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

 

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding Kalapani territory:

1. It is located in Himachal Pradesh.
2. India has included the territory into the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand in its latest map.
3. It is controlled by controlled by India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police since 1962.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Kalapani territory:

• It is located on the Kailash Mansarovar route. It borders Sudurpashchim Pradesh in Nepal and Uttarakhand in India.
• India included Kalapani into the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand in its latest map.
• Kalapani is controlled by India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police since the Indo-China war of 1962.
• The Kali River in the Kalapani region demarcates the border between India and Nepal.
• In 1816, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed by the Kingdom of Nepal and British India. Under the treaty, the Kali was located River as Nepal's western boundary with India. The discrepancy in locating the source of the river led to boundary disputes between India and Nepal, with each country producing maps supporting their own claims.

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

 

Q9. Narcotics Control Bureau is the apex coordinating agency under the-

1. Ministry of Home Affairs
2. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
3. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
4. Ministry of External Affairs

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About Narcotics Control Bureau:

• It is the nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of India, constituted in 1986 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
• It is responsible for fighting drug trafficking and the abuse of illegal substances.
• It is the apex coordinating agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Its Director General is an officer of the Indian Police Service (IPS) or the Indian Revenue Service (IRS).

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q10. Consider the following statements about Border Security Force (BSF):

1. It is the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
2. It guards India's land borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
3. It comes under the Ministry of Defence.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Recently Rakesh Asthana has been appointed as the Director General of Border Security Force.

About Border Security Forces (BSF):

• It is a paramilitary force, established on 1st December 1965.
• BSF has been termed as the First Line of Defence of Indian Territories.
• It guards India's land borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• Currently, it stands as the world's largest border guarding force.
• It comes under Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It has air wing, marine wing, an artillery regiment, and commando units.

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