GK Quiz | 20 July 2020

Q1. Which of the following countries currently has/have nuclear weapons?

1. Russia
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. Iraq
5. Jordan
6. United Kingdom

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1,3 and 6 only
2. 3,4 and 5 only
3. 1,2,3 and 6 only
4. 1,2,3,4,5 and 6

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Following are nine countries which currently have nuclear weapons:

• US
• India
• France
• Israel
• Pakistan
• UK
• Russia
• China
• North Korea

There are total 13,355 nuclear weapons worldwide, out of which Russia has the largest followed by the USA, France and China. India is at 7^th spot with 130 nuclear weapons.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Trinity Test:

1. It is used to diagnose arthritis.
2. It was a name given to the word’s first atomic bomb test.
3. It was designed by the father of the atomic bomb.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

About the Trinity Test:

• It was a name given to the Super bomb “Gadget” testing. Gadget was test on 16^th July, 1945 and became the first atomic bomb of the world.
• It was a part of the Manhattan Project which was led by the U.S
• It was designed by a group of scientist headed by J Robert Oppenheimer who was later known as the “father of the atomic bomb”. So, statement 1 is incorrect and statement 2 and 3 are correct.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding recently launched scheme “PM SVANidhi”:

1. The scheme is valid till 2030.
2. Under the scheme, only women can avail of loan facilities.
3. Punjab National Bank will act as an implementing agency for the scheme.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

The mobile app of “PM SVANidhi” is recently launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Following are some important features of the Scheme:

• Under the scheme, an affordable loan of up to Rs 10,000 will be provided to street vendors.
• Who are eligible?- street vendors who had their businesses operational on or before March 24, 2020
• On early or timely repayment of the loan, the street vendor will get an interest subsidy of 7% per year which will be credited to their bank accounts quarterly.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) will act as the implementation agency.
• The objective of the app is to provide a digital interface for lending institutions for loan application processing.
• The scheme will be valid until March 2022. So, all statements are incorrect.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q4. According to the recent changes in PM’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2020, the awards will be given in which of the following categories?

1. Innovation General Category
2. Aspirational Districts Program
3. District Performance Indicators Programme
4. Namami Gange Program

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution:  D)

Explanation:

Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration were instituted in 2006 by the government to reward the innovative work done by district-level officials and organizations. Recently, the Government of India has restructured the scheme and made the efforts of district officials in the Namami Gange Programme recognizable and rewardable for the very first time.

Following are four categories in which the awards will be given:

• District Performance Indicators Programme
• Innovation General Category
• Aspirational Districts Program
• Namami Gange Program

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q5: Consider the following statements:

1. Kerala has the lowest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India.
2. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in India is continuously increasing from 2015.
3. Target 5 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

According to the recently released special bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2016-18 by the Office of the Registrar General “Sample Registration System”, Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has decreased from 122 in 2015-17 to 113 in 2016-18. MMR is the number of maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births.

In India, Kerala has the lowest maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 43 followed by Maharashtra (with MMR of 46) and Tamil Nadu (with MMR of 60). In contrast, Assam has the highest MMR of 215, followed by Uttar Pradesh with MMR of 197.

Target 3.1 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100 000 live births by 2030. So, statement 1 is correct and statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q6. Which of the following Quad country is not a permanent partner of the Malabar exercise?

1. United States
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. India

Solution: C)

Explanation:

In 2019, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe introduced the idea of QUAD for the first time. QUAD stands for Quadrilateral Security Dialogue aimed to support a “free, open and prosperous” Indo-Pacific region. It is an informal strategic forum between the United States, India, Japan and Australia.

In 1992, Malabar exercise started as a bilateral exercise between the US and India. In 2015, Japan also joined the exercise as a permanent partner. Now, the government is considering Australia’s entry into this trilateral exercise.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q7. Recently, a mobile-based application called KURMA is launched to conserve which species?

1. Turtles
2. Tigers
3. Elephants
4. Smooth-coated otter

Solution: A)

Explanation: KURMA is a mobile-based application launched for turtle conservation. It is free to download.

It is developed by the Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN) in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Society India and the Turtle Survival Alliance India. It will provide the database to the users to identify the species and list of nearest rescue centres to conserve them across the country.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q8. Consider the following statements about Chabahar Port:

1. It is the only oceanic port of Iraq.
2. It is located on the Gulf of Kutch.
3. It is located on the east of Gwadar port.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Chabahar Port is the only oceanic port of Iran. It is located on the Gulf of Oman, 72 kilometers west of the Gwadar port of Pakistan. Recently, India was dropped out of Chabahar Railway Project by Iran, citing delay in funding and starting the project from the Indian side. So, all statements are incorrect.

(Source: The Hindu)

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding Plea bargaining:

1. The concept of Plea bargaining has been a part of Indian law since 1950.
2. It was introduced through a set of amendments to the CrPC under Chapter XXI-A.
3. In India, it can be initiated only by the prosecutor.
4. This practice is available for all cases.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 2: Plea bargaining is a concept in which a person who is charged with a criminal offence can negotiate, by pleading guilty to a less serious offence, for a lesser punishment than the punishment provided by the law. In 2006, a set of amendments were made to CrPC and Plea bargaining was introduced under Chapter XXI-A. So, statement 1 is incorrect and statement 2 is correct.

Statement 3 and 4: Unlike in the US, in India, it can be initiated only by the accused. A person who has been charge-sheeted for an offence that attracts the death sentence, a prison term above seven years or life sentence cannot use this scheme under Chapter XXI-A. So, statements 3 and 4 are incorrect.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding PM-KUSUM:

1. It was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
2. It provides for the solarisation of 10 lakh grid-connected solar agriculture pumps.
3. It includes a provision to light rural homes by utilizing surplus power from off-grid pumps.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

PM-KUSUM was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2019.

Following are some main features of the scheme:

• Its target is to set up 26 GW solar capacity by 2022 to power irrigation pumps.
• There are three component of the scheme:
• Component A: aimed to set up 10,000 MW of decentralized ground mounted grid-connected solar or other renewable energy based power plants.
• Component B: aimed at the installation of 17.5 lakh standalone solar agriculture pumps.
• Component C: aimed at the solarisation of 10 lakh grid-connected solar agriculture pumps.
• Financial assistance: 30% subsidy will be provided by the central and state government each. Farmers have to spend 10% of the cost as they can take the bank loans for 30% of the cost.
• There is no provision in the scheme for lightning rural homes by utilizing surplus power from off-grid pumps. So, Statements 1 and 2 are correct, and statement 3 is incorrect.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q11: Consider the following statements about Equalization Levy:

1. It is the digital services tax levied on non-resident service provider.
2. It was introduced in 2016.
3. It is a direct tax.
4. In case of delay, no interest is charged.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

About Equalization Levy:

• It is a direct tax introduced in 2016.
• It is the digital services tax levied on the payment if it exceeds 1,00,000in one financial year to a single service provider. It is applicable for foreign companies which do not have tangible presence in India.
• Since 2016, the rate of tax is 6% but from 1 April 2020, it has been charged at 2%.
• In case of delay of payment, interest at the rate of 1% per month is charged. So, Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct, and statement 4 is incorrect.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q12. With reference to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), consider the following statements:

1. It was constituted under section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
2. It comes under the Ministry of External Affairs.
3. It is the only dedicated disaster response force of the world.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

About National Disaster Response Force (NDRF):

• It was constituted under section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
• It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It is unique as it is the only dedicated disaster response force of the world.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi.

So, Statements 1 and 3 are correct and statement 2 is incorrect.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q13. Consider the following statements regarding ‘Investment Clearance Cell’:

1. It was announced in the 2020-2021 union budget.
2. It will be headed by Amber Dubey.

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:

Investment Clearance Cell (ICC) was announced by the government in the 2020-2021 union budget. The Ministry of Civil Aviation will have ICC for prompt clearance and assistance. It will be headed by Joint Secretary in the aviation ministry ‘Amber Dubey’. So, both statements are correct.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q14. With reference to the Solar Orbiter Mission, consider the following statements:

1. It is a cooperative mission between ISRO and NASA.
2. It is a ten-year mission.
3. It will be the first to provide images of the Sun’s poles.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

About Solar Orbiter Mission:

• It was launched on 10^th February 2020 on an Atlas 5 rocket from Florida
• It is a cooperative mission between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
• It is a seven-year mission.
• It will be the first to provide images of the Sun’s poles.
• It will help researchers to understand how stars can affect the space environment, earth and humans in space. So, Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect and statement 3 is correct.

Hence, option B is correct.