GK Quiz | 22 August 2020

Q1. Which of the following states does the river Teesta pass through?

1. Assam
2. Sikkim
3. Meghalaya
4. West Bengal

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)        

Explanation:

About Teesta river:

• It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra.
• It rises in the Himalayas near Chunthang, Sikkim, flows through West Bengal, then enters Bangladesh and finally enters the Bay of Bengal.
• Tributaries:
• Left Bank Tributaries: Rangpo River, Dik Chhu, Lang Lang Chu, Lachung River, Rani Khola
• Right Bank Tributary:  Rangeet, Ringyong Chhu, Ranghap Chhu

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q2. Which of the following countries shares a border with Mali?

1. Algeria
2. Niger
3. Senegal
4. Mauritania

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation: Recently, President of Mali Ibrahim Boubacar Keita announced his resignation amid a military coup.

About Mali:

• It is a landlocked country in West Africa.
• Mali borders Burkina Faso to the south-east, Ivory Coast to the south, Guinea to the south-west, Algeria to the north-northeast, Niger to the east, and Senegal to the west and Mauritania to the north-west.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q3. With reference to the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD), consider the following statements:

1. It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
2. It is a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).

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: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: About Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD):

• It was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2015 for implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
• It is a Central Sector Scheme, a sub-mission under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). Central Sector Scheme are the schemes that are entirely and directly funded and executed by the central government.
• It aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain.

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

 

Q4. Shekatkar Committee was constituted for-

1. Enhancing Combat Capability and Rebalancing Defence Expenditure
2. Telecom sector revival
3. Examining all aspects of the educational sector in India
4. Assessing PPP in India and Tax Structure Reforms

Solution: A)

Explanation:

The Shekatkar committee was established by the Ministry of Defence with a mandate for Enhancing Combat Capability and Rebalancing Defence Expenditure. It submitted its report in December 2016.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q5: With reference to the Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), consider the following statements:

1. It is implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) functioning as the nodal agency at the national level.
2. It is a central sector scheme.
3. Under the scheme, only new projects/units are considered for sanction of loans.

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: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP):

• It is a credit linked subsidy programme administered by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• It is implemented by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) functioning as the nodal agency at the national level. At state level, the scheme is implemented through KVIC, KVIB and District Industries center.
• It is aimed to provide continuous and sustainable employment to a large segment of traditional and prospective artisans and unemployed youth.
• The scheme is applicable to all viable (technically as well as economically) projects in rural as well as urban areas, under Micro enterprises sector. Only new projects/units are considered for sanction of loans.
• The maximum cost of the project admissible under business/services sector is Rs.10 lakhs and manufacturing sector is Rs.25 lakhs.

Eligibility:

• Any individual, above 18 years of age.
• Self Help Groups (including those belonging to BPL provided that they have not availed benefits under any other Scheme).
• The beneficiaries should have passed at least VIII standard, for setting up of project costing above Rs.10 lacs in the Manufacturing Sector and above Rs. 5 lacs in the business /Service Sector.
• Institutions registered under Societies Registration Act,1860
• Charitable Trusts
• Production Co-operative Societies

Subsidy entitlement:

• Urban Areas: 15% for general category beneficiaries and 25% for special category beneficiaries
• Rural Areas: 25% for general category and 35% for special category, which includes SC/ST/OBC/Minorities, NER, Hill and Border Areas.

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

 

Q6. Which of the following is/are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)?

1. Indonesia
2. Vietnam
3. India
4. Singapore
5. Pakistan
6. Myanmar

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation: Two day 6^th Round Table of ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks (AINTT) has been organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Foreign Ministry of Thailand.

About the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):

• It is a regional intergovernmental organization in Southeast Asia.
• It promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration among its members and other countries in Asia.
• It was established on 8^th August 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
• Member states: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia
• It is headquartered in Jakarta (Indonesia).

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q7. Consider the following statements with reference to National Cadet Corps (NCC):

1. The NCC comes under the Ministry of External Affairs.
2. The NCC was formed in 1948 on the recommendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee.
3. The National Cadet Corps in India is a voluntary organisation which enrolls cadets at high school and college level.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About National Cadet Corps:

• It is the youth wing of Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Wing.
• It is headquartered at New Delhi, India.
• It comes under the Ministry of Defence.
• It was formed in 1948 on the recommendation of H. N. Kunzru Committee.
• Motto: Unity and discipline
• It is a voluntary organisation which enrolls cadets at high school and college level.

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

 

Q8. Which of the following criteria will be included to evaluate the cities in Swachh Survekshan 2021?

1. Segregation of waste into Wet, Dry and Hazard categories
2. Processing and recycling of wet and dry waste
3. Construction and Demolition waste processing
4. Sanitation status of cities

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:

Swachh Survekshan 2020 is the fifth edition of the annual cleanliness urban survey conducted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India.

In Swachh Survekshan 2021, new performance category “the Prerak DAUUR Samman” will be introduced. It has a total of five additional sub- categories -Divya (Platinum), Anupam (Gold), Ujjwal (Silver), Udit (Bronze), Aarohi (Aspiring).

In Swachh Survekshan 2020, cities are categorized based on criteria of ‘population category’, but for 2021, they will be categorised based on the following six select indicator wise performance criteria:

• Segregation of waste into Wet, Dry and Hazard categories
• Processing capacity against wet waste generated
• Processing and recycling of wet and dry waste
• Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste processing
• Percentage of waste going to landfills
• Sanitation status of cities

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q9. Consider the following statements about Kala Azar:

1. It is caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus.
2. It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
3. It is a disease in which a parasite migrates to the internal organs such as the liver, spleen and bone marrow.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science & Technology (INST), Mohali have developed an oral nanomedicine with the help of surface-modified solid lipid nanoparticles based combinational cargo system for combating visceral leishmaniasis.

About Kala Azar or visceral leishmaniasis:

• It is also known as black fever and Dumdum fever.
• It is the most severe form of leishmaniasis and the second-largest parasitic killer in the world.
• It is caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus which migrates to the internal organs such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
• Symptoms: fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia, and substantial swelling of the liver and spleen.

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

 

Q10. Consider the following statements about Indian Gaur:

1. It is the largest and the tallest in the family of wild cattle.
2. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
3. It is native to South and Southeast Asia.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Indian Gaur or Bison:

• It is the largest and the tallest in the family of wild cattle
• It is native to South and Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Nepal.
• Threats:             
• poaching for trade
• hunting and specific hunting for home consumption.
• It is largely confined to evergreen forests or semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, but also occur in deciduous forest areas.
• Conservation: It is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List and included in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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