GK Quiz | 23 September 2020

Q1. Which of the calculation method is used by Indian government for Minimum Support Price (MSP) calculation?

1. A2
2. A2+FL
3. C2

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Minimum Support Price (MSP) is the minimum price set by the government at which farmers can expect to sell their produce for the season. It is estimated based on three types of calculation methods.

• A2: Under A2, MSP is set 50% higher than the amount farmers spend on farming, including spending on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and labour.
• A2+FL includes A2 plus an assigned value of unpaid family labour. The government calculates its MSP based on this method.
• C2: Under this, the estimated land rent and the cost of interest on the money taken for farming are added on top of A2+FL.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q2.  With reference to Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), consider the following statements:

1. It is like a mutual fund.
2. They are not suitable for high net worth individuals, institutional and non-institutional investors.
3. InvITs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs):

• It is like a mutual fund.
• They are designed to pool small sums of money from a number of investors to invest in assets that give cash flow over a period of time. Part of this cash flow would be distributed as a dividend back to investors.
• InvITs are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
• They have a trustee, sponsor(s), investment manager and project manager like mutual funds.
• The minimum investment amount in an InvIT Initial Public Offering (IPO) is Rs 10 lakh, and thus, InvITs are suitable for high net worth individuals, institutional and non-institutional investors.

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

 

Q3. Consider the following statements with reference to the North Eastern Council:

1. It is a statutory body.
2. It functions under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
3. Manipur was added to the council in 2002.

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: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About North Eastern Council:

• It was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament; thus, it is a statutory body.
• It is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the NE Region, which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
• Sikkim was added to the council in 2002 by amending the North Eastern Council Act, 1971
• It is headquartered in Shillong and functions under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region

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

 

Q4. Consider the following statements about the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD):

1. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations.
2. It is the only multilateral development organization that focuses solely on rural economies and food security.

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: About International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

• It was founded on 15^th December 1977.
• It is an international financial institution, headquartered in Rome, Italy.
• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that works to address poverty and hunger in rural areas of developing countries.
• It is the only multilateral development organization that focuses solely on rural economies and food security.
• It has 177 member states and works in partnership with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

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

 

Q5. Bondas and Didiayis are two Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups in-

1. Jharkhand
2. Odisha
3. Rajasthan
4. Madhya Pradesh

Solution: B)

Explanation:

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has sought a report from the Odisha government after six members of two primitive tribes (Bondas and Didiayis) in Odisha contracted COVID-19.

Bondas are members of a group of Austroasiatic tribes. It is believed to be part of the first wave of migration out of Africa about 60,000 years ago.

The Didayis is an Austro-Asiatic tribe. It lives in the immediate neighbourhood of the Bondas.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q6. Which of the following is/are a cause of algal blooms?

1. High temperatures
2. Decrease in droughts and flooding
3. Excess nutrients
4. Changes in salinity

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

An algal bloom is a rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system.

Excess nutrients, high temperature, abundant light, ecosystem disturbance, high pH levels, changes in salinity, increase in flooding and drought, sea level rise are some main causes of algal blooms.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q7. Consider the following statements about Cyanobacteria:

1. These are microscopic organisms found naturally in soils and all types of water.
2. These algae use sunlight to make their own food
3. These organisms can multiply quickly in warm, nutrient-rich environments

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: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: About Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae:

• These are microscopic organisms found naturally in soils and all types of water.
• These algae use sunlight to make their own food.
• These single-celled bacteria live in fresh, brackish and marine water.
• These organisms can multiply quickly in warm, nutrient-rich environments

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

 

Q8. Consider the following statements about the conservation status of African Elephant:

1. They are listed as endangered on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
2. They are included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II.

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:

Statement 1 and 2: About African Elephants:

• They are the largest land animals in the world today
• They are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
• They are included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II.
• There are two subspecies of African elephants—the Savanna (or bush) elephant and the Forest elephant. Savanna elephants are larger than forest elephants.

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

 

Q9. The J&K Official Languages Bill, 2020, seeks to include which of the languages as the official languages in the newly ­created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir?

1. Kashmiri
2. Bodo
3. Dogri
4. Hindi

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation: The Lok Sabha passed the J&K Official Languages Bill, 2020. The bill seeks to include Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi as the official languages of the newly­ created Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, only En­glish and Urdu were the of­ficial languages in the former states which was bifurcated on 5^th August 2019.

Hence, option C is correct.

              

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding Net Neutrality:

1. It refers to equal treatment for all internet users.
2. Under the principle of net neutrality, all online content on the network of Internet Service Providers has the same access and speed.
3. Service providers can block other sites on their network if Net Neutrality is finished.

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 Net Neutrality:

• The term ‘Net Neutrality’ was coined by the law professor Tim Wu at Columbia University in 2003
• It refers to equal treatment for all internet users.
• Under this, Internet Service Providers will give equal importance to every type of data.
• Following are the main properties of net neutrality:

• • Internet Service Providers can not slow down a particular website
  • All online content on the network of Internet Service Providers has the same access and speed.

• If net neutrality is finished, service providers can charge more money for access to a particular website or separate data price can be charged for these services, and can block other sites on their network.
• At present, India does not have specific legislation regarding Net Neutrality.

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