GK Quiz | 24 July 2020

Q1: The two weekly newspapers, Kesari and Maratha, were started by-

1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
2. Bipin Chandra Pal
3. Lala Lajpat Rai
4. Devendranath Tagore

Solution: A)

Explanation:

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu and the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tribute to Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Chandra Shekhar Azad on their Jayanti (23rd July).

About Bal Gangadhar Tilak (1856 – 1920):

• He is an Indian teacher, nationalist and an independence activist.
• He was given the title of "Lokmanya", which means "accepted by the people (as their leader)”.
• He was the strongest advocates of ‘Swaraj’ and known as the 'Father of Swarajya'.
• He joined the Indian National Congress (INC) in the year 1890.
• He started two weekly newspapers - Kesari (Marathi daily) and The Maratha (English weekly). He also wrote a book titled ‘Gita-Rahasya’ when he was imprisoned during the freedom struggle.
• He had leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal and Lala Lajpat Rai as his political companions and they were referred as 'Lal-Bal-Pal triumvirate'. These three were active during the Extremist Phase of Indian Independence Movement.
• He used festivals like the Ganapati festival and Shiv Jayanti to build a national spirit.
• In 1884, he founded the Deccan Education Society to ensure that youngsters in India attain quality education and in 1885, the Society established the Fergusson College for post-secondary studies.
• He was called the Father of Indian Unrest by Valentine Chirol.
• In 1916, he started his Home Rule League in Central Provinces, Maharashtra and Karnataka and Berar region.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q2: The third unit of which power plant becomes the first 700 MWe (Mega Watt electric) unit of India?

1. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
2. Kakrapar Atomic Power Project
3. Tarapur Atomic Power Station
4. Kaiga Atomic Power Station

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Recently, the third unit of Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3), located in Gujarat, achieved its ‘first criticality’ and becomes the first 700 MWe (Mega Watt electric) unit of India. First criticality refers to the initiation of a controlled but sustained nuclear fission reaction. It is the biggest indigenously developed variant of the Pressurised Heavy Water Reactor (PHWR). Pressurised Heavy Reactor uses natural uranium as fuel and heavy water reactor. Till now, the biggest indigenously designed reactor was the 540 MWe PHWR, two of which were installed in Tarapur, Maharashtra.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q3: Consider the following statements about Hydrogen-Enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG):

1. It is a mixture of 4-9% of Hydrogen by energy and the compressed natural gas.
2. The cost of HCNG is far less than CNG.
3. It can be used as a fuel of Internal Combustion Engine.

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: A)

Explanation:

About Hydrogen-Enriched Compressed Natural Gas (HCNG):

• It is a mixture of 4-9% of Hydrogen by energy and the compressed natural gas.
• It increases the full efficiency, reduce carbon emission but led to increased NOx emissions.
• To run on HCNG, engine requires minimum modification.
• Due to its high reactivity, diffusivity and low ignition energy, Hydrogen is considered as an excellent additive to improve the combustion of Hydrogen fuel.
• It can be used as a fuel of Internal Combustion Engine.
• At present, Hydrogen costs more than natural gas and thus, the cost of HCNG more than CNG.

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

 

Q4: Consider the following statements about BRICS:

1. The term “BRIC” was initially coined by economist Jim O’Neil in 2001.
2. The first BRIC summit took place in Russia in 2009.
3. Together, BRICS accounts for about 70% of the World’s population.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: BRICS is a term for the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The term “BRIC” was initially coined by economist Jim O’Neil in 2001.

BRICS accounts for about 30% of the world’s GDP and about 40% of the Population. The first BRIC summit took place in Russia in 2009.

It was in December 2010, when South Africa was invited to join BRIC and the group adopted the acronym BRICS. The third BRICS Summit, held in Sanya, China in 2011, was first summit attended by South Africa alongside with BRIC nations.

The BRICS Leaders’ Summit held annually and its chairmanship is rotated annually among the members. It is an emerging global power bloc and investment market.

The 12^th BRICS summit was to be held in Saint Petersburg, Russia in July 2020 which has been postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. The 13^th BRICS summit will be held in India.

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

 

Q5: The Drug Controller General of India comes under which ministry?

1. Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
2. Ministry of Communications
3. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
4. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

Solution: A)

Explanation:

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) is a department of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization of the Government of India. It works under the aegis of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. DCGI is responsible for approval of licences of drugs, vaccines, Sera and IV fluids in India. DCGI also sets standards for manufacturing, sales, import, and distribution of drugs in India.

Recently, DCGI has given approval for COVID-19 vaccines- Covaxin and ZyCoV-D for their human clinical trials.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q6: Consider the following statements regarding Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API):

1. It is one of the main ingredients of every medicine.
2. These are chemically inactive.
3. Fixed-dose combination drugs use just one API.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statement 1, 2 and 3: Every medicine is made up of two main ingredients- excipients (chemically inactive) and APIs (chemically active). It produces the intended effects to cure the disease in medicine.

Single-dose drugs use just one API while fixed-dose combination drugs use multiple APIs. A raw material becomes an API via several chemical compounds called intermediate.

India was self-reliant in manufacturing APIs during the early 90s, but at present, Indian pharmaceutical industry is highly dependent on China for APIs.

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

 

Q7: The largest solar power plant of Navy is commissioned in ________ .

1. Kerala
2. Karnataka
3. Tamil
4. Andhra Pradesh

Solution: A)

Explanation:

A 3 MW Solar Power Plant has been commissioned at the Indian Naval Academy (INA), Ezhimala, Kerala. All its components have been indigenously sourced, and the plant has an estimated life of 25 years. This project was executed by Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Ltd.

This is in line with the Govt. of India initiative of ‘National Solar Mission’ to achieve 100 GW of solar power by 2022.

Due to this project, Naval Station Ezhimala will be able to reduce the carbon foot print. The project is one of the many initiatives undertaken by INA towards a clean and green environment. The KSEB electricity grid will be fed with the surplus power generated by this project.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q8: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has recently established a COVID-19 testing facility in which region?

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Kerala
4. Ladakh

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has recently established a COVID-19 testing facility at Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Ladakh. The facility will increase the rate of testing to identify the Corona cases in Ladakh. It is capable of screening 50 samples per day.

The testing facility meets the safety standards and guidelines of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

DIHAR is one of the life sciences laboratories of DRDO working on cold arid agro-animal technologies.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q9: Consider the following statements about Bru refugees:

1. They are different from Reangs who lives in South America.
2. They are recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Tripura.
3. They are spread across the northeastern states of Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About Bru refugees:

• They are also known as Reangs, recognized as a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Tripura.
• They are spread across the northeastern states of Tripura, Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.
• In 1997, the murder of a Mizo forest guard at the Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram allegedly by Bru militants forced several thousand Bru people to flee to neighbouring Tripura.
• Union Government, Governments of Tripura and Mizoram and Bru-Reang representatives came to an agreement in January 2020 to end Bru-Reang refugee crisis. A package of Rs. 600 crore under this agreement was announced by the Centre.

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

 

Q10: The Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) was established for the management of border areas of which two countries?

1. India and Pakistan
2. China and Nepal
3. China and Bhutan
4. India and China

Solution: D)

Explanation:

The Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination (WMCC) was established in 2012 for management of India – China border areas. It is headed by joint secretary-level officials from both sides.

Recently, the 17^th meeting of the Working mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs was held. The two sides agreed complete disengagement of the troops and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western sector. Joint Secretary, East Asia from the Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian delegation while the Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led the Chinese delegation.

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q11: With reference to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), consider the following statements:

1. It comes under the Ministry of Law and Justice.
2. The officers of the NIA are drawn only from the Indian Police Service.
3. It cannot deal with the crimes across states without special permission from the states.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1, 2 and 3: National Investigation Agency (NIA) is the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency, founded in 2008 under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. It comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It composed of officers drawn from the Indian Police Service and Indian Revenue Service.

A State Government can request to the Central Government to hand over the investigation of a case to the NIA if the case has been registered for the offences as contained in the schedule to the NIA Act. The Central Government can also order NIA to take over investigation of any scheduled offense anywhere in the India. NIA can deal with the crimes across states without special permission from the states.

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

              

Q12: Consider the following statements about Tianwen-1 Mission:

1. It is the first Saturn mission of Japan.
2. It is the third mission to place a ground-penetrating radar on the Martian surface.
3. With this, China will become the sixth country to achieve a Mars landing.

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

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: China has recently launched its ambitious Mars mission named Tianwen-1 Mission.

About China’s ambitious Mars Mission:

• It was lifted off by a Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang spaceport on Hainan Island. It will carry 13 payloads.
• It will be the first to place a ground-penetrating radar on the Martian surface.
• It will search the martian surface for water, study the atmosphere and investigate soil characteristics.
• With the success of this mission, China will become the third country to achieve a Mars landing after the USSR and the United States of America.
• It is expected to land on the surface of Mars in 2021.

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