GK Quiz | 24 September 2020

Q1. With reference to the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, consider the following statements:

1. It amends the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955.
2. It aims to remove fears of private investors of excessive regulatory interference in their business operations.
3. It removes cereal, pulses, oilseed, edible oil, onion and potatoes from essential commodities.

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: The Parliament has recently passed the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

About the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020:

• It amends the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and replaces an ordinance promulgated in June 2020.
• It aims to remove fears of private investors of excessive regulatory interference in their business operations
• It removes cereal, pulses, oilseed, edible oil, onion and potatoes from the list of essential commodities.
• It ensures that the interests of consumers are safeguarded by regulating agricultural foodstuff in situations such as war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity
• It does away with the imposition of stock limit except under exceptional conditions

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

 

Q2. MedSpark is the first medical devices park which will be set up in-

1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Maharashtra
3. Kerala
4. Tamil Nadu

Solution: C)

Explanation:

MedSpark is the first medical devices park which will be set up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

About MedSpark:

• It will focus on the high-risk medical device sector to provide a full range of services for the medical devices industry like R&D support, testing, and evaluation.
• It is a joint initiative of the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), an institute of the DST, and the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), according to a statement.
• Funding from the state and central governments will meet the capital expenditure and deficit in income against expenses during the initial stages.
• It will create an enabling support system for manufacturing support, technology innovation, and knowledge dissemination.
• It will benefit small and medium-sized medical devices industries, which dominate the medical devices sector.

Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements:

1. India is the top largest market for medical devices in Asia.
2. China is the largest exporter of medical devices to India.

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

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: India’s medical devices industry contributes about 4-5% to the USD 96.7 billion Indian healthcare industry.

As compared to the rest of the manufacturing industry, the medical devices sector in India is very small in size, though India is the fourth largest market for medical devices in Asia after Japan, China, and South Korea and is one of the top 20 markets in the world.

The five largest exporters of high technology medical equipment to India are- USA, Germany, China, Japan, and Singapore

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

 

Q4. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) is a national initiative introduced by -

1. Ministry of Earth Sciences
2. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
3. Ministry of Science and Technology
4. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR):

• It is a national initiative introduced by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to measure the air quality of a metropolitan city by measuring the overall pollution level and the location-specific air quality of the city.
• It is combined with the early warning system on weather parameters.
• It is developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, along with ESSO partner institutions viz. India Meteorological Department (IMD) and National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q5. Consider the following statements about Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority:

1. It is a statutory body.
2. It can take action only on the basis of complaints made by any individual functioning in the field of environment.
3. It enforces the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region as per the pollution levels.

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. 1,2 and 3

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority

• It was constituted in 1998 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. Thus, it is a statutory body tasked with taking various measures to tackle air pollution in the National Capital Region
• It enforces Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region as per the pollution levels, and protect and improve the quality of the environment and prevent and control environmental pollution in the National Capital Region
• It has the power suo-moto or on the basis of complaints made by any individual, representative body or organization functioning in the field of environment.
• It has 15 members, including Chairman. Some of the members are the environment secretary of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council, transport commissioner of the NCT, the commissioners of various municipal corporations of Delhi and professors at IIT Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University.

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

 

Q6. With reference to Generation Unlimited (GenU), consider the following statements:

1. It was founded in September 2018.
2. It was launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly.
3. It aims to transform education, employment and entrepreneurial outcomes for young people around the world at a global and local level.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: About Generation Unlimited (GenU)

• It was founded in September 2018.
• It was launched by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) at the 73^rd session of the UN General Assembly.
• It aims to transform education, employment and entrepreneurial outcomes for young people around the world at a global and local level.
• It is called YuWaah in India.
• UNICEF has launched the ‘YuWaah’ Generation Unlimited in India on 1^st November 2019.

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

 

Q7. Which of the following statement(s) is/are incorrect about United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)?

1. It was created in 1946 as a permanent part of the United Nations.
2. It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
3. The activities of UNICEF are financed only by government contributions.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):

• To help children affected by World War II, it was created in 1946 as the International Children’s Emergency Fund (ICEF) by the UN Relief Rehabilitation Administration.
• It is a special program of the United Nations (UN) devoted to aiding national efforts to improve the health, nutrition, education, and general welfare of children.
• It is headquartered in New York City, US.
• It became a permanent part of the United Nations in 1953.
• It is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989.
• The activities of UNICEF are financed both by private and government contributions.
• It was awarded Nobel Prize for Peace in 1965 for “promotion of brotherhood among the nations”.

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

 

Q8. Consider the following statements:

1. Like the Speaker in Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha Chairman has the power to suspend a Member.
2. Under Rule Number 255, the Rajya Sabha Chairman is empowered to “direct any Member whose conduct is, in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately” from the House.

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: Power to suspend MPs from Rajya Sabha:

• The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is empowered under Rule Number 255 of its Rule Book to “direct any Member whose conduct is in his opinion grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately” from the House.
• Unlike the Speaker, however, the Rajya Sabha Chairman does not have the power to suspend a Member.
• The Chairman may “name a Member who disregards the authority of the Chair or abuses the rules of the Council by persistently and wilfully obstructing” business.
• The House may adopt a motion suspending the Member from the service of the House for a period not exceeding the remainder of the session.
• The House may, however, by another motion, terminate the suspension.

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

 

Q9. Consider the following statement regarding Select Committees:

1. These are formed for examining a particular Bill.
2. These are disbanded after their report.
3. These committees are chaired by MPs from the largest opposition party.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: About Select Committee:

• It is formed for examining a particular Bill
• The membership of such a committee is limited to MPs from one House.
• They are chaired by MPs from the ruling party.
• Select committees are disbanded after their report as they are constituted for a specific purpose.

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

 

Q10. Humans generally acquire the Brucellosis disease through

1. Direct contact with infected animals
2. By eating or drinking contaminated animal products
3. By inhaling airborne agents

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

About Brucellosis:

• It is a highly contagious zoonosis.
• It is a bacterial disease that mainly infects cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs.
• Humans can get infected
  • through direct contact with infected animals or
  • by eating or drinking contaminated animal products or
  • by inhaling airborne agents
• Symptoms: fever, weakness, lethargy, headaches, malaise and weight loss.

•  

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding Adjournment Sine Die:

1. It suspends sessions of the House.
2. It is done by the president of India.

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: The Lok Sabha adjourned sine die on 23^rd Sep 2020,  in what is being termed one of the shortest sessions in India’s parliamentary his­tory,

Adjournment Sine Die only terminates a sitting of parliament for an indefinite period, not a session of the House.

The power of adjournment Sine Die lies with the presiding officer of the House.

So, both statements are incorrect. Hence, option D is correct.