GK Quiz 25 Feb 2020

1. Which of the following statement is true about the Law Commission of India?

1. The Commission was first constituted under the Charter Act of 1833.
2. It fulfills the objective of Article 39 A.
3. Both are true.
4. None of the above is true.

Ans. C

Explanation

Law Commission of India is an executive government agency constituted from time to time by the Government of India to clarify, consolidate, codify laws. It acts as an advisory body to the government.

The first commission was constituted in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833, under Lord Macaulay and recommended the codification of Penal Code, Criminal Penal Code, and other laws. Post-independence the first Law Commission was constituted in 1955 under Attorney General of India M.C Setalvad.

Till now the 21 commissions have been constituted by the government each for a period of 3 years. The government defines the term of reference, otherwise, the commission can take the matter on the sou-moto basis. For the commission to be constituted a resolution needs to be passed which needs the assent of the President of India. After the President gives his assent the central government can appoint the members and describe the term of references.

 Article 39 A of the constitution (Directive Principles of State Policy) aims to provide justice based on equal opportunity and focuses on free legal aid.

Hence C is the correct answer.

 

2. “The monument is a UNESCO World Heritage site, included in 1983. It is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture and designed by its Chief Architect Ustad Aḥmad Lahawrī. The complex consist of main gateway, mosque, mausoleum, jawab, and garden. The buildings in the complex are made of Sikri Red Sandstone and white marble. The art of arabesque and the Pietra Dura has been used”.

Which monument has been described in the above passage?

1. Fatehpur Sikri
2. Jama Masjid
3. Taj Mahal
4. Red Fort

Ans. C

Explanation

Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in the memory of his wife Mumtaj Mahal. The main Mausoleum is built of pure white marble on a square plinth surrounded by four minarets.  The Taj Mahal complex consists of main gateway, mosque, mausoleum, jawab, and garden. The buildings in the complex are made of Sikri Red Sandstone and white marble. The art of arabesque and the Pietra Dura has been used. The chief architect was Ustad Aḥmad Lahawrī. It is located in Agra on the Yamuna front. It was built between 1631 and 1648.

The monument was included in the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. In pursuance to the Supreme Court order of shutting down coal/coke industries near the monument, the central government declared the Taj Trapezium zone spread in 10,400 sq Km of the monument, thus consisting of Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri. The area was declared so under Environment Protection Act 1986 and various polluting industries like a tannery, coal/coke industries are banned in the area.

Hence, C is the correct answer.

 

3. Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee is related to which of the following issues?

1. Clause 6 of the Assam Accord
2. Bank consolidation
3. Promoting digital economy
4. None of the above

Ans. A

Explanation

Biplab Kumar Sharma Committee was being constituted by the central government to give recommendations on Clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

 Assam accord was signed in 1985 between Rajeev Gandhi government and Assam Student Union and set out that foreigners who came to India after the midnight of March 25, 1971, in Assam are illegal migrants.

Clause 6 of the accord aims to ensure constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards,  to protect, preserve and promote the cultural, social, linguistic identity and heritage of the Assamese people.

Hence, A is the correct answer.

 

4. Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

1. A pandemic is a disease that spreads over a wide region over a continent.
2. An epidemic is a disease that spreads around the world in various continents.
3. COVID-19 has been declared as a pandemic.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 1 and 2 only
4. All of the above

Ans. D

Explanation

Statement 1: A pandemic is a disease that emerges newly and spreads around the world. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect.

Statement 2: An epidemic is one that emerges and spreads over a region or in one continent. Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Statement 3: WHO has not declared COVID-19 as pandemic though it has been declared as a public health emergency of international concern.

COVID-19 is the name given to new strain of Coronavirus that emerged in China in 2019. It is also called novel Coronavirus or SARS-cov-2. Its incubation period is thought to be of 2 weeks. Though the exact source has not been identified, it is a zoonotic disease and contagious due to which patients are to be kept in Quarantine Zone. Hence, Statement 3 is incorrect.

Therefore, all statements are incorrect.

Hence, D is the correct answer.

 

5. Which of the following is incorrect about the sugar industry in India?

1. The industry needs to be present near the source of raw material.
2. India is the largest producer of sugar in the world.
3. The sugar industries of Peninsular India are more flourished than that of North India.
4. The sugar industry has been classified as Red industry by CPCB.

Ans. B

Explanation

India is the 2^nd largest producer of sugar in the world. As sugarcane is bulky, perishable and loses sucrose content easily, the industry needs to be near the supply of the sugarcane.

In India, the peninsular region has a more flourished industry because the region is more tropically warm, the cane has high sucrose content and does not get dry easily. Also due to the climatic factor, it has a longer crushing season than that grown in North India.

 The industry produces wastewater, runoff, uses chemical products and causes air pollution so it has been red-listed by the Central Pollution Control Board. Under the classification by CPCB under Environment ministry, the industries are classified as Red, Orange, Green and White category according to their score in Pollution index. The industries scoring 60 and above out of 100 are to be classified as a red industry. These industries need the consent of operation on a timely basis and are generally not allowed in environmentally fragile areas or protected areas.

Hence, B is the correct answer.