GK Quiz | 25 November 2020

TOPIC: GS 2 - Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.

Q1: Consider the following statements with reference to Roshini Act?

1. It was an act of Jammu and Kashmir, enacted in 2001.
2. It envisaged the transfer of ownership rights of state land to its occupants, subject to the payment of a cost, as determined by the government.
3. Under the act, the revenue generated would be spent on commissioning hydroelectric power projects.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: About the Jammu and Kashmir States Land (vesting of ownership to the occupants) Act, also known as Roshini Act:

• It was enacted in 2001.
• It sought to regularize unauthorized land and envisaged the transfer of ownership rights of state land to its occupants, subject to the payment of a cost, as determined by the government.
• The act was named Roshni as the revenue generated under this would be spent on commissioning hydroelectric power projects.
• Through amendments, the government also gave ownership rights of agricultural land to farmers occupying it for free, charging them only Rs 100 per kanal as documentation fee.

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

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

Q2: Consider the following statements

1. Taper tantrum phenomenon refers to the 2013 collective reactionary response that triggered a spike in US treasury yields.
2. A current account surplus implies a higher inflow of forex than outflow.

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: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 2: According to chief economic advisor KV Subramanian, India is likely to record a current account surplus in FY21 on moderated imports due to a drop in demand on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. This crisis is different from what the world witnessed during the taper tantrum.

Taper tantrum phenomenon:

• It refers to the 2013 collective reactionary response that triggered a spike in US treasury yields.
• After this, investors learned that the US Fed was slowly putting brakes on its quantitative easing (QE) program. This led to a surge in inflation to high double digits emerging economies.

Current account measures the flow of goods, services, and investments into and out of the country. It is one of the three components of its balance of payments, the others are - capital account and the financial account.

Current account surplus means that the value of imports is less than the value of exports. It implies a higher inflow of forex than outflow.

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

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Indigenization of technology and developing new technology

Q3: Consider the following statements regarding desalination plants

1. A desalination plant turns salt water into water that is fit to drink.
2. Reverse osmosis is the most commonly used technology used for desalination.
3. In India, Gujarat has been the pioneer in using this technology.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statement 1, 2 and 3: Recently, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra “Uddhav Thackeray” cleared Mumbai’s first desalination plant.

About Desalination plants:

• A desalination plant turns salt water into water that is fit to drink. These plants are mostly set up in areas that have access to sea water.
• Reverse osmosis is the most commonly used technology used for the process.
• In reverse osmosis, an external pressure is applied to push solvents from an area of high-solute concentration to an area of low-solute concentration through a membrane. The microscopic pores in the membranes allow water molecules through but leave salt and most other impurities behind, releasing clean water from the other side.
• In India, Tamil Nadu has been the pioneer in using this technology, setting up two desalination plants near Chennai in 2010 and 2013.

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

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Awareness in space

Q4: Consider the following statements

1. Shukrayaan mission will study Venus for more than ten years.
2. Venus is located between Mars and Earth.
3. Venus is around 30 per cent far from the Sun as compared to Earth resulting in much higher solar flux.

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: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: Recently, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has short-listed 20 space-based experiment proposals for its proposed Venus orbiter mission ‘Shukrayaan’

About Shukrayaan mission:

• It is a mission to study Venus for more than four years.
• The proposed orbit is expected to be around 500 x 60,000 km around Venus. This orbit is likely to be reduced gradually, over several months to a lower apoapsis (farthest point).
• Objectives:
  • Investigation of the surface processes and shallow subsurface stratigraphy, and
  • Solar wind interaction with Venusian Ionosphere, and studying the structure, composition and dynamics of the atmosphere.

About Venus:

• It is located between Mercury and Earth.
• Because of the similarities in size, mass, density, bulk composition and gravity, is often described as the “twin sister” of the Earth
• It is around 30 per cent closer to the Sun as compared to Earth resulting in much higher solar flux.

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

 

TOPIC: GS 2 - Awareness in space

Q5: With reference to the Chang’e-5 probe, consider the following statements

1. It is a manned spacecraft launched by China recently.
2. If successful, China will become the first country to have retrieved samples from the moon.
3. Its objective is to bring back lunar rocks.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1, 2 and 3: About Chang’e-5 probe:

• It is an unmanned spacecraft launched by China recently.
• It is named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess.
• Its objective is to bring back lunar rocks, the first attempt by any nation to retrieve samples from the moon in four decades.
• The rocket is comprised of four parts – an orbiter, a returner, an ascender and a lander.
• With the success of this mission, China will become the third country to have retrieved samples from the moon, following the U.S. and the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.

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

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.

Q6: Consider the following statements about negative yield bonds

1. These are debt instruments that offer to pay the investor a maturity amount lower than the purchase price of the bond.
2. These are generally issued by the central banks or governments.

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:

Statement 1 and 2: Bond is an instrument to borrow money. A bond could be floated/ issued by a government of a country or by a company to raise funds.

About Negative Yield Bonds:

• These are debt instruments that offer to pay the investor a maturity amount lower than the purchase price of the bond.
• These are generally issued by central banks or governments, and investors pay interest to the borrower to keep their money with them.

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

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment.

Q7: With reference to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), consider the following statements

1. It is an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another country.
2. It provides the investor with control over the business.
3. India gets FDI only through the government route.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1, 2 and 3: About Foreign Direct Investment (FDI):

• It is an investment made by a firm or individual in one country into business interests located in another country.
• It does not provide the investor with control over the business.
• It is different from Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI). In FPI, the foreign entity merely buys equity shares of a company.
• India gets FDI through government route and automatic route -

• In government route, the foreign entity has to take the approval of the government through the existing FIFP.
• In automatic route, the foreign entity does not require the prior approval of the government or the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

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

 

TOPIC: GS 3 - Disaster and Disaster Management.

Q8: Consider the following statements about National Crisis Management Committee.

1. It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
2. It is headed by the Prime Minister 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:

Statement 1 and 2:  About the National Crisis Management Committee:

• It is set up for effective implementation of relief measures in the wake of natural calamities.
• It is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and the secretaries of all the concerned Ministries /Departments as well as organizations are the members of the Committee.
• It gives direction to the Crisis Management Group as deemed necessary.
• It functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• It is an integral part of Natural Disaster Management System.

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

 

Topic: GS 3 - Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.

Q9: Consider the following statements

1. The Curiosity is the largest and most capable rover ever sent to Venus.
2. It is a part of ISRO’s Shukrayaan mission.

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:

Statement 1 and 2: Recently, Curiosity rover finds evidence of ancient 'megaflood' on Mars 4 billion years ago. This discovery raised the possibility that LIFE once existed on the Red Planet.

About Curiosity rover:

• It is a car-sized robotic rover exploring Gale Crater on Mars as part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission (MSL).
• It landed on Mars in August, 2012.
• It is the largest and most capable rover ever sent to Mars.
• Goals include:
  • Investigation of the Martian climate and geology,
  • Assessment of whether the selected field site inside Gale Crater has ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life, including investigation of the role of water, and
  • planetary habitability studies in preparation for future human exploration.

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