GK Quiz | 26 October 2020

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to the International Labour Organization (ILO):

1. The Governing Body of the International Labour Organization meets three times a year.
2. It became the first specialized agency of the United Nations in 1946.
3. India has ratified all eight-core fundamental ILO conventions.

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:

Statements 1,2 and 3: After a gap of 35 years, India has assumed the chairmanship of the governing body of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Labour & Employment Secretary “Apurva Chandra” has been elected as the Chairperson of the Governing Body of the ILO for the period October 2020-June 2021.

About the Governing body (GB) of the ILO:

• It is the apex executive body of the ILO, meets a year thrice, in March, June and November
• It takes decisions on ILO policy, decides the agenda of the International Labour Conference, adopts the draft programme and budget of the organisation for submission to the conference, and elects the Director-General.

About International Labour Organization (ILO):

• It is the first and oldest specialized agency of the UN, founded in 1919 under the League of Nations.
• India is a founding member of the ILO and has been a permanent member of the ILO Governing Body since 1922.
• Following are eight core ILO Conventions

§  Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29)

§  Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105)

§  Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)

§  Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)

§  Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) and

§  Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182).

§  Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87)

§  Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98)

India has not ratified two out of the eight core ILO Conventions namely, Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 and Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949.

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

 

Q2. Consider the following statements about Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):

1. It is governed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), 2008.
2. It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
3. For CBI, the consent of a state government is not mandatory for conducting investigation in that state.

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: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI):

• It is the premier investigating agency of India, established by the Government of India in 1963.
• To enquire into allegations of bribery and corruption in the war-related procurements, a Special Police Establishment (SPE) was constituted in 1941 in the Department of War of British India. In 1946, it was brought under the Home Department and its remit was expanded to investigate corruption in central and state governments under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act.

• In 1963, the special police force became the Central Bureau of Investigation after the Home Ministry decided to expand its powers and change its name.
• Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (DSPE Act, 1946) makes the consent of a state government mandatory for conducting investigation in that state.
• It operates under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

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

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about Foreign Exchange Reserves:

1. These are assets held on reserve by the central government in foreign currencies.
2. Foreign Currency Assets are the second-largest component of the forex reserve.

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: According to RBI data, the country’s foreign exchange reserves touched a lifetime high of USD 555.12 billion after it surged by USD 3.615 billion in the week ended October 16.

About foreign exchange reserves:

• Foreign exchange reserves are cash and other reserve assets managed by the Reserve Bank of India for the Indian government
• Component of Foreign Exchange Reserves:

§  Foreign Currency Asset: FCA is expressed in dollar terms. It is the largest component of the forex reserve.

§  Gold

§  Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)

§  International Monetary Fund (IMF) reserve positions.

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

 

Q4. Which of the following statement(s) is/are incorrect regarding Special Drawing Rights (SDR)?

1. It is an international reserve asset created by the World Bank in 1969.
2. The SDR is a claim on the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: About Special Drawing Rights (SDR):

• The SDR is an international reserve asset created by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 1969.
• They are maintained as accounting entities. It is an international type of monetary reserve currency.
• The SDR basket includes the following five currencies-

§  US dollar

§  Euro

§  Chinese renminbi

§  Japanese yen

§  British pound sterling

• It is neither a currency nor a claim on the IMF. Rather, it is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members.

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

 

Q5. KAPILA program, which has been launched recently, is related to-

1. Improvement of cattle
2. Intellectual Property Literacy
3. Artificial Intelligence
4. Dairy development

Solution: B)

Explanation:

On the occasion of the 89^th birth anniversary of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the Union Education Minister has launched the Kalam Program for Intellectual Property Literacy and Awareness Campaign (KAPILA).

About KAPILA program:

• Under this campaign, students pursuing education in higher educational institutions will get information about the correct system of application process for patenting their invention.
• It will facilitate the colleges and institutions to encourage more and more students to file patents and everyone engaged in research and development must apply to preserve and safeguard their inventions.
• Through this campaign, Students will be able to get benefits from their inventions by patenting them.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q6. Consider the following statements about Snow Leopard:

1. In India, they are found only in Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.
2. It is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
3. It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Snow Leopard:

• It is a large cat native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia.
• They are found in the states/union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Conservation status:

§  It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List

§  It has been protected under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

§  It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972.

• Hemis is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, is the Snow Leopard capital of the world. Hemis National Park is the biggest national park of India and has a good presence of Snow Leopard.

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

 

Q7. Consider the following statements with reference to Seagrasses:

1. Unlike terrestrial plants, Seagrasses don’t require sunlight for photosynthesis.
2. Seagrasses can also reproduce asexually by branching off at their rhizomes.
3. These are flowering plants that cause soil erosion.

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: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Recently, Tamil Nadu has taken the restoration process of seagrasses in the Gulf of Mannar.

About Seagrasses:

• These are flowering plants that grow submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons.
• These have tiny flowers and strap-like or oval leaves
• Like terrestrial plants, seagrasses also require sunlight for photosynthesis.
• These can reproduce through-

§  Sexual Reproduction Method: In this, pollen from the flower of the male plant is transferred to the ovary of the female flower.

§  Asexual Reproduction Method: Seagrasses can reproduce through this method by branching off at their rhizomes.

• The extensive vertical and horizontal root systems of seagrasses stabilize the sea bottom; thus, these prevent soil erosion.

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

 

Q8. Which of the following statements is/are correct about the integrity pact?

1. It is a tool developed by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
2. They were developed to prevent corruption in public contracting.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2: Recently, the Central Vigilance Commission has amended the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to adopt “Integrity Pact” in government organisations for procurement activities.

About Integrity Pact:

• It is a tool developed by Transparency International.
• It is to ensure transparency, equity and competitiveness in public procurement and developed as a tool for preventing corruption in public contracting.
• It is a vigilance tool that envisages an agreement between the prospective vendors/bidders and the buyer, committing both the parties not to exercise any corrupt influence on any aspect of the contract.
• The pact envisages a panel of Independent External Monitors (IEMs) for each organization.

As per the amended SOP, the Ministry, department or organisation concerned has to forward a panel of suitable persons to the CVC, of those persons who are in the panel maintained by the Commission, for appointment as Integrity External Monitors (IEMs). The maximum tenure of IEMs will be 3 years in an organisation.

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