GK Quiz | 29 September 2020

Q1. Which of the following countries shares its border with Armenia?

1. Turkey
2. Georgia
3. Iraq
4. Azerbaijan

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

About Armenia:

• It is located in Western Asia.
• It is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia.
• It is bordered by Georgia to the north, Iran and Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan to the south, Turkey to the west, and Azerbaijan to the east.

(Source: Indian Express)

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q2. The Nagorno-Karabakh region is a bone of contention between which of the countries?

1. Iran
2. Armenia
3. Georgia
4. Azerbaijan

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Nagorno-Karabakh region is the bone of contention between Muslim-majority Azerbaijan and Christian- majority Armenia.

The region has 95% of the population as ethnically Armenian. It is controlled by Armenia but internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about Switzerland:

1. It is a member of the European Union (EU).
2. It is bordered to the west by Austria.

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: About Switzerland:

• It is a landlocked country in West Central Europe.
• It is bordered by France to the west, Germany to the north, Italy to the south, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east.
• It is not a member of the EU.
• It is a member of the EU’s Single Market, which allows people to move and work freely in all 27 EU countries as well as in Switzerland.

About European Union (EU):

• It is the largest trade bloc in the world. It is an economic and political union between 27 countries.
• The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on 31^st January 2020. 
• 9 EU members, namely Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, do not use Euro.
• It has developed a single internal market through a standardized system of laws that apply in all member states in matters where members have agreed to act as one.

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

 

Q4. Which of the following statement(s) is/are incorrect about Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD)?

1. It was first reported in Tamil Nadu in 2000.
2. It is an infectious disease caused by phytoplasma.
3. At present, there is no cure available for the infection.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution:  A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: The sandalwood trees of India are facing a serious threat due to Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD).

About Sandalwood Spike Disease (SSD):

• It was first reported in Kodagu, Karnataka in 1899.
• It is an infectious disease caused by phytoplasma.

• Phytoplasmas are bacterial parasites of plant tissues, which are involved in plant-to-plant transmission and transmitted by insect vectors.

• The only option to prevent the spread of the disease is to cut down and remove the infected tree because presently, there is no cure for the infection.

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

 

Q5. Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, recently seen in news, is located in-

1. Karnataka
2. Tamil Nadu
3. Maharashtra
4. Kerala

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka.
• It consists mainly of dry deciduous type degrading to scrub forest in the fringe areas, and are interspersed with patches of moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen and shola forests occurring at varying altitudes.
• It was established in 2013 and spread over 906.18 sq km.
• It is contiguous to BRT Tiger Reserve, Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q6. With reference to the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), consider the following statements:

1. It is a statutory corporation.
2. It was set up under the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act, 1962.
3. It has started Mission Sahakar 22 which aims to double farmers’ income by 2022.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: About National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC):

• It is a statutory corporation set up under the National Cooperative Development Corporation Act, 1962 on 13^th March 1963.
• Objectives: planning and promoting programmes for production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import of agricultural produce, foodstuffs, industrial goods, livestock and certain other notified commodities and services on cooperative principles.
• It has started Mission Sahakar 22, which aims to double farmers’ income by 2022.

So, all statements are correct. Hence, option C is correct.

 

Q7. At present, the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) code is applicable on-

1. Pharmaceutical Companies
2. Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Associations
3. Medical Representatives
4. Distributors

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

About the Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP):

• It is a voluntary code issued by the Department of Pharmaceuticals relating to marketing practices for Indian Pharmaceutical Companies and as well medical devices industry.
• At present, it is applicable on

• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Medical Representatives
• Agents of Pharmaceutical Companies such as Distributors, Wholesalers, Retailers, and Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Associations

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding Haiyang-2C:

1. It is the third ocean dynamic environment satellite of Japan.
2. It can provide all-weather and round-the-clock observation of sea surface height, wave height, wind speed and direction, and temperature.

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: Haiyang-2C is a new ocean-monitoring satellite launched recently by China.

About Haiyang-2C:

• It is the third ocean dynamic environment satellite of China.
• It can provide all-weather and round-the-clock observation of wave height, sea surface height, wind speed and direction, and temperature.
• It will form a network with the previous HY-2B and subsequent HY-2D, which is scheduled for launch next year, to carry out high-precision maritime environment monitoring. This planned network will be capable of carrying out 80 percent of the world’s sea surface wind monitoring within six hours.

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

 

Q9. With reference to the Industrial Relations Code Bill 2020, consider the following statements:

1. It proposes that only workers in public utility services will have to give a notice at least 14 days in advance to employers if they want to go on strike.
2. It provides that the companies employing upto 100 workers will not be required to frame rules of conduct for workmen employed in industrial establishments.
3. It seeks to replace the Employees’ Provident Fund Act, 1952 and the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: About Industrial Relations Code Bill 2020

• It subsumes the

• Industrial Disputes Act, 1974,
• The Trade Unions Act, 1926; and
• Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946

• It provides that Companies employing upto 300 workers will not be required to frame rules of conduct for workmen employed in industrial establishments. At present, it is compulsory for firms employing upto 100 workers – this step is likely to provide more flexibility to employers for hiring and firing workers without government permission.
• Presently, only workers in public utility services are required to give notices to hold strikes. The bill proposes that workers in factories will have to give a notice at least 14 days in advance to employers if they want to go on strike.
• It has raised the threshold for requirement of a standing order — rules of conduct for workmen employed in industrial establishments — to over 300 workers.
• It also proposes setting up of a reskilling fund to help skill retrenched workers for the first time.

• Every industrial establishment employing 20 or more workers will have one or more Grievance Redressal Committees for resolution of disputes arising out of employees’ grievances.

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

 

Q10. Code on Social Security Bill, 2020, will replace which of the following laws?

1. Employees’ Provident Fund Act
2. Maternity Benefit Act
3. Employees’ Pension Scheme

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

About the Code on Social Security Bill, 2020:

• It will replace nine social security laws, including Maternity Benefit Act, Employees’ Provident Fund Act, Employees’ Compensation Act, Employees’ Pension Scheme, among others.
• It universalizes social security coverage to those working in the unorganised sector, such as migrant workers, gig workers and platform workers.
• It reduces the time limit for receiving gratuity payment from the continuous service of five years to one year for all kinds of employees, including fixed-term employees, contract labour, daily and monthly wage workers.
• It also provides for the first time that the provisions of social security will also be extended to agricultural workers also.
• The code also makes provisions for registration of all three categories of workers - unorganized workers, gig workers and platform workers.   
• The 2020 Bill states that in addition to unorganised workers, the National Social Security Board may also act as the Board for the purposes of welfare of gig workers and platform workers and can recommend and monitor schemes for gig workers and platform workers.
• It provides that the schemes for gig workers and platform workers may be funded through a combination of contributions from the central government, state governments, and aggregators.

Hence, option C is correct.