GK Quiz | 31 August 2020

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Border Roads Organization:

1. It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
2. It was formed on 7 May 1960 by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

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:

Statements 1 and 2: About Border Roads Organization:

• BRO was formed on 7 May 1960 by then Prime Minister ‘Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’ to secure India’s borders and develop infrastructure in remote areas of the north and north-east states of the country.
• It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
• Motto: Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam (everything is achievable through hardwork)
• It has diversified into a large spectrum of construction and development works comprising airfields, building projects, defence works and tunneling.

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

 

Q2. Consider the following statements about Cyprus:

1. It is located north of Turkey and the Palestinian region of the Gaza Strip.
2. It is most populous island in the Black sea.

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: About Cyprus:

• It is an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean.
• It is located south of Turkey; north of Egypt, Israel, and the Palestinian region of the Gaza Strip; southeast of Greece; and west of Syria and Lebanon.

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

 

Q3. Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about Sweden?

1. It lies west of the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia.
2. It borders Norway to the east.
3. It is a member of the European Union.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Sweden:

• It is a Nordic country in Northern Europe.
• It borders Finland to the east, Norway to the west and north.
• It is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Oresund Strait.
• It is the third-largest country in the European Union.
• It forms the eastern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and lies west of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia.

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

 

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Anti-Dumping Duty:

1. It is a tariff imposed by any government on imported products which have prices more than their fair normal values in their domestic market.
2. In India, it is imposed by the Union Ministry of Commerce.

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: About Anti-Dumping Duty:

• It is a measure to rectify the situation arising out of the dumping of goods and its trade distortive effect.
• It is a protectionist tariff imposed by any government on imported products which have prices less than their fair normal values in their domestic market.
• It aims is to rectify the trade distortive effect of dumping and re-establish fair trade.
• In India, it is imposed by the Union Finance Ministry and recommended by the Union Ministry of Commerce (i.e. by DGAD).

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

 

Q5. Consider the following statements about Mahatma Ayyankali:

1. He was a leader of the lower castes and Dalits.
2. He was born on 28 August 1863 in Tamil Nadu.
3. He started Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham to work for low castes.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: About Mahatma Ayyankali:

• He was a leader of the lower castes and Dalits, born on 28 August 1863 in Kerala
• He started Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (association for the protection of the poor) to work for low castes. The association later raised funds to start their own schools.
• He was called Pulaya king by Mahatma Gandhi and described as ‘India’s greatest son’ by Indira Gandhi.
• He influenced many changes that improved the social wellbeing of Dalits.

(Source: Deccan Herald)

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

 

Q6. Consider the following statements about the University Grants Commission (UGC):

1. It is a constitutional body.
2. It comes under the Ministry of Education.
3. It determines the standards of teaching, examination and research in universities.

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: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About University Grants Commission (UGC):

• On 28 December 1953, it was formally inaugurated by late Shri Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the then Minister of Education, Natural Resources and Scientific Research.
• In November 1956, it was formally established as a statutory body of the Government of India through the UGC Act, 1956, under the Ministry of Education.
• It is headquartered in New Delhi and has six regional centres in Pune, Bhopal, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Guwahati and Bangalore
• Its mandate includes:
• Promoting and coordinating university education.
• Determining and maintaining standards of teaching, examination and research in universities.
• Framing regulations on minimum standards of education.
• Advising the Central and State governments on the measures necessary for improvement of university.
• Monitoring developments in the field of collegiate and university education; disbursing grants to the universities and colleges.
• Serving as a vital link between the Union and state governments and institutions of higher learning.

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

 

Q7. Consider the following statements about Kandhamal Haldi:

1. It is a golden yellow spice produced in Odisha.
2. It received the Geographical indication (GI) tag in 2019.
3. Apart from domestic use, it is also used for medicinal purposes.

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: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Kandhamal Haldi:

• It is a golden yellow spice produced in the Kandhamal district of Odisha.
• It is famous for its healing properties.
• It received the GI tag in 2019.
• It is the main cash crop of tribal people in Kandhamal.
• It is used for domestic use and also for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
• The crop is sustainable in adverse climatic conditions.

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

 

Q8. With reference to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), consider the following statements:

1. It was introduced during the 29^th ASEAN meeting in 2016.
2. India had opted out of RCEP in November 2019.

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:

Statements 1 and 2: About Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP):

• RCEP negotiations were formally launched during the 21^st ASEAN Summit in Cambodia in November 2012
• It includes the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) and the six countries with which the bloc has free trade agreements (FTAs) — India, Australia, China, Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.
• In November 2019, India had opted out of RCEP.

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