GK Quiz | 31 July 2020

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to National Education policy 2020:

1. It does not include any provision to enhance traditional knowledge of India.
2. It provided for the increase in public spending on education by states and centre to 15% of the GDP.
3. A four-year integrated degree will be introduced by 2030 as the minimum degree qualification for teaching.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved the new National Education Policy.

Following are some important features of the new National Education Policy:

• It provided for the increase in public spending on education by states and centre to 6% of the GDP.
• A four-year integrated degree will be introduced by 2030 as the minimum degree qualification for teaching.
• It aims to achieve 100% youth and adult literacy
• Ministry of Human Resource Development to be renamed as the Ministry of Education.
• Ensuring Universal Access at all levels of school education
• A National Mission on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy is to be created by MHRD.
• An implementation plan should be prepared by the states for attaining universal foundational literacy and numeracy in all primary schools for all learners by grade 3 by 2025.
• For traditional knowledge, the policy provided for Indian knowledge systems (including tribal and indigenous knowledge) to be incorporated into the curriculum in a scientific and accurate manner.
• A new and comprehensive National Curricular Framework for School Education, NCFSE 2020-21, will be developed by the NCERT.
• Mother tongue/regional language/ local language as the medium of instruction at least till Grade 5, but preferably till Grade 8 and beyond.
• Board exams to be redesigned to test core competencies, with all students allowed to take the exam twice.
• The policy aims to increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education including vocational education from 26.3% (2018) to 50% by 2035.
• It provides for four-year undergraduate degrees with multiple entry and exit options, abolish the M.Phil. degree.

It proposed 5+3+3+4 design to change the existing 10+2 Curricular and Pedagogical Structure. The design will cover the children in the age group 3-18 years in the following way:

• Five years of the Foundational Stage include 3 years of pre-primary school and Grades 1, 2
• Three years of the Preparatory (or Latter Primary) Stage include Grades 3, 4, 5
• Three years of the Middle (or Upper Primary) Stage include Grades 6, 7, 8
• Four years of the High (or Secondary) Stage include Grades 9, 10, 11, 12.

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

 

Q2. Consider the following statement about Waqf:

1. It is a property given in the name of God for charitable and religious purposes.
2. A non-Muslim cannot create a waqf.
3. Waqf board is recognized as a legal entity.

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

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

Solution:  A)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: Recently, Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board formed a 15-member trust to look after the construction of mosque on five acres of land allocated by the Supreme Court in a landmark judgement in Ayodhya case.

About Waqf:

• It can be defined as a permanent dedication by a person professing Islam, of any movable or immovable property for any purpose recognized by the Muslim law as pious, religious or charitable.
• In general, it refers to a property which is given in the name of God for charitable and religious purposes.
• It is governed by the Waqf Act, 1995.
• A person creating the waqf cannot take back the property.
• A non-Muslim can also create a waqf if he professes Islam and the objective of creating the waqf is Islamic.
• The waqf is managed by a mutawali, who acts as a supervisor.
• A Waqf Board is headed by a chairperson, Muslim members of the state Bar Council, one or two nominees from the state government, Muslim legislators and parliamentarians, mutawalis of the waqfs and recognized scholars of Islamic theology.

Waqf Board:

• It is a juristic person with the power to acquire and hold property and to transfer any such property.
• It is a legal entity; thus, it can sue and be sued in a court.

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

 

Q3. Consider the following statements about legal entities:

1. They have rights and duties.
2. They do not include non-government organizations.
3. A legal entity has legal capacity to sue and be sued in its own right.

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

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: There are two types of persons in common law jurisprudence viz. human beings or natural persons and artificial person (also known as juridical entity juristic persons, legal person).

Legal persons are created by law and recognized as legal entity. They have duties and rights. A legal entity has legal capacity to sue and be sued in its own right.

Legal entities include:

• Private business firm or entity
• Trusts and societies
• Government or non-governmental organizations

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

 

Q4. Which of the following is/are cause(s) of antibiotic resistant?

1. Rampant use of antibiotics in poultry animals and livestock
2. Improper disposal of residual antibiotics
3. Self - medication
4. Inappropriate use of antibiotics

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: D)

Explanation: Antibiotic resistance is a subset of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is the ability of a microorganism to stop an antimicrobial (such as antibiotics, antimalarials and antivirals) from working against it. An organism is said to be multidrug-resistant when it becomes resistant to more than one drug.

Causes of Antibiotic resistance:

• Uneven, inappropriate and unregulated use of antibiotic
• Rampant use of antibiotics in poultry animals and livestock
• Self – medication
• Improper disposal of residual antibiotics
• Industry pollution due to pharmaceutical

Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):

1. It guarantees the right to peaceful assembly.
2. India is not a signatory of ICCPR.
3. It is independent of the International Bill of Human Rights.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: The UN Committee of 18 independent experts, tasked with monitoring how countries implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), said that protesting peacefully, online or in person, is a fundamental human right.

About International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):

• It is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
• ICCPR, under Article 21, guarantees the right to peaceful assembly.
• It came into effect on 23^rd March 1976.
• The ICCPR is part of the International Bill of Human Rights, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

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

 

Q6. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is funded by which of the following countries?

1. India
2. Japan
3. Canada
4. USA
5. Australia
6. China

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1,2,4 and 6 only
2. 3,4 and 5 only
3. 1,2,3,4,5 and 6
4. 1, 2,3 and 5 only

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER):

• It is an experimental Tokamak nuclear fusion reactor, built in southern France.
• It will be the largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment of the world.
• Its main aim is to demonstrate the technological and scientific feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purpose.
• It will be the first fusion device to maintain fusion for long periods of time and to produce net energy.
• It will produce 500 MW of fusion power and demonstrate the safety characteristics of a fusion device.
• It will achieve a deuterium -tritium plasma in which the reaction is sustained through internal heating.
• Following are seven member entities which provide fund to the project:

• European Union
• South Korea
• United States
• Japan
• China
• India
• Russia

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding Tokamak:

1. It is an experimental machine designed to harness the energy of fission.
2. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be the second largest tokamak of the world.

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:

Tokamak: It is an experimental machine designed to harness the energy of fusion. It was first developed by Soviet research in the late 1960s. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will be the largest tokamak of the world.

Inside a tokamak, the energy is produced through the fusion of atoms which is used by a fusion power plant to produce steam and then electricity by way of generators and turbines.

Fusion: It is the energy source of the Sun and stars. It involves the reaction between two hydrogen isotopes (deuterium (D) and tritium (T)).

So, both statement 1 and 2 are incorrect. Hence, option D is correct.

 

Q8. Consider the following statement regarding Jal Jeevan mission:

1. Its main aim is to provide piped water supply to all rural household by 2030.
2. It is based on a community approach to water.
3. It is a central sector scheme.

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: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3:

About Jal Jevan Mission:

• Jal Jeevan Mission was announced in August 2019, with an objective is to provide piped water supply (Har Ghar Jal) to all rural households by 2024.
• It focuses on integrated demand and supply-side management of water at the local level.
• It is based on a community approach to water.
• It looks to create a jan andolan for water, thereby making it everyone’s priority.
• The fund sharing pattern between the Centre and states is 50:50 for states, 90:10 for Himalayan and North-Eastern States and 100% for Union Territories. Thus, it is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Central sector schemes are the schemes that are directly and entirely funded and executed by the central government. The financial resources are not shifted to states.
• Every village should have Village Action Plan (VAP) which will have the following components:
• Water supply and greywater management
• Water source & its maintenance
• For the implementation of JJM, there will be National Jal Jeevan Mission (NJJM) at the Central level, State Water and Sanitation Mission (SWSM) at the State level, District Water and Sanitation Mission (DWSM) at the District level and Village Water Sanitation Committee (VWSC) at Village level.

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

 

Q9. Consider the following statements about Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB):

1. Currently, it has more than 90 member nations.
2. India is the largest shareholder of AIIB.
3. AIIB has members only from Asia.

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

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statements 1, 2 and 3: Recently Jin Liqun has been re-elected as the President of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

About Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB):

• It is a multilateral development bank with a mission to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond.
• It came into force on 25^th December 2015 and commenced operations in January 2016.
• It is headquartered in Beijing.
• At present, it has 102 members.
• Organs of AIIB:
• The Board of Governors consists of one Governor and one Alternate Governor appointed by each member country.
• Board of Directors composed of twelve members who shall not be members of the Board of Governor.
• China is the largest shareholder with 26.06 per cent voting shares in the bank followed by India (7.5 %).
• Membership in the AIIB is open to all members of the Asian Development Bank or the World Bank. The members within areas classified as Asia and Oceania by the United Nations are known as regional members, and the area which are located outside Asia and Oceania are known as non-regional members.

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

 

Q10. Consider the following pairs:

(Digital Education Initiative)	(States)
1. Project Home Classes	Jammu
2. Padhai Tunhar Duvaar	Rajasthan
3. Social Media Interface for Learning Engagement (SMILE)	Chhattisgarh
4.  Unnayan Initiative	Bihar

 

Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?

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

Solution: D)

Explanation: Recently Minister of HRD Ramesh Pokhriyal released the India report on Digital Education 2020.

Following are some digital education initiatives of states and union territories:

• Padhai Tunhar Duvaar - Chhattisgarh
• Unnayan Initiatives - Bihar
• E-scholar portal for teachers - Meghalaya
• Social Media Interface for Learning Engagement (SMILE) -Rajasthan
• Project Home Classes - Jammu
• Mission Buniyaad - NCT of Delhi

Hence, option D is correct.