GK Quiz | 31 October 2020

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region:

1. It will replace the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA).
2. It will have powers to restrict the setting up of industries in vulnerable areas.
3. It will be a non-statutory body.

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:

Statement 1,2 and 3: Recently, the President approved ‘The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2020’. It provides for the constitution of a Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.

About Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region:

• It will be a statutory authority.
• It will replace non-statutory Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA).
• It will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.
• Powers:

• It will have the powers to issue directions to these state governments on issues pertaining to air pollution
• It will have powers to restrict the setting up of industries in vulnerable areas, and will be able to conduct site inspections of industrial units.
• If its directions are contravened, the Commission will have the power to impose a fine of up to Rs. 1 crore and imprisonment of up to 5 years.

• It will have over 20 members. It will be headed by a chairperson who has been a Secretary to the Government of India, or a Chief Secretary to a State government. The chairperson will hold the post for three years or until s/he attains the age of 70 years.
• It will have experts from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Civil Society.

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

 

Q2. SERB-POWER Scheme has been recently launched by the –

1. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
2. Ministry of Science and Technology
3. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
4. Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Recently, the Union Minister for Science and Technology has launched SERB-POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Women in Exploratory Research) Scheme.

About SERB-POWER Scheme:

• It is a scheme designed exclusively for women scientists to mitigate gender disparity in science and engineering research in various science and technology (S&T) programmes in Indian academic institutions and research and development (R&D) laboratories.
• It will have two components - SERB-POWER Fellowship and SERB- POWER Research Grants.
• Following are some main features of the SERB-POWER Fellowship:-

• Target:
  • Women researchers in 35-55 years of age
  • Up-to 25 Fellowships per year and not more than 75 at any point in time
• Components of support:
  • Fellowship of Rs. 15,000/- per month in addition to regular income;
  • Research grant of Rs. 10 lakh per annum; and
  • Overhead of Rs. 90,000/- per annum.
  • Duration: Three years, without the possibility of extension. Once in a career.

• Following are some features of the SERB – POWER Research Grants:

• • POWER Grant will be regulated through terms of reference conforming to SERB-CRG(Science and Engineering Research Board-Core Research Grant) guidelines.
  • Funding to the women researchers will be under two categories:
  • Level I: Up to 60 lakhs for three years for applicants from IITs, IISERs, IISc, NITs, Central Universities, and National Labs of Central Government Institutions.
  • Level II: Up to 30 lakhs for three years for applicants from State Universities/Colleges and Private Academic Institutions.

Hence, option B is correct.

 

Q3. Consider the following statements with reference to the Institute of Eminence (IoE) status:

1. To get IoE status, the institutions should be among the top 500 in the National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF).
2. Institutions under IoE tag receive a government grant of Rs. 1,000 crore.
3. The IoE tag is not given to the Greenfield Institutions.

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. None

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Recently, the OP Jindal Global University officially got an Institute of Eminence (IoE) tag.

About IoE tag:

• Under this, the government aims to establish 20 world-class institutes in the country to provide support and prepare them to become world-class institutions and the ultimate aim is to make them secure top global rankings.
• To get the status, the institutions should be among the top 500 in internationally recognized rankings or top 50 in the National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF)
• Consideration shall be given to yet to be established (Greenfield) proposals if any slot remains vacant. Satya Bharti Foundation became the second greenfield institution to be given IoE status, after Reliance’s Jio Institute.
• Under IoE scheme, Public Institutions of Eminence are eligible for a grant of Rs 1,000 crore from the government, while Private Institutions of Eminence will not get any funding.

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

 

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding currency depreciation:

1. Political instability in a country can cause currency depreciation.
2. It is a fall in the value of a currency in a floating exchange rate system.
3. It encourages a country’s export activity.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: About Currency depreciation:

• It is a fall in the value of a currency in a floating exchange rate system.
• It encourages a country’s export activity.
• Political instability, Economic fundamentals, or risk aversion can cause currency depreciation.

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

 

Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP):

1. It was launched in 1997.
2. It is being funded by the World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
3. It aims at ensuring the safety of downstream population and property that are affected in the case of a dam failure or operational failure.

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

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

Solution: B)

Explanation:

Statements 1,2 and 3: Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase II and Phase III.

About DRIP:

• It was launched in 2012.
• It will be implemented over a period of 10 years duration in two Phases. Each phase is of six years duration with two years overlapping from April, 2021 to March, 2031.
• It is being funded by the World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
• Initially, it has taken up for the repair and rehabilitation of dam projects across the seven states of India, namely Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.
• Objectives:

• • To improve the safety and operational performance of selected existing dams and associated appurtenances in a sustainable manner, and
  • To strengthen the dam safety institutional setup of participating States / Implementing Agencies
  • It also aims at ensuring the safety of downstream population and property that are affected in the case of a dam failure or operational failure.

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

 

Q6. Which of the following countries does not share their borders with Chile?

1. Ecuador
2. Uruguay
3. Bolivia
4. Peru

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Recently, People of Chile have voted overwhelmingly in favour of rewriting the country’s nearly four-decade-old constitution.

About Chile:

• It is a country in western South America.
• It borders Argentina to the east, the Drake Passage in the far south, Peru to the north, and Bolivia to the northeast.
• It occupies a narrow strip of lands between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes to the east.

Hence, option A is correct.