GK Quiz | 7 November 2020

Q1: Consider the following statements about Body Mass Index (BMI):

1. It is measured as the height in metres divided by the square of the weight in kilograms.
2. The normal BMI ranges between 25 and 30.

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:

Statement 1 and 2: A recent study published in The Lancet, provides new estimates for height and Body Mass Index (BMI) trends in 2019 across 200 countries after analysing data from 2,181 studies.

Body Mass Index (BMI): It is measured as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres and the normal BMI ranges between 20 and 25.

Key findings of the study:

• Both height and BMI have increased from 1985 to 2019 although there is still a great deal of potential for height while curbing any future rise in obesity.
• India is ranked at the 196^th spot with respect to BMI.
• India ranks third and fifth from the bottom respectively among countries where 19-year-old girls and boys have a low BMI
• The mean BMI of 19-year-old boys and girls is 20.1 in India.

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

 

Q2: Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about Unified Payments Interface (UPI)?

1. It is developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI).
2. It is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
3. It allows a customer to pay directly from a bank account to different merchants online only.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: C)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: Recently, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has allowed Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp to start its payments service in the country in a ‘graded’ manner.

About United Payments Interface (UPI):

• It is a payment system that allows money transfer between any two bank accounts by using a smartphone, introduced in April 2016 as a pilot project.
• It is an immediate real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NCPI) and regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• It caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.
• It allows a customer to pay directly from a bank account to different merchants, both online and offline, without the hassle of typing credit card details, IFSC code, or net banking/wallet passwords.

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

 

Q3: Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct as per the data-localisation norms set by Reserve Bank of India (RBI)?

1. The payment system data cannot be shared with an overseas regulator in any case.
2. The data stored in India can be accessed for handling customer disputes.
3. No processing of payment transactions is allowed outside India.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1, 2 and 3: Following are data- localisation norms set by Reserve Bank of India (RBI):

• While there is no bar on the processing of payment transactions outside India, the Payment System Operators (PSOs) will have to ensure the data is stored only in India after the processing.
• The data stored in India can be accessed for handling customer disputes, whenever required.
• In case the processing is done abroad, the data should be deleted from the systems abroad and brought back to India not later than the one business day or 24 hours from payment processing, whichever is earlier. The same should be stored only in India.
• The payment system data may be shared with an overseas regulator if required, but with the approval of RBI.
• Some banks, especially foreign, that had been permitted to store the banking data abroad may continue to do so. However, in respect of domestic payment transactions, the data shall be stored only in India.

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

 

Q4: With reference to the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), consider the following statements

1. It is an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
2. Its Governing Council’s chairperson is the Prime Minister.

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: A)

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 2: About Software Technology Parks of India (STPI):

• It is an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), established in 1991.
• Its Governing Council is chaired by the Union Minister for Electronics & Information Technology
• Objectives:

• Encouraging, promoting and boosting the export of software from India
• To promote micro, small and medium entrepreneurs by creating conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the field of IT/ITES
• To provide statutory and other promotional services to the exporters by implementing Software Technology Parks (STP)/ Electronics and Hardware Technology Parks (EHTP) Schemes, SEZ scheme and other such schemes which may be formulated and entrusted by the Government from time to time.
• To establish and manage infrastructure resources such as Datacom facilities, Project Management and Consultancy and IT support facilities.

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

 

Q5: Which of the following countries share their border with Ethiopia?

1. Djibouti
2. Uganda
3. Eritrea
4. Tanzania

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Solution: A)

Explanation:

About Ethiopia:

• It is a landlocked country on the Horn of Africa which denotes the region containing the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
• It shares borders with Kenya to the south, Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, South Sudan to the west and Sudan to the northwest.

Hence, option A is correct.

 

Q6: Which of the following statement(s) is/are incorrect about Magnetars?

1. A magnetars is a type of neutron star.
2. These are the least powerful magnets in the cosmos.

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:

Statement 1 and 2: Recently, Intense pulses of radio waves known as fast radio bursts (FRB) have been found in the Milky Way for the first time.

These FRBs came from a magnetar known as SGR 1935+2154, located about 30,000 light-years from the earth, lies in the centre of the Milky Way, in the constellation Vulpecula.

About Magnetars:

• It is a type of neutron star.
• They are the most powerful magnets in the cosmos and their magnetic fields are 5,000 trillion times more powerful than that of the Earth.

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

 

Q7: Consider the following statements regarding Tarballs

1. They are small light-absorbing, carbonaceous particles.
2. They hasten glacial melt.
3. They are formed from brown carbon.

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

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

Solution: D)

Explanation:

Statement 1,2 and 3: Recently, a study has found Tarballs in the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau.

About Tarballs:

• They are small light-absorbing, carbonaceous particles formed due to burning of biomass or fossil fuels that deposit on snow and ice.
• They are formed from brown carbon which emitted during the burning of fossil fuels.
• They hasten glacial melt.

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

 

Q8: With reference to the National Monsoon Mission, consider the following statements

1.  It was launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2012.
2. It made possible the successful development of a Global Ensemble Forecast System for short and medium-range prediction at 12 kilometers.

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:  About National Monsoon Mission:

• It was launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in 2012.
• It aims to develop a state-of-the-art, dynamic monsoon prediction system for short, medium, and long-range forecasts.
• It made possible the successful development of a Global Ensemble Forecast System for short and medium-range prediction at 12 kilometers.
• It builds a working partnership between the academic and research and development (R&D) organisations, both national and international.

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