GK & Current Affairs – November 12, 2015

1. Which is the first Indian state to launch auction of mines?
[A]West Bengal
[B]Gujarat
[C]Tamil Nadu
[D]Karnataka
Answer: Gujarat
Gujarat has become the first state in the country to start mines auction. The Gujarat government has issued a notification for auction of five limestone blocks. Gujarat government has passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 in March this year. It stipulates auction as the only means to allow extraction of iron ore and other minerals.
2. Who is appointed as vice-chairman of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS)?
[A]Nachiket M. Mor
[B]C Rangarajan
[C]Raghuram Rajan
[D]D Subbarao
Answer: Raghuram Rajan
Raghuram Rajan, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor has been elected vice-chairman of the Bank of International Settlement (BIS). He will have a three-year term. He is the first RBI Governor to become the vice-chairman of BIS. BIS is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. BIS acts as a coordinating body among central banks of various nations to ensure global monetary and financial stability.
3. Which day is celebrated as World Science Day for Peace and Development 2015?
[A]6th November
[B]8th November
[C]10th November
[D]12th November
Answer: 10th November
World Science Day is celebrated worldwide on 10 November each year. It was started in 2001 by UNESCO. It is celebrated to demonstrate the importance of science in our daily life. The theme of World Science Day 2015 is Science for a Sustainable Future.
4. The Union Government has constituted a committee to study about the following rivers?
[A]River Godavari
[B]River Saraswati
[C]River Krishna
[D]River Narmada
Answer: River Saraswati
The Union Ministry of Culture has constituted an advisory committee for a multidisciplinary study of Saraswati river. The committee has several members, including Culture Minister, the culture secretary, the tourism secretary and ASI Director General etc. It has a fixed tenure of two years. The committee will draw up a programme for the study of the Saraswati basin and will identify 16 sites for research and development.
5. Which among the following organisations published the report titled – ‘World Energy Outlook 2015’?
[A]World Bank
[B]International Energy Agency (IEA)
[C]International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
[D]International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Answer: International Energy Agency (IEA)
The World Energy Outlook report is published annually by International Energy Agency (IEA). The International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 1974. It acts as a policy adviser to its member states. The World Energy Outlook 2015, points that the global energy use is set to grow by one-third over the next 25 years, driven mostly by emerging economies.
6. What is the enhanced FIPB’s monetary limit to approve foreign investment proposals?
[A]Rs 3,500 crore
[B]Rs 4,000 crore
[C]Rs 4,500 crore
[D]Rs 5,000 crore
Answer: Rs 5,000 crore
The Union government has enhanced FIPB’s monetary limit to approve foreign investment proposals of up to Rs 5,000 crore. Earlier, FIPB was allowed to approve foreign investment proposals of worth up to Rs 3,000 crore. The FIPB is headed by Secretary of Department of Economic Affairs. Beyond the ceiling of Rs 5,000 crore, Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by the Prime Minister will look into the proposal.
7. What percent of FDI is allowed in Coffee plantation in India?
[A]49%
[B]51%
[C]70%
[D]100%
Answer: 100%
Recently, the Union Government has allowed 100 per cent FDI in five plantation crops, mainly coffee, rubber, cardamom, palm oil tree and olive oil tree via automatic route. Earlier, 100 per cent FDI is allowed only in tea plantation through the Government approval route. But now all foreign investment in the plantation sector would come under automatic route.
8. As per Census 2011, which state has lowest female literacy rate in India?
[A]Bihar
[B]Rajasthan
[C]Assam
[D]Madhya Pradesh
Answer: Bihar
According to the Census 2011 data, Kerala has the highest female literacy rate of 92.07% where as Bihar has the lowest female literacy rate of 51.50%. Lakshadweep holds the first rank in male literacy rate whereas Bihar has recorded lowest male literacy rate.
9. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of UN has declared the year 2016 as the __?
[A]International Year of Soils
[B]International Year of Family Farming
[C]International Year of Quinoa
[D]International Year of Pulses
Answer: International Year of Pulses
The 68th UN General Assembly has declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP). The IYP 2016 aims to increase the public awareness about the nutritional benefits of pulses as part of sustainable food production aimed towards food security and nutrition. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been nominated to facilitate the implementation of the Year in collaboration with all stakeholders.
10. India is a member of which of the following organisations?
1. International law Commission (ILC)
2. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
3. International Criminal Court (ICC)
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A]1 and 2 only
[B]1 and 3 only
[C]2 and 3 only
[D]All of them
Answer: 1 and 2 only
India is not a member to the International Criminal Court (ICC). ICC was established under the Rome Statute adopted in 1998 and entered into force on 2002. presently 123 states are party to the ICC. India has neither signed nor ratified the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC). The reason is that Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court (ICC) defines war crimes including the ‘armed conflict not of an international character’. The situation of conflict that persists in Kashmir, the North-East, and, for a while, in Punjab explains the reasons for the state’s anxiety that this manner of violence could be referred to the ICC.

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