1. Who has been appointed as the new Union Minister of Railways?
[A] Piyush Goyal
[B] Nirmala Sitharaman
[C] Dharmendra Pradhan
[D] Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Piyush Goyal]
Notes:
Piyush Goyal has been appointed as the new Union Minister of Railways after latest Union cabinet reshuffle on September 3, 2017. He succeeded Suresh Prabhu, who has become the new Union Minister of Commerce and Industry. Prabhu resigned from the post after a series of train accidents in August 2017. Apart from Railways, Piyush Goyal retains the Ministry of coal. Along with Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Nirmala Sitharaman and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi were promoted to the cabinet rank.
2. Identify the fauna with the help of given information:
- The fauna is locally known as khur
- The fauna is a subspecies of onager and is native to Southern Asia
- The only other two sub species of this fauna are found in arid plateau of Tibet
- It has been recently included under category “Near Threatened” species by IUCN
Select the correct answer from options given below:
[A] Indian wild ass
[B] Great Indian Bustard
[C] Four-horned antelope
[D] Slender-billed vulture
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Indian wild ass ]
Notes:
All given statements are related to Indian Wild Ass
3. Southern Birdwing is a/an:
[A] butterfly endemic to Peninsular India
[B] invasive fish species responsible for damage to other fish population in Krishna River
[C] species of peafowl recently declared vermin in Goa
[D] newly declared state bird of Delhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ butterfly endemic to Peninsular India ]
Notes:
Southern birdwing is the largest butterfly of India, endemic to peninsular India. It was recently in news when the State Forest department of Karnataka sent a proposal to the state government to declare Southern Bird Wing butterfly as the state butterfly.
4. The term ‘DARPGSEVA’, which was recently making news, is associated to which ministry?
[A] Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
[B] Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
[C] Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
[D] Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions ]
Notes:
The Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has started its Twitter Seva. The Twitter Handle is ‘DARPGSEVA’. The Twitter Seva aims to address issues relating to the DARPG like Public Grievances and Administrative Reforms etc. The Twitter Seva will enable the DARPG to reach out to the common public and various stakeholders for facilitating redress of grievances and other issues of importance relating to the department.
5. In September 2016, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) completely banned all commercial trade for which of the following?
[A] Pangolin
[B] African elephant ivory
[C] Leatherback turtle
[D] Dugong
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Pangolin]
Notes:
The pangolin is world’s most trafficked animal. They are believed to possess magic or charms. They are hunted for their magical properties. Their scales when mixed with bark from certain trees; the scales are thought to neutralize witchcraft and evil spirits. In recently held global wildlife summit, a total trade ban in all species of pangolin was imposed by CITES. More than a million wild pangolins have been killed in the last decade, to feed the huge and rising appetite in China and Vietnam for its meat and its scales, a supposed medicine. The 182 nations of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) unanimously agreed a total ban on international trade on all species at the summit in Johannesburg.
6. Which of the following statements is incorrect about “Operation Greens” announced in Budget 2018?
[A] It aims to double the income of farmers by the end of 2022
[B] Government allocated a sum of Rs 500 crore for this operation
[C] It envisages setting the minimum support price to 1.5 times the cost of production
[D] It promotes organic farming in the country
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [It promotes organic farming in the country]
Notes:
“Operation Greens” was recently announced in Budget 2018. It aims to double the income of farmers by end of 2022. It is basically a price fixation scheme that aims to ensure farmers are given the right price for their produce. Under this, government will enhance the MSP for crops to 1.5 times the input cost of the produce. Also, it envisages promoting farmer producer organisations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management. For its implementation, government has allocated a sum of Rs 500 crore in the Budget 2018.
7. Which two countries have been recently suspended from voting in the UN General Assembly for the third time in three years?
[A] Syria and Libya
[B] Libya and Venezuela
[C] Venezuela and Peru
[D] South Sudan and Liberia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Libya and Venezuela ]
Notes:
Venezuela and Libya were recently suspended from voting in the UN General Assembly for the third time in three years because of millions of dollars in unpaid dues to the world body. Venezuela is required to pay a minimum of $25,200,296 to restore its voting rights and Libya needs to pay at least $6,594,842.
8. The Galilee Basin project, which was recently making news, is located in which country?
[A] Ireland
[B] Australia
[C] Brazil
[D] South Africa
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Australia]
Notes:
The Galilee Basin is a large inland geological basin in the western Queensland region of Australia. It was in news when Australian Government approved three mining leases for the India based Adani Group for its Galilee Basin project.
9. Indian Railways has recently signed pact with which company for use of Natural Gas in railway workshops?
[A] ONGC
[B] GAIL India
[C] NTPC
[D] IOCL
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [GAIL India ]
Notes:
In New Delhi, Indian Railways has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with GAIL India Ltd for use of environment-friendly fuel ‘Natural Gas’ in Railway workshops and production units. The purpose of the pact is to replace Industrial gases like Dissolved Acetylene, LPG, Bharat Metal Cutting Gas (BMCG) and Furnace Oil / High Speed Diesel (HSD) oil with Natural Gas. The use of natural gas has a potential to replace fuel worth Rs 70 crore per annum. This historic partnership will pave the way for supply of Natural Gas to Railway workshops, integral coach factories, loco workshops, DEMU sheds, etc. located along the existing and upcoming pipeline networks of GAIL. This endeavour shall reduce carbon foot-prints of IR and contribute positively towards achieving COP21 commitments.
10. ‘The Bachan Singh Case (1980)’ that recently grabbed headlines pertains to what subject?
[A] Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code
[B] Section 498(a) of the Indian Penal Code
[C] Capital Punishment in India
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Capital Punishment in India]
Notes:
The ‘Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab (1980)’ case is a significant episode in the annals of constitutional jurisprudence in India, famously linked to the subject of capital punishment. In this landmark judgment, the Constitution Bench of the Indian Supreme Court mandated that capital punishment in India should be meted out only in ‘rarest of rare’ cases. This principle popularly known as ‘rarest of rare doctrine,’ exemplifies the stringent standards that must be applied in death penalty adjudications.
