1. What is the theme of the 106th foundation day of Bihar?
[A] Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Elimination of Dowry and Child Marriage
[B] Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Gandhi Jayanti
[C] Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Peaceful protest
[D] Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Empowerment of Women
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Elimination of Dowry and Child Marriage]
Notes:
Bihar has celebrated its 106th foundation day on March 22, 2018. A number of programmes have been organized throughout the state on the occasion. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated a 3-day Bihar Diwas celebrations in Patna and also released 4 books- ‘Ek Tha Mohan’, ‘Bapu Ki Chiththi’, ‘Champaran Ki Kahani’ and ‘Neel Ke Dhabbe’ on this occasion. The 2018 theme for this year’s celebrations is “Centenary of Champaran Satyagraha and Elimination of Dowry and Child Marriage”. It was on this day when the British carved out the state from Bengal Presidency in 1912. Before that Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa were part of the Bengal province during the British rule.
2. The National Mission for the Development of Ultra Supercritical Technology is associated with which of the following?
[A] Thermal power plants
[B] Solar Power plants
[C] Nuclear power plants
[D] Liquid biofuel power plants
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Thermal power plants]
Notes:
Recently, the central government announced a National Mission on advanced ultra supercritical technologies for cleaner coal utilisation at a total cost of US $ 238 million. Under the mission, the government plans to set-up two Centres of Excellence on Clean Coal Technologies at US $5 million each. What is Advanced Ultra-Supercritical (AUSC) Technology? The pulverised coal power plants are divided into four categories based on operating temperature, pressure and efficiency of steam cycle. First is subcritical pulverised coal power plant that operates with critical temperature and critical pressure of water below 540 degree and 170-220 bars and has operating efficiency below 38%. Second is supercritical pulverised coal plant that operates with critical temperature and critical pressure above 615 degree and 250 bars and reaches efficiency upto 42%. Third is ultra-supercritical pulverised coal plant that operates with critical temperature and critical pressure of water above 620 degree and 330 bars and reaches efficiency in the range of 42% to 46 %. Fourth is advanced ultra-supercritical pulverised coal technology that operates with critical temperature and critical pressure of water in range of 700-760 degrees and 350 bars and targets operating efficiency greater than 50%.
3. Recently, the government launched the National Water Quality Sub-Mission (NWQSM) to deal with which two pollutants present in water?
[A] DDT and Chlorine
[B] Arsenic and Fluoride
[C] Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Detergents
[D] Insecticides and herbicides
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Arsenic and Fluoride]
Notes:
Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation launched the National Water Quality Sub Mission on Arsenic and Fluoride to provide safe drinking water to about 28,000 affected habitations in the country by March 2021. With this, Government will also fulfil its goal to provide tap water on a sustained basis in every household by 2030 as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal.
4. Recently, India has signed an agreement with which of the following countries for Operation and Maintenance of Facilities on “Assumption Island”?
[A] Seychelles
[B] Fiji
[C] Brunei
[D] Cambodia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Seychelles]
Notes:
Seychelles is an archipelago and country in the Indian Ocean. Officially known as the Republic of Seychelles, it is a 115-island country. Recently, India signed an Agreement with Seychelles for the Development, Management, Operation and Maintenance of Facilities on “Assumption Island”. The agreement will be valid for 20 years, after which it can be renewed for periods of 10 years at a time.
5. 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.
6. The Economic Survey 2017-18 has suggested six key areas that can be taken up as national missions to promote India’s R&D capabilities. Which one of the following is not the one among them?
[A] National Mission on Cyber Physical Systems
[B] National Missions on Dark Matter
[C] National Mission on Mathematics
[D] National Mission on Food Processing
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [National Mission on Food Processing]
Notes:
The Economic Survey 2017-18 has suggested six key areas that can be taken up as national missions. These are as follows: National Mission on Cyber-Physical Systems; national missions on dark matter; genomics; energy storage systems; mathematics and agriculture. National Mission on Food Processing was launched in 2012 for the 12th five-year plan.
7. The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS)-2016 was held at which of the following places?
[A] Seoul, South Korea
[B] The Hague, Netherlands
[C] Washington, D.C., United States
[D] Geneva, Switzerland
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Washington, D.C., United States]
Notes:
The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) is a world summit, aimed at preventing nuclear terrorism around the globe. The Nuclear Security Summit (NSS)-2016 was held at Washington, D.C. in United States.
8. Recently, the scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur claimed that they have found evidence of the “lost” ancient Indian River called Chandrabhaga. The evidence for the existence of the river has been found in which state of India?
[A] Maharashtra
[B] Rajasthan
[C] Uttarakhand
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Odisha]
Notes:
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur claim that they have found evidence of ‘lost’ Indian River called Chandrabhaga at a distance of about two km from the 13th century Sun Temple at Konark.
9. The BBIN initiative, sometimes seen in news, is associated to:
[A] allow visa-free stay
[B] enhance road connectivity
[C] reduce trade barriers and promote free trade
[D] enhance the scientific and technical work on disaster risk reduction
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [enhance road connectivity]
Notes:
Under the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) initiative, the government aims for road connectivity between Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and India. Under the BBIN initiative, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has identified over two dozen road projects worth $8 billion to be developed over the next five years to fill and upgrade critical connections in the BBIN area. The project would help develop the north-eastern region of India through cross-border cooperation, strengthen trade relations with eastern (Bangladesh) and north-eastern (Bhutan and Nepal) neighbouring countries and improve sub-regional connectivity with Southeast Asia.
10. The recently announced SWAYAM Platform in the Budget 2017-18 is associated to:
[A] Skill Development
[B] Digital Education
[C] Digital Payment
[D] Agricultural Development
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Digital Education]
Notes:
SWAYAM Portal would offer at least 350 online courses and will leverage information technology, access to high quality reading resources, participate in discussion forums; take tests and earn academic grades. Access to SWAYAM would be widened by linkage with DTH channels dedicated to education.
