1. SAICM Initiative is related to which of the following industries?
[A] Chemical Industry
[B] Aviation Industry
[C] Agriculture Industry
[D] Food Processing Industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Chemical Industry]
Notes:
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a voluntary initiative that helps countries manage chemicals to reduce their harmful impact on human health and the environment. The goal of SAICM is to ensure that by 2020, chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human health.
SAICM is administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The development of SAICM was endorsed by Heads of State and Government at their summits in Johannesburg in 2002 and in New York in 2005.
2. Which of the following statements is correct about the term “Gyan Chakra” that was recently making news?
[A] It is an integrated set of interactive online services that connects teachers and students around the world.
[B] It is newly formed defence and strategic affairs think tank
[C] It is an initiative to increase revenue collection and facilitate effective implementation of the government schemes
[D] It is an initiative to push for complete digitisation of the public sector bank (PSB) in India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [It is newly formed defence and strategic affairs think tank]
Notes:
Gyan Chakra is a think tank on Defence and Strategic Affairs that has been formed by the Army’s Western Command. It includes a large number of defence veterans. It aims at providing an outlet to veterans for pursuing research on strategic and national security issues. “Gyan Chakra” will be an extension of the Khetarpal Officers Institute (KOI), Chandimandir.
3. Recently, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has introduced a new star rating methodology called Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) for _?
[A] Refrigerators
[B] Air conditioners
[C] Televisions
[D] Solar Rooftops
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Air conditioners]
Notes:
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has introduced a new star rating methodology called Indian Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (ISEER) for air conditioners. Keeping the performance of air conditioners during higher temperature in mind, ISEER will address the different climatic zones in India and higher temperature. ISEER measures energy efficiency of air conditioners based on a weighted average of the performance at outside temperatures between 24 and 43 degree C based on Indian weather data.
4. The term “Monero”, which was recently in news, is:
[A] the world’s first emotionally intelligent? robot
[B] an alternative to Bitcoin
[C] India’s first quantum-enabled satellite
[D] the name of world’s oldest tigress
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [an alternative to Bitcoin]
Notes:
Monero (XMR) is an open-source cryptocurrency created in April 2014 that focuses on privacy, decentralisation and scalability.
5. Recently, the Tamang and the Limbu communities have been placed in the Scheduled Tribe categories. In which state of India are these tribes predominantly found?
[A] Jammu & Kashmir
[B] Sikkim
[C] Gujarat
[D] Odisha
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sikkim]
Notes:
Tamang and the Limbu communities of Sikkim have been placed in the ST category.
6. Which two countries participated for the first time in Olympics 2016?
[A] Kosovo and South Sudan
[B] Israel and Rwanda
[C] Somalia and Lesotho
[D] Tunisia and Nicaragua
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Kosovo and South Sudan]
Notes:
The Olympic Committee of Kosovo was represented at the Olympics 2016 Games for the first time since its formation in the wake of Yugoslavia’s break-up. Similarly, South Sudan which was formed in 2011, made its debut at the Olympics 2016.
7. The Pam Rajput committee, sometimes seen in news, is associated with:
[A] empowerment of women
[B] digital payment
[C] border protection
[D] promoting entrepreneurship among youths
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [empowerment of women]
Notes:
The Pam Rajput committee recently submitted its interim report on “Status of Women in India” to the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). The committee has strongly supported the passage of Women’s Reservation Bill which has been hanging fire in Lok Sabha after being passed by the Upper House in 2010. However, it has called for 50% reservation instead of the current 33% reservation provided in the bill.
8. The Railway Budget 2016 proposed three new freight corridors. Consider the following pairs of proposed freight corridors with their connecting places:
- North-South – Delhi to Visakhapatnam
- East-West – Kharagpur to Mumbai
- East-Coast – Kharagpur to Vijayawada
Which of the above is/are correctly matched?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2 & 3]
Notes:
The three proposed corridors are North-South connecting Delhi to Chennai, East-West connecting Kharagpur to Mumbai and East-Coast connecting Kharagpur to Vijayawada.
9. Which of the following is the India’s best institute, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2019?
[A] IISc Bengaluru
[B] IIT Madras
[C] IIT Roorkee
[D] IIT Indore
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [IISc Bengaluru]
Notes:
No Indian institution figures in the top 250 of the Times Higher Education’s (THE) world university rankings 2019. Though, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru has retained its position as the highest-ranked centre in India. It was placed between the 251-300 band, while IIT Indore, Bombay and Roorkee with Jagadguru Sri Shivarathreeswara University from Karnataka make the country’s top five. Globally, University of Oxford has acquired first position for a third consecutive year followed by Cambridge and Stanford University. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology rose one place to number four. In India, number of Indian institutions in the rankings increased from 42 last year to 49, making it the fifth best-represented nation.
10. Which of the following states has recently declared Indus river dolphin as the state’s aquatic animal?
[A] Haryana
[B] Himachal Pradesh
[C] Punjab
[D] Jammu & Kashmir
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Punjab ]
Notes:
Punjab has recently declared the endangered Indus river dolphin as the state’s aquatic animal. The decision was recently taken at a meeting of the state board for wildlife chaired by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh. Indus Dolphin is an endangered freshwater aquatic mammal found only in Indian and Pakistan in the Beas river. These are brown/grey in colour, but blind and live for at least for 30 years. The Chief Minister also gave approval to declare Kanjli Wetland and holy Kali Bein River as a wildlife conservation reserve to mark the historic 550th Parkash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The sacred Kali Bein River was associated with the life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who got enlightenment while taking a dip in the holy river.