1. S. Abdul Rahman, who passed away recently, was the famous poet of which language?
[A] Kannada
[B] Tamil
[C] Odia
[D] Telugu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Tamil]
Notes:
Tamil poet S. Abdul Rahman (79), popularly known as ‘Kavikko,’ has passed away in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on June 2, 2017. He belonged to the Vanambadi literary movement and was one of the most admired poets of modern Tamil literature. His poetry collection ‘Aalapanai’ won the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award in the year 1999. Apart from that he has won a lot of awards. His noted works includes Aalapanai, Paal veedhi, Neyar viruppam, Pithan, etc.
2. Part VI of our constitution is applicable to all the states except __________?
[A] Arunachal Pradesh
[B] Jammu & Kashmir
[C] Sikkim
[D] Applicable to all states of India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Applicable to all states of India ]
Notes:
Before 5 August 2019, Part VI was not applicable to Jammu & Kashmir state. On 6 August 2019, parliament of India declared all the clauses of Article 370 except clause 1 to be inoperative. After this, Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act was passed dividing the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories viz. Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
3. Identify the Indian architecture with the help of given information:
- The temple was commissioned by king Vishnuvardhana of Hoysala dynasty and is a monument recognised by the ASI
- The temple is an excellent example of Vesara style of Indian architecture
- In April 2017, the 900th anniversary of the temple was celebrated
Select the correct option from codes given below:
[A] Chennakeshava Temple
[B] Virupaksha Temple
[C] Brihadisvara Temple
[D] Lingaraja Temple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Chennakeshava Temple]
Notes:
All above given features are of Chennakeshava Temple, located at Belur in Karnataka. Chennakeshava is a form of the Hindu god Vishnu.
4. Recently, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its environment report entitled, “Solid approach to waste: how five cities are beating pollution” has recognised 5 cities in the world for their excellent waste management system. Which Indian city has made into the UNEP list?
[A] Indore
[B] Alappuzha
[C] Gandhinagar
[D] Bengaluru
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Alappuzha]
Notes:
Recently, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in its environment report entitled, “Solid approach to waste: how five cities are beating pollution” has recognised 5 cities in the world for their excellent waste management system. These include Osaka in Japan, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Penang in Malaysia and Cajica in Colombia and Alappuzha in India.
5. As per India State of Forest Report 2017, which of the following is the correct order of forest types in India in terms of their area?
[A] Tropical Dry Deciduous> Subtropical Dry Evergreen> Tropical Moist Deciduous> Tropical Semi-Evergreen
[B] Tropical Moist Deciduous> Tropical Dry Deciduous> Subtropical Dry Evergreen> Subtropical Pine
[C] Tropical Dry Deciduous> Tropical Moist Deciduous> Tropical Semi-Evergreen> Himalayan Moist Temperate
[D] Tropical Moist Deciduous> Tropical Dry-Evergreen> Tropical Dry Deciduous> Tropical Wet-Evergreen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Tropical Dry Deciduous> Tropical Moist Deciduous> Tropical Semi-Evergreen> Himalayan Moist Temperate]
Notes:
As per the Indian State Forest Report 2017, the correct order is Tropical Dry Deciduous (279506 sq km), Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest (144747 sq km), Tropical Semi Evergreen (98039 sq km), Himalayan Moist Temperate (29216 sq km) and Tropical Wet–Evergreen (20872 sq km).
6. N Gopalaswami committee, sometimes seen in news, is associated with which of the following?
[A] Determining the vulnerability of guarding structures along the Indo-Myanmar border
[B] Quality enhancement in higher education institutes of India
[C] Monitoring of high bad loan divergences and bank frauds
[D] To study the feasibility of dispensing homoeopathic medicines in villages by rural health workers and accredited social health activists (ASHA)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Quality enhancement in higher education institutes of India]
Notes:
Recently, the Prime Minister’s Office, appointed the former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami as the head of a committee that will select 20 institutes of higher education in India that will be developed into “world-class” institutes. The committee will select 20 Institutions of Eminence from among 104 institutions. These Institutions of Eminence are proposed to have greater autonomy compared to other higher education institutions. Such institutions will have autonomy to decide their fee for domestic and foreign students and have a flexible course duration and structure.
7. The term “White Stork”, which was recently in news, is:
[A] a computer virus
[B] an automated cargo spacecraft
[C] a cryptocurrency
[D] type of a radiological dispersal device (RDD)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [an automated cargo spacecraft]
Notes:
“White Stork” is an automated cargo spacecraft launched by Japan. It is a “space junk” collector that has been made with the help of a fishnet company. The spacecraft aims at clearing up tonnes of space clutter including cast-off equipment from old satellites and pieces of rocket.
8. Kokate Committee Report, sometimes seen in news, is related to:
[A] preparing draft of Ganga Act
[B] ban imposed on fixed dose combinations (FDCs) of drugs
[C] examine financial woes of the telecom sector
[D] examine the Impact of demonetization on e-commerce industry
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ban imposed on fixed dose combinations (FDCs) of drugs]
Notes:
Recently, based on the recommendations of Kokate committee, the Union Health Ministry had imposed the ban on 344 FDC drugs under Section 26A of Drugs and Cosmetics Act in March 2016. The ban was imposed because of FDC being unsafe and not having a therapeutic justification. India is one of the world’s largest markets for FDC drugs that make up almost half the market share. It was imposed over fears that these drugs cause anti-microbial resistance and might even cause organ-failure because of high toxicity. It also aimed at curbing the misuse of medicines.
9. Girdhar Malviya Committee, sometimes seen in news, is related to:
[A] protection of Western Ghats
[B] prepare draft Ganga Act
[C] growth and development of Steel industries in India
[D] bring reforms in the University Grants Commission (UGC)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [prepare draft Ganga Act]
Notes:
The Girdhar Malviya Committee was constituted to prepare draft Ganga Act. The committee recently submitted its report to the Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
10. The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched the programme NIDHI that aims at:
[A] helping start-ups across the country
[B] segregation of the solid waste at source
[C] providing free of cost primary education to the children from weaker section of the society
[D] increasing the participation of women in the education sector
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [helping start-ups across the country]
Notes:
Recently, the Department of Science and Technology has launched Rs 100-crore programme called National Initiative for Developing and Harnessing Innovations (NIDHI) to support start-ups in India. The programme aims to facilitate in terms of both funding and incubation support across the country. A number of schemes will be taken up under NIDHI, such as NIDHI Prayas, NIDHI Seed Support System and NIDHI Centres of Excellence. The silent features of the scheme are: NIDHI Prayas is focused on addressing the gap between idea and prototype funding; NIDHI Seed Support System for funding early-stage start-ups & NIDHI Centres of Excellence, which will help start-ups, go global.
