1. Twang is an area in Arunanchal Pradesh in India, recently in news papers. It is world famous for which of the following?
[A] India China Nathula Pass
[B] India’s largest Buddhist monastery
[C] Tibetan Museum
[D] School for Buddhist Studies
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India’s largest Buddhist monastery]
Notes:
Tawang Monastery, located in Tawang city of Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh. It is the largest monastery in India and second largest in the world after the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
2. Which among the following is the largest newspaper market in world?
[A] China
[B] India
[C] Japan
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [India]
Notes:The four largest newspaper markets in the world are:
- China, with 107 million copies sold daily
- India, with 99 million copies sold daily
- Japan, with 68 million copies sold daily
- The United States, with nearly 51 million copies sold daily
The Asia-Pacific region is the largest newspaper market, accounting for over 30% of the market in 2018. The growth of print and digital media in India and China is a key factor in the growth of the Asia-Pacific market. The global print newspapers and magazines market size was estimated at USD 123.93 billion in 2021. Revenue is projected to reach US$165.80bn in 2023.
3. Identify the tribe of India with the help of given information:
- They are of Matrilineal descent and use matrilocal residence
- They were known as Lalungs in the Assamese Buranjis, Colonial literature and in the Constitution of India
- The tribe has been frequently in news for practising jhuming or shifting cultivation
Select the correct answer from options given below:
[A] Tiwa
[B] Baiga
[C] Jarawa
[D] Dongria Kondh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Tiwa]
Notes:
The above given information is for Tiwa tribe of Assam which has been frequently in news for practising Jhum cultivation.
4. Which of the following statements is correct about the term “Data Exclusivity”, sometimes seen in news?
[A] It is a new telecommunication policy which promotes free data within the norms of the Discriminatory Tariff Regulations
[B] It is a pharmaceutical policy which protects the patented products of pharmaceutical companies
[C] It is a new security measure to protect citizens biometric data linked to Aadhaar
[D] It is a new open policy by WIPO for protecting digital assets & sensitive data leakage
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ It is a pharmaceutical policy which protects the patented products of pharmaceutical companies]
Notes:
Data exclusivity prevents drug regulators from referring the data submitted by the drug originator company to be used for manufacturing Biosimilars of the same.
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. Recently, Narendra Modi Government installed plaque with the name and quote of which of the following personalities at cellular jail?
[A] Veer Savarkar
[B] Mahatma Gandhi
[C] Subhas Chandra Bose
[D] Bhikaiji Rustom Cama
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Veer Savarkar]
Notes:
Narendra Modi Government reinstalled plaque with the name and quote of Veer Savarkar at Cellular Jail in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The plaque was first installed in 2004 in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government. It was removed soon after UPA government came to power at the Centre.
7. Who is appointed as the Returning Officer/Assistant Returning Officer for the election to the Office of President of India?
[A] Speaker Lok Sabha
[B] Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha
[C] Secretary General, Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha
[D] Parliamentary Secretary
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Secretary General, Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha ]
Notes:
By convention, the Secretary General, Lok Sabha or the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha is appointed as the Returning Officer, by rotation. Two other senior officers of the Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha Secretariat and the Secretaries and one more senior officer of Legislative Assemblies of all States including NCT of Delhi and Union Territory of Puducherry, are also appointed as the Assistant Returning Officers. The Election Commission of India makes such appointments. For the Presidential Election, 2017 the Secretary General Lok Sabha was the Returning Officer.
8. Recently, the Supreme Court requested all the states and union territories to move forward towards blanket ban on the use of “pet coke”. Pet coke is most widely used in which of the following industry?
[A] Cement
[B] Power
[C] Steel
[D] Construction
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cement]
Notes:
Petroleum coke, or pet coke, is a byproduct of oil refining. It is a key input material for cement producers and is a highly polluting fuel. The Supreme Court requested all states and union territories to move forward towards a blanket ban on the use of pet coke. Pet coke is a dirtier alternative to coal. The use of pet coke has come under scrutiny due to rising pollution levels in major cities. Pet coke is most widely used in the cement industry. It is also used as a primary material for electrodes used in electric steel furnaces for smelting and refining steel scrap.
The majority of pet coke is produced in the US but is transported to India and China. In 2016, the US sent more than 8 million metric tons of pet coke to India.
9. The term Common Risk Mitigation Mechanism (CRMM), sometimes seen in news, is associated to:
[A] accelerate the global solar power production
[B] prevent new disasters and reduce existing disaster risks
[C] ensure the safe use of cyberspace
[D] reduce tariffs as well as non-tariff barriers and foster international trade
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [accelerate the global solar power production]
Notes:One of the stated objectives of Paris Agreement of 2015 was making finance flows consistent towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resistant development. To achieve the same, recently in May, 2017, 16 countries of International Solar Alliance jointly commissioned to define and structure the Common Risk Mitigation Mechanism for solar power generation projects. The instrument aims to:
- set up a secure environment for private investors to invest in solar projects
- lower the cost of finance for renewable energy and the overall price of electricity enlarge the total size of the renewable energy market by making investments in renewables
- diversify and pool risks on mutualised public resources and unlock significant investments
10. Which of the following countries has been granted the Observer status in Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in April 2017?
[A] Georgia
[B] Armenia
[C] Moldova
[D] Ukraine
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Moldova]
Notes:
The member states of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Armenia.
Moldova has been granted the Observer Status in April 2017.
