1. The Goldman Environmental Prize for the year 2017 has been awarded to:
[A] Prafulla Samantara
[B] Bhagat Puran Singh
[C] Chandi Prasad Bhatt
[D] Maneka Gandhi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Prafulla Samantara ]
Notes:
The Goldman Environmental Prize was established in 1989. It is also known as Green Nobel Prize. The prize is awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists, one from each of the world's six geographic regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands and Island Nations, North America, and South and Central America. The prize includes a no-strings-attached award of US$175,000 per recipient. Prafulla Samantara is an environmentalist from Odisha. He is known for Lok Shakti Abhiyan, a civil rights organisation, which was at the forefront of the protests in Niyamgiri in Lanjigarh district where Sterlite Industries, a subsidiary of Vedanta Alumina, was planning to set up mining operations in a joint venture with state-owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC).
2. Supercritical and Ultra-supercritical technologies, sometimes seen in news, are associated with:
[A] Power generation
[B] Transportation systems
[C] Cancer diagnosis
[D] Prediction of big earthquakes
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Power generation]
Notes:
Supercritical and ultra-supercritical technologies are associated with coal-fired power plants. These technologies are designed to improve the efficiency and reduce the emissions of coal-fired power plants.
Supercritical boilers operate at temperatures around 538–565°C and pressures above 3,200 psi. Ultra-supercritical boilers operate at temperatures around 615–630°C and pressures around 300 bar.
The term “advanced ultra-supercritical” (AUSC) is sometimes used to describe generators where the water is above 700°C (1,292°F). The coal industry uses the term “High-Efficiency, Low-Emissions” (HELE) to describe supercritical and ultra-supercritical coal generation.
3. Advanced Ultra Supercritical (AUSC) technology, sometimes seen in news, is associated with:
[A] Coal-fired power plants
[B] Solar power generation
[C] Hydro-electric power generation
[D] Power Generation from Agricultural Waste
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Coal-fired power plants]
Notes:
The Advanced Ultra Supercritical technology is an indigenous technology for coal-fired power plants, which requires less fuel, delivers greater efficiency and is a tad cleaner. The Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) is designing phases of the 800 MW advanced ultra supercritical (AUSC) boiler for coal power plant will be ready by 2019-2020.
4. The recently launched “Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)” will be implemented by the:
[A] Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
[B] Ministry of Food Processing Industries
[C] Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
[D] National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Ministry of Food Processing Industries]
Notes:
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana is a comprehensive package which will result in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management. The main objective of PMKSY is to supplement agriculture, modernize processing and decrease Agri-Waste. PMKSY will act as an umbrella scheme for incorporating ongoing schemes of the Ministry like Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure, etc. and also new schemes like Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing & Preservation Capacities.
5. The term “Pepper”, which was recently in news, is:
[A] newly-discovered night frog species in western ghats
[B] world’s first emotionally intelligent? robot
[C] a newly discovered dwarf planet of our solar system
[D] world’s first quantum-enabled satellite
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [world’s first emotionally intelligent? robot]
Notes:
Pepper is being billed as the first “emotionally intelligent” robot. Miko is India’s first emotionally intelligent” robot.
6. As per the Economic Survey 2016-17, which state received the highest Redistributive Resource Transfers (RRT) from the Centre?
[A] Uttar Pradesh
[B] Gujarat
[C] Jammu & Kashmir
[D] Sikkim
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Sikkim]
Notes:
Redistributive Resource Transfer or RRT to a state (from the Centre) is defined as gross devolution to the state adjusted for the respective state’s share in aggregate Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The top 10 recipients are: Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Assam.
7. The recently launched “Khelegi toh Khilegi” programme by the National Yuva Cooperative Society is associated to which sports?
[A] Cricket
[B] Football
[C] Hockey
[D] Kabaddi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Football]
Notes:
On occasion of the National Girl Child Day, Nurturing Excellence in Sports Trust (NEST) along with National Yuva Cooperative Society launched the pan India programme 'Khelegi toh Khilegi', which is a pan-India football based programme for girls between the age to 10-15 years.
8. In the Railway Budget 2016-17, the Minister of Railways announced to set up an organisation called 'SRESTHA'. Which of the following statements is/are correct about it?
- The organisation will be headed by the chairman of the railway board
- The main aim of the organisation is to carry out long term railway research activities.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Only 2]
Notes:
First statement is incorrect because SRESTHA (Special Railway Establishment for Strategic Technology & Holistic Advancement) would be headed by an eminent scientist reporting directly to Chairman, Railway Board and would be staffed with scientists and a limited number of Railway experts. RDSO functioning will be made totally transparent with time bound results.
9. Recently, the term Swiss Challenge was making news. What is Swiss Challenge?
[A] It is a model of auctioning infrastructure projects.
[B] It is a method proposed by IPCC for mitigation of climate change
[C] It is a new economic theory which focuses at product innovation and reduction in cost of production.
[D] It is a disease outbreak due to sap-sucking insects damaging cotton crops in India.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [It is a model of auctioning infrastructure projects.]
Notes:
The Indian government announced to adopt ‘Swiss Challenge’ method for development of railway stations and national highways in India. “Swiss Challenge” is a model of auctioning infrastructure projects in India.
10. Identify the pilgrimage site with the help of given information:
- This pilgrimage site is located on the banks of River Pampa.
- A visit to the Vavar mosque by devotees is an integral part of this pilgrimage.
- Travancore Devaswom Board manages this shrine.
- “Mandala Pooja” and “Makara Vilakku” are two important rituals associated with this pilgrimage site.
Select the correct answer from options given below:
[A] Ranakpur Temple
[B] Sabarimala Temple
[C] Padmanabhaswamy Temple
[D] Meenakshi Temple
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sabarimala Temple]
Notes:
The correct answer is Sabarimala Temple. It is a Hindu pilgrimage centre located at the Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala. The shrine at Sabarimala is an ancient Ayyappan temple. It is located on the banks of the holy River Pampa. On the way to Sabarimala shrine is located Vavar mosque which is an integral part of this pilgrimage. The temple is open for worship only during the days of Mandalapooja, Makara Sankranti and Maha Vishuva Sankranti and the first five days of each Malayalam month. The temple was recently in news for legal case due to its custom of restricting women above the age of 10 and below the age of 50 from offering worship at temple.
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