1. National Handloom Day (NHD) is celebrated on which date?
[A] August 6
[B] August 7
[C] August 5
[D] August 8
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [August 7]
Notes:
National Handloom Day is celebrated annually on August 7 to honor the handloom weaving community of India and to commemorate the Swadeshi Movement. On this day in 1905, the formal proclamation of the Swadeshi Movement was made in a meeting at the Calcutta Town hall.
2. UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) is located at:
[A] Geneva
[B] Paris
[C] Vienna
[D] New York
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vienna]
Notes:
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. UNIDO was established in 1966 by the UN General Assembly to help developing countries industrialize. UNIDO’s mission is to promote industrial development for poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, and inclusive globalization.
UNIDO has offices in Brussels, Geneva, and New York to maintain contact with member states and other UN organizations. UNIDO also has a network of 48 regional and country offices.
3. Headquarters of Bioversity International is located at:
[A] England
[B] Italy
[C] Germany
[D] Australia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Italy]
Notes:
Bioversity International, a non-profit research organization for development, was established in 1974. The motto of the organization is “Agricultural biodiversity nourishes and sustains the planet”. It is headquatered at Rome, Italy.
4. Which among the following was raised in India to assist police in controlling civil disturbance and communal riots?
[A] Rapid Action Force
[B] National Security Guards
[C] Home guards
[D] Shasastra Seema Bal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Home guards]
Notes:
In India, the Home Guard is a voluntary organization that works to assist the police in maintaining law and order and providing community services. The organization was established in the 1960s and is made up of individuals who are not regular members of the police force but who are willing to serve their communities in a voluntary capacity. Home Guard members are trained in various skills, such as traffic control, disaster management, and first aid, and they often assist the police in a variety of tasks, such as crowd control, traffic management, and disaster relief.
5. Out of the 15 members of the United Nations Security Council, assent of how many is required to make a decision?
[A] 5 Permanent & 5 Non-Permanent Members
[B] 5 Permanent & 8 Non-Permanent Members
[C] 5 Permanent & 4 Non-Permanent Members
[D] 5 Permanent & 2 Non-Permanent Members
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [5 Permanent & 4 Non-Permanent Members]
Notes:
The correct answer is “5 Permanent & 4 Non-Permanent Members.” In the United Nations Security Council, a decision requires the affirmative votes of at least 9 out of 15 members, which includes all 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and 4 non-permanent members. This structure ensures that both permanent and non-permanent members have a important role in decision-making. Notably, any of the permanent members can veto a substantive resolution, which is a unique feature of the Security Council.
6. Which among the following is the premier Submarine Training Establishment of the Indian Navy?
[A] INS Amba
[B] INS Saatvahana
[C] INS Sindhuvir
[D] INS Chakra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [INS Saatvahana]
Notes:
The correct answer is INS Satvahana. It is the premier submarine training establishment of the Indian Navy, located in Visakhapatnam. Established in 1985, INS Satvahana focuses on training personnel in submarine operations and tactics, enhancing India’s underwater warfare capabilities. The name “Satvahana” refers to the ancient Indian dynasty known for its maritime trade and naval prowess.
7. Who is the author of the book ‘The Perils of Democracy’?
[A] P. S. Ramamohan Rao
[B] P. C. Alexander
[C] Gurudas Kamat
[D] Shankar Dayal Sharma
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [P. C. Alexander]
Notes:
The book ‘The Perils of Democracy’ is authored by P.C. Alexander. This book provides a comprehensive examination of the democracy and constitution of India. Alexander with his deep knowledge and experience in politics, discusses the advantages and disadvantages of democracy, its implications on the Indian constitution, and offers insights into how it can affect the citizens and the nation as a whole.
8. what is the main function of I.M.F from the given below? (UPSC Prelims 1994)
[A] Arrange international deposits from banks
[B] Help to solve balance of payments problems of member countries
[C] Act as a private sector lending arm of the World Bank
[D] Finance investment to developing countries
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Help to solve balance of payments problems of member countries]
Notes:
Upon the founding of the IMF, its three primary functions were: to oversee the fixed exchange rate arrangements between countries, thus helping national governments manage their exchange rates and allowing these governments to prioritize economic growth, and to provide short-term capital to aid the balance of payments.
9. Which among the following nations is mainly associated with the “Dirty War”?
[A] Uruguay
[B] Israel
[C] Iran
[D] Argentina
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Argentina]
Notes:
Dirty War was the term used by the then military dictatorship of Argentina to denote US-backed state-terrorism for the period from 1976-1983. Under Operation Condor, military and security forces and right-wing death squads in the form of Argentine Anti Communist Alliance destroyed any political dissidents associated with socialism and left-wing Peronism.
10. The “Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict” is a territorial dispute between which among the following nations?
[A] Armenia and Russia
[B] Armenia and Azerbaijan
[C] Azerbaijan and Russia
[D] Azerbaijan and Iran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Armenia and Azerbaijan]
Notes:
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict is a territorial dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This region is legally recognized under the control of Azerbaijan. The conflict further leads to a full-scale war between 1988 and 1994.