INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS (18 February 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Battle of Çanakkale, also known as the Gallipoli campaign or the Dardanelles campaign, is considered to be one of the bloodiest of World War I, during which the Ottoman army faced off against the Allied forces, leading to the slaughter of tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/18/battle-of-canakkale-gallipoli/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Delimitation literally means the act or process of fixing limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies in a country or a province having a legislative body.
• The job of delimitation is assigned to a high power body. Such a body is known as Delimitation Commission or a Boundary Commission.
• In India, such Delimitation Commissions have been constituted 4 times – in 1952 under the Delimitation Commission Act, 1952, in 1963 under Delimitation Commission Act, 1962, in 1973 under Delimitation Act, 1972 and in 2002 under Delimitation Act, 2002.
• The Delimitation Commission in India is a high power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court.
• These orders come into force on a date to be specified by the President of India in this behalf. The copies of its orders are laid before the House of the People and the State Legislative Assembly concerned, but no modifications are permissible therein by them.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/18/delimitation-of-constituencies-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Indigenous dairy breeds of cattle: Gir, Red Sindhi, Sahiwal
• Indigenous Draught breeds of cattle: Amritmahal, Hallikar, Khillari, Kangayam, Bargur, Umblachery, Pulikulam, Alambadi
• Indigenous Dual purpose breeds of Cattle: Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej, Ongole, Krishna Valley
• Exotic dairy breeds of cattle: Jersey, Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss, Red Dane, Ayrshire, Guernsey

Refer: http://www.agritech.tnau.ac.in/expert_system/cattlebuffalo/Breeds%20of%20cattle%20&%20baffalo.html

Ans: (d)

Explanation: SUTRA PIC (Scientific Utilisation Through Research Augmentation-Prime Products from Indigenous Cows)

• It is to be funded by multiple scientific ministries and led by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• It has the Department of Biotechnology, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry for AYUSH among others and the Indian Council of Medical Research as partners.
• Aim :
  • Perform scientific research on the complete characterization of milk and milk products derived from Indian indigenous cows
  • Scientific research on nutritional and therapeutic properties of curd and ghee prepared from indigenous breeds of cows by traditional methods
  • Development of standards for traditionally processed dairy products of Indian-origin cows.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/18/sutra-pic/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• RailWire is a retail Broadband initiative of the RailTel.
• It envisages extending broadband and application services to the public. RailTel is working to establish bringing fast and free Wi-Fi at all stations (except the halt stations) within a year.
• RailTel Corporation a “Mini Ratna(Category-I)” PSU of Ministry of Railways, is the largest neutral telecom services providers in the country owning a Pan-India optic fiber network covering all important towns & cities of the country and several rural areas covering 70% of India’s population.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/18/station-wifi-programme/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Indian Peafowl: Least Concern
• Bengal Florican: Critically Endangered
• Amur Falcon: Least Concern

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/18/state-of-indias-birds-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Queen Variety Pineapple is the state fruit of Tripura.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/18/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-18-february-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Election Commission of India has been awarded ‘Silver’ for Excellence in Government Process re-engineering for digital transformation for the year 2019-20.
• The award was given in recognition of ERONET.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/18/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-18-february-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Orchids are a special plant of warm tropical moist area. The population of Orchid diminishes as one proceeds towards poles from tropics.
• Orchids are found both terrestrial and as well epiphytic. Baring a few terrestrial variety most of the orchids are epiphytic – the plants is a herb and grows on the trunk and branches of trees having the proper conditions which orchid needs for its survival.
• There are about 20,000 varieties of orchids in the world out of which about 1200 accounts in India. The ecological condition and climate variation in Arunachal Pradesh is so much favourable that the state holds about 60% of the Indian variety of orchids. Till today about 605 spp. of orchids of Arunachal Pradesh have been identified and the work is in progress. The flowering of orchids depends on the seasonal condition and variation. Some orchids starts flowering from September to throughout winter i.e. upto February and some are in bloom from March to September. So the orchids in Arunachal Pradesh are in bloom throughout the year.
• The orchids of epiphytic type have special type of organ known a velamen, a special spongy an absorbing type of tissue system. It hangs from the branch and site of its supporting place.
• The tissue absorbs moisture from the atmosphere, which is very high inside the tropical evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It produces microscopic seeds in huge quantity and dispersed like dust by wind

Refer: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242335297_Floriculture_prospects_in_Arunachal_Pradesh_with_special_reference_to_orchids

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest lagoon in the world after The New Caledonian barrier reef in New Caledonia.
• It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent.
• It is one of the hotspot of biodiversity in the country, and some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened Animals inhabit in the lagoon for atleast part of their life cycle.
• On account of its rich bio-diversity and ecological significance, Chilika was designated as the 1st “Ramsar Site” of India.
• The Nalaban Island within the lagoon is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act, the National Wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs Committee of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, have also identified the lagoon as a priority site for conservation and management.
• Chilika Lagoon lies in the districts of Puri, Khurda and Ganjam of Odisha State along the eastern coast of India. It is well connected to the Chennai and Kolkata through National Highway No 5, and the Chennai Kolkata rail line passes along the western bank of the Lagoon Balugaon, with Balugaon, Chilika and Rambha being the main stations along the Western shoreline of the lagoon.

Refer: https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2018/aug/27/natural-history-society-centre-at-chilika-1863363.html