The following quiz will have 5-10 MCQs. The questions are mainly framed from The Hindu and PIB news articles.
This quiz is intended to introduce you to concepts and certain important facts relevant to UPSC IAS civil services preliminary exam 2020. It is not a test of your knowledge. If you score less, please do not mind. Read again sources provided and try to remember better.
Please try to enjoy questions, discuss the concepts and facts they try to test from you and suggest improvements.
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INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ 2020
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The following Quiz is based on the Hindu, PIB and other news sources. It is a current events based quiz. Solving these questions will help retain both concepts and facts relevant to UPSC IAS civil services exam.
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- Question 1 of 5
1. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements regarding Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
- Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was approved by the Supreme Court and was prepared by Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority.
- The plan includes action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions.
- The state authorities and public health department can impose penalties on various private contractors and entities for flouting anti-air pollution rules as per the guidelines of the Graded Response Action Plan.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
CorrectSolution: b)
The Noida Authority said it issued penalties worth Rs 11,15,000 on various private contractors and entities for flouting anti-air pollution guidelines and rules.
It said the action has been taken as per the guidelines of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
What is GRAP?
- Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016.
- The plan was prepared by EPCA.
- It works only as an emergency measure.
As such, the plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions.
When the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the measures listed have to be followed since the plan is incremental in nature.
Source
IncorrectSolution: b)
The Noida Authority said it issued penalties worth Rs 11,15,000 on various private contractors and entities for flouting anti-air pollution guidelines and rules.
It said the action has been taken as per the guidelines of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
What is GRAP?
- Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016.
- The plan was prepared by EPCA.
- It works only as an emergency measure.
As such, the plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions.
When the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the measures listed have to be followed since the plan is incremental in nature.
Source
- Question 2 of 5
2. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements regarding DNA barcoding.
- DNA barcoding is a method of species identification using a short section of DNA from a specific gene.
- DNA barcoding is used to obtain taxonomic information about unidentified organisms.
- The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has joined the International Barcode of Life Consortium which is part of UNEP, for the expansion of the global reference database.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
CorrectSolution: a)
The Union Cabinet apprised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and International Barcode of Life (iBOL), a Canadian not-for-profit corporation.
iBOL is a research alliance involving nations that have committed both human and financial resources to enable expansion of the global reference database, the development of informatics platforms, and the analytical protocols needed to use the reference library to assess, and describe biodiversity.
The MoU will enable ZSI to participate at the global-level programmes like Bioscan and Planetary Biodiversity Mission.
ZSI is a subordinate organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. (ANI).DNA barcoding, a methodology for rapidly and accurately identifying species by sequencing a short segment of standardized gene regions and comparing individual sequences to a reference database.
DNA barcoding is increasingly used to obtain taxonomic information about unidentified organisms.
IncorrectSolution: a)
The Union Cabinet apprised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and International Barcode of Life (iBOL), a Canadian not-for-profit corporation.
iBOL is a research alliance involving nations that have committed both human and financial resources to enable expansion of the global reference database, the development of informatics platforms, and the analytical protocols needed to use the reference library to assess, and describe biodiversity.
The MoU will enable ZSI to participate at the global-level programmes like Bioscan and Planetary Biodiversity Mission.
ZSI is a subordinate organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. (ANI).DNA barcoding, a methodology for rapidly and accurately identifying species by sequencing a short segment of standardized gene regions and comparing individual sequences to a reference database.
DNA barcoding is increasingly used to obtain taxonomic information about unidentified organisms.
- Question 3 of 5
3. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements regarding Asian Development Bank (ADB).
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank which is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth.
- The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and non-regional developed countries.
- The ADB was modeled closely on New Development Bank, where initial subscribed capital of the bank was equally distributed among the founding members.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
CorrectSolution: b)
About ADB:
- It is a regional development bank.
- established on 19 December 1966.
- headquartered — Manila, Philippines.
- official United Nations Observer.
- The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE) and non-regional developed countries.
- ADB now has 68 members, 49 from within Asia.
- It is modeled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions.
As of 31 December 2019, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
Roles and functions:
- Dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
- This is carried out through investments – in the form of loans, grants and information sharing – in infrastructure, health care services, financial and public administration systems, helping nations prepare for the impact of climate change or better manage their natural resources, as well as other areas.
IncorrectSolution: b)
About ADB:
- It is a regional development bank.
- established on 19 December 1966.
- headquartered — Manila, Philippines.
- official United Nations Observer.
- The bank admits the members of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP, formerly the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East or ECAFE) and non-regional developed countries.
- ADB now has 68 members, 49 from within Asia.
- It is modeled closely on the World Bank, and has a similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members’ capital subscriptions.
As of 31 December 2019, ADB’s five largest shareholders are Japan and the United States (each with 15.6% of total shares), the People’s Republic of China (6.4%), India (6.3%), and Australia (5.8%).
Roles and functions:
- Dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
- This is carried out through investments – in the form of loans, grants and information sharing – in infrastructure, health care services, financial and public administration systems, helping nations prepare for the impact of climate change or better manage their natural resources, as well as other areas.
- Question 4 of 5
4. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements regarding World Food Programme (WFP).
- The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and is the world’s largest humanitarian agency combating hunger.
- The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the World Food Programme (WFP).
- The World Food Programme became the first UN organisation to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
CorrectSolution: a)
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize to the UN agency World Food Programme (WFP), “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict”.
The WFP is the 28th organisation awarded the Nobel Peace Prize since its inception in 1901. The office of UNHCR won the award in 1954 and 1981.
Today, the WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency combating hunger.
IncorrectSolution: a)
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize to the UN agency World Food Programme (WFP), “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict”.
The WFP is the 28th organisation awarded the Nobel Peace Prize since its inception in 1901. The office of UNHCR won the award in 1954 and 1981.
Today, the WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency combating hunger.
- Question 5 of 5
5. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements regarding Coal Sector in India.
- Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 permits the Government to auction coal mines to the private sector for both captive and Commercial purposes.
- Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 extends to the whole of India.
- India allows 100% FDI in the coal sector.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
CorrectSolution: d)
The objective of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 is to empower the government to allocate the coal mines on the basis of competitive bidding to ensure continuity in coal mining operations and promote optimum utilisation of coal resources.
The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, permits the government to auction coal mines to the private sector for captive and commercial purposes. The government has auctioned 24 coal blocks to private companies till March 2019, and will be further auctioning coal blocks for commercial mining by both Indian and foreign companies.
This act extends to the whole of India.
IncorrectSolution: d)
The objective of Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015 is to empower the government to allocate the coal mines on the basis of competitive bidding to ensure continuity in coal mining operations and promote optimum utilisation of coal resources.
The Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2015, permits the government to auction coal mines to the private sector for captive and commercial purposes. The government has auctioned 24 coal blocks to private companies till March 2019, and will be further auctioning coal blocks for commercial mining by both Indian and foreign companies.
This act extends to the whole of India.