[MISSION 2023] RTM(Revision through MCQs)- 1 May 2023

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• During the Sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (Brazil) in 2014, the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB – Shanghai, China).
• They also signed the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement to provide short-term liquidity support to the members.
• BRICS Payments Task Force (BPTF) for coordination between their central banks for an alternative to the SWIFT payment system.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/01/india-and-brics/

Ans: (c )

Explanation:

• In India, Labour Day was commemorated for the first time in 1923. The Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan hosted the first official Labour Day celebration in India on May 1 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/01/labour-day/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.
• Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is the first and oldest specialised agency of the UN. The ILO has 187 member states: 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with around 40 field offices around the world.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/01/labour-day/

Ans: (b )

Explanation:

• The festival was founded by Shakthan Thampuran, the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1790 to 1805. The story behind the festival goes back to the year 1796 when a group of temples were banned from attending the popular Arattupuzha Pooram due to heavy rains. Upon hearing their complaints, Shakthan Thampuran decided to start his own festival, Thrissur Pooram, on the same day in May. The festival has since become a significant cultural and spiritual event in Kerala, attracting both domestic and international tourists.
• Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu temple festival held in Thrissur, Kerala. It is held at the Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur every year on the Pooram day (the day when the moon rises with the Pooram star in the Malayalam Calendar month of Medam)

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/01/thrissur-pooram/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Seamount is a mountain with pointed summits, rising from the seafloor that does not reach the surface of the ocean.
• Seamounts are volcanic in origin.
• These can be 3,000-4,500 m tall.
• The Emperor seamount, an extension of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean, is a good example.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/01/seamounts/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• About the Bharat Tap initiative:

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/01/star-rating-system-for-water-taps-and-sanitary-fixtures-bharat-tap/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The lesser flamingo is the smallest species of flamingo, though it is a tall and large bird by most standards, with pale pink colour and deep red legs and bills. Their colour comes from the carotenoid pigments they consume as part of their diet.
• Conservation Status IUCN: Near Threatened; CITES: Appendix II

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2023/05/01/lesser-flamingos/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• BaniThani is an Indian miniature painting painted by Nihâl Chand from the Marwar school of Kishangarh. It portrays a woman who is elegant and graceful. The painting’s subject, BaniThani, was a singer and poet in Kishangarh in the time of kingSawant Singh (1748–1764).
• She has been compared to the Mona Lisa. Inspired by Radha, BaniThani is characterized by idealized distinct features such as arched eyebrows, lotus-like elongated eyes and pointed chin. This painting was featured in an Indian stamp issued in 1973.
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bani_Thani

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) was a 15th-century Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of the god Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Hence S1 is incorrect.
• Statement 2: Tyagaraja took music training from SontiVenkataramayya. But that didn’t stop him from taking musical inspirations from various earlier poets. He was an ardent devotee of lord Rama. In his praise and honour he wrote numerous musical operas, and about twenty four thousand songs, a claim that has been speculated among music historians. Hence, S2 is correct.
• Statement 3: Tyagaraja was born on 14th May 1767 in the village of Thiruvayaru in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu whereas TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) (22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Statement 4: TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) (22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of the god Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Hence, S4 is correct.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: First democratically elected communist party government formed in a state in India in 1957. The Kerala Legislative Assembly election of 1957 was the first assembly election in the Indian state of Kerala. The Communist Party of India won the election with 60 seats.
• Statement 2: Imperial bank was renamed as state bank of India in 1955. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Imperial_Bank_of_India).
• Statement 3: Air India was nationalised in 1953. Government of India passed the Air Corporations Act and purchased a majority stake in the carrier from Tata Sons.
• Statement 4: Goa became an independent India on 18 December 1961. Indian troops crossed the border into Goa and “liberated” it.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018