UPSC 2023: Weekly GK and Current Affairs Quiz Jul 02 - Jul 08

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Jet aircraft mostly fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid turbulence.
• The stratosphere is dry. There is very little water vapour because of which there are no clouds.
• Vertical winds are almost absent in the stratosphere. The air tends not to overturn in the region as there is an increase in temperature with height in the stratosphere. Therefore, the vertical winds are almost absent.

Answer: a

Explanation:

• The Attorney-General of India is the first law officer of the Government of India.
• The tenure of the AG of India is not fixed by the Constitution.
• The Attorney-General is appointed by the President and he holds office during the pleasure of the President.
• The Attorney General represents the government but is allowed to take up private practice provided the other party is not the state.

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Exercise Sea Breeze has been held since 1997.
• It involves NATO states and their allies in the Black Sea region.
• The drill is aimed at improving naval and land operations and improving cooperation among participating countries.

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Baihetan Dam is the world’s second-biggest hydroelectric dam on the Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze
• Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world.
• It is the longest in the world to flow entirely within one country and drains into the East China Sea.

Answer: c

Explanation:

• The Supreme Court has said that a disabled person can avail the benefit of reservation for promotion even if he/she was recruited in the regular category or developed the disability after gaining employment.
• The important thing is the employee should be a ‘person with disability’ (PwD) at the time of the promotion to avail of the disabled quota.
• The Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995 does not make a distinction between a person who may have entered service on account of disability and a person who may have acquired a disability after having entered the service.
• The Supreme Court has said that the mode of entry in service cannot be a ground to make out a case of discriminatory promotion.

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Coal deposits are found in Gondwana beds.
• Kodarma mines in Jharkhand are one of the important mica producing areas. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
• Dharwar, a district in Karnataka is not famous for petroleum.

Answer: c

Explanation:

• One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) scheme allows all beneficiaries under the National Food Security Act, 2013, particularly migrant beneficiaries, to claim either full or part foodgrains from any Fair Price Shop (FPS) in the country through an existing ration card. The system also allows their family members back home, if any, to claim the balance foodgrains on the same ration card.
• In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centre set the implementation of ONORC as a precondition for additional borrowing by states.
• Non-NFSA ration card holders are not covered under the ONORC.

Answer: c

Explanation:

• One Nation One Ration Card scheme is based on technology that involves details of the beneficiary’s ration card, Aadhaar number, and electronic Points of Sale (ePoS).
• The system identifies a beneficiary through biometric authentication on ePoS devices at fair price shops.
• The system runs with the support of two portals —Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) and Annavitaran, which host all the relevant data.
• Annavitaran Portal – maintains a record of intra-state transactions — inter-district and intra-district.
• Integrated Management of Public Distribution System (IM-PDS) – records the inter-state transactions.

Answer: b

Explanation:

• As per the Constitution of India, it is mandatory to convene at least two sessions per year.
• In practice, the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, comprising senior ministers, decides on the dates for Parliament’s sitting and it is then conveyed to the President.
• President from time to time summons each House of Parliament to meet.
• The Constitution of India does not provide for three sessions of Parliament in a year. However, by convention, the Indian Parliament conducts three sessions each year.
• The Budget session: February to May, the Monsoon session: July to September and the Winter session: November to December.

Answer: c

Explanation:

• UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) is an international human rights treaty, under the review of the United Nations, that aims to prevent torture and other acts of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
• India is one of only five countries that have yet to ratify the 1987 UNCAT. The others include Sudan, Brunei, Palau and Haiti.
• Recognizing the widespread use of torture during investigations, Juan E. Méndez, submitted a report in 2016 to the United Nations General Assembly as outgoing Special Rapporteur on Torture.
  • It called for the development of a universal set of standards for non-coercive interviewing and associated procedural safeguards during investigations to ensure that no person — including suspects, witnesses, victims, and other persons being interviewed is subjected to torture, ill-treatment, or coercion while being questioned.
• The Méndez Principles aim to provide a cohesive blueprint of practical measures to replace torture and coercive interrogation.

Answer: a

Explanation:

• Adjournment motion is the procedure for adjournment of the business of the House to draw the attention of Lok Sabha to a recent matter of urgent public importance having serious consequences and in regard to which a motion or a resolution with proper notice will be too late.
• The purpose of the Adjournment Motion is to allow discussion on a definite matter of urgent public importance.
• It is followed only in the Lok Sabha.

Answer: b

Explanation:

• The ‘Nodal Ministry’ in the central government for the management of natural disasters is the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
• Disaster Management Act, 2005 calls for the establishment of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with the Prime Minister as chairperson.

Read more on the Disaster Management Act.

Answer: b

Explanation:

• Kalbeliya dance is a folk dance of Rajasthan.
• This dance performance is accredited by UNESCO as an Intangible Heritage.
• The Kalbelia is almost exclusively performed by females.
• The traditional occupation of the Kalbelia tribes is catching snakes and trading snake venom. Hence, the dance movements and the costumes of their community bear a resemblance to serpents.

Answer: d

Explanation:

All the mangoes mentioned above have been accorded the Geographical Indication tag.

            Mango             State

1. Jardalu mango – Bihar
2. Hapus mango – Maharashtra
3. Laxmanbhog mango – West Bengal
4. Banaganapalle mango – Andhra Pradesh
5. Appemidi mango – Karnataka

Answer: c

Explanation:

• A current account deficit indicates that a country is importing more than it is exporting.
• Current account deficit may cause depreciation as there is greater demand for imports and foreign currency.
  • When the current account deficit increases, it leads to an increased supply of a nation’s currency in the foreign exchange markets. Therefore, in the currency market, there will be an outward shift of supply. This might lead to the external value of the currency falling causing depreciation.
• Current account deficit is an indication of an uncompetitive economy. It may imply the economy is becoming uncompetitive and the exchange rate relatively overvalued.

Answer: b

Explanation:

The Bhakti saint who witnessed the fall of the Lodi dynasty was Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539).

Answer: b

Explanation:

• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act was enacted in 1960 and was authored by acclaimed dancer and animal lover, Rukmini Devi Arundale.
• It was enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering on animals.
• As per the provisions of the law, the Government of India formed the Animal Welfare Board of India in 1962.
• The Animal Welfare Board of India was started under the stewardship of Rukmini Devi Arundale.
• It falls under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

Intentional infliction of pain and suffering to animals is termed cruelty under the act. Under the law, cruelty is:

• If any person without reasonable cause, abandons any animal in circumstances which render it likely that it will suffer pain by reason of starvation or thirst.
• If any person promotes or takes part in any shooting match or competition wherein animals are released from captivity for the purpose of such shooting.

Answer: b

Explanation:

• River Krishna originates in Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra.
• It flows through Sangli and drains the sea in the Bay of Bengal.
• The river flows through the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Tungabhadra River is the main tributary which itself is formed by the Tunga and Bhadra rivers that originate in the Western Ghats.
• Its Right bank tributaries are: Koyna, Doodhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha and Tungabhadra.
• Its Left bank tributaries are: Bheema, Peddavagu, Musi, Paleru, Munneru.

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Public Interest Litigation (PIL) implies litigation for the protection of public interests.
• Any matter where the interest of the public at large is affected can be redressed by filing a Public Interest Litigation in a court of law such as Pollution, Terrorism, Road safety, Constructional hazards, etc.
• The expression ‘Public Interest Litigation’ has been borrowed from American jurisprudence, where it was designed to provide legal representation to previously unrepresented groups like the poor, the racial minorities, unorganized consumers, citizens who were passionate about the environmental issues, etc.
• Locus standi implies that only the person/party whose rights have been infringed upon can file petitions.
• Locus standi is not a necessity for PIL.

Answer: a

Explanation:

• A nonperforming asset (NPA) refers to a classification for loans or advances that are in default.
• Selling the NPAs to Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) or the bad banks is a method of removal of NPAs from the bank’s balance sheet.
• Compromise settlement is executed by the banks in order to recover non-performing assets (NPAs). Eg: A one-time settlement or OTS is a type of compromise settlement. Under this method, the borrower (the one who has defaulted) proposes to settle all the dues at once, and banks agree to accept an amount lesser than what was originally due.

Answer: b

Explanation:

National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is a poverty alleviation project implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. This scheme is focused on promoting self-employment and organization of rural poor by strengthening ‘self-help groups’ and providing skill development.

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Kalidasa is widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language in India. His literary works are as follows:
• Plays: Malavikagnimitram, Abhijnanasakuntalam, Vikramorvasiyam.
• Epic Poems (Maha kayvas): Raghuvamsa, Kumarasambhava.
• Minor Poems (Khanda kavyas): Meghaduta, Ritusamhara.
• His works were likely authored within the 4th–5th century CE.

Note:

• Vishakhadatta wrote Mudrarakshasa.
• Mricchakatika is a Sanskrit play written by Shudraka.

Answer: d

Explanation:

• Solicitor General is the second highest-ranking law officer of the government after the Attorney General. It is a statutory post.
  • “Law Officer” includes the Attorney-General for India, the Solicitor-General for India, and Additional Solicitor-General for India.
• The Solicitor General is subordinate to the Attorney General.
• Solicitor General’s office and duties are governed by Law Officers (Conditions of Service) Rules, 1987 and not by the Constitution.
• Solicitor General does not have the right to participate in the proceedings of Parliament.

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) refers to corporate tax planning strategies used by multinationals to shift profits from higher-tax jurisdictions to lower-tax jurisdictions.
• This practice erodes the tax-base of the higher-tax jurisdictions.

Answer: c

Explanation:

           Lake                                            State

Vembanad Lake                                       Kerala

Indira Sagar Lake                              Madhya Pradesh

Pulicat Lake                                        Andhra Pradesh

Answer: c

Explanation:

• Masala bonds are bonds issued outside India but denominated in Indian Rupees, rather than the local currency.
• It is a debt instrument issued by an Indian entity in foreign markets to raise money, in Indian currency, instead of dollars or local denomination.
• They are a source of debt financing for the public and private sector.
• Masala is an Indian word and it means spices. The term was used by the International Finance Corporation to evoke the culture and cuisine of India.
• The International Finance Corporation, which offers these bonds, is an arm of the World Bank.

Answer: a

Explanation:

• The Asian Elephant Specialist Group (AsESG) is a part of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It acts as the Red List Authority for the Asian Elephant.
• Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) is managed and coordinated by TRAFFIC in consultation with the MIKE and ETIS Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and in collaboration with the CITES Secretariat.

Answer: d

Explanation:

• The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure that examines the weighted average of prices of a basket of consumer goods and services, such as transportation, food, and medical care. It is calculated by taking price changes for each item in the predetermined basket of goods and averaging them.
• It can be useful for the following purposes:
  • Identifying periods of inflation or deflation
  • Inspecting price stability
  • Tool for inflation targeting (Indian uses CPI as a benchmark for inflation targeting)
  • Understanding the real value of salaries, wages, and pensions

Answer: d

Explanation:

• A supernova is a powerful and luminous stellar explosion. This transient astronomical event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or when a white dwarf is triggered into runaway nuclear fusion.
• Supernova can happen in systems where two stars orbit one another and at least one of those stars is an Earth-sized white dwarf.
• The study of supernova is beneficial in better understanding of our universe as they can help measure distances in space.

Answer: a

Explanation:

• The Jagannath temple in Puri is famous for its annual Rath Yatra, dedicated to Jagannath, a form of Lord Vishnu.
• It is the Sun Temple at Konark, Odisha which is referred to as the Black Pagoda.
• Puri Jagannath Mandir is one four great ‘Char Dham’ pilgrimage sites.