1) Consider the following statements with respect to Model Code of Conduct (MCC)
Under MCC, Ministers must not combine official visits with election work.
If any candidate violates MCC, it can be litigated in any of the high courts but within the period of operation of MCC.
MCC is a part of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is not statutory.
MCC is not enforceable by law.
2) Fridays for Future Movement sometimes seen in the news recently was associated with which of the following?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Fridays for Future (also called Youth for Climate and Youth Strike 4 Climate) is a coming together of school students across the world to tackle the issue of climate change.
Since August 2018, there have been widespread and frequent strikes.
Students have been demanding that governments cut greenhouse gas emissions and frame stronger environmental laws to fight climate change and secure their future.
3) Consider the following statements with respect to the difference between Stalagmites and Stalactites
Stalagmites hang from the ceiling of a cave while Stalactites grow from the cave floor.
Most stalactites have pointed tips whereas most stalagmites have rounded or flattened tips.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : b
A stalactite is an icicle-shaped formation that hangs from the ceiling of a cave, and is produced by precipitation of minerals from water dripping through the cave ceiling. Most stalactites have pointed tips.
A stalagmite is an upward-growing mound of mineral deposits that have precipitated from water dripping onto the floor of a cave. Most stalagmites have rounded or flattened tips.
4) Consider the following statements with respect to Turmeric(Curcuma longa)
Turmeric is a perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family.
India is the world’s largest producer of turmeric and Tamilnadu is the largest grower of turmeric in India.
Turmeric with high curcumin content have very high demands in markets.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
India is the world’s largest producer of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a perennial herbaceous plant of the ginger family.
The plant’s underground stems or rhizomes have been used as spice, dye, medicine and religious maker since antiquity.
Tamil Nadu is the third largest grower of turmeric in the country (behind Telangana and Maharashtra), with 132.4 tonnes produced in 2015-16.
The spice’s colour comes mainly from curcumin, a bright yellow phenolic compound that has been in the news for its ostensible potential to fight cancer.
As a result, the demand for turmeric with high curcumin content has risen, with pharmaceutical companies willing to pay up to Rs. 20,000 per quintal for such varieties (up from Rs. 7,000 earlier).
Recently, Erode Turmeric got GI tag in India. It has a high curcumin content of around 3.9%.
The loamy red and black soil of the area is believed to be the reason behind the distinctive brilliant yellow colour, as well as its characteristic sweet taste and aroma, making it the preferred choice of commercial curry powder manufacturers in India and abroad.
5) Consider the following statements with respect to Dhole(Asiatic Wild Dog)
It is an apex social carnivore endemic to tropical forests of India.
It has been categorized as endangered under the IUCN Red list.
Dholes are named wild dogs because, they are genetically similar to dogs.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
Dhole (commonly known as the Asiatic wild dog) is an apex social carnivore in the tropical forests of South and South East Asia.
In India Dhole are found in landscapes covering Karnataka portion of Western Ghats.
IUCN red book lists Dholes as endangered.
It is included in CITES – Appendix II (2013) and are legally protected in the countries where they occur.
The term wild dog is a misnomer as dholes are genetically distinct from dogs.
They also do not fit into any of the subfamilies like foxes or wolves and are classified in a genus of its own called Cuon.
They do not possess the strength of big cats, but they kill prey larger than themselves by hunting in packs by biting off chunks of meat and tearing the animal apart.
Despite common myths, they are very shy of human presence.
Anthropogenic factors, which fragment and alter landscapes seriously affects dholes.
6) Consider the following statements with respect to Pradhan Mantri Jan-Aushadhi scheme
It aims to provide quality drugs at a 50-90 per cent discount on their branded counterparts.
Under the Scheme, generic medicines are separated by a colour code that differentiate itself from branded medicines.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
The central government is favourably considering an amendment to the decades-old Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, to specify a separate colour code for generic medicines, from branded medicines.
Pradhan Mantri Jan-Aushadhi scheme aims to provide quality drugs at a 50-90 per cent discount on their branded counterparts.
It is because of this price differential between generic and branded medicines that the government also thinks it is important to have a separate colour code.
Since the government has not specified any features to differentiate generic medicines from branded, the trade is at times duping the unaware consumer.
7) Consider the following statements with respect to Hump-backed Mahseer
It is a large freshwater fish found only in the Cauvery river basin.
It has been categorized as Least Concern in the IUCN Red list.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : a
The Humpbacked Mahseer (or) Tor remadeviiis is the largest known species of Mahseer found across the world.
It is found only in the Kaveri river basin.
This fish is also called as tiger of the water found in Pambar, Kabini and Bhavani rivers of the Kaveri basin in the states Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Recently the fish has been added to the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered.
The effects of construction of dams, regulated flows, deforestation, drought, pollution and sediment transport has a great toll on this river water species.
8) Consider the following statements with respect to Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana
It aims to provide conducive environment for entrepreneurs and incentivize them to promote industrial development.
All startups are applicable to avail the benefits granted under the scheme.
It comes under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : d
Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana aims to promote/incentivize employment generation.
It comes under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Central Government will be paying the 8.33% EPS contribution of the employer for the new employment.
All industries registered with Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) can apply for availing benefits under the scheme.
It is targeted for employees earning wages less than Rs. 15,000/- per month.
The scheme will be in operation for a period of 3 years and GOI will continue to pay and all new eligible employees will be covered till 2019-20.
9) Consider the following statements with respect to New Development Bank (NDB)
It is a multilateral development bank jointly founded by the BRICS countries.
It is headquartered in Manila, Philippines.
All members of the United Nations could be members of NDB.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Answer : c
New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank jointly founded by the BRICS countries.
Its focus is to finance infrastructure and sustainable development in emerging market and developing countries.
HQ - Shanghai, China.
The first regional office of the NDB will be opened in Johannesburg, South Africa.
All members of UN could be members of the NDB, however the share of the BRICS nations can never be less than 55% of voting power.
10) Arrange the following hills in order from South to North
Cardamom Hills
Guru Sikhar
Kodachadri Hills
Mahendra Giri
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
