9 10 Current Affairs MCQs [ 9th and 10th September 2017 ] PIB TheHindu IndianExpress & Other leading newspapers Sumant Kumar, B.Tech NIT Allahabad sumant.magadh@gmail.com Bharat Petroleum set to get Maharatna status Presently it is having Navratna status.
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? 1. Maharatnas: GAIL (India) Limited 2. Navratnas: Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited 3. Miniratnas: Rural Electrification Corporation Limited Codes: (a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 1 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All78. (a) Rural Electrification Corporation Limited is Navratna company. Members of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, apart from its chairman, are appointed by the a) President of India b) Chief Justice of the Supreme Court c) Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment d) Speaker, Lok Sabha Solution: a. Which of the following are Maharatna companies : CIL BHEL GAIL NTPC Select the correct answer using code given below. (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 and 4 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 At present, there are seven Maharatna companies Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), Coal India (CIL), GAIL (India), Indian Oil Corporation, NTPC, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Steel Authority of India (SAIL). Maharatna and Navaratna state-owned units operate in strategic fields such as coal, petroleum, steel, heavy engineering, telecommunications, power supply and transportation services. Criteria for Maharatna status Under government rules, Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) must fulfill following criteria for grant of Maharatna status. Having Navratna status. Average annual turnover of more than Rs. 25,000 crore, during last 3 years. Average annual net worth of more than Rs. 15,000 crore, during last 3 years. Average annual net profit after tax of more than Rs. 5,000 crore, during last 3 years. Should have significant global presence and international operations. Listed on Indian stock exchange with minimum prescribed public shareholding limit under SEBI regulations. UPSC Prelims Questions : Who of the following organized a march on the Tanjore coast to break the Salt Law in April 1930? (a) V.O. Chidambaram Pillai (b) C. Rajagopalachari (c) K. Kamaraj (d) Annie Besant Ans B C. Rajagopalachari led Salt Disobedience march from Tiruchirapally to Vedaranniyam (off Tanjore coast). With reference to Indian freedom struggle, Usha Mehta is well-known for (a) Running the secret Congress Radio in the wake of Quit India Movement. (b) Participating in the second round Table Conference. (c) Leading a contingent of Indian National Army. (d) Assisting in the formation of Interim Government under Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Ans A
Which of the following countries are contiguous with Afghanistan? 1. Iran 2. Turkmenistan 3. Tajikistan 4. Uzbekistan Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1, 2 and 3 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 3 and 4 only d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 India imposes countervailing duty on some Chinese steel products for 5 years The Union Finance Ministry has imposed 18.95% countervailing duty (CVD) on certain Chinese flat steel products for period of five years to protect domestic players from cheap subsidised imports. Countervailing duty It is imposed to safeguard domestic industry against unfair trade subsidies provided by local governments of exporting nations. It is basically country specific. It is generally equal to excise duty paid by manufacturers when same product is produced in home country. It is mainly levied to neutralize effect of subsidies in exporting country on price and domestic market of importing country. Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1, 2 and 3 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 3 and 4 only d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 CVD The decision to impose CVD was taken by finance ministry. The decision is based on the recommendation of Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans C
Consider the following statements about the Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL) within the Framework of Lifelong Learning : 1. It is a multi-stakeholder partnership 2. India is a part of this initiative 3. It is a UNESCO-led initiative Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1, 2 and 3 d) None of the above Ans C The Alliance will be composed of experts and representatives of UN and government agencies, donors, national and international nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector will work towards improving literacy for sustainable development through concrete action and tangible outcomes. The Saffir-Simpson Scale is associated with which one of the following issues/phenomenon? a) Green House Gas emissions b) Antimicrobial Resistance c) Vulnerability of Central Banks to debilitating economic contingencies d) Western Hemispherical Tropical Cyclones The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane s sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage. Consider the following statements : 1. The only difference between a hurricane, a cyclone, and a typhoon is the location where the storm occurs. 2. In the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific, the term hurricane is used. 3. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a typhoon and cyclones occur in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 3rd Generation ATGM NAG successfully test fired Nag Missile NAG Missile 1. It is indigenously 1. It works on fire and forget principle. developed 3rd generation 2. The missile has been designed mainly to Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) destroy modern main battle tanks and other heavily armoured targets.
2. It has been developed by DRDO under integrated guided missile development programme (IGMDP). Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 3. It has operational range of 500m to 4km (Land version) and 7-10km (when air-launched). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 It has been equipped with highly advanced Imaging Infrared Radar (IRR) seeker along with integrated avionics. It also possess advanced passive homing guidance system. With reference to Tejaswini project, consider the following statements: It is a jointly funded project by the Indian government and the World Bank The government of Jharkhand is the implementing agency of this project Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Solution: b) Entire loan is given by the world bank. India has signed a financial agreement and the borrower is dept of economic affairs, min of finance. Implementing agency is govt of Jharkhand as the project is solely concentrated in 17 districts of Jharkhand. Which of the following is NOT an objective of National Agriculture Market (NAM)? a) One license for a trader valid across all markets in the State b) Provision of Soil Testing Laboratories in/ or near the selected mandi to facilitate visiting farmers to access this facility in the mandi itself c) Setting up of national e-market platform for transparent sale transactions and price discovery initially in regulated markets d) Gradual removal of APMC across states to unify all markets to ultimately benefit farmers Solution: d) NAM s objective is not to remove APMC acts. It wants to reform it. Recently agri ministry released draft model APMC law which it hopes would be adopted by all states. Which one of the following is the essence of the majority judgment in what is known as the ADM Jabalpur case of the Supreme Court? a) The right to life and personal liberty are inalienable to human existence b) Fundamental rights are not in distinct water-tight compartments but do overlap c) Directive principles of state policy gain precedence and fundamental rights are placed on an equal footing d) None of the above The Border Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed in 2013 between India and a) Pakistan b) China c) Bhutan d) Myanmar Solution: b.
Supreme Court s said citizens have no right to life and liberty during the Emergency period ADM Jabalpur case, or better known as the habeas corpus case The habeas corpus judgment in 1976 upheld the Congress government s move to unlawfully detain citizens, including political rivals, during the Emergency years. The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition is a) A specialised agency of the United Nations b) A programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation c) The World Health Organisation s response to the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) d) None of the above GAIN is an independent non-profit foundation. it is a separate entity altogether (and not established by organisations such as the UN or its specialised agencies). Markets and Preservation of stock under the seventh schedule can be respectively found in the a) State List and Union List b) State List and State List c) Concurrent List and State List d) Concurrent List and Union List Solution: b. Entry 15, State List: Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases; veterinary training and practice. Entry 28, State List: Markets and fairs. Consider the following statements regarding Sherpa in international negotiations : 1. He is the personal representative of a head of state or government at an international summit 2. They generally lack the authority to independently make final decisions Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Solution: c. A Sherpa is a personal representative of the leader of a member country at an international Summit meeting such as the G8, G20 or the Nuclear Security Summit. The term is derived from the Nepalese Sherpa people, who serve as guides for mountaineers in the Himalayas. The Sherpa engages in planning, negotiation and implementation tasks through the Summit. They coordinate the agenda, seek consensus at the highest political levels, and participate in a series of pre-summit consultations to help negotiate their leaders positions. Sherpas are career diplomats or senior government officials appointed by the leaders of their countries. There is only one Sherpa per Summit for each member country; he/she is assisted by several sous Sherpas.
Consider the following statements regarding Earth Overshoot Day 1. Marks the date when humanity s annual demand on nature exceeds what earth can regenerate in that year 2. Advances by at least a day, each successive year Select the correct answer using the code given below: a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2 Solution: c. Consider the following statements regarding Earth Overshoot Day 1. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network 2. Global Footprint Network is an international think tank that coordinates research, develops methodological standards and provides decisionmakers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth s ecological limits. 3. It was earlier known as Ecological Debt Day. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 With reference to the "Official Secrets Act" consider the following statements: 1. In case of a clash between RTI Act and Official Secrets Act, the RTI would prevail. 2. The Second ARC recommended that the Official Secrets Act should be repealed. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Ans B RTI Act, 2005 : In case of a clash with the OSA, the public interest will prevail. o Section 8(2) of the RTI Act says, "Notwithstanding anything in the Official Secrets Act, 1923, nor any of the exemptions permissible in accordance with subsection 8(1) of RTI Act, a public authority may allow access to information, if public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm to the protected interests." Second ARC recommended that The Official Secrets Act, 1923 should be repealed." o But the government rejected the recommendation, saying "The OSA is the only law to deal with cases of espionage, wrongful possession and communication of sensitive information detrimental to the security of the State." Which one of the following statements relate to Rule 12 of draft rules of the RTI (Right to Information) Act? a) The Central Information Commission (CIC) can order the disclosure of information to an applicant who has come under the complaint clause
b) Complaints can be filed by applicants only within 90 days of filing the RTI application c) Proceedings before pending before the (CIC) Commission shall abate on the death of the appellant d) Each RTI petition must be limited to 500 words Solution: c. Rule 12 : It would allow the withdrawal of an application in case of the applicant s death, making the job of those who file RTIs even more risky... Risky, because information seekers may be killed as the information against them (vested interests) cannot be ordered to be disclosed in such cases.