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Current Affairs MCQs [ 1 and 2 October 2017 ] PIB TheHindu IndianExpress & Other leading newspapers

Sumant Kumar, B.Tech NIT Allahabad sumant.magadh@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/SumantKM/

UPSC Prelims 2014 Which of the following are the discretionary powers given to the Governor of a State? 1. Sending a report to the President of India for imposing the President’s rule 2. Appointing the Ministers 3. Reserving certain bills passed by the State Legislature for consideration of the President of India 4. Making the rules to conduct the business of the State Government Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2, 3 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Ans B

Article 166(3) - The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business in so far as it is not business with respect to which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion. • 4 does not comes under the

discretionary powers of the Governor .

• Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the CM and hence not a discretionary power.

Recently, the union environment ministry notified the new Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017. Which of the following statement is/are correct in this context? 1. The new rules stipulate setting up

of a State Wetlands Authority in each State and union territories.

o Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017

• prohibit a range of activities in wetlands like setting up and expansion of industries, waste dumping and discharge of effluents.

• The rules prohibit activities like conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses including encroachment of any kind,

2. The rules prohibit activities like conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only 2. 2 only 3. Both 1 and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2 Ans C

setting up of any industry and expansion of existing industries, manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous substances and construction and demolition waste, solid waste dumping, discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages and other human settlements.

UPSC Prelims 2009 In India, which one of the following States has the largest inland saline wetland? (a) Gujarat (b) Haryana (c) Madhya Pradesh (d) Rajasthan Ans D

Ramsar Convention 1. It is a convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in

1971 2. It is an intergovernmental treaty. 3. It provides the framework for national action and

international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

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 Ans D Located in the arid zone of Rajasthan, the Sambhar Lake is one of the largest inland saline lakes in India. This wetland is one of the most important wintering areas for flamingoes and pelicans. Salt extraction is one of the major activities in the wetland.

UPSC Prelims 2014 If a wetland of international importance is brought under the 'Montreux Record', what does it imply? (a) Changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are likely to occur in the wetland as a result of human interference. (b) The country in which the wetland is located should enact a low to prohibit any human activity within five kilometres from the edge of the wetland. (c) The survival of the wetland depends on the cultural practices and traditions of certain communities living in its vicinity and therefore the cultural diversity therein should not be destroyed. (d) It is given the status of 'World Heritage Site'. Ans A Wetlands act as natural safeguards against disasters. Wetlands reduce disaster risk in which of the following ways?

World Wetlands Day on 2 February, 2017 had the theme "Wetlands and Disaster Risk Reduction".

• They mitigate the impact of floods.

• They regulate climate through carbon storage.

• They provide protection against storms in coastal areas.

Select the correct answer using the code given below. (a) 2 and 3 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 1 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans D

Wetlands have a vital, yet not fully recognized, role for disaster risk reduction and to mitigate the effects of climate change. This comes as a result of some key wetland functions such as those of: • Climate regulation through carbon storage, especially in

peatlands.

• Protection from extreme weather events such as lagoons that provide coastal protection against storms.

• Natural water storage performed by marshes and ponds; restitution in the dry period (thus fighting against drought); and the moisturing role in the fight against soil compaction.

• Inland wetlands act as a sponge – relieving both floods and droughts. Peatlands and wet grasslands alongside river basins absorb rainfall and control flow into streams and rivers. Peatlands alone also store twice as much carbon as all forests in the world.

The doctrine of ‘Vishishtadvaita’ is associated with a) Nimbarkacharya b) Madhavacharya c) Ramanujacharya d) Shankaracharya Solution: c.

In the twelfth century, Ramanuja preached Visishtadvaita. • According to him God is

Sagunabrahman (God with attributes).

• The creative process and all the objects in creation are real but not illusory as was held by Sankaracharya.

• Therefore, God, soul, matter are real. But God is inner substance and the rest are his attributes.

Consider the following statements: 1. Telemedicine is the remote

ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a concept of weekly or fortnightly virtual clinics that use

delivery of healthcare services, directly to patients, over telecommunications infrastructure 2. Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes(ECHO) is a telemedicine project recently launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare 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 Solution: A

teleconferencing to bridge the gap in healthcare resources by using the best specialists to reach out to underserved areas. o But unlike telemedicine, ECHO clinics do not provide care

directly to patients. Instead, they equip primary healthcare clinicians — doctors, nurses and other health workers — in remote areas with the knowledge and support to manage complex cases. Essentially, it brings specialist care and knowledge to areas where there is none.

o India’s first ECHO clinic began in 2008 as a collaboration between the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) and Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) on managing HIV AIDS patients. Since then, ECHO clinics in the country have tackled addiction and substance use disorders, mental health, tuberculosis, hepatitis C, liver diseases, cancer screening and prevention, among others.

There are five Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) points along the Line of Actual Control. In this context, consider the following pairs: BPM points – state in which they are found 1. Bum La – Arunachal Pradesh 2. Kibithu – Sikkim 3. Daulat Beg Oldi – Ladakh Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: C • There are five BPM points along the Line of Actual

Control (LAC) at Bum La and Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh, Daulat Beg Oldi and Chushul in Ladakh, and Nathu La in Sikkim.

Line of Actual Control (LAC) 1. LAC is the line

separating Indian areas of Jammu and Kashmir from Aksai Chin.

2. It is concurrent with the Chinese Aksai Chin claim line.

3. Both a and b 4. Neither a nor b

Ans C

Which of the following statements regarding VVPAT is/are true? 1. Gujarat will become the first state to use VVPAT system for the Assembly

elections. 2. VVPAT machines can be accessed by polling officers only. 3. Both a and b 4. Neither a nor b

Ans B • Gujarat will be second state after Goa to use VVPAT system for the Assembly elections

in entire state.

VVPAT : • VVPAT is a method that provides feedback to voters after they cast their votes in

EVMs.

• It is an independent verification printer machine attached to EVMs.

• It allows voters to verify if their vote has gone to the intended candidate. Thus, ensuring free and fair elections.

• In the VVPAT system, when voter presses button for candidate of his choice in EVM, a paper slip containing serial number, name of candidate and poll symbol will be printed for voter. The paper slip will be only visible to voter from glass case in VVPAT for seven seconds, after that slip will be cut and dropped into drop box in VVPAT machine.

Plaster of Paris (PoP) Gypsum: • Gypsum is used as a fertiliser;

Consider the following statements about Gypsum: 1. It is a naturally-occurring substance 2. It is used as a soil amendment for agricultural purposes 3. Plaster of Paris is made by heating it to high temperatures Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 only b) 1 and 2 only c) 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Solution: d.

• it is a moderately soluble source of the essential plant nutrients, calcium and sulphur, and can improve overall plant growth.

• Gypsum amendments can also improve the physical and chemical properties of soils, thus reducing erosion losses of soils and nutrient concentrations (especially phosphorus) in surface water runoffs .

• Gypsum is the most commonly used amendment for sodic soil reclamation and can be included as a component in synthetic soils used in nursery, greenhouse, and landscape applications.

• PoP is made by heating gypsum at temperatures in the range of 300°F. When it comes in contact with water, the material regains the form of gypsum. gypsum is a naturally occurring substance, and is used as a soil-conditioner to reclaim saline-sodic soils.

The European Union and European Space Agency’s ‘Copernicus’ programme is associated with which one of the following? a) An Earth Observation programme, it will provide information to improve the management of the environment b) A series of flyby missions similar to NASA’s Voyager missions, but dedicated to the study of a region called the Oort Cloud, in interstellar space c) Similar to ISRO’s EDUSAT, this programme will launch satellites to provide tele-education access to children in remote regions of Sahel-Saharan countries d) None of the above Solution: a.

Copernicus 1. It is an EU project that is being

procured with European Space Agency help 2. Pulls together all Earth-monitoring

data, from space and the ground 3. Will use data from a range of

spacecraft – some already up there, others yet to fly

4. Expected to be invaluable to scientists studying climate change

5. Important for disaster response – earthquakes, floods, fires etc

6. Data will also help design and enforce EU policies: fishing quotas etc

7. It will also help ensure civil security (ex: border and maritime surveillance)

Which one of the following describes best the concept of ‘’Die Back’ in plant biology? 1. Natural ageing of a plant 2. Seasonal shedding of

leaves from a plant 3. Progressive death of

twigs and branches which generally starts at the tips

Forest dieback is a condition in trees or woody plants in which peripheral parts are killed, either by pathogens, parasites or due to conditions like acid rain and drought. • “Dieback” refers to the progressive death of twigs

and branches which generally starts at the tips. Trees and shrubs affected by the decline and dieback syndrome may die within a year or two after symptoms first appear or in some cases survive indefinitely.

4. Gradual death of a healthy plant due to excessive grazing by animals

• Corrective practices such as proper watering, fertilization, and pruning are not guaranteed solutions in all cases.

• Decline and dieback may be caused by many factors and is usually progressive over several years. Trees and shrubs of all ages may be affected, although this disease complex is usually associated with plants that have attained some size and maturity.

Which of the following statements regarding Army Record Office Process Automation 3.0 is/are true? 1. It is new automation

software to ease personal documentation and all issues related to their progression.

2. ARPAN is rolled out by the Defence Ministry.

Select the correct statement(s): 1. Only 1 2. Only 2 3. Both 1 and 2 4. Neither 1 nor 2

Ans C

Defence Ministry has rolled out ARPAN 3.0 (Army Record Office Process Automation 3.0), new automation software for Defence Security Corps personnel to ease personal documentation and all issues related to their progression. • The software was jointly developed by Army Software

Development Centre (ASDC) and Tech Mahindra, using state-of-the-art web-based technology.

• ARPAN 3.0 will provide over 12 lakh soldiers of Indian Army easy access to their service records including pay and leave details and transfer and postings among others. As of now, all these records are maintained manually, which is a time-consuming exercise.

A programme to enable public in obtaining information related to child adoption is called: • Jan Sampark • Kishori Shakti • Integrated Child Development • Shishu Greha

The Jan Sampark program will be held regularly every month apart from the quarterly Facebook live chat by CEO CARA. • During the event, details pertaining to Immediate Placement and Special Needs Adoption

Module of Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS) will be shared with all the stakeholders.

• This will serve as platform for counselling and motivating PAPs to go for adopting older children.

With reference to ‘Infant Mortality Rate’, which of the following statement is/are correct? 1) Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under two year of age. 2) India’ IMR declined to 34 per 1,000 live births last year from 37 per 1,000 live births in 2015, according to the latest data from Sample Registration System (SRS) bulletin. Select the correct answer using the code given below. • 1 only • 2 only • Both 1 and 2 • Neither 1 nor 2

Ans B • Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under

one year of age.

• The latest data from Sample Registration Survey (SRS) show that India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) declined from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 34 per 1000 live births in 2016. However, there is still a long way to go to meet the 2019 target of IMR 28 per 1000 live births.

Which of the following statements regarding Asian Development Bank is/are false? 1. It aims to promote social and

economic development in Asia. 2. It has 67 members, of which

19 members are outside Asia and the Pacific.

Select the incorrect statement(s): 1. Only 1 2. Only 2 3. Both 1 and 2 4. None

Ans C

ADB • a regional development bank

• aims to promote social and economic development in Asia.

• From 31 members at its establishment, ADB now has 67 members, of which 48 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside.

• The ADB has been modelled closely on the World Bank. It has similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members capital subscriptions.

• As of 2014, Japan was largest shareholder (capital subscription) of ADB having 15.7% shares followed by US (15.6%), China (6.5%), India (6.4%), and Australia (5.8%).