1.Consider the following statements regardingSWADES Initiative
- It is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Ministry of Home Affairs
- It aims to create a database of Indian citizens returning from overseas under the Vande Bharat Mission based on their skill-sets
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Govt to conduct skill mapping of citizens returning from overseas
- SWADES (Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support) is aimed at making the best of skilled workforce returning to the country due to the ongoing Hence statement 2 is correct.
- The government has launched a new initiative ‘SWADES’ to conduct a skill mapping exercise of the Indian citizens returning from overseas under the ‘Vande Bharat Mission’.
- This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of External Affairs. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
- It aims to create a database of qualified citizens based on their skill-sets and experience to tap into and fulfil demand of Indian and foreign companies
- The collected information will be shared with the companies for suitable placement opportunities in the country. The returning citizens are required to fill up an online SWADES Skills Card.
- The card will facilitate a strategic framework to provide the returning citizens with suitable employment opportunities through discussions with key stakeholders including state governments, industry associations and employers.
- The data also suggests that the states which have shown highest returning labour are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana
2.Depsang Plain is a territorial dispute plain between which of the following countries?
- India and Bangladesh
- India and Afghanistan
- India and Nepal
- India and China
Answer: (d) India and China
Explanation:
In NEWS: Depsang tensions echo 2013 standoff
- Reports of a heavy Chinese presence at Depsang, an area at a crucial dip (called the Bulge) on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) have increased tensions between Indian and Chinese troops, sources aware of the month-long standoff at various points in Ladakh and Sikkim
- The Depsang Plains are located at the Line of Actual Control (in the Western Sector) that separates the Indian and Chinese controlled Hence option (d) is correct
- India controls the western portion of the plains as part of Ladakh, whereas the eastern portion is part of the Aksai Chin region, which is controlled by China and claimed by India.
- In April 2013, the Chinese PLA troops set up a temporary camp in the Depsang Bulge, but later withdrew as a result of a diplomatic agreement with India.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/depsang-tensions-echo-2013-standoff/article31733947.ece
3.Kohala hydropower project is a 1,124-megawatt power project to be built on which of the following river?
- River Indus
- River Jhelum
- River Chenab
- River Ravi
Answer: (b) River Jhelum
Explanation:
In NEWS: China to construct 1,124-megawatt power project in Pok under CPEC
- China under the multi-billion-dollar CPEC will set up a 1,124-megawatt power project in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir despite India’s objection to it
- The project will be built on the Jhelum River and aims at annuallyproviding more than five billion units of clean and low-cost electricity for consumers in Pakistan. Hence option (b) is correct
- China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI),a pet project of Chinese President. It aims to link the city of Gwadar in South Western Pakistan to China’s North Western region Xinjiang through a vast network of highways and railways.
4.Consider the following statements regardingPharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H):
- It is an autonomous organization under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- It aims to promote and preserve the well-being of humans and animals in India, by bringing out official standards for quality of drugs included in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy systems of Medicine
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Cabinet approves establishment of PCIM&H as Subordinate office under Ministry of AYUSH
- The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to re-establish Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) as Subordinate Office under Ministry of AYUSH.
- This was done by merging into it the Pharmacopoeia Laboratory for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia Laboratory. These central labs were established at Ghaziabad in 1975.
- As of now, PCIM&H is an autonomous body, under the Ministry of Ayush, for about 10 years.
- The merger will help in optimising the use of infrastructural facilities available and improve the use of technical manpower, financial resources of the organisations. This will aid the standardization outcomes of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Homoeopathy drugs towards their effective regulation and quality control.
- The merger will also assign a legal status to the merged structure of PCIM&H and its laboratory by making amendments in the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945.
About Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H)
- It is an autonomous organization under theMinistry of AYUSH, Govt. of India. Thus Statement 2 is incorrect.
- It has a primary mandate of publishing Pharmacopoeias and Formularies for drugs/formulations used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani (ASU) and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) systems of Medicine.
- It aims to promote and preserve the well-being of humans and animals in India, by bringing out official standards for quality of drugsincluded in Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy systems of Medicine used by AYUSH professionals and consumers. Hence statement 1 is correct.
5.Consider the following statements regardingGenome India Project
- It will involve 20 leading institutions of the country with the Centre for Brain Research of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore as the nodal point
- It aims to build a grid of the Indian reference genome, to understand fully the type and nature of diseases and traits that comprise the diverse Indian population
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Scientists at Genome India propose study of Covid’s genetic dimension
- The ambitious Genome India Project, the government of India-project tasked with mapping India’s genetic diversity, had just got off the ground this year when the pandemic shut the country down
- The Bengaluru-based team of scientists leading the new Genome India Project has submitted a fresh proposal to Delhi to examine samples of a thousand Covid-19-infected Indians.
- The team wants to study and develop more insights into the role of genetic components in resistance and susceptibility to COVID-19.
- A person’s immune system is his response to the environment, but immunity has aspects that relate to the genetic component too.
- The team wants ethical clearances and to get access to the blood samples of infected individuals, and look at the genetic determination of infectability.
About Genome India Project
- The Genome India Project (GIP) is a gene mapping project cleared by the Department of Biotechnology.
- GIP will involve 20 leading institutions of the country with the Centre for Brain Research of Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangaloreas the nodal point. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The aim of the project is to build an Indian reference genome, based on which the traits of the diverse Indian population could be understood. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- The GIP will add on to the existing database from HGP and advance the cause of the understanding the diversity of the Indian population.
- The mega project hopes to form a grid after collecting 10,000 samples of healthy individuals in the first phasefrom across India, to arrive at a representative Indian genome.
- Second phaseis meant to be about another batch of 10,000 of Indian samples with diseases, of three broad categories — non-communicable diseases like cardio-vascular and diabetes, mental illnesses and cancer.
6.Consider the following statements regarding Sacred Rock of Hunza
- It is carved rock as well as a buddist cultural heritage site in Gujarat region
- The names of the Kushan Empire appear in these inscriptions
- The lower portion is engraved by the images of Ibexes.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 2 and 3 only
- 1,2 and 3
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 only
Answer: (a) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: India condemns vandalism of Buddhist rock engravings in Gilgit-Baltistan
- The Buddhist sites in Hunza in Gilgit-Baltistan have been desecrated by Islamists, who painted Pakistani flags and slogans on the rock-cut art. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
- The Buddhist residents, who found the paintings to be fresh, said that the vandalism by the Islamists was in retaliation to the recent protests against the Diamer Bhasha dam project, a joint Pakistan-China project.
About Sacred Rock of Hunza
- The Sacred Rock of Hunza is carved rock as well as a cultural heritage site in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The carvings on the rock dates back to the 1st Millennium AD. The rock is on a top of a hill which lies in east to the Hunza River.
- The Sacred Rock is divided into two portions, an upper portion and a lower one. Both the portions carry carvings on them which are basically inscriptions and images from Pre-Historic era. There used to be many Buddhist shelter caves in ancient times which later collapsed or fell over the time
- Upper Portion– The upper portion of the rock consist of inscriptions which are carved in Sogdian, Kharosthi, Brahmi, Sarada and Proto Sarada languages. The names of the Emperors of the Kushana Empire appear in these inscriptions as well as the names of other Emperors from the Empires of Kanishka and Huvishka. The name of the Trukha King Ramadusa is also mentioned in inscriptions which are carved in Brahmi language. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Lower Portion– The lower portion is engraved by the images of Ibexes. These ibexes are shown in different situations, including being hunted. The carvings also contain Horned-Human deities playing with the ibexes. The carvings of the Ibexes are a proof of the ibex being an animal which holds cultural importance to Buddhists as well as to the region in ancient times. One of the carvings also shows the image of an ancient Chinese King. Some carvings show a Tibetan styled Stupa. Hence statement 3 is correct.
7.Consider the following statements regarding GAVI Alliance
- It is based in Geneva, Switzerland
- It is a public-private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in poor countries.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: PM Modi pledges USD 15 mn to global vaccines alliance, Gavi
- India has pledged 15 million dollars to Gavi, the international vaccine alliance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this while addressing the virtual Global Vaccine Summit hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
- Over 50 countries – business leaders, UN agencies, civil society, government Ministers, and Heads of State participated in the Summit.
- In his address, Prime Minister Modi said India stands in solidarity with the world in these challenging times. He said, India’s civilization teaches that the world is one family and that during this pandemic, the country had tried to live up to this teaching
- The Prime Minister said that one of the first programmes launched by his government was Mission Indradhanush, which aims to ensure full vaccination of the country’s children and pregnant women.
- Prime Minister said India’s support to GAVI is not only financial but that India’s huge demand also brings down the Global price of vaccines for all, saving almost 400 Million Dollars for GAVI over the past five years.
About Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization
- GAVI, officially Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (previously the GAVI Alliance, and before that the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) is a public-private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization in poor countries. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Gavi was launched in 2000. It is based in Geneva, Switzerland. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- GAVI brings together developing country and donor governments, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the World Bank, the vaccine industry in both industrialized and developing countries, research and technical agencies, civil society, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and other private philanthropists.
- GAVI has observer status at the World Health Assembly.
- GAVI has been praised for being innovative, effective, and less bureaucratic than multilateral government institutions like the WHO.
- GAVI has been criticized for giving private donors more unilateral power to decide on global health goals, prioritizing new, expensive vaccines while putting less money and effort into expanding coverage of old, cheap ones, harming local healthcare systems, spending too much on subsidies to large, profitable pharmaceutical companies without reducing the prices of some vaccines, and its conflicts of interest in having vaccine manufacturers on its governance board.
- GAVI’s approach to public health has been described as business-oriented and technology-focused, using market-oriented measures, and seeking quantifiable results. This model termed the “Gates approach” or US-type approach, GAVI is taken to exemplify. It contrasts with the approach typified by the Alma Ata Declaration, which focusses on the effects of political, social, and cultural systems on health.
Source: http://newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=390450
8.Consider the following statements regardingTULIP portal
- It aims to provide internship opportunities to thousands of fresh graduates and engineers of the county under the ‘Smart City’ projects.
- It has been developed by IIT- Bombay
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Govt launches TULIP portal to provide internships to graduates, engineers under ‘smart city’ projects
- Union human resource development (HRD) minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and minister of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) Hardeep Singh Puri jointly inaugurated The Urban Learning Internship Programme (TULIP) to provide internship opportunities to thousands of fresh graduates and engineers of the county under the ‘Smart City’ projects. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The TULIP portal has been developed by AICTE.Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
- Under the internship programme students will get to work for 100 smart cities under ministry of housing and urban development. According to the TULIP portal, there are a total of 295,200 internships under 23,970 companies.
- TULIP would help enhance the value-to-market of India’s graduates and help create a potential talent pool in diverse fields like urban planning, transport engineering, environment, municipal finance, etc. thus not only catalyzing the creation of prospective city managers but also talented private/ non-government sector professionals. TULIP would benefit ULBs and smart cities immensely
- This launch is also an important stepping stone for the fulfillment of MHRD and AICTE’s goal of 1 crore successful internships by the year 2025. The digital platform powering TULIP enables discovery, engagement, aggregation, amplification, and transparency.
- The platform is customizable and provides immense flexibility to both ULBs/ Smart Cities and interns to enable convenient access
9.Consider the following statements regarding Periodic Labour Force Survey
- It is released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation
- According to this survey, India’s unemployment rate saw a small dip in 2018-19
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: India’s unemployment rate saw a small dip in 2018-19, says survey
- India’s unemployment rate saw a small dip in 2018-19, says Indias unemployment rate improved from the 45-year high of 6.1% in 2017-18 to 5.8% in 2018-19, says the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation. Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct.
- According to the survey, the worker population ratio increased to 35.3% as compared to 34.7% in 2017-18. The Labour Force participation rate increased to 37.5% as compared to 36.9% in 2017-18.
- In Urban India, the unemployment rate fell to 7.7% in 2018-19 from 7.8% earlier. Also, the female participation rate improved in both rural and urban India from 17.5% to 18.6%.
10.With reference to the economic history of medieval India, the term ‘Araghatta’ refers to
- bonded labour
- land grant made to military officers
- waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
- wasteland converted to cultivated land
Answer: (c) waterwheel used in the irrigation of land
Explanation:
In Sanskrit, the word Araghatta has been used in the ancient texts to describe the Persian Wheel. The ‘ara-ghatta’ comes from the combination of the words ‘ara’ meaning spoke and ‘ghatta’ meaning pot. There is evidence to argue that this system of lifting water from open wells was probably invented in India of the past. With its use also in Iran, the then Persia, and perhaps its discovery there, it came to be called the Persian wheel. Hence option (c) is correct
