Consider the following statements regarding Food Price Index
- It is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
- It is prepared by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Description
- In NEWS:World food prices rise for seventh month in a row in December: FAO
- World food prices rose for the seventh consecutive month in December, led by dairy products and vegetable oils, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
- The FAO Food Price Index averaged 107.5 points in December, 2.2 per cent higher than in November. Over the whole of 2020, the benchmark index — which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities — averaged 97.9 points, a three-year high and a 3.1 per cent increase from 2019 although still more than 25 per cent below its historical 2011 peak.
- The cereal price index posted a more modest 1.1% rise in December from November.
- The export prices for wheat, maize, sorghum and rice all rose in December, moving higher in part due to concerns over growing conditions and crop prospects in North and South America as well as Russia.
- The dairy index climbed 3.2% on the month, however, over the whole of 2020, it averaged some 1% less than in 2019.
About Food Price Index
- It is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is prepared by United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).Hence statement 2 is correct
- It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices weighted by the average export shares of each of the groups over 2014-2016.
- The five indices are Cereal Price Index, Vegetable Oil Price Index, Dairy Price Index, Meat Price Index and Sugar price index.
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: Both 1 and 2
Consider the following statements regarding Thylacine
- It is carnivorous marsupial found on the island of Tasmania, south of Australia.
- 2) It was the only mammal to have become extinct in Tasmania since the European settlement.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Description
In NEWS:Thylacine and wolf pups found to be similar
- A study by the University of Melbourne in Australia has found that there is a lot of similarity between newborn as well as juvenile wolves and thylacines, a press statement on the university’s website said.
- The thylacine, also known as the Tasmanian Tiger or Tasmanian Wolf, was a carnivorous marsupial found on the island of Tasmania, south of Australia. It became extinct in 1936.
- It was already known that adult wolves and thylacines resembled each other.
- The team arranged for skulls of both species from the Australian Museum and the Museum of the North in Alaska. They then conducted micro-CT scans on them and built digital models.
- About Tasmanian tiger
- The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (a dog headed pouched dog) was an exclusively carnivorous marsupial that is considered to be extinct.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It has resemblance to a dog, with its distinguishing features being the dark stripes beginning at the rear of its body and extending into its tail, its stiff tail and abdominal pouch.
- The last known thylacine died in captivity over 80 years ago, in Tasmania’s Hobart Zoo in 1936.
- It may also be the only mammal to have become extinct in Tasmania since the European settlement.Hence statement 2 is correct
- Why did they become extinct?
- It was confined to Tasmania in recent times and disappeared from mainland Australia over 2000 years ago, mainly because of over-hunting by humans, diseases and competition from the Dingo (Canis lupus), a wild dog native to Australia.Hence statement 1 is correct
- The Thylacine was also persecuted because it was believed to be a threat to sheep and in its latter years it was hunted for the purposes of collection by museums and zoos.
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: Both 1 and 2
Consider the following statements regardingChilika Lake
- It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest coastal lagoon in the world.
- Nalbana Island is not a part of Chilika Lake
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Description
In NEWS:Chilika sees record number of migratory birds amid bird flu scare
- A record number of migratory birds arrived this season in Odisha’s Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, according to the latest bird census of the wetland.
- Two rare birds — falcated teal and mallard — were sighted this time, said S Balachandran, deputy director, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), which assisted in the survey.
- About Chilika Lake
- Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon, spread over the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha state on the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal.
- It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest coastal lagoon in the world.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent. The lake is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals. Chilika Lake is an important habitat and breeding ground for both resident and migratory and aquatic birds, most notably flamingos.
- The Nalaban Island within the lagoon is classified as a Bird Sanctuary under the wildlife protection act. Hence statement 2 is incorrect
- In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
- The lagoon is also home to 14 types of raptors. Around 152 rare and endangered Irrawaddy dolphins have also been reported. Plus, the lagoon supports about 37 species of reptiles and amphibians.
- Microalgae, marine seaweeds, sea grasses, fish and crab also flourish in the brackish water of the Chilika Lagoon.
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: 1 only
Which of the following organizations is responsible for the implementation of the Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of the Ecosystem Services (NCAVES) project?
- Convention of Biological Diversity
- United Nations Environment Programme
- United Nations Statistics Division
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Description
In NEWS:Natural Capital Accounting and Valuation of the Ecosystem Services (NCAVES) India Forum-2021
- NCAVES India Forum 2021 is being organized by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
- The NCAVES Project, funded by EU, has been jointly implemented by the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Secretariat of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). Hence option (d) is the correct answer
- India is one of the five countries taking part in this project – the other countries being Brazil, China, South Africa and Mexico.
- In India, the NCAVES project is being implemented by the MoSPI in close collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC).
- MoSPI has coordinated with all the stakeholders through a consultative process by setting in place a mechanism for linking the diverse stakeholders concerned – namely producers and the policymakers using the environmental accounts.
- The participation in the project has helped MOSPI commence the compilation of the Environment Accounts as per the UN-SEEA framework and release environmental accounts in its publication “EnviStats India” on an annual basis since 2018. Several of these accounts are closely related to the social and economic attributes, making them a useful tool for the Policy.
A) 1 and 3 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 2 only
D) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Options: 1, 2 and 3
Consider the following statements
- The US administration amended the H-1B visa norms by changing the rules to give priority to higher wages and skills for selection of deserving candidates.
- The old lottery system of work visa selection is also followed in Visa process.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Description
In News: What are H-1B visas and new wage-based rules?
- The new wage-based work visa regime will now give priority in selection of visas to applications of those employers where the “proffered wage equals or exceeds” the prevailing level in that area of employment.
- The proffered wage is the wage that the employer intends to pay the beneficiary.
- This will be done for both the 65,000 regular visas and the 20,000 advanced degree exemption visas.
- This regime will also take into account the skill set that the respective worker brings to the country and cross check it whether such skill set is available at the same cost among the US workers.
- The US administration has once again amended the H-1B visa norms by changing the rules to give priority to higher wages and skills for selection of deserving candidates. The old lottery system of work visa selection will not be followed now. Hence statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-are-h-1b-visas-and-new-wage-based-rules-7140061/
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: 1 only
Cherry Blossom Mao Festival is celebrated in
Description
In NEWS: Cherry Blossom Mao Festival held today in Manipur
A) Manipur
B) Nagaland
C) Sikkim
D) None of the above
- The Mao area of Senapati district in Manipur is known for Cherry Blossom, a plant which is popularly known as Sakura in Japan.
- The Manipur government started organizing the festival every year from 2017 onward.
- The festival features the picturesque landscape of Mao town adorned with beautiful Cherry Blossom flowers.
- A cherry blossom is a flower of many trees of genus Prunus.
- Prunuscerasoides, called wild Himalayan cherry, Indian wild cherry, and sour cherry, is known in Hindi as padam, pajja, or padmakashtha. Hence option (a) is the correct answer
Source: http://newsonair.com/News?title=Cherry-Blossom-Mao-Festival-held-today-in-Manipur&id=407628
Correct Options: Manipur
Consider the following Statements
- The Ken-Betwa River linking project will benefit the dry Bundelkhand area in Rajasthan.
- There are 31 river interlinking projects planned in the country.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Description
In NEWS: MP-UP close to agreement on Ken-Betwa link project: Union Jal Shakti Minister
- The governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh were close to an agreement on it.
- Discussions on the project were underway between the two States since 15 years and now some minor issues are left for which there is a need for clarifications.
- The project that aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spread across the districts of two states
- The Ken-Betwa River linking project will benefit the dry Bundelkhand area in MP and UP. Besides irrigating thousands of hectares, the scheme will provide drinking water to 62 lakh people. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
- There are 31 river interlinking projects planned in the country, of which Ken-Betwa is the first that has reached an advanced level of planning. Hence statement 2 is correct
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: 2 only
With reference to Golden Quadilateral, consider the following statements
- It is a national highway network connecting most of the major industrial, agricultural and cultural centersby linking the four major metro cities of India.
- Indian Railway enhanced the maximum speed to 130 kmph for 1,280 km length out of 1,612 Km in Golden Quadrilateral – Golden Diagonal (GQ-GD) route.
Select the correct answer using the code given below
Description
In NEWS: Under ‘MeraGaon, Mera Gaurav’ Programme ICAR helping villages for disposing garbage
- The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is a national highway network connecting most of the major industrial, agricultural and cultural centres of India. It forms a quadrilateral connecting the four major metro cities of India. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- Indian Railway has started the New Year by achieving a landmark achievement by drastically enhancing the maximum speed to 130 kmph for 1,280 km length out of 1,612 Km in Golden Quadrilateral – Golden Diagonal (GQ-GD) route. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- This covers the entire GQ-GD route over South Central Railway, except Vijayawada – Duvvada section, where signalling up-gradation work is in progress.
- The enhanced speed limits could be achieved due to the systematic and planned strengthening of track & its infrastructure by removing bottlenecks in these sections on a fast pace.
- This included heavier rails, laying of 260 meters Long welded rail panels, improvement of curves and gradients among others.
- Already, the maximum speed limits in the High-Density Network (HDN) between Secunderabad – Kazipet (132 Kms distance) had been enhanced to 130 kmph.
Source https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1685062
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: Both 1 and 2
Consider the following statements about MatruSahyoginiSamiti
- It will comprise 10 mothers at each anganwadi representing the concerns of different sets of beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Services, or National Nutrition Mission
- It will include mothers of beneficiary children as well as be represented by pregnant women and lactating mothers who are enrolled under the scheme.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Description
In News: Mothers in MP will turn warriors against malnutritio
- MatruSahyoginiSamiti’ or Mothers’ Cooperation Committees, these will comprise 10 mothers at each anganwadi representing the concerns of different sets of beneficiaries under the Integrated Child Development Services, or National Nutrition Mission. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- children between six months to three years,
- children between three years and six years,
- adolescent girls and pregnant women and lactating mothers.
- The committees will include mothers of beneficiary children as well as be represented by pregnant women and lactating mothers who are enrolled under the scheme. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- The Committees will also include a woman panch, women active in the community and eager to volunteer their support to the scheme, teachers from the local school, and women heads of self-help groups (SHG).
- These mothers will keep a watch on weekly ration distribution to beneficiaries as well as suggest nutritious and tasteful recipes for meals served to children at the centres.
- The move is being taken as per the mandate of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA).
- The Madhya Pradesh government has issued an order for the appointment of committees led by mothers to ensure better monitoring of services delivered at anganwadi or day care centres across the State.
A) 1 only
B) 2 only
C) Both 1 and 2
D) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Options: Both 1 and 2
Chaitra 1 of the national calendar based on the Saka Era corresponds to which one of the following dates of the Gregorian calendar in a normal year of 365 days ?
- 22nd March (or 21st March)
- 15th May (or 16th May)
- 21st March (or 30th March)
- 21st April (or 20th April)
Correct Options: 22nd March (or 21st March)
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