1.Consider the following statements regarding Kalaripayattu
- It is an Indian martial art and fighting style that originated in Kerala.
- It is mentioned in the VadakkanPattu ballads about the Chekavars from Malabar
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:Kalaripayattu academy braces for action
- Kalaripayattu, considered to be oldest surviving martial art of the country, with a legacy of more than 3,000 years, is set to see a surge in popularity with the establishment of an academy in the capital.
- Lessons in one of the most famous combat styles in the world will now be taught to the new generation at the facility which will come up at Kerala Tourism’s Vellar Crafts Village en route to Kovalam.
- The 3,500 sq ft academy in the village is scheduled to be completed in two months.
About Kalaripayattu
- Kalaripayattu also known as Kalari, is an Indian martial art and fighting style that originated in Kerala.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is considered to be among the oldest martial arts still in existence, with its origin dating back to at least the 3rd century BC.
- Kalaripayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods. Practitioners of Kalaripayattu also possess intricate knowledge of pressure points on the human body and healing techniques that incorporate the knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga.
- The fighting form indigenous to the Gods Own Country is popularly known as the mother of martial arts.
- The term Kalaripayattu is derived from two words – “Kalari” meaning place of exercise or gymnasium and “payattu” meaning to fight or exercise.
- Traditionally, the Kalari centers are like a temple. The kalari is constructed four feet dug down the ground, the interiors of kalari are 42 feet in length and 21 feet width.
- Kalaripayattu is mentioned in the VadakkanPattu ballads about the Chekavars from Malabar. It is acknowledged and respected across the world and is used by Kerala Tourism for increasing footfall.Hence statement 2 is correct
- The martial art educates a person on the importance of a lifestyle that is beneficial to one’s mind and body.
2.Consider the following statements regarding National Sports Development Fund
- It was established in 1998 under the Charitable Endowments Act 1890
- Union Minister in charge of Youth Affairs and Sports is the Chairperson of the Council of NSDF
- This fund is supplementary to the overall policy and activities of the Department of Sports in achieving excellence in sports.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1,2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1,2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS:SBI contributes Rs.5 crore to National Sports Development Fund for Olympic-bound athletes
- Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports ShriKirenRijiju has urged corporate India and leading Public Sector Units to come forward to contribute to the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) as part of their corporate social responsibility, in a bid to strengthen the sports ecosystem of the country, and to be stakeholders in India’s journey towards becoming a sports powerhouse.
- Among the first to chip in to this contributory fund this year, is the State Bank of India, which has made a contribution of Rs. 5 crores to NSDF on Friday, January 8, with the primary aim of meeting the needs and requirements of elite athletes supported under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS).
WHAT IS NSDF?
- National Sports Development Fund (NSDF) was established in 1998 under the Charitable Endowments Act 1890;Hence statement 1 is correct
- It was notified by Government of India in November, 1998;
- Purpose of creation is to impart momentum and flexibility to assisting the cause of sports;
- The Fund helps sportspersons excel by providing them opportunities to train under coaches of international repute with technical, scientific and psychological support and giving them exposure to international competitions;
- The Fund also provides financial assistance for development of infrastructure and other activities for promotion of sports;
- Role of the Fund is supplementary to the overall policy and activities of the Department of Sports in achieving excellence in sports.Hence statement 3 is correct
- The Fund is managed by a Council constituted by the Central Government. Union Minister in charge of Youth Affairs and Sports is the Chairperson of the Council.Hence statement 2 is correct
Source: PIB
3.Consider the following statements regarding Digital services tax
- It is a levy on the overall revenues earned by the supplier of specific digital services.
- It is adopted by India, Italy and Turkey discriminate against U.S
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 denies U.S. claim that its Digital Services Tax is ‘discriminatory’
- India has earlier expanded the scope of the Equalization Levy, or digital tax, to the sale of goods and services in the country by overseas e-commerce firms.
- The Equalization Levy was introduced for the first time in 2016 as 6 per cent tax on revenues earned by non-residents from online advertising and related services.
- The burden of this tax eventually fell on local firms advertising on these platforms.
- In March 2020, the government expanded the scope of this levy to include the sale of goods and services in the country by overseas e-commerce operators.
- The transactions were to be taxed at 2 per cent if businesses earned more than Rs 2 crore.
- Globally, the rate of digital tax varies from 1.5 per cent (in Poland and Kenya) to 15 per cent (Paraguay). In Europe, the tax rate varies from 3 per cent (France, UK, Spain) to 7.5 per cent (Hungary).
Digital Services Taxes
- The “digital services tax” (DST) is a levy on the overall revenues earned by the supplier of specific digital services.Digital services taxes adopted by India, Italy and Turkey discriminate against U.S.Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct
- The DST should not be confused with the so-called “Netflix tax,” which one may find in some western countries.
- The Netflix tax is essentially a “value-added tax” on digital services where the consumer bears the entire tax burden on the value of the final product.
4.Consider the following statements
- Influenza D viruses primarily affect cattle and are not known to infect or cause illness in people.
- Influenza A viruses are the only influenza viruses known to cause flu pandemics
- Influenza type C infections generally cause mild illness and are not thought to cause human flu epidemics.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1,2 and 3
Answer: (c) 1,2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS:
Bird Flu cases have been reported from several places in the country. In Himachal Pradesh, with the death toll of migratory waterbirds rising to 2,401, and almost half of them being endangered bar-headed goose visiting the Pong wetlands, wildlife authorities on Monday confirmed avian influenza (H5N1) as the cause.
About influenza viruses
- There are four types of influenza viruses: A, B, C and D.
- Wild aquatic birds – particularly certain wild ducks, geese, swans, gulls, shorebirds and terns – are the natural hosts for most influenza type A viruses.
- Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes on the basis of two proteins on the surface of the virus: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA).
- There are 18 known HA subtypes and 11 known NA subtypes.
- The most frequently identified subtypes of avian influenza that have caused human infections are H5, H7 and H9 viruses.
- Influenza A viruses: These are the only influenza viruses that cause flu pandemics that is global epidemics of flu disease.Hence statement 2 is correct
- Influenza B viruses:They are not classified into subtypes and can be broken down into lineages. Influenza B type virus belongs to either B/Yamagata or B/Victoria lineage.
- Influenza C viruses: This type of virus is detected less frequently and usually causes mild infections and does not present public health Or we can say that they do not cause human flu epidemic.Hence statement 3 is correct
- Influenza D viruses: They primarily affect cattle and does not infect or cause illness in people.Hence statement 1 is correct
Source: TH
5.Consider the following statements regarding Vanadium
- It is a hard, silvery-grey, malleable transition metal.
- It is a chemical element with atomic number 23.
- India is a significant consumer of vanadium, but is not a primary producer of the strategic metal.
- The largest deposits of vanadium of the world are in China, followed by Russia and South Africa.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 4 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
In News: Arunachal puts India on vanadium map
- Vanadium is a chemical element with the symbol V and atomic number 23. It is a hard, silvery-grey, malleable transition metal. Hence statement 1 and statement 2 is correct.
- The elemental metal is rarely found in nature. It is recovered as a by-product from the slag collected from the processing of vanadiferous magnetite ores (iron ore).
- Vanadium is a high-value metal used in strengthening steel and titanium.
- The largest deposits of vanadium of the world are in China, followed by Russia and South Africa. Hence statement 4 is correct.
- China, which produces 57% of the world’s vanadium, consumed 44% of the metal in 2017.
- India is a significant consumer of vanadium, but is not a primary producer of the strategic metal. Hence statement 3 is correct.
- According to data provided by the GSI, India consumed 4% of about 84,000 tonnes of vanadium produced across the globe in 2017.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/arunachal-now-on-indias-vanadium-map/article33544369.ece
6.Thousand Island is located in which of the following country?
- Indonesia
- Jamaica
- Lakshadweep
- Malaysia
Answer: a) Indonesia
Explanation:
In NEWS: Indonesia locates two black boxes of crashed plane, says transport committee
- On 9 January 2021, a Boeing 737-500 (PK-CLC) operating Sriwijaya Air Flight 182 went missing after taking off from Jakarta Soekarno–Hatta Airport on route to Pontianak Supadio Airport. The aircraft crashed near the Thousand Islands.
- The Thousand Islands (officially KepulauanSeribu) are a chain of islands to the north of Jakarta’s coast.
- It forms the only regency of Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
- It consists of a string of 342 islands stretching 45 km (28 mi) north into the Java Sea at West Jakarta Bay and in fact north of Banten Province.
7.Consider the following Statements
- Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges to the Earth.
- National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited is adopting Light Detection and Ranging Survey (LiDAR) technology which provides all the ground details and data
Select the correct answer using the code given below
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: LiDAR (Aerial Ground) Survey for Delhi – Varanasi High Speed Rail Corridor begins
- Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- With the start of LiDAR (Aerial Ground) Survey, High Speed Rail work gathered momentum for Delhi – Varanasi High Speed Rail Corridor.
- The LiDAR survey for Delhi-Varanasi High Speed Rail Corridor started from Greater NOIDA where a Helicopter fitted with state of art Aerial LiDAR and Imagery sensors took the first flight and captured the data related to ground survey.
- National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited is adopting Light Detection and Ranging Survey (LiDAR) technology which provides all the ground details and data in 3-4 months wherein this process normally takes 10-12 months. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- The ground survey is a crucial activity for any linear infrastructure project as the survey provides accurate details of areas around the alignment.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1687515
8.With reference to Payment Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), consider the following statements
- The scheme is intended to subsidise deployment of payment acceptance infrastructure in tier-3 to tier-6 centres, with a special focus on the north-eastern states of the country.
- The fund will be operational for three years effective from January 1, 2021 and may be extended for two more years.
- The implementation of targets shall be monitored by the RBI with assistance from card networks, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Payments Council of India (PCI).
Select the correct answer using the code given below
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS: PIDF will increase acceptance channels for digital payments: Players welcome scheme
- The scheme is intended to subsidise deployment of payment acceptance infrastructure in tier-3 to tier-6 centres, with a special focus on the north-eastern states of the country. Hence statement 1 is correct
- An advisory council (AC) under the chairmanship of RBI deputy governor BP Kanungo has been constituted for managing the PIDF.
- The fund will be operational for three years effective from January 1, 2021 and may be extended for two more years. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The implementation of targets shall be monitored by the RBI with assistance from card networks, the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) and the Payments Council of India (PCI). Hence statement 3 is correct.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the operationalization of the payment infrastructure development fund (PIDF) scheme.
9.Risk Based Internal Audit (RBIA) Framework is issued by the
- Indian Finance Association
- National Payments Corporation of India
- State Bank of India
- Reserve Bank of India
Answer: d) Reserve Bank of India
Explanation:
In NEWS:RBI to banks: Ensure authority, stature, independence, resources to internal audit function
- In terms of the Guidance Note on Risk-Based Internal Audit issued by RBI vide circular to banks, inter alia, are required to put in place a risk based internal audit (RBIA) system as part of their internal control framework that relies on a well-defined policy for internal audit, functional independence with sufficient standing and authority within the bank, effective channels of communication, adequate audit resources with sufficient professional competence, among others.Hence option (b) is the correct answer
To bring uniformity in approach followed by the banks, as also to align the expectations on Internal Audit Function with the best practices, banks are advised as under:
- Authority, Stature and Independence: The Head of Internal Audit (HIA) shall be a senior executive of the bank who shall have the ability to exercise independent judgement.
- Tenor for appointment of HIA: The HIA shall be appointed for a reasonably long period, preferably for a minimum of three years.
- Reporting Line: The HIA shall directly report to either the Audit Committee of the Board (ACB) / MD & CEO or Whole Time Director (WTD).
- Staff Rotation: Except for the entities where the internal audit function is a specialised function and managed by career internal auditors, the Board should prescribe a minimum period of service for staff in the Internal Audit function.
- The internal audit function shall not be outsourced. However, where required, experts, including former employees, could be hired on contractual basis subject to the ACB being assured that such expertise does not exist within the audit function of the bank.
10.With reference to the election of the President of India, consider the following statements:
- The value of the vote of each MLA varies from State to State.
- The value of the vote of MPs of the Lok Sabha is more than the value of the vote of MPs of the Rajya Sabha.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
The President is elected not directly by the people but by members of electoral college consisting of:
- the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament;
- the elected members of the legislative assemblies of the states; and
- the elected members of the legislative assemblies of the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry.
Value of the vote is determined in the following manner:
- Every elected member of the legislative assembly of a state shall have as many votes as there are multiples of one thousand in the quotient obtained by dividing the population of the state by the total number of the elected members of the assembly. (Hence, it varies according to population of state.) Hence statement 1 is correct
- Every elected member of either House of Parliament shall have such number of votes as may be obtained by dividing the total number of votes assigned to members of the legislative assemblies of the states by the total number of the elected members of both the Houses of Parliament.Hence statement 2 is incorrect
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