Consider the following statements regarding Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement
- It is aimed at greater maritime cooperation and can upgrade India-Japan naval exercises as both countries are expected to share maritime facilities for mutual benefit.
- It will remain in force for 10 years
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 and Japan Sign Military Logistics Agreement for All to See
- India and Japan signed an “Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement” that would allow the militaries of the two countries to exchange supplies and services on a reciprocal basis during exercises in which both participate, U.N. and humanitarian assistance operations, as well as visits to each other’s ports. Hence statement 1 is correct
About Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement
- It establishes the enabling framework for closer cooperation between the armed forces of both countries in reciprocal provision of supplies and services while engaged in bilateral training activities, United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, Humanitarian International Relief and other mutually agreed activities.
- Japan becomes the sixth country with which India has such an arrangement, adding to the United States, France, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia.
- The supplies and services include food, water, transportation, airlift, petroleum, clothing, communications and medical services etc.between the two countries.
- It will remain in force for 10 years and will be automatically extended for periods of 10 years unless one of the parties decides to end it. Hence statement 2 is correct
Source: https://thediplomat.com/2020/09/india-and-japan-sign-military-logistics-agreement-for-all-to-see/
Consider the following statements regarding the Project 17A
- It is a follow-on of the Project 17 Shivalik-class frigate for the Indian Navy.
- INS Nilgiri is the first ship of Project17A.
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: Keel laid for the third stealth frigate of Project 17A
- Vice Admiral S R Sarma of the Indian Navy laid the keel of the third ship (Yard- 12653) of the prestigious P17A class stealth frigates.
- Seven frigates under P17A series will be constructed of which four are being constructed in MDL and three in GRSE with MDL as the lead yard.
- The P17A class frigates are being built using indigenously developed steel and fitted with weapons and sensors along with Integrated Platform Management System.
- These ships are having stealth features. Hence statement 1 is correct
- Construction of P17A ships differ in the very concept of warship building by way of adoption of the modern technology ‘Integrated Construction (IC)’ where the blocks are pre-outfitted before joining to reduce the build period of warships.
- The seven ships under this project are (a)INS Nilgiri (b)INS Himgiri (c)INS Udaygiri (d)INS Dunagiri (e)INS Taragiri (f)INS Vindhyagiri and (g)INS Mahendragiri. Hence statement 2 is correct
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1653068
Consider the following statements regarding Global Economic Freedom Index 2020
- It has been released as a part of the Economic Freedom of the World: 2020 report
- It ranks countries by looking at indicators like regulation, freedom to trade internationally, size of government, property rights, government spending and taxation
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 slips 26 places to 105 in global economic freedom index; lags in rules & freedom to trade internationally
- India slipped 26 places to 105 among 162 countries and territories on the index of global economic freedom, according to the Economic Freedom of the World: 2020 report released by the Fraser Institute in Canada. Hence statement 1 is correct
- The country ranked 79th in the previous edition of this report, which measures the ‘economic freedom’, or the ability of individuals to make their own economic decisions in a country, by analysing policies and institutions of these countries.
- It does so by looking at indicators like regulation, the freedom to trade internationally, size of government, property rights, government spending and taxation. In India, the report was co-published by Delhi-based Centre for Civil Society. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The report uses data from 2018 as the latest year of comparable statistics and analyses policies and institutions of 162 countries and territories.
- The index has been topped by Hong Kong followed by Singapore.
- India has been ranked 105 in the index. It was ranked 79th in the previous edition of this report.
- China ranked worse than India overall and was positioned at 124 on the index.
Singapore Convention, is sometimes seen in news, it is related to
- Mediation
- Forest Fire
- Water Management
- Disaster Management
Answer: (a) Mediation
Explanation:
In NEWS: Singapore Convention on Mediation comes into force
- The Singapore Convention on Mediation came into force on Saturday and will provide a more effective wayfor enforcing mediated settlements of corporate disputes involving businesses in India and other countries that are signatories to the Convention. Hence option (a) is correct
- Also known as the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, this is also the first UN treaty to be named after Singapore.
- As on September 1, the Convention has 53 signatories, including India, China and the U.S.
- The Singapore Convention on Mediation (the “Singapore Convention” or “Convention”) is a uniform and efficient framework for international settlement agreements resulting from mediation. It applies to international settlement agreements resulting from mediation, concluded by parties to resolve a commercial dispute.
- The Singapore Convention will facilitate international trade and commerce by enabling disputing parties to easily enforce and invoke settlement agreements across borders. Businesses will benefit from mediation as an additional dispute resolution option to litigation and arbitration in settling cross-border disputes.
The word ‘Kapi ramnagarensis’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to
- fossils of a kind of ape species
- an early human species
- a cave system found in North -East India
- a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent
Answer: (a) fossils of a kind of ape species
Explanation:
In NEWS: 13-million-year-old fossil ape discovered in Uttarakhand
- An international team of researchers has unearthed a 13-million-year-old fossil of a newly discovered ape species in Uttarakhand, which is the earliest known ancestor of the modern-day gibbon. Hence option (a) is correct
- The finding, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, fills a major void in the ape fossil record and provides important new evidence about when the ancestors of today’s gibbon migrated to Asia from Africa.
- The fossil, a complete lower molar, belongs to a previously unknown genus and species (Kapi ramnagarensis), and represents the first new fossil ape species discovered at the famous fossil site of Ramnagar in nearly a century.
- It pushes back the oldest known fossil record of gibbons by at least five million years, providing a much-needed glimpse into the early stages of their evolutionary history
Its complete lower molar was collected in 2015 from the Lower Siwaliks of Ramnagar in Jammu and Kashmir, India. - It represents the first new hominoid species discovered at the Ramnagar site in nearly a century and the first new Siwalik ape species in more than three decades.
Consider the following statements regarding the National School of Drama
- It was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi
- It was registered as an autonomous organization under the Societies Registration Act of 1860, and is fully financed by the Ministry of Culture
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: President of India appoints veteran actor Paresh Rawal as new Chairman of National School of Drama Society
Veteran Actor Paresh Rawal has been appointed as Chairman of National School of Drama Society by President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind.
About National School of Drama
- Established in 1959, the National School of Drama is an autonomous organization, fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Hence statement 2 is correct
- One of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world, NSD had it’s inception under the aegis of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and became an independent entity in 1975. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It offers a 3-year, full-time, residential training program in various aspects of theatre.
- Training in the School is highly intensive and is based on a thorough, comprehensive, carefully planned syllabus which covers every aspect of theatre and in which theory is related to practice.
- Under the school, the syllabus takes into account the methods of great theatre personalities who have shaped contemporary theatre in all its variety.
- The systematic study and practical performing experience of Sanskrit drama, modern Indian drama, traditional Indian theatre forms, Asian drama and western dramatic protocols give the students a solid grounding and a wide perspective in the art of theatre.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1653678
Consider the following statements regarding Parliamentary Committees:
1.The quorum to constitute a sitting of a Committee is one-tenth of the total number of members of the Committee.
2.Presence of media is allowed in the meetings of the committees.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Parliamentary committees to get reconstituted ahead of monsoon session
- Recently there has been a confrontation between the chairman of the IT Committee, ShashiTharoor, and a senior BJP member of the Committee, NishikantDubey.
- The present controversy in the IT Committee centres around the right of the chairman to call an official from Facebook as a witness.
- There is no specific rule which defines the rights of the chairman. But as per well-established practices as well as the internal working rules of the parliamentary committees, the names of the witnesses originally prepared by the Secretariat of the Committee in a draft form is approved by the chairman with modifications he desires. At no time is it placed before the committee for its approval.
About Parliamentary committees:
- Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s authority to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business).
- As per Rules of Lok Sabha, the quorum to constitute a sitting of a Committee shall be, as near as may be, one-third of the total number of members of the Committee. Hence statement 1 is incorrect
- The members of a Committee shall be appointed or elected by the House on a motion made, or nominated by the Speaker as the case may be. No member shall be appointed to a Committee if unwilling to serve on it.
- The Chairperson of a Committee shall be appointed by the Speaker from amongst members of the Committee: Provided that the Deputy Speaker, in case is a member of the Committee, shall be appointed as Chairperson of the Committee.
- The sittings of a Committee shall be held in private. Hence statement 2 is incorrect
Consider the following statements
- Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory.
- While Line of Control (LoC) is only a concept, Line of Actual Control (LAC) has international sanctity.
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: IndiaChina standoff casts a shadow on Nathu La border trade
- Tenzing Tsephel Bhutia, a secondgeneration trader at Nathu La in Sikkim, has been doing business with Chinese traders for the past few years.
- While the pandemic stalled business this year, the 200 traders from Sikkim fear LAC tensions may affect their work next year too
About Line of Actual Control
- Line of Actual Control (LAC) is the demarcation that separates Indian-controlled territory from Chinese-controlled territory. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is divided into three sectors: the eastern sector which spans Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, the middle sector in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, and the western sector in Ladakh.
- The Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan emerged from the 1948 ceasefire line negotiated by the UN after the Kashmir War. It was designated as the LoC in 1972, following the Shimla Agreement between the two countries.
- It is delineated on a map signed by DGMOs of both armies and has the international sanctity of a legal agreement.
- The LAC, in contrast, is only a concept – it is not agreed upon by the two countries, neither delineated on a map or demarcated on the ground. Hence statement 2 is incorrect
- India considers the LAC to be 3,488 km long, while the Chinese consider it to be only around 2,000 km.
- There is no official map in the public domain that depicts the LAC. It can best be thought of as an idea, reflecting the territories that are, at present, under the control of each side, pending a resolution of the boundary dispute.
- In a strange irony, if the LAC is far less clear than the LoC, it has remained much more peaceful, with not a shot fired since 1975 at Tulung La.
Kara Sea is situated in which of the following ocean?
- Atlantic Ocean
- Arctic Ocean
- Indian Ocean
- Pacific Ocean
Answer: (b) Arctic Ocean
Explanation:
In NEWS: Scientists map transport of fresh water in seas of the Arctic Ocean
- Scientist from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) and the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology have mapped the transport of freshwater discharged by rivers flowing into the constituent seas of the Arctic Ocean.
- The scientists studied the discharge of freshwater from the Ob, Yenisei and Lena rivers into the Arctic Ocean’s seas
- Together, these three north-flowing rivers discharge an estimated 2,300 cubic kilometres of freshwater into the ocean.
- This huge volume of freshwater usually mixes very slowly with ambient saltwater, initially forming what is known as a ‘plume’, mostly near the river mouth.
- These plumes then spread out to sea mainly due to strong winds and the rate of river water discharge.
- They found that the Ob-Yenisel plume accumulates in the Kara Sea in the ice-free season.
About Kara sea
- The Kara Seais part of the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia. Hence option (b) is correct
- Its main ports are Novy Portand Dikson and it is important as a fishing ground although the sea is ice-bound for all but two months of the year.
Consider the following statements:
- Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the amount that banks have to maintain in the form of their own funds to offset any loss that banks incur if the account-holders fail to repay dues.
- CAR is decided by each individual bank.
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:
Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) is the ratio of a bank’s capital in relation to its risk weighted assets and current liabilities. It is decided by central banks and bank regulators to prevent commercial banks from taking excess leverage and becoming insolvent in the process
