In which one of the following States is Sur Sarovar Lake located?
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Manipur
- Meghalaya
- Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (d) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation:
In NEWS: Lonar lake in Maharashtra and Keetham lake in UP added to Ramsar sites
- Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has expressed happiness that India has added two more Ramsar sites. They are Lonar lake in Maharashtra which is the only crater lake of the country while the other is Sur Sarovar, also known as Keetham lake in Agra of Uttar Pradesh
About Keetham lake
- Keetham lake, also known as the Sur Sarovar, is a scenic lake just outside Agra on the Agra – Delhi highway (NH 2). Alongside the Keetham Lake is the Agra Bear Rescue Facility, which is a Sloth bear rescue facility dedicated to rehabilitating previously enslaved ‘dancing bears’
- More than 106 species of migratory birds rest in Sur Sarovar lake. The water of the lake is obtained from Agra Canal. The canal originates from Okhla barrage on River Yamuna in Delhi. Hence option (d) is correct
About Lonar Lake
- It was created by asteroid collision during Pleistocene Epoch. The crater sits inside the Deccan Traps of the Deccan Plateau. It has 160 birds, 12 mammal species and 46 reptiles. Two small streams called Penganga and Purna drain into Lonar lake.
- The Lonar lake is usually green in colour due to the presence of Cyanobacteria. The lake in June 2020 turned pink. Later, it was found that this was due to the presence of salt loving bacteria called haloarchea or halophilic archaea
Consider the following statements regardingRamsar convention
- It is a legally binding convention
- It is a part of the United Nations and UNESCO system of environmental conventions and agreements.
- It is named after Ramsar, the Iranian city where the treaty was signed in 1971
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 3 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Lonar lake gets prized tag of Ramsar site
- Nestled in the Deccan Plateau region, the Lonar lake in Maharashtra has been declared as a wetland site of international importance under the Ramsar conservation treaty. This is Maharashtra’s second Ramsar site after Nandur Madhmeshwar in Nashik.
Ramsar Convention:
- It is an intergovernmental environmental treaty that calls for international cooperation and national action to safeguard and sustainably use wetlands.
- The official name for the convention is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat.It is the first and only global treaty for the conservation of a particular ecosystem.
- The Convention was signed on 2ndFebruary 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This is where it gets its name from-The Ramsar Convention. 2nd February is celebrated as World Wetlands Day every year. Hence statement 3 is correct
- The Convention entered into force in 1975. As of 2019, it has 171 member states including India.
- It is important to note that the Ramsar Convention is not legally binding i.e. it has no punitive sanctions for violations upon treaty commitments. It is also not part of the United Nations and UNESCO system of environmental conventions and agreements. Hence statement 1 is incorrect and Hence statement 2 is incorrect
- The other Ramsar sites in India are in Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh.
- The key feature of the Ramsar Convention is the Ramsar List. It is a list of wetlands accorded the status of international importance based on their ecology, botany, zoology, limnology or hydrology. Each wetland included in the list is known as a Ramsar Site.
- The inclusion of Lonar lake takes the total number of Ramsar sites in India to 41.
Consider the following statements regardingShri Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj
- He was a Jain saint who worked with dedication to spread among people the message of Lord Mahavira.
- He supported the movement for Independence and supporting the cause of the Swadeshi movement.
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 to unveil ‘Statue of Peace’ to mark 151st birth anniversary of Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be unveiling the ‘Statue of Peace’ on Monday. The unveiling will be done at 12.30 pm in order to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj
- The statue is a 151-inch-tall structure and it is being installed at the Vijay Vallabh Sadhana Kendra located in Jetpura of Rajasthan’s Pali. The statement said that the statue has been made out of Ashtadhatu.
- Ashtadhatu is a highly important alloy of eight metals in the Jaina and Hindu cultures, with several statues of deities made of this composition. The composition is extremely pure and does not decay, which is why it is regarded with such importance. The eight metals included in this composition are gold, silver, zinc, lead, tin, copper, mercury and iron. Traditionally, the metals were mixed equally, however, in the ‘Statue of Peace’, copper has been kept as the dominant metal.
About Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj
- Shree Vijay Vallabh Surishwer Ji Maharaj was a Jain saint who lived from 1870 to 1954. He worked with dedication to spread among people the message of Lord Mahavira.
- He was a Jain monk born on October 26, 1870. He was a disciple of Vijayanand Suri. He was the founder of Shri Parshwanath Jain Vidyalaya in Pali district of Rajasthan. Also, he established the Mahavir Jain Vidyalaya in Mumbai, Pune and Vadodara. Hence statement 1 is correct
- The saint also worked towards the eradication of social evils, spreading of education and the welfare of people, while also writing inspiring literature spanning from poetry and essays to stavans and devotional hymns, the statement added.
- He also actively supported the movement for Independence, also working and supporting the cause of the Swadeshi movement. Hence statement 2 is correct
- Over 50 institutions of eminence, including schools, study centres and colleges, have been operational across the country after being inspired by him.
Consider the following statements regardingWholesale Price Index (WPI)
- It is an index that measures and tracks the changes in the price of goods and services in the stages at the consumer level
- The index basket of the WPI covers commodities falling under the three major groups namely Primary Articles, Fuel and Power and Manufactured products
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: WPI inflation at 8-month high standing at 1.48% in October
- While food article prices softened in October, manufactured items witnessed hardening of prices, according to data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday. This is the highest level of WPI inflation since February when it was 2.26 per cent
- The wholesale price-based inflation rose to an eight-month high of 1.48 per cent in October, as manufactured products turned costlier.
- The WPI inflation was 1.32 per cent in September and zero per cent
- This is the highest level of Wholesale price index-based (WPI) inflation since February when it was 2.26 per cent.
- While food article prices softened in October, manufactured items witnessed hardening of prices, according to data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Monday.
- Food inflation in October stood at 6.37 per cent, as against 8.17 per cent in the previous month.
- The rate of price rise in vegetables and potato remained high at 25.23 per cent and 107.70 per cent, respectively, during the month.
- Inflation in non-food articles and minerals was higher at 2.85 per cent and 9.11 per cent, respectively.
About Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
- Wholesale Price Index (WPI) measures the average change in the prices of commodities for bulk sale at the level of early stage of transactions. Hence statement 1 is incorrect
- The index basket of the WPI covers commodities falling under the three major groups namely Primary Articles, Fuel and Power and Manufactured products. (The index basket of the present 2011-12 series has a total of 697items including 117 items for Primary Articles, 16 items for Fuel & Power and 564 items for Manufactured Products.). Hence statement 2 is correct
- The prices tracked are ex- factory price for manufactured products, mandi price for agricultural commodities and ex-mines prices for minerals. Weights given to each commodity covered in the WPI basket is based on the value of production adjusted for net imports. WPI basket does not cover services.
- In India WPI is also known as the headline inflation rate .
- In India, Office of Economic Advisor (OEA), Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry calculates the WPI.
- The new series with base 2011-12=100, was based on the recommendations of the Working Group which was constituted on 19th March 2012 under the chairmanship of Late Dr. Saumitra Chaudhuri, Member, erstwhile Planning Commission. The committee submitted its report in March 2014.
Which of the following statement is not correct regarding Bhagwan Birsa Munda
- He was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe.
- He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bombay Presidency in the late 19th century, during the British Raj.
- His portrait hangs in the Indian Parliament Museum; he is the only tribal leader to have been so honored.
- The Munda revolt mainly concentrated in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada and Bandgaon.
Answer: b) He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bombay Presidency in the late 19th century, during the British Raj.
Explanation:
In NEWS: Birsa Munda’s contribution to freedom movement, enhancing social harmony inspire us: PM Modi
- Birsa Munda (1875 – 1900) was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe.
- He spearheaded a tribal religious millenarian movement that arose in the Bengal Presidency (now Jharkhand) in the late 19th century, during the British Raj. Hence option (b) is not the correct answer.
- The revolt mainly concentrated in the Munda belt of Khunti, Tamar, Sarwada and Bandgaon.
- His slogan threatening the British Raj—Abua raj seter jana, maharani raj tundu jana (“Let the kingdom of the queen be ended and our kingdom be established”)—is remembered even today.
- His portrait hangs in the Indian Parliament Museum; he is the only tribal leader to have been so honoured.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/birsa-mundas-contribution-to-freedom-movement-enhancing-social-harmony-inspire-us-pm-modi/articleshow/79229602.cms
Consider the following statements
- Sex ratio at birth is the number of females born per 1000 males
- Arunachal Pradesh recorded the best sex ratio in the country, while Manipur recorded the worst.
- Vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System is the report published by the Registrar-General of India.
Which of the statement(s) is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS: Arunachal records best sex ratio, Manipur the worst
- Sex ratio at birth is the number of females born per 1000 males hence statement 1 is correct.
- Arunachal Pradesh(1084 females born per thousand males) recorded the best sex ratio in the country, while Manipur(757) recorded the worst. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Vital statistics of India based on the Civil Registration System is the report published by the Registrar-General of India. Hence statement 3 is correct.
- The number of registered births increased to 2.33 crore in 2018 from 2.21 crore registered births the previous year. “The level of registration of births has increased to 89.3% in 2018 from 81.3% in 2009,” the report said.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/arunachal-records-best-sex-ratio-manipur-the-worst/article33102441.ece#:~:text=Sex%20ratio%20at%20birth%20is,)%20and%20Karnataka%20(957).
With reference to Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), consider the following statements
- RCEP is a mega trade bloc comprising 15 countries including India which is led by China.
- The members account for nearly 30% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- The RCEP includes provisions on trade in goods and services, intellectual property, e-commerce, telecommunications and other issues.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Mega trade bloc RCEP takes off
- RCEP is a mega trade bloc comprising 15 countries which is led by China, that came into existence India would have to write expressing “intention” to join the organisation to restart negotiations for membership. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
- The members account for nearly 30% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Hence statement 2 is correct
- The RCEP includes provisions on trade in goods and services, intellectual property, e-commerce, telecommunications and other issues. Hence statement 3 is correct.
- Members: RCEP includes all ASEAN countries along with China, Japan, South Korea and Australia.
Source:https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rcep-signatories-ready-for-negotiations-once-india-gives-written-request-to-join-pact/article33102130.ece#:~:text=Photo%20Credit%3A%20Reuters-,India%20will%20have%20to%20re%2Dapply%20for%20membership%20negotiation,to%20restart%20negotiation%20for%20membership.
With reference to East Asia Summit (EAS), consider the following statements
- It is a forum of 18 regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation on the key political, security, and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
- The member states of the ASEAN are also members of this summit.
- India is one of the founding members of this summit.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS: East Asia Summit 2020 | India expresses concern over actions that erode trust in South China Sea
- East Asia Summit is a forum of 18 regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation on the key political, security, and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The member states of the ASEAN are also members of this summit. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- India is one of the founding members of this summit. Hence statement 3 is correct.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/east-asia-summit-2020-india-expresses-concern-over-actions-that-erode-trust-in-south-china-sea/article33100778.ece
Consider the following statements
- The constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister.
- Article 164 says that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor.
- The governor has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the state legislative assembly as the Chief Minister as per the Article 164 of the Indian Constitution.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 and 2 only
- 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 only
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
In News: Nitish to take oath as Bihar Chief Minister again today
- The constitution does not contain any specific procedure for the selection and appointment of the Chief Minister. Hence statement 1 is correct
- Article 164 only says that the Chief Minister shall be appointed by the governor. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- In accordance with the convections of the parliamentary system of government, the governor has to appoint the leader of the majority party in the state legislative assembly as the Chief Minister. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/bihar/nitish-kumar-to-take-oath-as-bihar-chief-minister-today/articleshow/79240623.cms
The Partition of Bengal made by Lord Curzon in 1905 lasted until
- The First World War when Indian troops were needed by the British and the partition was ended.
- King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act as the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911
- Gandhi launched his Civil Disobedience Movement.
- The Partition of India in 1947 when East Bengal became East Pakistan.
Answer: (b) King George V abrogated Curzon’s Act as the Royal Durbar in Delhi in 1911
