Consider the following statements regarding Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO):
- It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
- It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Agriculture has always been a high priority for India and Government of India is always committed to the welfare of farmers
- Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare addressed the 42nd session of Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Conference.
- The Conference takes place every two years and is FAO’s supreme governing body.
- It determines the policies of the Organization, approves the budget, and makes recommendations to Members on food and agriculture issues.
About Food and Agriculture Organization
- It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security. Hence statement (1) is correct
- It was founded in October 1945 and is headquartered in Rome. Hence statement (2) is incorrect.
- It maintains regional and field offices around the world, operating in over 130 countries.
- It also conducts research, provides technical assistance to projects, operates educational and training programs, and collects data on agricultural output, production, and development.
- Composed of 197 member states, the FAO is governed by a biennial conference representing each member country and the European Union, which elects a 49-member executive council.
- The Director-General serves as the chief administrative officer.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727330
Coordinated Patrol military exercises between which of the following two countries?
a) Indo-china
b) Indo-Nepal
c) Indo- Bhutan
d) Indo- Thailand
Answer: (d) Indo – Thailand
Explanation:
In NEWS: INDO-THAI COORDINATED PATROL (CORPAT)
- The 31st edition of India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) between the Indian Navyand the Royal Thai Navyis being conducted from 09 – 11 June Hence option (d) is correct.
- Indian Naval Ship (INS) Saryu, an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel and His Majesty’s Thailand Ship (HTMS) Krabi, anOffshore Patrol Vessel, along with Dornier Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both navies are participating in the CORPAT.
- Towards reinforcing maritime links between the two countries and with an aim of keeping this vital part of the Indian Ocean safe and secure for international trade, the two navies have been undertakingCORPATbi-annually along their International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) since 2005. CORPAT builds up understanding and interoperability between navies and facilitates institution of measures to prevent and suppress unlawful activities like Illegal Unreported Unregulated (IUU) fishing, drug trafficking, maritime terrorism, armed robbery and piracy.
- The 31stIndo-Thai CORPAT will contribute towards Indian Navy’s efforts to consolidate interoperability and forge strong bonds of friendship with the Royal Thai Navy.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1725559
Consider the following statements regarding Generalized System of Preferences:
- It was instituted in 1971 under the aegis of the World Trade Organisation.
- It is aimed at creating an enabling trading environment for developing countries.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: EU Parliament resolution puts spotlight on Sri Lanka’s rights situation
A recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament, urging the EU Commission to consider temporary withdrawal of the GSP+ status given to Sri Lanka, has put the spotlight back on the country’s human rights situation.
About Generalized System of Preferences (GSPs)
- It was instituted in 1971 under the aegis of United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Hence statement (1) is incorrect.
- It is aimed at creating an enabling trading environment for developing countries. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- The countries which grant GSP preferences are Australia, Belarus, Canada, the European Union, Iceland, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Norway, the Russian Federation, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States of America.
- The provision and utilization of trade preferences is a key goal the Istanbul Program of Actions adopted at the UN LDC IV in 2013, as further reaffirmed in SDGs Goal 17.
- The objective of UNCTAD’s support on GSP and other preferential arrangements is to help developing countries to increase utilization of GSP and other trade preferences.
European Union’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSPs)
- It is a set of EU rules allowing exporters from developing countries to pay less or no duties on their exports to the European Union.
- The EU adopted a new Generalized Scheme of Preferences in 2012.
- The objectives of the EU’s new GSP are:
- To focus help on countries which are more in need of trade preferences;
- To provide incentives for good governance and sustainable development; and
- To make the scheme more transparent, stable and predictable
Consider the following statements regarding Rice bran oil:
- It has high trans-fat content.
- It acts as a booster and reduces the risk of cancer due to the high amount of Vitamin E it contains.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Government of India’s NAFED launches Fortified Rice Bran Oil to Boost Healthy Living
- Department of Food and Public Distribution today E-launched “Nafed Fortified Rice Bran Oil”
- This initiative by Nafed will significantly reduce the country’s consumption dependence on imported edible oil in future.
- He also said that this will provide opportunities for Indian edible oil manufacturers further, and also will give an impetus to the Prime Minister’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat initiative.
- This Rice bran oil will be marketed by Nafed (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd).
- It may be noted that Rice Bran oil has multiple health benefits, including lowering cholesterol level due to its low trans-fat content and high monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat contents. Hence statement (1) is incorrect.
- It also acts as a booster and reduces the risk of cancer due to the high amount of Vitamin E it contains. This oil is recommended by The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best substitutes for other edible oils. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- Rice Bran oil from Nafed will be fortified and it will be ensured that it will contain additional nutrients and vitamins.
- According to the FSSAI, fortified oil can help a person fulfil 25-30% of the recommended dietary intake for vitamins A and D. Nafed Fortified Rice Bran Oil will be available at all Nafed Stores and also on various online platforms.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1727214
Consider the following statements regarding Anchor Investors:
- It is a concept launched by Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in 2009.
- They are institutional investors who are invited to subscribe the shares before the Initial Public Offers.
- Each anchor investor needs to invest a minimum of Rs 10 crore in the issue.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
In News: Dodla Dairy mobilises Rs 156 cr from anchor investors ahead of IPO
- Dodla Dairy, a leading dairy company in southern India, on Tuesday said it has raised a little over Rs 156 crore from anchor investors ahead of its initial share-sale, which opens for public subscription
About anchor investors
- The Government plans to bring in anchor investors to invest up to ?25,000 crore in the shares of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) in its planned mega initial public offering (IPO).
- Anchor investor is a concept launched by Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in 2009. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- They are institutional investors who are invited to subscribe the shares before the Initial Public Offers (IPOs). Hence statement (2) is correct.
- They are required to take up the share at a fixed price to make other investors confident and improve the demand of the share.
- This process also helps to improve the investment opportunity for retail investors with the company.
- Each anchor investor needs to invest a minimum of Rs 10 crore in the issue. Hence statement (3) is correct.
- The anchor investor who applies for the anchor quota surely gets a guaranteed allotment.
- They are able to make an offer of shares anywhere. It is to be noted that it should be within the price band which is declared by the company
- There is a lock-in of 30 days on shares for every anchor investor
- The anchor investor is not allowed to sell his/her share for at least 30 days after the allotment.
- Investors who want to flip shares on the listing are advised not to use this anchor route.
With respect to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), consider the following statements:
- It is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.
- It addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: PM delivers keynote address at the UN ‘High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land degradation and Drought’
- In last 10 years, around 3 million hectares of forest cover added in India, enhancing the combined forest cover to almost one-fourth of the country’s total area
- India is on track to achieve its national commitment of Land degradation neutrality
- Restoration of 26 million hectares of degraded land aimed by 2030 to achieve an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent
- Centre of Excellence is being set up in India to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues
- The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi delivered a keynote address at the UN “High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought” today via video conference.
- The Prime Minister spoke at the Opening Segment in his capacity as the President of the 14th Session of the Conference of Parties of United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
About United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
- The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- The Convention, the only convention stemming from a direct recommendation of the Rio Conference’s Agenda 21.
- It was adopted in Paris, France on 17 June 1994 and entered into force in December 1996.
- The Convention is based on the principles of participation, partnership and decentralization, the backbone of Good Governance and Sustainable Development.
- It has 197 parties, making it near universal in reach.
- To help publicise the Convention, 2006 was declared “International Year of Deserts and Desertification”.
More about the convention
- The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation.
- The UNCCD secretariat facilitates cooperation between developed and developing countries, particularly around knowledge and technology transfer for sustainable land management.
- The new UNCCD 2018-2030 Strategic Framework is the most comprehensive global commitment to
- achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development In order to restore the productivity of vast expanses of degraded land
- improve the livelihoods of more than 1.3 billion people
- reduce the impacts of drought on vulnerable populations to build a future that avoids, minimizes, and reverses desertification/land degradation and mitigates the effects of drought in affected areas at all levels.
- The UNCCD collaborates closely with the other two Rio Conventions; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to meet these complex challenges with an integrated approach and the best possible use of natural resources.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1727045
Tulu Language belongs to which of the following states in India?
a) Karnataka and Kerala
b) Odisha
c) Gujarat and Rajasthan
d) Bihar and West Bengal
Answer: (a) Karnataka and Kerala
Explanation:
In NEWS: Explained: The history of Tulu and the demand for official language status
- Various organisations initiated a Twitter campaign demanding official language status to Tulu in Karnataka and Kerala and received an overwhelming response
Tulu in India:
- Tulu is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in two coastal districts Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala. As per the 2011 Census report, there are 18,46,427 Tulu-speaking people in India. Hence option (a) is correct.
- The Tulu speakers, mainly in Karnataka and Kerala, have been requesting the governments to give it official language status and include it in the eighth schedule to the Constitution.
- Tulu has a rich oral literature tradition with folk-song forms like paddana and traditional folk theatre yakshagana.
- Tulu also has an active tradition of cinema, with around 5 to 7 Tulu language movies produced a year.
- Moreover, Tulu films are screened every day in Mangalore and Udupi in at least one theater.
Advantages of including Tulu in Eight Schedule: If it is included in the Eighth Schedule, it would get the following benefits:
- Recognitionfrom the Sahitya Akademi.
- Translationof Tulu literary works into other languages.
- Members of Parliament (MP) and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) could speak Tulu in Parliament and State Assemblies, respectively.
- Optionto take competitive exams in Tulu including all-India competitive examinations like the Civil Services exam.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tulu-language-protest-history-7358953/
Consider the following statements:
- 1. The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India.
- 2. There are 22 official languages in India including English and Rajasthani.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Explained: The history of Tulu and the demand for official language status
- According to the 2011 Census, there are around 18 lakh native speakers of Tulu in India. This is more than the speakers of Manipuri and Sanskrit, which have the Eighth Schedule status.
- Robert Caldwell (1814-1891), in his book, “A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian Or South-Indian Family of Languages” has called Tulu as one of the most highly developed languages of the Dravidian family.
- Article 29 of the Indian Constitution provides that a section of citizens with a distinct language, script or culture have the right to conserve the same.
- The Yuelu Proclamation made by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at Changsha, China in 2018 provides for the protection and promotion of linguistic diversity.
- The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India lists the official languages of the Republic of India. Hence statement (1) is correct
- As per Articles 344(1) and 351 of the Indian Constitution, the eighth schedule includes the recognition of the following 22 languages.
22 Official Languages
- The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution consists of the following 22 languages:
- Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani, (8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21) Maithili and (22) Dogri.
- Of these languages, 14 were initially includedin the Constitution.
- Sindhilanguage was added by the 21st Amendment Act of 1967.
- Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepaliwere included by the 71st Amendment Act of 1992.
- Bodo, Dogri, Maithili, and Santhaliwere added by 92nd Amendment Act of 2003.
- Hence statement (2) is incorrect
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tulu-language-protest-history-7358953/
Recently, India exports GI certified Jardalu mangoes to the UK. This mango belongs to which of the following state in India?
a) Bihar
b) West Bengal
c) Tamilnadu
d) Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (a) Bihar
Explanation:
In NEWS: First commercial consignment of GI certified Jardalu mangoes from Bihar exported to United Kingdom
- In a major boost to agri-exports potential of eastern region, the first commercial consignment of Geographical Indications (GI) certified Jardalu mangoes from Bhagalpur, Bihar was exported today to the United
About Jardalu Mangoes:
- Jardalu Mangoes is grown in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar. It received the Geographical Indications(GI) certification in 2018. Hence option (a) is correct
- The mango is famous for its exclusive aroma, sweetness and other nutritional properties.
- It is rich in fibre and enzymes that are highly beneficial to the abdominal muscles and digestive system.
- Moreover, Jardalu mango is also considered a safe fruit for even those who have been diagnosed with diabetes or have a poor digestive system.
About Mangoes in India:
- Mangoes in India are referred to as ‘king of fruits. They are mentioned in ancient scriptures as Kalpavriksha (wish-granting tree).
- States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka have a major share in the total production of the mango.
GI certified mangoes in News:
- Khirsapati & Laxman Bhog (West Bengal),
- Jardalu (Bihar),
- Banganapalli and Suvarnarekha mango varieties (Andhra Pradesh).
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1726999
With reference to the Parliament of India, which of the following Parliamentary Committees scrutinizes and reports to the House whether the powers to make regulations, rules, sub -rules, by -laws, etc. conferred by the Constitution or delegated by the Parliament are being properly exercised by the Executive within the scope of such delegation?
a) Committee on Government Assurances
b) Committee on Subordinate Legislation
c) Rules Committee
d) Business Advisory Committee
Answer: (b) Committee on Subordinate Legislation
Explanation:
The Committee on Subordinate Legislation examines and reports to the House whether the powers to make rules, regulations, bye – laws, schemes or other statutory instruments conferred by the Constitution or delegated by Parliament are being properly exercised. In both the Houses, the committee consists of 15 members. It was constituted in 1953.Hence option (b) is correct.
