Consider the following Statements regardingKuka Movement
It was one of the most important phase of the Namdhari Movementin the Punjab against the British .
The Kukas wore only white, hand-woven clothes and boycotted British education, products and laws
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:Minister pays tributes to Kuka martyrs at Malerkotla
About Kuka Movement
- The Kuka Movement was one of the most important phase of the Namdhari Movement.
- It marked the first major reaction of the people in the Punjab against the new political order initiated by the British after 1849 and aimed at overthrowing the British rule.Hence statement 1 is correct
- They played significant role in the Non-cooperation Movement of India and actively propagated the civil disobedience.
- The Kuka Movement made the people aware of their serfdom and bondage. It evoked the feelings of self respect and sacrifice for the country. Within a few years, the followers of the Kuka Movement increased manifold.
- They called for boycott of educational institutions of British and laws established by them.
- They were rigid in their clothing and wore only hand-spun white attire. Hence statement 2 is correct
About Namdhari Movement
- The Namdhari movement was founded by Satguru Ram Singh in 1857.
- It restructured Sikhism and reshaped the Sikh community into a militant and religious-political dominion.
- The Namdharis were also known as Kukas because of their trademark style of reciting the Gurbani i.e., Hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib.
- They used a recitation of Gurbani, Ardas, a flag and baptism for entry into the new community.
- They were required to wear the five symbols of Sikhism.
- They keep a Lathi with them instead of the Kripan (sword).
- Namdharis abandoned the worshipof gods, goddesses, idols, graves, tombs, trees, and snakes.
- They rejected the authority of the hereditary custodians of the Sikh Gurdwarasand also rejected the popular saints along with the rituals conducted by Brahman priests.
- They rejected Dowiresand forbade child marriage.
- They considered the women equal to menand initiated them through baptism and allowed them to remarry when widowed.
Source: TOI
Consider the following Statements regarding SWITCH UAV
It is a fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing UAV that can be deployed at high altitude and harsh environments.
It is designed and developed by the Israel
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:Drone maker ideaForge bets big on indigenisation for armed forces
- The Indian army signed a $20-million contract with home-grown drone maker ideaForge, to procure undisclosed quantities of a high-altitude variant of SWITCH UAV, an indigenous system used in surveillance operations.
- ideaForge was incubated in 2007 at the Society for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SINE) at IIT-B by four alumni members. Hence statement 2 is incorrect
About SWITCH UAV:
- It is an indigenous system used in surveillance operations of the Indian forces.
- The Switch UAV is a fixed-wing vertical take-off and landing UAV that can be deployed at high altitude and harsh environments for day and night surveillance in Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is man-portable and has the highest time on target compared to any other UAV in its class.
- Switch UAV is the only product that cleared the Indian Army’s stringent product trials and surpassed expectations.
- It is a fixed-wing hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. It’s features include:
- Advanced flight time with a range of 15 km
- Around 2.6m long and 1.8m wide and weighs less than 6.5 kg
- Higher safety and simple operation with additional fail-safe redundancies
Source: HT, The Hindu
Consider the following Statements regardingbad bank
It buys the bad loans and other illiquid holdings of other banks and financial institutions.
This concept has been successfully implemented in European countries post-2007 financial crisis.
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:RBI open to bad bank proposal: Shaktikanta Das
- The NPAs of the banking sector are expected to shoot up to 13.5 per cent of advances by September 2021 from 7.5 per cent in September 2020.
- The governor has said that the banks and non-bank financial companies (NBFCs) need to identify risks early, monitor them closely and manage them effectively.
- The RBI Governor noted that the current Covid-19 pandemic related shock will place greater pressure on the balance sheets of banks in terms of NPAs, leading to erosion of capital.
- About Bad bank
A bad bank is a bank set up to buy the bad loans and other illiquid holdings of another financial institution.Hence statement 1 is correct - The entity holding significant NPAs will sell these holdings to the bad bank at market price.
- The banking sector, led by the Indian Banks Association (IBA), had in May submitted a proposal for setting up a bad bank to the finance ministry and the RBI, proposing equity contribution from the government and the banks.
- This was based on an idea proposed by a panel on faster resolution of stressed assets in public sector banks headed by former PNB Chairman Sunil Mehta.
- This concept has been successfully implemented in many western European countries post the 2007 financial crisis like Ireland, Sweden, France etc. Hence statement 2 is correct
- Even in 2017 Economic Survey had mooted the idea by suggesting the creation of Public Sector Asset Rehabilitation Agency (PARA). Even former RBI governor RaghuramRajan had started a debate on Bad Banks in 2015 as a possible solution to the problems of Non Performing Assets.
Consider the following Statements regarding Doppler Weather Radar
It has been designed and developed by ISRO and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited
It provides advanced information, enhancing the lead-time so essential for saving lives and property, in the event of natural disaster associated with severe weather.
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:Indigenously built, first pair of weather radars installed over Himalayas
- Union Minister for Earth Sciences Dr Harsh Vardhan Friday commissioned two of the ten indigenously built Doppler weather radars which will closely monitor the weather changes over the Himalayas.
- Services of X-band Doppler radars at Mukteshwar in Uttarakhand and Kufri in Himachal Pradesh were virtually inaugurated on the 146th foundation day of the India Meteorological Department (IMD)
- The DWR has been designed and developed by ISRO and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bengaluru.Hence statement 1 is correct
- The X-band Doppler radars will cover the central and western Himalayas,thesepolarised radars will gather atmospheric variations and pick signals of extreme weather events
- X-band Doppler radars-They operate on a wavelength of 2.5-4 cm and a frequency of 8-12 GHz
About Doppler Weather Radar (DWR)
- It is a specialized radar that uses the Doppler effect to produce velocity data about objects at a distance
- It is designed to improve precision in long-range weather forecasting and surveillance using a parabolic dish antenna and a foam sandwich spherical radome.
- It has the equipment to measure rainfall intensity, wind shear and velocity and locate a storm centre and the direction of a tornado or gust front.
- It provides advanced information, enhancing the lead-time so essential for saving lives and property, in the event of natural disaster associated with severe weather. Hence statement 2 is correct
Consider the following statements regarding
Rakshita, a bike-based casualty transport emergency vehicle to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) developed by DRDO.
Rakshita is fitted with a customized reclining Casualty Evacuation Seat (CES), which can be fitted in and taken out as per requirement.
This bike ambulance is useful not only for the paramilitary and military forces but also for civil applications.
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: DRDO hands over MotorBike Ambulance ‘Rakshita’ to CRPF
- DRDO hands over MotorBike Ambulance ‘Rakshita’ to CRPF.
- Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences (INMAS), Delhi based DRDO laboratory, handed over Rakshita, a bike-based casualty transport emergency vehicle to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) .hence statement 1 is correct
- Rakshita is fitted with a customized reclining Casualty Evacuation Seat (CES), which can be fitted in and taken out as per requirement. hence statement 2 is correct
- The bike ambulance will help in overcoming the problems faced by Indian security forces and emergency healthcare providers. It will provide life-saving aid for evacuation of injured patients from low intensity conflict areas.
- This bike ambulance is useful not only for the paramilitary and military forces but has potential civil applications too. Hence statement 3 is correct
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1689731
With reference to the Stratovolcano, which of the following statement is incorrect?
1.The lava from stratovolcano are not of significant threat to humans as they are highly viscous.
2.It is built by many layers of hardened lava
3.The lava of stratovolcano is highly viscous.
4.All the Stratovolcano are the most dangerous Volcano in the world
Answer: d) All the Stratovolcano are the most dangerous Volcano in the world
Explanation:
In NEWS: Indonesian Semeru volcano erupts, spews ash 5kms into sky
- The stratovolcano is also called a conical volcano. It is built by many layers of hardened lava.
- The lava of stratovolcano is highly viscous. It cools and hardens before spreading far. Also, the stratovolcano has periodic effusive eruptions.
- The lava from stratovolcano are not of significant threat to humans as they are highly viscous.
- On the other hand, the Nyiragongo is the only dangerous stratovolcano in the world as its magma are unusually low in silica which makes the lava quite fluid. This increases the flow rate of the lava. Hence option (d) is incorrect answer
Source:IE
Mount Semeru is an active volcano located in
1.India
2.Indonesia
3.Australia
4.America
Answer: b) Indonesia
Explanation:
In NEWS: Indonesian Semeru volcano erupts, spews ash 5kms into sky
- Mount Seemeru is an active volcano located in East Java, Indonesia. The volcano is located in the subduction zone where the Indo-Australia plate subducts under the Eurasia plate. Hence option (b) is the correct answer
- The Mount Semeru is a stratovolcano. Since 1818, around 55 eruptions have been recorded in Mt Semeru. It is an active volcano and has recently erupted.
Source:
.Consider the following statements
The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities.
It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices weighted with the average export shares.
Cereal, vegetable, dairy, meat and sugar are the five commodity group price indices
Select the correct answer using the code given below
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS: World food price index rises for seventh straight month in Dec.
- The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) food price index is a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It consists of the average of five commodity group price indices [cereal, vegetable, dairy, meat and sugar], weighted with the average export shares. Hence statement 2 and statement 3 is correct
- It averaged 107.5 points in December versus 105.2 in November. For the whole of 2020, the benchmark index averaged 97.9 points, a three-year high and a 3.1% increase from 2019.
- World food prices rose for a seventh consecutive month in December, with all the major categories, barring sugar, posting gains last month, the United Nations food agency said.
Source https://www.thehindu.com/business/world-food-price-index-rises-for-seventh-straight-month-in-december/article33523068.ece
Consider the following statements regarding International Migration 2020 Highlights
It is the report published by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
It provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by country of destination, origin, age and sex for all countries and areas of the world.
The United Arab Emirates host the largest numbers of migrants from India.
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: International Migration 2020 Highlights
- The report International Migrants 2020 highlights, published by the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). Hence statement 1 is correct
- It provides the latest estimates of the number of international migrants by country of destination, origin, age and sex for all countries and areas of the world. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The Indian diaspora, one of the most “vibrant and dynamic”, is the largest in the world, with 18 million people from the country living outside their homeland in 2020.
- The United Arab Emirates, the US and Saudi Arabia host the largest numbers of migrants from IndiaHence statement 3 is correct
- The report said India’s large diaspora is distributed across a number of major countries of destination, with the UAE (3.5 million), the US (2.7 million) and Saudi Arabia (2.5 million) hosting the largest numbers of migrants from India.
- Other countries hosting large numbers of migrants from India included Australia, Canada, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar and the UK.
- Between 2000 and 2020, the size of the migrant population abroad grew for nearly all countries and areas of the world. India experienced the largest gain during that period at nearly 10 million, followed in order of magnitude by Syria, Venezuela, China and the Philippines.
- Migration from India is largely motivated by labour and family reasons, Director of Population Division at UN DESA John Wilmoth told reporters at the launch of the report here, adding that forced displacement is a much smaller category (about 10 per cent) in the total.
- Germany hosted the second largest number of migrants worldwide at around 16 million, followed by Saudi Arabia (13 million), Russia (12 million) and the UK (9 million).
- Currently, international migrants represent about 3.6 per cent of the world’s population.
Source: https://www.un.org/en/desa/international-migration-2020-highlights
A decrease in tax to GDP ratio of a country indicates which of the following?
Slowing economic growth rate
Less equitable distribution of national income
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation:
For the tax/GDP ratio to decrease either the tax collection should decrease or GDP should increase. Now considering the first statement if the GDP collection might or might not necessarily increase with a slow growth rate. Hence this option is ruled out. Increase in indirect tax collection may lead to less equality in income distribution but the same cannot be said for increase in direct tax collection. Hence, even this option can be ruled out.
