1. Consider the following statements regarding Maximum Residue Limit:
- It is the highest level of pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in food or feed.
- It is set by the Codex of Food Agriculture organisation.
Which of the statements 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: Punjab bans use of 10 insecticides
- Amid reports that several samples of the aromatic, long-grain basmati rice, contained the residue value of certain pesticides above the Maximum Residual Level (MRL)
- The State Government believes that the sale, stock distribution, and use of the 10 insecticides which include — Acephate, Buprofezin, Chloropyriphos, Methamidophos, Propiconazole, Thiamethoxam, Profenofos, Isoprothiolane, Carbendazim, and Tricyclazole — is not in the interest of basmati rice growers.
Maximum Residue Limit
- A maximum residue limit (MRL) is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- Maximum Residue Level (MRL) The Maximum Residue Level (MRL) is the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg) to be legally permitted in or on food commodities and animal feeds.
- MRLs are based on Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) data.
- ● Codex sets Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food and feed crops to provide standards for food safety and foster international trade. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- For many pesticides this is set at the Limit of determination (LOD) – since only major pesticides have been evaluated and understanding of acceptable daily intake (ADI) is incomplete
2. Rani Chennamma led an armed force against the British East India Company in 1824 in defiance of the:
- Doctrine of Lapse
- Doctrine of pith and substance
- Doctrine of paramountcy
- Subsidiary alliance
Answer: (a) Doctrine of Lapse
Explanation:
In NEWS: Explained: Women heroes of India’s freedom struggle, mentioned by PM in his I-Day speech
- In his ninth Independence Day address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed “nari shakti”, and urged people to pledge to not do anything that lowers the dignity of women.
Rani Chennamma
- The queen of Kittur, Rani Chennamma, was among the first rulers to lead an armed rebellion against British rule. Kittur was a princely state in present-day Karnataka.
- She fought back against the attempt to control her dominion in 1824 after the death of her young son. Hence option (d) is correct.
- She had lost her husband, Raja Mallasarja, in 1816.
- She is seen among the few rulers of the time who understood the colonial designs of the British.
- Rani Chennamma defeated the British in her first revolt, but was captured and imprisoned during the second assault by the East India Company.
- The British ordered Rani Chennamma to exile the adopted child Shivalingappa, using the policy of paramountcy and complete authority.
- Rani Chennamma fought fiercely with the help of her lieutenants, Sangolli Rayanna and Gurusiddappa, but was outnumbered and ultimately captured and imprisoned at Bailhongal Fort, where she died on 21 February 1829.
3. Consider the following statements regarding Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System:
- It is developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
- It has a range of over 45 kilometres.
- It is configured with an all-electric drive that will ensure maintenance-free and reliable operation over long periods of time.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 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: Explained: What is ATAGS, the indigenous howitzer used in Independence Day 21-gun salute?
In a first, an indigenously developed howitzer gun, ATAG, became part of the 21-gun salute during the Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort.
About Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System
- The ATAGS is an indigenous 155 mm x 52 calibre howitzer gun developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with its Pune-based facility Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE)
- Howitzers is an umbrella term for a category of long-range artillery guns.
Development of the ATAGS
- The ATAGS project was started in 2013 by DRDO to replace older guns in service in the Indian Army with a modern 155 mm artillery gun.
- With ARDE as the nodal laboratory, other DRDO facilities that joined the development efforts are Instruments Research and Development Establishment (IRDE), Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE), Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), and Defence Electronics Applications Laboratory (DEAL). Hence statement (1) is correct.
- It is a large calibre Gun system with the capability to program and fire future Long Range Guided Munitions (LRGM) to achieve precision and deep strike.
- It has a range of over 45 kilometres. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- The system is configured with an all-electric drive that will ensure maintenance-free and reliable operation over long periods of time. Hence statement (3) is correct.
- The ATAGS is configured with all electric drive to ensure maintenance free and reliable operation over a longer period of time.
- It has advanced features in terms of high mobility, quick deployability, auxiliary power mode, advanced communication system, automatic command and control system with night firing capability in the direct fire mode.
4. Consider the following statements regarding DigiYatra:
- It is a project conceived to achieve contactless and seamless processing of passengers at Airports based on Facial Recognition Technology.
- It provides a decentralized mobile wallet-based identity management platform which is cost effective.
Which of the statements 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: Explained: What is DigiYatra, the contactless passenger processing system for airports
DigiYatra will be rolled out at Varanasi and Bengaluru this month, and at five airports — Pune, Vijayawada, Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad — by March next year.
What is DigiYatra and how will it work?
- DigiYatra envisages that travellers pass through various checkpoints at the airport through paperless and contactless processing, using facial features to establish their identity, which would be linked to the boarding pass. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- With this technology, the entry of passengers would be automatically processed based on the facial recognition system at all checkpoints – including entry into the airport, security check areas, aircraft boarding, etc.
- The project is being implemented by the DigiYatra Foundation — a joint-venture company whose shareholders are the Airports Authority of India (26% stake) and Bengaluru Airport, Delhi Airport, Hyderabad Airport, Mumbai Airport and Cochin International Airport
- It provides a decentralized mobile wallet-based identity management platform which is cost effective and addresses privacy/data protection issues in implementation of Digi Yatra. Hence statement (2) is correct.
Objectives of DIGI YATRA:
- Enhance passenger experience and provide a simple and easy experience to all air travellers.
- Achieve better throughput through existing infrastructure using “Digital Framework”.
- Result in lower cost operations.
- Digitize current manual processes and to bring better efficiencies
- Enhance security standards and improve current system performance.
5. The F-INSAS system recently seen in news, is related to which one of the following areas?
- Weather Forecast System
- Earthquake Detector system
- FingerPrint analysis System
- Infantry soldier system
Answer: (d) Infantry soldier system
Explanation:
In NEWS: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hands over F-INSAS to Indian Army
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over to the Indian Army the much-awaited Future Infantry Soldier as a System (F-INSAS) in an unveiling ceremony of various defence and strategic systems held in Delhi.
What is the F-INSAS system?
- F-INSAS stands for Future Infantry Soldier As A System, a programme for infantry modernisation aimed at increasing the operational capability of the soldier. Hence option (d) is correct.
- As part of the project, soldiers are being equipped with modern systems that are lightweight, all-weather-all-terrain, cost-effective and low maintenance.
- The full-gear of the F-INSAS system includes an AK-203 assault rifle, which is a Russian-origin gas-operated, magazine-fed, select fire assault rifle.
- It has a range of 300 metre, and is being made in Amethi in a Russia-India joint venture
- Apart from that F-INSAS provides soldiers with ballistic helmets, ballistic goggles, and bullet-proof jackets. The helmet and the bullet-proof jacket are capable of protecting the soldier against 9 mm bullets and ammunition fired from AK-47 rifles
- The F-INSAS system also brings in hands-free, secured advanced communications set for real-time exchange of information with the command posts and enhanced situational awareness.
6. Consider the following statements regarding Project 75 (India):
- Under this project, the Indian Navy intends to acquire six diesel-electric submarines.
- Project 75 (I) succeeds the Project 75 Kalvari-class submarine for the Indian Navy.
Which of the statements 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: Terms of Indian Navy’s mega submarine deal unrealistic: Russian official
- Russia, which has pulled out of the Indian Navy’s tender for the construction of six advanced submarines under Project-75I, has informed India that it cannot meet the terms and conditions for the over ₹40,000 crore project.
- The project ran into rough weather, among other things, over one of the specifications mentioned, that the submarine on offer should have an operational Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) module. Only Germany and South Korea technically meet this criteria
About Project 75 (India)
- Project-75(I) envisages indigenous construction of six modern conventional submarines with contemporary equipment, weapons and sensors, including Fuel-Cell based Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system, advanced torpedoes, modern missiles, and state-of-the-art countermeasure systems. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- Project 75 (I) succeeds the Project 75 Kalvari-class submarine for the Indian Navy. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- Project 75 (I) would provide a major boost to the indigenous design and construction capability of submarines in India, in addition to bringing in the latest submarine design and technologies as part of the project
About Project 75
- Project 75 was the first part which was started in Oct 2005 and is nearing completion, with the sixth Kalvari class boat of Scorpene design to be delivered to the Navy by the end of this year.
- Project 75 was the first part which was started in Oct 2005 and is nearing completion, with ; the sixth Rafale jets of scorpene design to be delivered to the air force by end of this year.
Source: TH
7. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between which of the following countries?
- Armenia and Azerbaijan
- Niger and Nigeria
- South Korea and North Korea
- Iran and Iraq
Answer: (a) Armenia and Azerbaijan
Explanation:
In NEWS: Explained | Why does the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh remain unresolved?
- The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is an ethnic and territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagoron – karabakh. Hence option (a) is correct.
- Both the countries claim absolute historic ownership of the region which is located within the boundaries of Azerbaijan but populated largely by ethnic Armenians.
- The Line of Contact was the line of military control which separated Armenian forces and the Azerbaijan Armed forces from the end of the First Nagorno- Karabakh war until the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire Agreement.
- For approximately four decades, territorial disputes and ethnic conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Central Asia have impacted the Nagorno-Karabakh region in the South Caucasus.
- Nagorno-Karabakh broke away from Azerbaijan in a conflict that broke out as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
- It is now run by ethnic Armenians. Though a ceasefire was agreed in 1994, after thousands of people were killed and many more displaced, Azerbaijan and Armenia frequently accuse each other of attacks around Nagorno-Karabakh.
8. Sometimes, the Hambantota port is seen in news, and is associated with which of the following countries?
- SriLanka
- Nepal
- Myanmar
- Malaysia
Answer: (a) SriLanka
Explanation:
In NEWS: Chinese vessel reaches Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port
- China’s satellite tracking vessel Yuan Wang 5 , arrived at Sri Lanka’s southern Hambantota Port, after both India and the U. S. voiced concern with the Sri Lankan government over the “military” ship’s visit.
About Hambantota port
- The Hambantota International Port is a deep water port in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. Hence option (a) is correct.
- The southern deep-sea port of Hambantota is considered strategically important for its location.
- The Hambantota port is located on the southern tip of Sri Lanka within 10 nautical miles from the world’s busiest maritime lanes.
- It is ideally located at the intersection of the major international shipping routes. Approximately 200 to 300 ships sail through this route daily. The Hambantota port is strategically positioned in terms of domestic trade perspectives also.
- The port has been developed largely with Chinese loans. India has said it carefully monitors any development having a bearing on its security and economic interests
- The launch of the second phase of the development of the port commenced on the same day. There is also a move to create this port as a free port due to its commercial inactivity.
9. Consider the following statements regarding Startup India Seed Fund Scheme:
- It is launched by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
- It aims to provide financial assistance to startups for Proof of Concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.
Which of the statements 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: Atal Incubation Centre at NIFT TEA in Tiruppur to extend seed fund to textile startups
- The Atal Incubation Centre at NIFT TEA in Tiruppur has been recognised under the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme of the Union government.
Startup India Seed Fund Scheme
- It provides financial assistance to eligible Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recognised startups, enabling the startups to graduate to a level where they will be able to raise investments from angel investors or venture capitalists or seek loans from commercial banks or financial institutions. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- SISFS is disbursed to eligible startups through eligible incubators across India.
- Easy availability of capital is essential for entrepreneurs at the early stages of growth of an enterprise.
- Funding from angel investors and venture capital firms becomes available to startups only after the proof of concept has been provided. Similarly, banks provide loans only to asset-backed applicants
- DPIIT has created Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) with an outlay of INR 945 Crore to provide financial assistance to startups for Proof of Concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- It will support an estimated 3,600 entrepreneurs through 300 incubators in the next 4 years.
- A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of application.
- Startups should not have received more than Rs. 10 lakh of monetary support under any other Central or State Government scheme.
10. ‘Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan’ is a national campaign to
- rehabilitate the homeless and destitute persons and provide them with suitable sources of livelihood
- release the sex workers from their practice and provide them with alternative sources of livelihood
- eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
- release the bonded labourers from their bondage and rehabilitate them
Answer: (c) eradicate the practice of manual scavenging and rehabilitate the manual scavengers
Explanation:
- Rashtriya Garima Abhiyaan is a national campaign for dignity and eradication of manual scavenging launched by Jan Sahas in 2001. Hence option (c) is correct.
