Weekly Current Affairs M.C.Q. (November first week)

1.The Global Hunger Index is calculated using which of the following indicators?

1. Undernourishment

2. Child Wasting

3. Child Stunting

4. Child Mortality

5. Infant Mortality

6. Mortality rate

Choose the correct option:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 6 only

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 4, 5 and 6 only

Answer :- B

2.Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Red Sanders’:

1. It is a tree endemic to the Western Ghats.

2. The tree is valued for its aromatic wood.

Which of the given statement/s is/are Incorrect?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c)

Explanation:

• Red sanders or red sandalwood is a species of Pterocarpus endemic to the Eastern Ghats of South India. This tree is valued for the rich red colour of its wood. The wood is not aromatic. The tree must not be confused with the aromatic Santalum sandalwood trees that grow natively in South India.

3.With respect to the powers of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of the UT of J&K, consider the following statements:

1. Police, public order, All India Services and anti-corruption, will fall under the executive functions of the LG, implying that the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers will have no say in their functioning.

2. In case of difference of opinion between the LG and a Minister when no agreement could be reached even after a month, the decision of the Lieutenant Governor shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Council of Ministers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c)

Explanation: • Both the statements are correct.

4.Arrange the following from West to East:

1. Dibru Saikhowa National Park

2. Manas National Park

3. Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park

4. Kaziranga National Park

Choose the correct option:

(a) 2, 4, 3, 1

(b) 2, 3, 4, 1

(d) 1, 2, 4, 3

Answer: b)

Explanation: • National Parks in Assam West to East: Manas National Park, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Dibru Saikhowa National Park.

5.Which of the following country is not bordered by Iran?

(a) Afghanistan

(b) Turkey

(d) Syria

Answer: d) Explanation: •There are seven countries that Iran shares this long land border with.

•These countries are Iraq, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

•Of these countries, Turkmenistan shares the longest border with Iran, with the border between the two countries stretching 713 miles.

6. Gilgit-Baltistan was sometimes seen in news. With reference to the same, consider the following statements:

1. It borders China in the North, Afghanistan in the west and Kashmir in the south east.

2. It shares a geographical boundary with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and India considers it as part of the undivided Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan sees it as a separate from PoK.

3. It has a regional Assembly and an elected Chief Minister.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d) Explanation: • All the three statements are correct.

Why in News :- Recently, Pakistan has decided to elevate Gilgit-Baltistan’s status to that of a full-fledged province which is one of the disputed territories of India.

7. Consider the following statements, with reference to Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme:

1.It is a centrally funded scholarship scheme for students in the backward states only.

2.It aims to help students of minority communities only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: b)

Why In News :- A recent investigation has found that the money meant for poor students under the Pre-Matric Scholarship Scheme in Jharkhand has been siphoned off and is not reaching the students. It is a centrally funded scholarship scheme for students in all states, which opens every year and has to be applied between August and November. It aims to help students of minority communities viz. Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists from families with annual income below Rs. 1 lakh.

8.Consider the following statements regarding the ‘Wetlands’:

1. Though they cover only around 6% of the Earth’s land surface, 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands.

2.The National Wetland Committee functions only as an advisory body.

3. In India the process to identify the wetlands has been delegated to the States.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d)

Explanation:

• Wetlands are ecosystems saturated with water, either seasonally or permanently.

• They include mangroves, marshes, rivers, lakes, deltas, floodplains and flooded forests, rice-fields, coral reefs, marine areas no deeper than 6 metres at low tide, as well as human-made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs.

• Though they cover only around 6% of the Earth’s land surface, 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands. so statement 1 is correct

Wetlands are regulated under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

• The 2010 version of the Rules provided for a Central Wetland Regulatory Authority, but new Rules of 2017 replaced it with state-level bodies and created a National Wetland Committee, which functions in an advisory role. So statement 2 is correct.

• The newer regulations removed some items from the definition of “wetlands” including backwaters, lagoons, creeks, and estuaries.

• Under the 2017 regulations process to identify the wetlands has been delegated to the States. So, statement 3 is also correct.

9.Consider the following statements regarding the GST Council:

1.GST Council is a statutory body constituted under the Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

2. The GST Council is headed by the Finance Minister of India.

3. Decisions are taken after a majority in the council with Centre has 1/3rd voting rights and states have 2/3rd Voting Rights.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Answer: c) Explanation:

•Goods & Services Tax Council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax.

• As per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution, the GST Council has to be constituted by the President within 60 days of the commencement of Article 279A.

• Its Chairman is Finance Minister.

• It will approve all decision related to taxation in the country.

• It consists of Centre, 28 states, Delhi, Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir.

• Centre has 1/3rd voting rights and states have 2/3rd voting rights.

• Decisions are taken after a majority in the council.

• Article 279A (4) specifies that the Council will make recommendations to the Union and the States on the important issues related to GST, such as, the goods and services will be subject or exempted from the Goods and Services Tax.

10. Which of the countries does not share land border with UAE?

Saudi Arabia
Oman
Qatar
Yemen

Which of the following is true?

A. 1,2,3
B.2,3,4
C.3,4
D.1,2

Answer and explanation :- C

11.Consider the following statements with respect to Pinaka missile :

The Pinaka is a multi-barrel rocket-launcher (MBRL) system
It is indigenously developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Which of the above statements is/are correct

a.only 1
b. only 2
c.1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWER :- C

DRDO has also developed and successfully tested the Mk-II which has a range of around 60 km.
The Guided Pinaka system has a range of 75 km and has integrated navigation, control and guidance system to improve the end accuracy and enhance the range.
The navigation system of Guided Pinaka missile is also aided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

12. Consider the following statements with respect to National Water Awards (NWAs)

The award was presented by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Maharashtra bagged the first place under the ‘Best State’ category under the National Water Awards (NWAs) 2019.

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

Tamil Nadu has bagged the first place under the ‘Best State’ category under the National Water Awards (NWAs) 2019, presented by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
Tamil Nadu was followed by Maharashtra and Rajasthan as the best states under the normal category.
The National Water Awards 2019 are presented in 16 categories including Best State, Best District, Best Village Panchayat, Best Urban Local Body, Best Research/ Innovation/ New Technology and Best Education among others, and each of the categories has sub-categories in different zones of the country.
The awards distribution ceremony will be held on November 11 and 12 virtually.