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PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Current Affairs MCQs for Practice – 08 Feb 2022

Question-1

Which Act was amended in 2010 to declare the 100-metre radius around Centrally protected monuments as prohibited areas and the next 300-metre radius as regulated areas?

a)     The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958

b)     The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904

c)      The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act, 1979

d)     The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016

Ans- a

Explanation-

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958, was amended in 2010 to declare the 100-metre radius of protected monuments as prohibited areas and the next 300-metre radius as regulated areas.

Question-2

TensorFlow, a free neural network framework, which can be used for both normal Machine Learning as well as Deep Learning tasks, was developed by which tech firm?

a)                 Oracle

b)                 Microsoft

c)                  Google

d)                 IBM

Ans- c

Explanation-

A few popular free neural network frameworks are TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch and Theano. TensorFlow was developed by Google. It uses a specific hardware that is optimised to work with GPU and divides the neural network operations and the corresponding data into units called Tensors.

Question-3

A parliamentary panel objected to the code name ‘GAY’ for the airport at _____________, and suggested that a more “appropriate” code like ‘YAG’ may be assigned.

a)    Gyaraspur

b)    Gaya

c)    Gyanpur

d)    Gyalshing

Ans- b

Explanation-

The code name “GAY” for the airport at Gaya is “offensive, embarrassing and inappropriate” and the government must make all efforts to get it changed, a parliamentary panel has said in its report.

Question-4

Consider the following statements regarding Motion of Thanks:

1.   The Motion of thanks on President’s address cannot be amended by the Rajya Sabha.

2.   The motion of thanks not passed by the Lok Sabha amounts to the defeat of the government.

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

a)   1 only

b)   2 only

c)    Both 1 and 2

d)   Neither 1 nor 2

Ans - b

Explanation-

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today (08 Feb 2022) replied to the motion of thanks on the President’s address to Parliament, in the Lok Sabha.

Motion of Thanks

·      Article 87 provides for the special address by the President.

·      The article provides that at the commencement of the first session after each general election to the House of the People and at the commencement of the first session of each year.

·      The President shall address both Houses of Parliament assembled together and inform Parliament of the causes of its summons.

·      Such an Address is called 'special address', and it is also an annual feature.

·      This Address has to be to both Houses of Parliament assembled together.

·      Notices of amendments to the Motion of Thanks can be given only after the President has delivered the Address.

·      The motion of thanks can be amended by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

·      The Motion of Thanks must be passed in the House.

·      Otherwise, it amounts to the defeat of the government.

·      It is one of the ways through which the Lok Sabha can also express a lack of confidence in the government.

Question-5

Consider the following statements with regards to Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana:

1.   PMMVY is a maternity benefit programme being implemented in all districts of the country with effect from 1st January 2017.

2.   Cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.

3.   It is a centrally sponsored scheme being executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Choose the correct code:

a)   1 & 2 only

b)   2 & 3 only

c)    1 & 3 only

d)   All of the above

Ans- d

Explanation-

• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Maternity Benefit Programme that is implemented in all the districts of the country in accordance with the provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana launched in 2017, provides ₹5,000 for the birth of the first child to partially compensate a woman for the loss of wages. It is combined with another scheme, Janani Suraksha Yojana, under which nearly ₹1,000 is given for an institutional birth. So in total, a woman gets ₹6,000.
• The amount is given in three instalments upon meeting certain conditions. Cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly.
• It is a centrally sponsored scheme being executed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Question- 6

The Supreme Court recently stated, “The grant of ____________ is to break the monotony of imprisonment and to enable the convict to maintain continuity with family life and integration with society. Although _________ can be claimed without a reason, the prisoner does not have an absolute legal right to claim __________. The grant of __________ must be balanced against the public interest and can be refused to certain categories of prisoners.”

What was the Supreme Court referring to?

a)   Parole

b)   Furlough

c)    Bail

d)   Anticipatory Bail

Ans- b

Explanation-

• A prison furlough is when a prisoner is allowed to leave prison and then return. Furloughs are, in effect, temporary releases from the physical custody of the state prison system. At the end of the furlough, the person must return to prison.
• The grant of furlough is to break the monotony of imprisonment and to enable the convict to maintain continuity with family life and integration with society. Notably, while a furlough can be claimed without a reason, the prisoner does not have an absolute legal right.

Question 7

Some of the phenomenon can be very harmful for the health of the ecosystem. Which of the following scenarios will lead to a Negative change to an ecosystem?

1.Occurrence of frost in the Place having lot of budding plants and flowers
2.Around thousands of Siberian cranes resting for around a week at a large lake during their annual migration.
3.Failure of a large old dam led to flooding of nearby fields, vegetated by grasses, herbs, and other non-woody plants.

Select the correct answer from below-

a)     1 and 3 only

b)     3 only

c)      1 and 3 only

d)     1, 2 and 3

Ans- a

Explanation-

Seasonal weather fluctuations, such as a frost, may put stress on organisms in an ecosystem. An annual migration occurs every year, which means the event is likely part of normal ecosystem functioning and is largely beneficial for the health of the ecosystem.This makes statement b wrong. Ecological disturbances, such as flooding, can alter an ecosystem so much that the ecosystem will no longer return to its original state.

Question 8

“Essential religious practices test” which is seen in news recently was an outcome of

a)     Keshavananda Bharati judgement

b)     Shirur mutt judgement

c)      Sabarimala judgement

d)     Shayara Bano judgment

Ans- b

Explanation-

In the Commissioner, Hindu Religious Endowments, Madras vs Sri Lakshmindra Thirtha Swamiar of Sri Shirur Mutt case, or Shirur Mutt, of 1954, the court ruled, “what constitutes the essential part of a religion is primarily to be ascertained with reference to the doctrines of the religion itself”.

Question 9

Consider the following statements regarding ‘Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission’

1.   National Health Authority (NHA) is the body responsible for implementing ABDM

2.   The mission consists of six components

Choose the correct statements

a)     1 only

b)     2  only

c)      Both 1 & 2

d)     Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-a

Explanation-

National Health Authority (NHA) has been entrusted with the role of designing strategy, building technological infrastructure and implementation of “Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission” to create a National Digital Health Eco-system.

ABDM consists of five components namely

1.    ABHA Number. 

2.    Health Facility Registry. …

3.    ABHA App

4.    Healthcare Professionals Registry. …

5.    Unified Health Interface (UHI)

Question 10

Consider the following statements regarding Basai Wetlands:

1.   It is located in the state of Odisha on the banks of river Mahanadi.

2.   It is recognized as a key biodiversity area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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

a)     1 only

b)     2 only

c)      Both 1 and 2

d)     Neither 1 nor 2

Ans – b

Environmentalists and enthusiasts seek protection for Gurugram’s ‘bird paradise’ before it is too late.

Basai Wetlands

• Basai wetland, located in Basai village in Gurgaon Haryana is a flora and fauna rich water body.
• It lies in one of the paleochannel of the Sahibi River, a tributary of Yamuna which originates from the Aravalli range in Rajasthan and flows through the region.
• Paleochannel: known as palaeovalley or palaeoriver, is a geological term describing a remnant of an inactive river or stream channel that has been filled or buried by younger sediment.
• Home to 300-plus species of rare, common and migratory birds, Basai is recognised as a key biodiversity area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Wildlife Institute of India and the BirdLife International, a global network of NGOs that work to protect bird habitats.

Source- The Hindu Newspaper/ The Indian Express/ Down to Earth /PIB