DAILY

CURRENT AFFAIRS

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Today’s Current Affairs MCQs for Practice
(From The Hindu- 20^th July 2022)

Question-1

The National Emblem depicts a two-dimensional sculpture with the words Satyameva Jayate (truth alone triumphs) written below it in Devanagari script. From which ancient Vedic text the words have been taken?

a)   Prashna Upanishad

b)   Isha Upanishad

c)   Mundaka Upanishad

d)   Mandukya Upanishad

Ans- c

Explanation-

The emblem depicts a two-dimensional sculpture with the words Satyameva Jayate (truth alone triumphs) written below it, taken from the Mundaka Upanishad, written in Devanagari script.

Question-2

The Durand Cup is associated with which sport?

a)   Tennis

b)   Cricket

c)   Hockey

d)   Football

Ans- d

Explanation-

The Durand football tournament, known as Durand Cup, was started by Mortimer Durand. The 131st edition of the Durand Cup football tournament, with a multi-city format and a bigger selection of teams, will kick off here on August 16 with the ‘Kolkata Derby’. 

Question-3

Investment in the Indian capital markets through P-notes slid to ₹80,092 crore by June end. Here, what are P-notes?

a)   Preferred stock notes

b)   Propensity notes

c)   Participatory notes

d)   Prepayment notes

Ans- c

Explanation-

Investment in the Indian capital markets through participatory notes (P-notes) slid to ₹80,092 crore till June end, the lowest level in 20 months, on aggressive rate increases by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Question-4

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act was passed in which year?

a)   1958

b)   1956

c)   1950

d)   1954

Ans- a

Explanation-

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act of 1958, prohibits construction within a 100-metre radius of all Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monuments and regulates activities within another 300-metre radius. 

Question-5

In which city in India the water metro project is being implemented?

a)   Panaji

b)   Mumbai

c)   Kochi

d)   Vishakhapatnam

Ans- c

Explanation-

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs recommended that the Kochi Water Metro project should be included under the FAME II scheme as it would be a “pollution-free” mode of transport.

Question-6

The e-Utthaan project, recently seen in news, tells about:

a)   Capturing online data based on funds allocated under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP)

b)   Spending of funds related to Tribal sub plan

c)   Database about the usage of Nirbhaya Fund

d)   Centralized database about usage of funds in Compensatory Afforestation programme

Ans- a

Explanation-

e-Utthaan project

• e-UTTHAAN is not a project but is a portal which has been devised by NIC cell of this Department based on a framework provided by NITI Aayog.
• As part of the socioeconomic and financial inclusion strategy of the Government to ensure that all segments of the society, particularly the Scheduled castes, are benefited.
• The Government allocates funds across Ministries/Departments for different schemes where targeted financial and physical benefits can accrue to the Scheduled Castes.
• The allocation under the scheme of welfare of Scheduled Castes deals with this matter across Ministries through earmarking of a certain percentage of funds exclusively for welfare of Scheduled Castes.
• It captures online data based on the allocation of funds that has been allocated under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP).

Question-7

With reference to the Landlord port, consider the following statements:

1.    Deendayal Port has become first 100% Landlord Major Port of India having all berths being operated on Public Private Partnership model.

2.   The Landlord port will be handling premier container traffic and also the RO-RO vessels to reduce logistics cost.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a)   1 only

b)   2 only

c)   Both 1 and 2

d)   Neither 1 nor 2

Ans- a

Explanation-

Landlord port

·       Jawaharlal Nehru port has become the first major port of the country to become 100% Landlord port having all berths being operated on Public Private Partnership model model.

·       PPP is grounded on the principle of inclusion of the private enterprises as able partners towards progress, this project will improve the utilization in crane and berth productivity of the terminal.

·       Also, total handling of JNPCT will increase to 1.8 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from the present handling capacity of 1.5 million TEUs in 2020-21.

·       This will reinforce JNPA’s position as the ‘Premier container port of India’.

·       JNP is one of the leading container ports of the country and is ranked 26th among the top 100 global ports (as per Lloyds List Top 100 Ports 2021 Report).

·       It is worth mentioning that this terminal will also be handling Ro-Ro vessels which will not only lower the logistics cost, reduce transit time but will also contribute in reducing congestion on roads.

Question-8

What are the major possible conditions that make Kuno-Palpur National park, a suitable site for reintroduction of Cheetahs?

a)   The action plan for cheetah translocations in KNP has been developed in compliance with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

b)   Kuno-Palpur National park has an adequate prey base along with suitable carrying capacity.

c)   It is devoid of human settlements, forms a part of the Sheopur-Shivpuri deciduous open forest landscape and is estimated to have a capacity to sustain 21 cheetahs.

d)   All of the above.

Ans- d

Explanation-

Reintroduction of Cheetahs

·       Kuno National Park (KNP) is spread over 748 square kilometres and has an adequate prey base.

·       It is devoid of human settlements, forms a part of the Sheopur-Shivpuri deciduous open forest landscape and is estimated to have a capacity to sustain 21 cheetahs.

·       Once restored, the larger landscape can hold about 36 cheetahs. The carrying capacity can be further enhanced by including the remaining part of the Kuno Wildlife Division (1,280 sq km) through prey restoration.

·       The action plan for cheetah translocations in KNP has been developed in compliance with International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

·       It considers site assessment and prey density, current cheetah carrying capacity of the national park.

·       Financial and administrative support to the cheetah reintroduction programme in India would be provided by the Ministry through the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Question-9

 Consider the following statements:

1.    The extracts from opium poppy such as morphine are potent painkillers and are prescribed to cancer patients.

2.   It is cultivated in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)   1 only

b)   2 only

c)   Both 1 and 2

d)   Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-a

Explanation-

Opium production

• Due to the potential for illicit trade and risk of addiction, the cultivation of opium poppy is strictly regulated in the country, with the crops being allowed to be sown only in tracts of land notified by the central government.
• It is cultivated in 22 districts in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
• The government announces the licensing policy for opium cultivation every year, providing details on minimum qualifying yield, the maximum area that can be cultivated by a single cultivator, and the maximum benefit that is allowed to cultivators for damage to the crop due to natural causes.
• Opium is a natural substance obtained from poppy seeds and its derivatives are mainly used for pain management.
• The extracts from opium poppy such as morphine are potent painkillers and are mainly prescribed to cancer patients.
• The opium product codeine is helpful in cough suppression.
  
  

Question-10

With reference to National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem, consider the following statements:

1.    It is a joint venture of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

2.   It aims to achieve zero fatalities in sanitation work in India, all Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers have access to alternative livelihoods.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a)   1 only

b)   2 only

c)   Both 1 and 2

d)   Neither 1 nor 2

Ans- c

Explanation-

National Action Plan for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem

• The scheme is a joint venture of Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It aims to achieve outcomes like:

1.    Zero fatalities in sanitation work in India

2.   No sanitation workers come in direct contact with human faecal matter

3.   All Sewer and Septic tank sanitation workers have access to alternative livelihoods

• The Ministry has shortlisted type of machineries and core equipments required for maintenance works, safety gear for Safai Mitras.

Source- The Hindu Newspaper / PIB/ The Indian Express