10 July 2024

Q1. Consider the following countries:

1. Eritrea
2. Iran
3. Djibouti
4. Oman

How many of the above-mentioned nations share a border with the Red Sea?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. To the north lie the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez.
• The six countries bordering the Red Sea are: Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea and Djibouti.

Q2. Samarth scheme was launched by the:

(a) Ministry of Textiles

(b) Ministry of Education

(c) Ministry of Commerce

(d) Ministry of Finance

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

Government initiatives for the Cotton sector in India:

• Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS)
• Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme
• SAMARTH (Scheme for Capacity Building in the Textile Sector)
• The Ministry of Textiles has implemented the Samarth Scheme, an initiative to build capacity in India’s textile sector.
• Mega Investment Textiles Parks (MITRA)
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Schemeto promote the production of MMF Apparel, MMF Fabrics and Products of Technical Textiles

Q3. Consider the following statements about Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prize:

1. The award is named after the founder Director of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar.
2. It was instituted in the year of 1975.
3. The prize recognizes outstanding Indian work  in science and technology.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) annual Prize for Science and Technology, established in 1957. Named after Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, the founder-director of CSIR. Since its inception, only 19 women scientists have been the recipients of the SSB award

Q4. With reference to the Blockchain Technology, consider the following statements:

1. It is a public ledger that everyone can inspect, which no single user controls.
2. The structure and design of blockchain is such that all the data in it are about cryptocurrency only.
3. Applications that depend on the basic features of blockchain can be developed without anybody’s permission.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• A blockchain is a decentralized, distributed, and oftentimes public, digital ledger consisting of records called blocks that is used to record transactions across many computers so that any involved block cannot be altered retroactively, without the alteration of all subsequent blocks.
• This allows the participants to verify and audit transactions independently and relatively inexpensively. A blockchain database is managed autonomously using a peer-to-peer network and a distributed timestamping server. They are authenticated by mass collaboration powered by collective self-interests. Such a design facilitates robust workflow where participants’ uncertainty regarding data security is marginal.
• The great advantage to an open, permissionless, or public, blockchain network is that guarding against bad actors is not required and no access control is needed. This means that applications can be added to the network without the approval or trust of others, using the blockchain as a transport layer.
• S2 is clearly wrong, Blockchain can be used for a variety of purposes of which cryptocurrency is only one of them.

Q5. Which of the following statements about cryptocurrency is correct?

(a) Cryptocurrencies are physical coins or paper bills issued by governments.

(b) Cryptocurrencies are always centralized and controlled by a single entity.

(c) Transactions involving cryptocurrencies are irreversible.

(d) Cryptocurrencies are not based on blockchain technology.

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• C- statement is correct. One of the key features of cryptocurrencies is that transactions are irreversible. Once a transaction is added to the blockchain, it is extremely difficult to alter or reverse. This feature provides security and immutability to cryptocurrency transactions.