17 October 2022

1. Which of the following are the four component indicators of the Global Hunger Index (GHI)?

1. Child stunting
2. Child wasting
3. Child mortality
4. Undernourishment

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1, 2, and 3 only
2. 1, 3, and 4 only
3. 2, 3, and 4 only
4. 1, 2,3 and 4

Explanation

• The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool for comprehensively measuring and tracking hunger at global, regional, and national levels.
• The GHI is jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe comprehensively and it measures and tracks hunger at the global, regional, and country levels.
• GHI scores are based on the values of four component indicators –

• Undernourishment
• Child stunting (children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition)
• Child wasting (the share of children under age five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition)
• Child mortality (the mortality rate of children under the age of five). Hence, option D is correct.

 2. With reference to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), consider the following statements:

1. It is a set of guidelines issued by the EC to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections.
2. The MCC is operational from the date on which the election schedule is announced until the date of result announcement.
3. MCC has statutory backing, and it has acquired strength because of its strict enforcement by the EC.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 2, and 3
4. 1 and 3 only

Explanation

• The MCC is a set of guidelines issued by the EC to regulate political parties and candidates prior to elections. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It helps EC in keeping with the mandate it has been given under Article 324 of the Constitution, which gives it the power to supervise and conduct free and fair elections to the Parliament and State Legislatures.
• The MCC is operational from the date on which the election schedule is announced until the date of result announcement. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Though MCC does not have any statutory backing, it has come to acquire strength in the past decade because of its strict enforcement by the EC. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

3. With reference to INS Arihant, consider the following statements:

1. It is India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile capable Submarine.
2. It is built by Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

• Launched in 2009 and commissioned in 2016, INS Arihant is India’s first indigenous nuclear-powered ballistic missile capable submarine built under the secretive Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, which was initiated in the 1990s. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Power source: INS Arihant is propelled by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor at its core with enriched uranium fuel.
• Builder: Shipbuilding Centre (SBC), Visakhapatnam. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

4. With reference to the Electoral Bonds, consider the following statements:

1. Electoral bonds are purchased anonymously by donors and are valid for 30 days from the date of issue.
2. The bonds are issued by SBI in denominations of only Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh.
3. Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 are eligible to receive electoral bonds.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. 1 and 2 Only
4. 2 and 3 Only

Explanation

• Electoral bonds are purchased anonymously by donors and are valid for 15 days from the date of issue. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• As debt instruments, these can be bought by donors from a bank, and the political party can then encash them.
• These can be redeemed only by an eligible party by depositing the same in its designated account maintained with a bank.
• The bonds are issued by SBI in denominations of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, and Rs 1 crore. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
• The bonds are available for purchase by any citizen of India for a period of ten days each in the months of January, April, July, and October as may be specified by the Central Government.
• Only the political parties registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and have secured not less than 1% of the votes polled in the last general election to the House of the People or the Legislative Assembly, are eligible to receive electoral bonds. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

5. The scientific name of this species is Panthera uncia. It acts as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live. It is listed as Vulnerable in the IUCN List of Threatened Species. Identify the species.

1. Arctic Fox
2. Asiatic Lion
3. Jaguar
4. Snow Leopard

Explanation

• The Scientific Name of the snow leopard is Panthera uncia
• They act as an indicator of the health of the mountain ecosystem in which they live, due to their position as the top predator in the food web.
• Protection Status:
• IUCN List of Threatened Species: Vulnerable.
• CITES Appendix I.
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-I. Hence, option D is correct.

6. With reference to the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), consider the following statements:

1. It is a non-profit organization aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring peace, security, and stability in Asia.
2. The CICA Summit is conducted after every four years.
3. The CICA Secretariat has been located in

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

1. 3 Only
2. 2 and 3 Only
3. 2 Only
4. 1 and 3 Only

Explanation

• The CICA is an intergovernmental forum aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring peace, security, and stability in Asia. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The CICA Summit is convened every four years in order to conduct consultations, review the progress of, and set priorities for CICA activities. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• India co-chairs two CICA CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) on ‘Development of Secure and Effective Systems of Transportation Corridors,’ and ‘Energy Security.
• The CICA Secretariat has been located in Almaty (Kazakhstan) since June 2006. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.

7. Which of the following benefits can be incurred by any sector if it is accorded infrastructure status?

1. Concessional funds
2. Promotion of projects
3. Continuity of construction for the specified sub-sectors
4. Tax breaks

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2, and 3 only
2. 1,3 and 4 Only
3. 2, 3, and 4 only
4. 1, 2,3, and 4

Explanation

• Now, with infrastructure status, data centers can get several benefits. Several concessions and liberalized treatments are extended to infrastructure sectors in the form of better access to foreign capital, domestic credit, extension services, etc.
• Inclusion in the list implies access to concessional funds, promotion of projects, and continuity of construction for the specified sub-sectors. Hence, statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
• The infrastructure tag no longer involves significant tax breaks but would help such projects get easier financing from banks. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

 8. Chandrapura Lake is located in which of the following states?

1. Kerala
2. Karnataka
3. Telangana
4. Tamil Nadu

 Explanation

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 500 crore on the Karnataka government for its failure in maintaining Chandapura lake in Anekal taluk and taking steps to restore the water body.
• One of the major pollutants of the lakes in the region has been the mushrooming of red category industries (industries having pollution index score of 60 and above) in the Jigani-Bommasandra industrial area and discharge of effluents into lakes in violation of the zero liquid discharge (ZLD) policy of the government.
• Under the ZLD water management system, no untreated water is supposed to be released into lakes.

 9. Consider the following statements regarding Carbon dating technology:

1. It is a method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living.
2. The dating method is based on Carbon-12 (C-12), an isotope of carbon.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 Only
2. 2 Only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Explanation

• Statement 1 is correct. Carbon dating is a widely used method to establish the age of organic materials, things that were once living.
• Statement 2 is incorrect.

• Living things have carbon in them in various forms.
• The dating method is based on the fact that Carbon-14 (C-14), an isotope of carbon with an atomic mass of 14, is radioactive, and decays at a well-known rate.

• The most abundant isotope of carbon in the atmosphere is C-12. A very small amount of C-14 is also present. The ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the atmosphere is almost static and is known. Plants get their carbon through photosynthesis; animals get it mainly through food. Because plants and animals get their carbon from the atmosphere, they too acquire C-12 and C-14 in roughly the same proportion as is available in the atmosphere.
• When they die, their interactions with the atmosphere stops. While C-12 is stable, the radioactive C-14 reduces to one-half of itself in about 5,730 years — known as its ‘half-life’. The changing ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the remains of a plant or animal after it dies can be measured and can be used to deduce the approximate time when the organism died.
• Though extremely effective, carbon dating cannot be applied in all circumstances. It cannot be used to determine the age of non-living things like rocks, for example.

 Source: Indian Express

 10. Which of the following are the pillars of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat?

1. Economy
2. Infrastructure
3. System
4. Vibrant Demography
5. Demand

 Choose the correct code from the options given below:

1. 1,2,4 and 5 Only
2. 2, 3, and 4 Only
3. 1, 2 and 4
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation

• Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan or the Self-reliant India campaign is the vision of a new India envisaged by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
• On 12 May 2020, PM raised a clarion call to the nation giving a kick start to the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan (Self-reliant India campaign) and announced the Special economic and comprehensive package of INR 20 lakh crores – equivalent to 10% of India’s GDP – to fight COVID-19 pandemic in India.
• The aim is to make the country and its citizens independent and self-reliant in all senses.
• The five pillars of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat –
• Economy
• Infrastructure
• System
• Vibrant Demography
• Demand

 Source: PIB