Q1. Consider the following statements about Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India:
- It is a regulatory body under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Finance , Government of India.
- It is tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and reinsurance industries in India.
- It was constituted by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is a regulatory body under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Finance , Government of India and is tasked with regulating and licensing the insurance and re-insurance industries in India.
- It was constituted by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999, an Act of Parliament passed by the Government of India.
- The agency’s headquarters are in Hyderabad, Telangana, where it moved from Delhi in 2001.
Q2. ‘A-HELP’ program is an initiative of the:
(a) NITI Aayog
(b) Indian Agricultural Research Institute
(c) Indian Council of Medical Research
(d) Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- Context: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, introduced the ‘A-HELP’ (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) program in the state of Jharkhand.
- This program aims to empower women by engaging them as Accredited Agents who play a vital role in disease control, animal tagging, and livestock insurance.
- The ‘A-HELP’ initiative is being implemented in various Indian states and union territories, including Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand, through an MoU between the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission
Q3. What is Hemochromatosis?
(a) A rare genetic disorder that causes individuals to have extremely low levels of iron in their blood.
(b) A condition characterized by the excessive absorption of iron from the diet, leading to an iron overload in the body.
(c) An autoimmune disease that primarily affects the skin, causing pigmentation changes.
(d) A hereditary disorder that impairs blood clotting and leads to excessive bleeding.
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- Context: Hemochromatosis is a rare genetic disorder characterized by iron overload, which can lead to severe dysfunction in various organs.
- There are two main types of hemochromatosis: hereditary hemochromatosis and secondary hemochromatosis.
Q4. Why is a plant called ‘Prosopis Juliflora’ often mentioned in the news?
(a) Its extract is widely used in cosmetics.
(b) It tends to reduce the biodiversity in the area in which it grows
(c) Its extract is used in pesticides.
(d) None of the above
Ans: (b)
Explanation:
- The kikar or Prosopisjuliflora was brought to Delhi from Mexico by the British more than a century ago. The exotic plant became invasive and wiped out most of the native plants and along with it the animals, which once used to roam in the ridges. With its deep roots, it had also wreaked havoc on the city’s groundwater.
Q5. Consider the following statements:
- Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene.
- Natural rubber is obtained from the latex of the Hevea brasiliensis tree.
- Natural rubber is a renewable resource.
- Natural rubber is a biodegradable material.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- Context: The annual rubber conference of the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) took place in Guwahati.
- All of the statements about natural rubber in this question are true.
- Natural rubber is a polymer of isoprene, a five-carbon hydrocarbon.
- Natural rubber is obtained from the latex of the Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is native to South America.
- Natural rubber is a renewable resource, as it can be obtained from a sustainable source, such as the Hevea brasiliensis tree.
- Natural rubber is a biodegradable material, meaning that it can be broken down by microorganisms.
- Natural rubber is a versatile material with a wide range of applications. It is used to make tires, gloves, hoses, balloons, and many other products. Natural rubber is also used in a variety of industrial applications, such as the production of adhesives, sealants, and lubricants.
