1) Which one of the following is not a criterion for declaring a language as a classical language?
a. High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years
b. A body of ancient literature/texts which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers
c. Should be speak at least by a population not less than 2 lakhs and have minimum two generational speakers
d. A literary tradition that is original and not borrowed from another speech community
Answer : c
The criteria for declaring a language as classical mandates:
High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years.
A body of ancient literature/texts which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
A literary tradition that is original and not borrowed from another speech community.
Since the classical language and literature is distinct from the modern, there can also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
A proposal for granting Marathi the status of a classical language was under “active consideration” and the proposal is placed before a committee of linguistic experts for consideration.
2) Consider the following statements with respect to E-Foreigners Tribunals (e-FTS)
It is a platform which digitises records of all native people living in the state of Assam.
The platform will store biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scans.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : b
The government is enabling a platform to digitise records of all persons who will be declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam after the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) is published.
The E-Foreigners Tribunals (e-FTs) will store biometrics such as fingerprints and iris scansof such persons, and help the External Affairs Ministry expedite deportation in appropriate cases by reducing paperwork.
3) Consider the following statements with respect to Cooperative Sector Exports Promotion Forum (CSEPF)
It aims to achieve the target of doubling farm exports to USD 60 billion by 2022.
It will be set up under the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : c
Union Commerce Minister has recently announced formation of a Cooperative Sector Exports Promotion Forum (CSEPF) to achieve the target of doubling farm exports to USD 60 billion by 2022.
It will be set up under the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) which will work with 20 states and union territories in the area of export.
4) Consider the following statements with respect to Article 341 of the Indian Constitution
President, in consultation with the governor of a state concerned may notify a caste as a Scheduled Caste.
Under the Article, the power to make changes in the Scheduled Caste list lies only with the Parliament.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : c
Under Article 341:
The President may with respect to any State or Union territory, and where it is a State after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification, specify a caste as a Scheduled Caste.
Parliament may by law include in or exclude from the list of Scheduled Castes specified in a notification issued under 341 (1)
5) With respect to RBI Board, consider the following statements:
It consists of both official and non-official directors.
Official directors include the Governor and not more than four Deputy Governors.
The RBI Governor has to call a Board meeting at least six times in a year, and at least once each quarter.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 3 only
b. 1 and 2 only
c. 2 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer : d
According to the RBI, the “general superintendence and direction of the affairs and business of the RBI is entrusted to the Central Board” and the Board exercises all powers and does all acts and things that are exercised by the RBI.
The Board consists of official directors, who include the Governor and up to four Deputy Governors, non-official directors, who include up to ten directors from various fields and two government officials, and one director from each of four local boards of the RBI.
The Governor has to call a Board meeting at least six times in a year, and at least once each quarter.
6) Consider the following statements with respect to the territory of Hong Kong
It is a former British colony located in the Pacific Ocean.
It is being governed by China under the principle of Two State Solution.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : d
Hong Kong is a former British colony became a special administrative region of China in 1997.
It is governed under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems", under which China has agreed to give the region a high degree of autonomy and to preserve its economic and social systems for 50 years from the date of the handover.
Hong Kong is located in China's southern coast and is surrounded by the South China Sea on all sides except the north.
Recently, protesters in Hong Kong have broken into the LegCo (Legislative Council), the Parliament building of Hong Kong and vandalised it.
This was in protest against the now-suspended Extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party.
7) Consider the following statements with respect to National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR)
It is an autonomous research organisation works under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
It is the nodal agency for the implementation of the Indian Antarctic Programme including the maintenance of India’s permanent station in Antarctica.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : b
The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) was established as an autonomous Research and Development Institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
With a mission mandate that is quite challenging, the Centre is designated as the nodal organization for the co-ordination and implementation of the Indian Antarctic Programme, including the maintenance of India’s permanent station in Antarctica.
The NCPOR has also been doing research in the Arctic region and the Antarctica continent.
8) “Himansh” sometimes seen in the news recently is a/an?
a. Nuclear powered submarine
b. High altitude research station
c. Wild life conservation centre
d. None of the above
Answer : b
Six Himalayan glaciers monitored by the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) have been retreating in the range of 13 to 33 millimetres per year.
The NCPOR has established a high altitude research station named 'Himansh' in Himalaya at 4,000 metres altitude at Sutri Dhaka, a remote location in Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh.
9) Working on a Warmer Planet - The Impact of Heat Stress on Labour Productivity and Decent Work is a report published recently by?
a. International Labour Organisation
b. World Economic Forum
c. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
d. None of the above
Answer : a
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has released a report named 'Working on a Warmer Planet - The Impact of Heat Stress on Labour Productivity and Decent Work'.
According to the report, India is projected to lose 5.8% of working hours in 2030 due to global warming, particularly impacting agriculture and construction sectors.
It stated that working hours will be lost because it is too hot to work or because workers work at a slower pace.
10) With respect to Kisan Credit Card (KCC),consider the following statements:
It is available only for agricultural farmers and not available for fisheries and animal husbandry farmers.
The farmers eligible under the KCC scheme include small farmers, marginal farmers, share croppers, oral lessee and tenant farmers.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer : b
Government has extended the facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capital needs.
The KCC facility will help fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to meet their short term credit requirements of rearing of animals, poultry birds and other aquatic organisms and capture of fish.