Current Affairs Quiz- 62 (5/3/2016)

1. 1. Question

   2 points
   Consider the following statements:

   1. The Cartagena Protocol, a subsidiary agreement to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, prohibits the collection of plant materials by a foreign country without an agreement with host countries on the sharing of benefits arising from such resources
   2. India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is applicable for the protection of some plant species

   Which of the statements above is/are incorrect?

   •  a) 1 only
   •  b) 2 Only
   •  c) Both 1 and 2
   •  d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Solution: a.

   The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is a 2010 supplementary agreement to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity. It prohibits the collection of plant materials by a foreign country without an agreement with host countries on the sharing of benefits arising from such resources.

   The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is applicable for the protection of some plant species.

   http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35699297

2. 2. Question

   2 points
   It was stated that Budget 2016-17 was to be ‘built on a transformative agenda with nine distinct pillars’. Which among the following are NOT these pillars?

   1. Financial Sector Reforms
   2. Ease of Doing Business
   3. Defense Indigenisation
   4. Fiscal Discipline
   5. Blue Revolution

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   •  a) 1 and 5 only
   •  b) 1, 3 and 5 Only
   •  c) 3 and 5 Only
   •  d) 1,2,3 and 5
   Incorrect 
   

   Solution: c.

   The 9 pillars are:

   1. Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare: with focus on doubling farmers’ income in five years;
   2. Rural Sector: with emphasis on rural employment and infrastructure;
   3. Social Sector including Healthcare: to cover all under welfare and health services;
   4. Education, Skills and Job Creation: to make India a knowledge based and productive society;
   5. Infrastructure and Investment: to enhance efficiency and quality of life;
   6. Financial Sector Reforms: to bring transparency and stability;
   7. Governance and Ease of Doing Business: to enable the people to realise their full potential;
   8. Fiscal Discipline: prudent management of Government finances and delivery of benefits to the needy; and
   9. Tax Reforms: to reduce compliance burden with faith in the citizenry

3. 3. Question

   2 points
   Consider the following statements with regard to the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA):

   1. Budget 2016-17 states it will be amended so that more entrepreneurs would be able to operate bus services
   2. It is up to the States whether or not to accept the amendments to the MVA made by the centre

   Which of the statements above is/are correct?

   •  a) 1 Only
   •  b) 2 only
   •  c) Both 1 and 2
   •  d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Solution: c.

   http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/a-better-deal-for-bus-commuters/article8314757.ece

4. 4. Question

   2 points
   Article 110 of the Indian Constitution deals with the definition of money bills. A money bill is one, if it contains which of the following conditions?

   1. The custody of the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI)
   2. The custody of the Contingency Fund of India
   3. Increasing the amount of any expenditure charged on the CFI

   Select the correct answer using the code given below:

   •  a) 1 and 3 Only
   •  b) 2 and 3 Only
   •  c) 1 and 2 Only
   •  d) 1, 2 and 3
   Solution: d.

   Page 22.18-19, Indian Polity 4^th Edition by M Laxmikanth

   “…Article 110 of the Constitution, defining the money bill, states that in addition to taxation matters, “the custody of the Consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund” is also part of a money bill. The opening paragraph of the Aadhaar bill, not surprisingly, states that the purpose of the bill is to “provide for… efficient, transparent, and targeted delivery of subsidies, benefits and services, the expenditure for which is incurred from the Consolidated Fund of India” (emphasis added). And remember, if any question arises whether this bill can qualify as a money bill, the decision lies with the speaker of the Lok Sabha, and is final. Therefore, the argument that the Aadhaar bill cannot be a money bill is invalid…”

   http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/aadhar-scheme-kanhaiya-kumar-narendra-modi-parliament-fiddling-while-rome-is-built/

5. 5. Question

   2 points
   Under which of the following acts/policies are telecom licenses issued to companies in India?

   •  a) Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
   •  b) Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997
   •  c) India Wireless Act, 1933
   •  d) New Telecom Policy, 1999
   Incorrect 
   

   Solution: a.

   

   http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/laws-of-physics-wont-allow-zero-call-drops-say-telcos/article8315805.ece

Current Affairs Quiz- 61 (4/3/2016)

1. 1. Question

   2 points
   With reference to the pardoning power of the President of India, consider the following statements:

   1. Remission denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form
   2. Reprieve implies a stay of the execution of a sentence for a temporary period
   3. Respite denotes awarding a lesser sentence in place of one originally awarded due to some special fact

   Which of the statements above is/are correct?

   •  a) 1 and 2 Only
   •  b) 2 and 3 only
   •  c) 1 and 3 Only
   •  d) 1,2 and 3
   Ans: b.

   Commutation denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form. Remission implies reducing the period of sentence without changing its character (if you have not yet read polity but had read today’s Hindu editorial, you would have been able to eliminate options a, c and d).

   President, Indian Polity 4^th Edition by M Laxmikanth

2. 2. Question

   2 points
   ‘Bhuvan’, an Indian government portal, is a

   •  a) National geo-portal run by ISRO which offers multi-thematic Geographic Information System data sets
   •  b) Single window access to information and services being provided by the various Indian Government entities
   •  c) One-stop shop for meeting all informational needs relating to Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sectors production
   •  d) Commercial arm of the Geological Survey of India which evaluates and prices the existing technical unpublished reports, maps and other databases
   Solution: a.

   “ISRO’s BHUVAN (www.bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in) is a well-known national geo-portal, which is being widely, used by the Government, public, NGOs and Academia. Bhuvan is developed with a clear focus of addressing Indian requirements of satellite Images and theme-oriented services to enable planning, monitoring and evaluation of stakeholder’s activities in governance and development.”

   “Bhuvan is designed, developed, deployed and managed by a small team of scientists within ISRO. It primarily focuses on societal-benefits and is not a commercial venture.”

   http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137293

3. 3. Question

   2 points
   ‘Force 18’ is

   •  a) The world’s largest Multinational Field Training Exercise to be hosted by India in 2018
   •  b) A military training exercise involving the 18 ASEAN-Plus nations, being hosted by India
   •  c) A bilateral military exercise between Indian and an Australia, hosted by Australia
   •  d) A joint military operation in ISIS-occupied territories being led by the USA of which India is a participant
   Incorrect 
   

   Solution: b.

   http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/aseanplus-military-drill-begins-in-pune/article8310954.ece