Q1.Which of the following is/are the guidelines to adopt names of cyclones?
- The maximum length of the proposed name should be eight letters.
- It should be neutral to politics and political figures, religious beliefs, cultures and gender.
- The names of tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean should not be repeated.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 1 and 2 only | ||
| C. | 2 and 3 only | ||
| D. | 1, 2 and 3 |
Explanation :
Severe cyclonic storm ‘Asani’, which is moving towards the east coast, packing winds above 105 kmph and setting off heavy rain, is likely to recurve in a north-eastward direction and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
In 2000, a group of nations called WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) decided to start naming cyclones in the region. It comprised of Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the list. However each country must follow the guidelines while suggesting the names.
Guidelines to adopt names of cyclones:
- While picking names for cyclones, there are some rules that countries need to follow. If these guidelines are followed, the name is accepted by the panel on tropical cyclones (PTC) that finalises the selection.
- The guidelines to adopt names of cyclones are as follows:
- The maximum length of the proposed name should be eight letters.
- It should be short, easy to pronounce and should be provided with its pronunciation and voice over.
- It should not be very rude and cruel in nature and should be chosen in such a way that it does not hurt the sentiments of any group of population over the globe.
- It should be neutral to politics and political figures, religious beliefs, cultures and gender.
- The names of tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean should not be repeated. Once used, it will cease to be used again, so the name suggested should be new.
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
Q2.According to the recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2019-2021, the percentage of women who consume alcohol is the highest in:
| A. | Arunachal Pradesh | ||
| B. | Kerala | ||
| C. | Punjab | ||
| D. | Maharashtra |
Explanation :
The recently released National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2019-2021 has found that only 1% of women, aged 15-49, drink alcohol in the country, compared to 22% of men.
- The percentage of women who consume alcohol is the highest in Arunachal Pradesh (18%), followed by Sikkim (15%).
- Alcohol use among men is the highest in Goa (59%), followed by Arunachal Pradesh (57%), and Telangana (50%), while it is the lowest in Lakshadweep (1%).
- Among women who drink alcohol, 17% consume it almost every day and 37% drink about once a week. Among men, while 15% consume almost daily, 43% drink about once a week, and 42% do less than once a week.
- Drinking alcohol is more common among women from Scheduled Tribes (4%) than from any other caste/tribe group. Consumption is also most common among Christian men (36%) and men belonging to “other” religions (49%).
- Overall the proportion of men who drink alcohol decreased from 29% to 22% between NFHS-4 in 2015-2016 and NFHS-5 in 2019-2021. During that period, the proportion of women who drink has remained unchanged.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q3.With reference to the W boson, consider the following statements:
- It is a fundamental particle.
- It was discovered in 2012.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 2 only | ||
| C. | Both 1 and 2 | ||
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
Explanation :
On April 7, researchers from Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF) Collaboration, in the U.S., announced that they have made a precise measurement of the mass of the W boson.
- They stated that this precisely determined value did not match with the estimates from the standard model of particle physics.
- The recent experiment which measured the mass of the W boson as 80,433.5 +/- 9.4 Mev/c2 is more than what is expected from the standard model.
- The expected value using the standard model is 80,357 +/- 8 MeV/c2. This implies the incompleteness of the standard model description.
- This mass discrepancy of the W boson needs to be checked and confirmed to the same accuracy by other research facilities.
Discovered in 1983, the W boson is a fundamental particle. Together with the Z boson, it is responsible for the weak force, one of four fundamental forces that govern the behaviour of matter in our universe. Particles of matter interact by exchanging these bosons, but only over short distances.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Q4.With reference to the algorithm, consider the following statements:
- Algorithms are often built using historical data and for specific functions.
- Search engines use a number of algorithms to perform different functions prior to displaying relevant results to an individual’s search request.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 2 only | ||
| C. | Both 1 and 2 | ||
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
Explanation :
With the quantity of information available on the internet growing steadily, search algorithms are becoming increasingly complex, raising privacy and other concerns and drawing the attention of regulators.
- Last month, U.K.’s digital watchdog said they will take a closer look at algorithms, seeking views on the benefits and risks of how sites and apps use algorithms, as well as inputs on auditing algorithms, the current landscape and the role of regulators.
- An algorithm, essentially, is a series of instructions. It can be used to perform a calculation, find answers to a question or solve a problem. Search engines use a number of algorithms to perform different functions prior to displaying relevant results to an individual’s search request.
- Tech giant Alphabet Inc’s Google, whose flagship product is the Google search engine, is the dominant player in the search market.
- Algorithms are often built using historical data and for specific functions. Once developed, they go through frequent updates from companies for quality enhancement.
- Any changes or updates in their algorithms could also mean that traffic is steered away from certain sites and businesses, which could have a negative effect on their revenue.
- Firms can use these algorithms to change the way they rank products on websites, prioritising their own products and excluding competitors. Some of these concerns have caught the eye of regulators.
- Hence both statements are correct.
Q5. With reference to the MPLADS, consider the following statements:
- Each MP is allocated ₹50 crore annually under the scheme.
- The MPLADS fund is released to the district authority and the MPs only have power to recommend development work.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 2 only | ||
| C. | Both 1 and 2 | ||
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
Explanation :
At a time when MPs have been asking for an increase in the MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) fund, the Union Finance Ministry has ordered revised rules, under which the interest that the fund accrues will be deposited in the Consolidated Fund of India.
- The order of the Ministry dated April 11 was conveyed to the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha only by the last week of April.
- Each MP is allocated ₹5 crore annually under the scheme.
- The MPLADS fund is released to the district authority and the MPs only have power to recommend development work. The payment is also released by the designated district authority on completion of the work.
- So far, the interest accrued on the fund used to be added to the MPLADS account and could be used for the development projects.
- Opposition parties criticized the changed guidelines, arguing that the new order was in violation of the MPLADS guidelines of 2016.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.
Q6.With reference to the islands, consider the following statements:
- The Island Coastal Zone Regulation (ICRZ), 2019, limits infrastructure development on vulnerable coastal stretches.
- The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) has recommended that gas-based power plants be permitted within the Island Coastal Regulation Zone area only on islands with geographical areas greater than 100 sq. km.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 2 only | ||
| C. | Both 1 and 2 | ||
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
Explanation :
The Union Environment Ministry has approved an exemption to the laws governing the regulation of coastal zones and has paved the way for gas-powered plants to be set up on the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
- The Island Coastal Zone Regulation (ICRZ), 2019, limits infrastructure development on vulnerable coastal stretches.
- The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) has recommended that gas-based power plants be permitted within the Island Coastal Regulation Zone area only on islands with geographical areas greater than 100 sq. km.
- Following visits by the NTPC personnel, a dual-fuel power plant that runs on both diesel and LNG is expected to be commissioned.
- There has been an increased interest in the development of the Andaman region following a policy push by the NITI Aayog. A proposed project plans to develop the Greater Andaman region or the southernmost stretch of the island group.
- Proposals include a 22-sq.km airport complex, a transshipment port (TSP) at South Bay at an estimated cost of ₹12,000 crore, a parallel-to-the-coast mass rapid transport system and a free trade zone and warehousing complex on the southwestern coast.
- Hence both statements are correct.
Q7.Operation Dudhi was undertaken by:
| A. | Assam Rifles | ||
| B. | CRPF | ||
| C. | BSF | ||
| D. | ITBP |
Explanation :
The paramilitary Assam Rifles felicitated the surviving soldiers of Operation Dudhi, marked in the country’s defence history as India’s most successful counter-insurgency operation more than 30 years ago.
- A team of 15 soldiers of the Assam Rifles’ 7th Battalion led by Naib Subedar Padam Bahadur Chhetri had on May 5, 1991, gunned down 72 Pakistan-trained extremists and captured 13 others at 14,000 ft in J&K.
- Two Assam Rifles soldiers died during the six-hour gun battle.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q8. With reference to the WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), consider the following statements:
- The WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) panel on tropical cyclones was founded in 1972.
- India is not a member.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 2 only | ||
| C. | Both 1 and 2 | ||
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
Explanation :
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently released a list of 169 names of future tropical cyclones that would emerge in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- The WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) panel on tropical cyclones was founded in 1972.
- It was formed to promote and coordinate the measures to minimize loss of life and material damage caused by tropical cyclones and associated floods and storm surges in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.
- In 2000, the WMO/ESCAP decided to start naming cyclones in the Asia Pacific region, when it comprised of Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
- After each country sent in suggestions, the WMO/ESCAP Panel on Tropical Cyclones (PTC) finalised the list.
- The WMO/ESCAP later expanded to include five more countries in 2018 — Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
- The list of 169 cyclone names released by IMD, in April 2020 were provided by these countries — 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Q9.With reference to the Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI), consider the following statements:
- It is an ambitious program of the Department of Telecom (DoT) to connect all silo Wi-Fi networks for ease of use and proliferate broadband usage for the masses.
- RailTel has launched PM-WANI scheme based on access to its Public WiFi services across 100 railway stations across the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 2 only | ||
| C. | Both 1 and 2 | ||
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
Explanation :
RailTel, a Mini Ratna PSU, has launched Prime Minister Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme based on access to its Public WiFi services across 100 railway stations across the country.
- To access this WiFi network, android users can download the mobile app ‘Wi-DOT’ available on Google Play Store. This app has been developed in close coordination with C-DOT.
- This method of accessing Wi-Fi through the ‘mobile app’ will be in addition to the existing method of accessing WiFi at these stations through the conventional method of selecting RailWire Service Set Identifier (SSID).
- PM-WANI is an ambitious program of the Department of Telecom (DoT) to connect all silo Wi-Fi networks for ease of use and proliferate broadband usage for the masses.
- The government further plans to extend the PM-WANI-based access of RailTel’s public Wi-Fi services to all 6,102 railway stations in a phased manner by the end of June 2022.
- Hence both statements are correct.
Q10.With reference to the Presidential Election in India, consider the following statements:
- The President of India holds office for a period of four years from the date on which s/he enters upon her/his office.
- The President is elected by an Electoral College which consists of the elected and nominated members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all the States.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
| A. | 1 only | ||
| B. | 2 only | ||
| C. | Both 1 and 2 | ||
| D. | Neither 1 nor 2 |
Explanation :
Due to the absence of a legislative assembly in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the value of a Member of Parliament (MP) vote is likely to fall from 708 to 700 in the presidential elections scheduled for July.
- Under the Constitution of India (Article 52), there shall always be a President of India, holding the highest elective office in the country.
- The President holds office for a period of five years from the date on which s/he enters upon her/his office. Accordingly, an election is held before the expiration of the term of the incumbent President.
- S/he is elected in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Presidential and vice-Presidential Elections Act, 1952. The said Act is supplemented by the provisions of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential Elections Rules, 1974.
- Therefore, the President is elected by an Electoral College (Article 54), which consists of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of all the States and also UTs of NCT of Delhi and Puducherry (now J&K also).
- Under Article 324 of the Constitution of India, the authority to conduct elections to the Office of President is vested in the Election Commission of India (ECI).
- As per Article 55(3) of the Constitution of India, the election of the President shall be held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of single transferable vote and the voting at such election shall be by secret ballot.
Hence both statements are not correct.