Q1. “Operation Satark”, recently seen in news, is an initiative of:
| A. | Railway Protection Force | ||
| B. | DRDO | ||
| C. | BSF | ||
| D. | CSIF |
Explanation :
RPF launches Focused effort under “Operation Satark” from 5th April to 30th April, 2022
- Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a security force under the ownership of Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
- It was formed in 1872 under the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957.
- It is the lead security agency in the field of railway security having a pan India reach. It is entrusted with the security of railway property, passenger area and passengers.
- Railway Protection Force has recently started “Operation Satark” with an objective of taking action against illicit liquor/FICN/illegal tobacco products/unaccounted gold and any other items being transported through railway network for the purpose of tax evasion and smuggling.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q2.With reference to the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID), consider the following statements:
- NATGRID came into existence after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
- It is the integrated intelligence master database structure for counter-terrorism purpose.
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 :
Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) campus in Bengaluru.
- The NATGRID CEO informed that the services of NATGRID solution will be available to 11 central agencies and police of all States and Union Territories.
- It will link user agencies with data holders, giving them access to real-time information needed for intelligence services and investigations.
- C-DAC Pune has been roped in as Technology Partner and IIT, Bhilai as Plan Management Consultant for the development of NATGRID solution.
- The National Intelligence Grid or NATGRID is the integrated intelligence master database structure for counter-terrorism purpose connecting databases of various core security agencies under Government of India collecting comprehensive patterns procured from 21 different organizations that can be readily accessed by security agencies round the clock.
- NATGRID came into existence after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
- Hence both statements are correct.
Q3.With reference to the Monetary Policy Committee, consider the following statements:
- It shall determine the Policy Rate required to achieve the inflation target.
- Union Finance Minister is the ex officio chairperson.
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 Central Board of Directors of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has approved nomination of Rajiv Ranjan as ex-officio member of Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
-
- The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 was amended by Finance Act (India), 2016 to constitute MPC.
- Under Section 45ZB of the amended RBI Act, 1934, the central government is empowered to constitute a six-member Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to determine the policy interest rate required to achieve the inflation target.
- The first such MPC was constituted on September 29, 2016.
- Functions: Section 45ZB lays down that “the Monetary Policy Committee shall determine the Policy Rate required to achieve the inflation target”, and that “the decision of the Monetary Policy Committee shall be binding on the Bank”.
- Members:
- Section 45ZB says the MPC shall consist of the RBI Governor as its ex officio chairperson, the Deputy Governor in charge of monetary policy, an officer of the Bank to be nominated by the Central Board, and three persons to be appointed by the central government.
- The last category of appointments must be from “persons of ability, integrity and standing, having knowledge and experience in the field of economics or banking or finance or monetary policy”. (Section 45ZC)
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Q4.Which of the following agreements signed/announced between India and Denmark recently?
- Declaration of Intent (DoI) on Migration and Mobility
- Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of Skill Development, Vocational Education and Entrepreneurship
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 :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen of Denmark.
- Both leaders reviewed the progress of the Green Strategic Partnership which was the first of its kind arrangement between India and Denmark. During the India-Denmark Virtual Summit in October 2020, the two sides gave their relationship the status of a Green Strategic Partnership.
- Prime Ministers of two sides participated in India-Denmark Business Forum with top business leaders from the two countries at the Confederation of Danish Industry.
- Earlier nine agreements were inked between the two countries in various sectors.
List of agreements signed/announced during the visit of Prime Minister to Denmark
- Declaration of Intent (DoI) on Migration and Mobility
- Letter of Intent (LoI) between Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, GOI and Ministry of Business, Industry and Financial Affairs of Denmark on Centre of Excellence in Green Shipping
- Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) between the Ministry of Culture, GoI and Ministry of Culture of Denmark for the years 2022-2026
- Letter of Intent (LoI) of between Ministry of Jal Shakti and Ministry of Environment of Denmark
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of Skill Development, Vocational Education and Entrepreneurship
- Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Cooperation in the fields of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
- Launch of Energy Policy Dialogue at Ministerial level
- India to join as mission partner to ICARS (International Centre for Anti-Microbial Resistance Solution)
- Letter of Intent between Invest India and Technical University of Denmark to facilitate start-up collaboration
2nd India-Nordic Summit
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden and Norway.
- The summit will be hosted by Denmark.
- The Summit will focus on subjects like post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, innovation and technology, renewable energy, the evolving global security scenario and India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.
- Nordic countries are important partners for India in sustainability, renewable energy, digitisation and innovation. The visit will help in expanding India’s multifaceted cooperation with the Nordic region.
- Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
Q5.Boro, also called Bodo, is the largest ethnolinguistic group in:
| A. | Assam | ||
| B. | Gujarat | ||
| C. | Bihar | ||
| D. | Ladakh |
Explanation :
President Ram Nath Kovind, who is on a four-day visit to the North Eastern States, will attend the concluding session of the 61st Bodo Sahitya Sabha at Kachubari in Tamulpur district of Assam.
- It is a historic moment for the Bodo Sahitya Sabha as no President of India has ever attended any literary event of any language in the northeastern region.
- Boro, also called Bodo, is the largest ethnolinguistic group in the Assam state of India.
- They are spread across north-eastern India.
- They are concentrated mainly in the Bodoland Territorial Region of Assam, though Bodos inhabit all other districts of Assam and Meghalaya.
- Bodos are officially identified as “Boro, Borokachari” scheduled tribe under the Constitution of India. Bodos speak Bodo language, which is recognised as one of twenty-two Scheduled languages of India.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q6.With reference to the trade deficit, consider the following statements:
- India exported merchandise estimated at $38.19 billion in April 2022, a 24.2% increase from a year earlier.
- Among India’s top 10 export commodities, gems and jewellery exports dipped by a marginal 2.1% in April 2022.
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 :
India exported merchandise estimated at $38.19 billion in April 2022, a 24.2% increase from a year earlier but 9.5% lower than the record $42.2 billion shipped out in March, official estimates released.
- The trade deficit, however, expanded to $20.07 billion from $18.5 billion in March, as imports grew at a faster 26.6% pace to $58.26 billion. Sequentially, goods imports declined 4.1% last month from March’s level.
- Gold imports fell by a sharp 73% year-on-year to just $1.7 billion, even as coal imports more than doubled to over $4.7 billion from $2 billion a year earlier.
- Petroleum imports comprising crude and products surged 81.2% to exceed $19.5 billion, and made up a third of the total imports in the month.
- India’s goods exports hit a record $420 billion in 2021-22, while imports also hit an all-time high of about $612 billion, leading to a $192 billion deficit in the last financial year.
- Although the non-oil trade deficit remained stable in April, there was a shift in its composition, with a plunge in gold imports being offset by a rise in non-oil, non-gold imports such as coal and chemicals, an unsavoury yet expected fallout of the higher commodity prices engendered by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Among India’s top 10 export commodities, gems and jewellery exports dipped by a marginal 2.1% in April, while rice exports fell 14.24%.
- Hence both statements are correct.
Q7.What is Lapsus$, recently seen in news?
| A. | Cyber-crime group | ||
| B. | Exoplanet | ||
| C. | Mini satellites | ||
| D. | None of the above |
Explanation :
On March 22, authentication platform Okta confirmed that hackers from the cyber-crime group Lapsus$ had tried intruding into its system three months earlier.
- Lapsus$ is said to be based in South America and is led by two teenagers, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old.
- The group is relatively new but has successfully breached major firms like Microsoft. It has also publicly taunted their victims, leaking their source code and internal documents.
- Their hacking tactics include phone-based social engineering, SIM-swapping to facilitate account takeover, accessing personal email accounts of employees at target organisations etc.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q8. With reference to the Lokpal, consider the following statements:
- Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh was appointed India’s first Lokpal.
- Union Ministry of Home Affairs is the administrative Ministry for the Lokpal.
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 Lokpal of India will finally move into its new permanent office at the World Trade Centre in Nauroji Nagar of south Delhi.
- The office has been purchased for ₹254.88 crore, according to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the administrative Ministry for the Lokpal.
- On March 19, 2019, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh was appointed India’s first Lokpal along with eight other members.
- The appointment itself was made five years after the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act was passed in 2013 to investigate cases of corruption against certain categories of public servants.
- The Lokpal can inquire into allegations of corruption against anyone who is or has been Prime Minister, or a Minister in the Union government, or a Member of Parliament, as well as officials of the Union government under Groups A, B, C and D.
- The body also covers complaints against chairpersons, members, officers and directors of any board or autonomous body either established by an Act of Parliament and any society or trust or body that receives foreign contribution above ₹10 lakh.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Q9.World Press Freedom Index is published by:
| A. | Reporters Without Borders | ||
| B. | Amnesty International | ||
| C. | Association for Democratic Rights | ||
| D. | None of the above |
Explanation :
India has fallen eight places from 142 to 150 in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index of 180 countries.
- India’s ranking, as per the report, fell on the back of increased “violence against journalists” and a “politically partisan media”, which has landed press freedom in a state of “crisis” in the world’s largest democracy.
- The ranking of India’s neighbours, except that of Nepal, have also slid down, with the index placing Pakistan at 157th position, Sri Lanka 146th, Bangladesh 162nd and Maynmar at 176th position, the report released by Reporters Without Borders said.
- According to the RSF 2022 World Press Freedom Index, Nepal has climbed up by 30 points in the global ranking at 76th position.
- This year, Norway (1st) Denmark (2nd), Sweden (3rd) Estonia (4th) and Finland (5th) grabbed the top positions, while North Korea remained at the bottom of the list of the 180 countries and territories ranked by the Reporters Without Borders.
- About the global scenario, the RSF said the 20th World Press Freedom Index reveals a two-fold increase in “polarisation” amplified by information chaos, that is, media polarisation fuelling divisions within countries, as well as polarisation between countries at the international level.
Q10.With reference to the Strategic Partnership (SP) Model, consider the following statements:
- It was announced in 2017 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
- The model, which was first proposed by the Urjit Patel Committee.
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 :
Five years after the strategic partnership (SP) model was introduced to increase indigenous defence manufacturing through collaboration with international arms firms, not a single project has been launched under the much-touted ‘Make in India’ strategy.
In a major policy reform intended to promote Make in India in defence manufacturing, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in 2017 the much-anticipated SP model for the Indian private sector.
The model, which was first proposed by the Dhirendra Singh Committee (in its 2015 report), is included in the Defence Procurement Procedure 2016 (DPP 2016).
The model seeks to identify a few Indian private companies as Strategic Partners who would initially tie up with a few shortlisted foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to manufacture big-ticket military platforms.
In the initial phase, the selection of Strategic Partners would be confined to four segments – Fighter Aircraft, Helicopters, Submarines and Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFV)/Main Battle Tanks (MBT).
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Q11.Indian Coast Guard commissioned its second Air Squadron, 845 Squadron (CG), at the Coast Guard Air Enclave in:
| A. | Kochi | ||
| B. | Chennai | ||
| C. | Mumbai | ||
| D. | Kolkata |
Explanation :
Indian Coast Guard commissioned its second Air Squadron, 845 Squadron (CG), at the Coast Guard Air Enclave at Nedumbassery in Kochi.
- The new Air Squadron, commissioned by Coast Guard Director General V S Pathania, is equipped with the indigenously developed Advanced Mark III (ALH Mark III) helicopters.
- The commissioning marks a tremendous leap towards self-reliance in the field of search and rescue operations and long-range maritime surveillance.
- Four helicopters have been positioned in Kochi to cover the entire coast of Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q12.Haflong Hindi, recently seen in news, is popular in:
| A. | Dima Hasao | ||
| B. | Udupi | ||
| C. | Chandigarh | ||
| D. | Ladakh |
Explanation :
A “nativised” Hindi associated with Assam’s only hill station is trying to hold its own amid a row over the Centre’s move to make Hindi compulsory in high schools across Northeast India.
- Hindi reached Dima Hasao, a district formerly called North Cachar Hills, in the late 1800s primarily through merchants and construction workers who worked on a mountain railway system.
- By the time the railway line was completed in 1899, the non-tribal settlers and diverse indigenous communities across the hills had developed a pidgin to communicate among themselves.
- It came to be known as Haflong Hindi, named after the headquarters of the district where the Dimasa people are the dominant community.
- Haflong Hindi follows the Tibeto-Burman grammar, not the Hindi grammar, and has lexical additions from Nepali and Bengali.
- It has a generic plural marker and does not use numbers as in Hindi.
- Some linguists feel pushing the standardised Hindi as a compulsory subject in school could affect the “earthiness” of variants in the Northeast such as Shillong Hindi, which is not pidgin but informal Hindi, and the “purer” Arunachalee Hindi with tribal intonations.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q13.Which of the following recorded the highest sex ratio at birth in the country in 2020, according to the annual report on Vital Statistics based on 2020 Civil Registration System report?
| A. | Ladakh | ||
| B. | Sikkim | ||
| C. | Bihar | ||
| D. | Punjab |
Explanation :
Ladakh recorded the highest sex ratio at birth in the country in 2020, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tripura and Kerala, according to the annual report on Vital Statistics based on 2020 Civil Registration System report.
- Highest Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) based on registered events has been reported by Ladakh (1,104) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (1,011), A&N Islands (984), Tripura (974), and Kerala (969), the report released by the Registrar-General of India said.
- The lowest sex ratio was reported by Manipur (880), followed by Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (898), Gujarat (909), Haryana (916) and Madhya Pradesh (921).
- In 2019, the highest sex ratio at birth was reported by Arunachal Pradesh (1,024), followed by Nagaland (1,001), Mizoram (975) and A&N Islands (965), and the lowest sex ratio was reported by Gujarat (901), Assam (903), Madhya Pradesh (905) and Jammu & Kashmir (909).
- None of the States or UTs have recorded sex ratio at birth below 880.
- The report said that the requisite information from Maharashtra, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi on sex ratio was “not available.” They had not provided the said data in 2019 as well.
- Sex ratio at birth is the number of females per thousand males.
- The sex ratio at birth of registered events is an important indicator to map the sex differential of the population at the beginning of their life. The sex ratio at birth has been calculated after deducting the delayed registration of more than one year for the year 2020.
- Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q 14. With reference to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation, consider the following statements:
- The compensation was to be calculated by assuming a 14% year-on-year growth over revenues in 2015-16 from the State taxes subsumed in GST.
- According to the Union Finance Ministry, outstanding GST compensation dues to States for 2021-22 stood at ₹78,704 crore, equivalent to four months of such accruals.
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 Mamata Banerjee administration in West Bengal said slashing State levies on petrol and diesel will be possible only if the Centre clears its outstanding dues of over ₹97,000 crore, which includes compensation for implementing the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
- The GST regime entailed doing away with multiple State and Central levies to create a simplified tax system for businesses.
- As this meant that States had to give up several taxation powers in the process, they were assured that revenue losses will be compensated for five years.
- The compensation was to be calculated by assuming a 14% year-on-year growth over revenues in 2015-16 from the State taxes subsumed in GST, and remitted from a compensation cess fund backed by cess levies on sin and luxury goods like pan masala, tobacco, coal and cars.
- According to the Finance Ministry, outstanding GST compensation dues to States for 2021-22 stood at ₹78,704 crore, equivalent to four months of such accruals.
- This means that dues have been remitted to States for the eight-month period of April 2021 till November 2021.
- From July 2017 when the GST regime kicked off till now, about ₹7.35 lakh crore has been released as GST compensation to States.
- Hence both statements are correct.
Q15.With reference to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Monetary Policy, consider the following statements:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently raised the repo rate by 40 basis points (bps) to 5.4%.
- RBI also raised the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 50 basis points to 4.5% with effect from May 21.
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 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the repo rate by 40 basis points (bps) to 4.4% citing inflation that was globally “rising alarmingly and spreading fast”.
- Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had in an off-cycle meeting reviewed the latest economic developments including the impact of the war in Ukraine and decided to increase the policy interest rates in a bid to curb accelerating inflation.
- The MPC, however, retained its ‘accommodative’ policy stance even as it focuses on withdrawal of accommodation to keep inflation within the target range while supporting growth.
- As part of the withdrawal of accommodation, the RBI also raised the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 50 basis points to 4.5% with effect from May 21 so as to drain surplus liquidity of about ₹87,000 crore.
- As part of the increases, the standing deposit facility (SDF) rate would become 4.15% and the marginal standing facility (MSF) and bank rate would be 4.65%.
- These decisions are in consonance with the objective of achieving the medium-term target for consumer price index (CPI) inflation of 4% within a band of +/- 2%.
Q16.With reference to the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, consider the following statements:
- In 2018 and 2019, the first and second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure took place in New York.
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at the 2019 UN Climate Summit.
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 Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the inaugural session of the fourth edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.
- He noted that the coalition has expanded and made valuable contributions. He mentioned the initiative on ‘Infrastructure for Resilient Island States’ that was launched at COP-26 and CDRI’s work on Resilient Airports studying 150 airports around the world.
- The ‘Global Assessment of Disaster Resilience of Infrastructure Systems’ that is being led by CDRI will help create global knowledge that would be immensely valuable.
- The Prime Minister said that in order to make our future resilient we have to work towards a ‘Resilient Infrastructure Transition’. Resilient infrastructure can also be the centrepiece of our wider adaptation efforts.
International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI)
- The International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) is the annual conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
- It brings together member countries, organizations and institutions to strengthen the global discourse on disaster and climate resilient infrastructure.
- In 2018 and 2019, the first and second International Workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure took place in New Delhi, India. ICDRI 2021 was hosted virtually. The fourth edition of ICDRI is being organized in partnership with the United States Government, from 4 to 6 May 2022 in New Delhi, in hybrid format.
- CDRI was launched by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, at the 2019 UN Climate Summit.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.
Q17.Which of the following are the NORDIC countries?
- Denmark
- Iceland
- Sweden
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
| A. | 1 and 3 only | ||
| B. | 1 and 2 only | ||
| C. | 2 and 3 only | ||
| D. | 1, 2 and 3 |
Explanation :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
- The Summit provided an opportunity to review the progress of the India-Nordic relations since the 1st India-Nordic Summit, which was held in 2018 in Stockholm.
- Prime Minister Modi invited Nordic companies for investing in the Blue Economy sector, especially in India’s Sagarmala project.
- India’s partnership with the Nordic region in the Arctic Region was discussed. Prime Minister noted that India’s Arctic Policy provides a good framework for expansion of India-Nordic cooperation in the Arctic region.
- Prime Minister invited the sovereign wealth funds of the Nordic countries to invest in India.
- The Nordic Countries reiterated their support for India’s Permanent Membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council.
- India and the Nordic countries were committed to follow up on the historic decision at UNEA 5.2 for negotiating an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution with an ambition to completing the work by 2024.
- Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
Q18. With reference to the Cannes Film Market, consider the following statements:
- Sri Lanka has been chosen as first Country of Honour ever at Cannes Film Market.
- The Marché du Film is the business counterpart of the Cannes Film Festival and one of the largest film markets in the world.
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 :
India has been chosen as first Country of Honour ever at Cannes Film Market.
- India will be the official Country of Honour at the upcoming Marche’ Du Film, organized alongside the 75th edition of Cannes Film Festival, in France.
- It is the first time the Marché du Film has an official Country of Honour, and this special focus will continue annually with different nations in the spotlight at future editions.
- Notably France and India are marking 75 years of their diplomatic ties.
- India is also a “Country of Honour at the Cannes Next, under which 5 new Start Ups would be given an opportunity to pitch to the Audio-Visual Industry.
Marché du Film
- The Marché du Film (literally meaning Film Market) is the business counterpart of the Cannes Film Festival and one of the largest film markets in the world.
- Established in 1959, it is held annually in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.
Q19.With reference to the Sagarmala Program, consider the following statements:
- It holds a vision to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimal infrastructure investment.
- It was announced by the Prime Minister in 2004.
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 :
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways will chair the meeting of the National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) on 6th May, 2022 at Vigyan Bhawan, in New Delhi.
- The National Sagarmala Apex Committee (NSAC) is the apex body providing policy directions and guidance for port led development-Sagarmala projects and reviews its implementation.
- The NSAC was constituted on 13.05.2015 by the Union Cabinet and is chaired by Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways with Cabinet Ministers from stakeholder central Ministries and Chief Ministers & Administrators of Maritime States and Union territories respectively as members.
- The committee shall review the Sagarmala program.
- Holistic development of coastal communities through a new initiative ‘Sagartat Samriddhi Yojana’ will also be taken up for discussion in the meeting.
Sagarmala Program
- Sagarmala is a National Programme to accelerate economic development in the country by harnessing the potential of India’s 7,500 km long coastline and 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways.
- It was announced by the Prime Minister in 2014 and approved by the Union Cabinet on 25th March 2015.
- It holds a vision to reduce logistics cost for both domestic and EXIM cargo with optimal infrastructure investment.
- The projects under the scheme have been categorized into five pillars:
- Port modernization & new port development,
- Port connectivity enhancement,
- Port-led industrialization,
- Coastal community development and
- Coastal shipping and Inland water transport
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Q20.With reference to the European Commission, consider the following statements:
- Its members consist of a team of 27 Commissioners (one from each EU country) – led by the Commission President.
- It is located at Paris.
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 :
EU stepped up its antitrust case against Apple by accusing the company of abusing its dominant position by limiting access to technologies allowing contactless payment.
- The European Commission is the EU’s politically independent executive arm.
- EC is known as the guardian of the treaties.
- It is due to its responsibility to represent the European interest and enforce the treaties and legislation that provide the legal foundation for the EU.
- Its members consist of a team of 27 Commissioners (one from each EU country) – led by the Commission President.
- It is located at Brussels (Belgium).
Hence only statement 1 is correct.