30 March 2019 Live Test Conducted by Vajiram & Ravi
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30th March 2019 Live Test conducted by Vajiram & Ravi Based on September and October 2018 Current Affairs Q1. Which one of the following is a purpose of ‗Swadher Greh‘ a scheme of the Government? a) It aims to provide support and rehabilitation for women in difficult circumstances. b) It aims to address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR). c) It aims to improve the nutritional and health status of women and children. d) It provides skill development training to women in women friendly trades. Answer: A Explanation: Recently, the Union Minister for Women & Child Development inaugurated the widows‘ home ‗Krishna Kutir‘ at Vrindavan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. It is a special home for 1000 widows set up under Swadhar scheme. The Swadhar scheme was launched by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development for rehabilitation of women in difficult circumstances. The scheme envisions a supportive institutional framework for women victims of difficult circumstances so that they could lead their life with dignity and conviction. It envisages that shelter, food, clothing, and health as well as economic and social security are assured for such women. There are more than 300 Swadhar Homes across the country under the scheme. Under it, funds are released to the implementing agencies (which are mainly NGOs). Hence, option a) is the correct answer. Source: http://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/swadhar- scheme/5c17da172099372ce742329f/ Q2. Which of the following countries are the members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)? (1) India (2) Bangladesh (3) Sri Lanka (4) Thailand (5) Malaysia Select the correct answer using codes given below: a) 1, 2 and 3 only b) 2, 4 and 5 only c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only d) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only Answer: c Explanation: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising of seven member states in South Asia and Southeast Asia lying in littoral and adjacent areas of Bay of Bengal constituting a contiguous regional unity. Technological and economic cooperation among South Asian and Southeast Asian countries along the coast of the Bay of Bengal is its main objective. This sub-regional organisation came into being on June 6, 1997, through the Bangkok Declaration. It is headquartered in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It comprises of seven member countries: five deriving from South Asia -- including Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka -- and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Thailand. Hence, option c) is the correct answer. The Fourth BIMSTEC Summit concluded in Kathmandu (September 2018) after issuing an 18-point Kathmandu Declaration. The Kathmandu Declaration underlined the importance of multidimensional connectivity as a key enabler to economic integration of the region. The member states also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of a BIMSTEC Gird Interconnection to enhance energy cooperation among the member states. Source: http://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/bimstec/5c17d8fc2099372ce5792fc8/ Q3. With reference to ‗Red Sanders‘, sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements: (1) It has a highly restrictive distribution in the north eastern portion of the Indian peninsula to which it is endemic. (2) It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of north eastern India. (3) It is listed as Near Threatened on IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. Which of the statements given above are not correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 1 and 3 only d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: a Explanation: Recently Andhra Pradesh Red sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) killed a red sanders smuggler and seized a lorry with two tonnes of red sanders logs worth over ₹1 crore. Red sanders smuggling is rampant due to its huge demand in China, Japan and South-East Asia for medicine, dye-making and manufacturing furniture, musical instruments, chess-sets. Operation Sesha has been launched by directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) by involving 17 countries. Statement (1) is incorrect-Red Sanders has a highly restrictive distribution in the South Eastern portion of Indian peninsula to which it is endemic. The Palakonda and Seshachalam hill ranges of Cuddapah-Chittoor districts of the State of Andhra Pradesh are its principal geographical range which extends slightly into the neighbouring Anantapur, Kurnool, Prakasam and Nellore Districts of Andhra Pradesh. Sporadic wild populations occur in the adjoining districts of the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu & Karnataka. Statement (2) is incorrect- Red Sanders bearing forest is a one of the climax forest type in tropical dry deciduous forests in India. The natural habitat of Red Sanders is a hilly region with hot dry climate. Statement (3) is correct- It is listed as Near Threatened on IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. It is internationally protected under CITES (convention on international trade in endangered species) Appendix II since 1995. Source: http://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/red-sanders/5c184eee2099372ce5792fd7/ Q4. Consider the following statements about the Brow antlered deer (Sangai): (1) It is found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park. (2) It is listed as vulnerable on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Schedule 1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 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 Answer: a Explanation: Activists are opposing the government‘s proposal of shifting some Brow-antlered deer (the Sangai) species – found only in Manipur‘s Bishnupur district – to other areas. The Sangai is the state animal of Manipur. It is also known as the Dancing Deer. Sangai is a medium-sized deer, with uniquely distinctive antlers, with extremely long brow tine, which form the main beam. The forward protruding beam appears to come out from the eyebrow, hence called the brow-antlered deer. It has a dark reddish- brown winter coat, which turns paler in summer. The deer walks on the hind surface of its pasterns with mincing hops over floating foliage, and is hence also called the Dancing Deer. Statement (1) is correct- It is found only in Keibul Lamjao National Park. The Keibul Lamjao National Park is a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India. It is the only floating park in the world, and is an integral part of Loktak Lake. The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called phumdis. Statement (2) is incorrect- It is listed as endangered on IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and Schedule 1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Sangai faces threat from steadily degenerating habitat of phumdi as a result of continuous inundation and flooding caused due to artificial reservoir. There is also invasion of non-native plants like Paragrass. It also faces threats of diseases from the livestock, inbreeding depression and poaching. Source: http://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/dancing- deer/5c184e9d2099372ce74232ae/ Q5. In the context of the ‗Indian Post Payments Bank (IPPB)‘, often mentioned in the news, consider the following statements: (1) The IPPB is not authorized to advance loans or issue credit cards or offer remittance services. (2) The maximum limit on deposits in the IPPB is Rs 1 lakh, beyond which the account will be automatically converted into post office savings account. 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 Answer: b Explanation: India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) has been setup under the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communication with 100% equity owned by Government of India. By leveraging the vast network of the Department of Posts (with more than 3 lakh Postmen and Grameen Dak Sewaks), IPPB will significantly augment the reach of the banking sector in the country especially in the rural areas. Statement (1) is incorrect- The operations of IPPB will be on a smaller scale as compared to other banks and will not advance loans or issue credit cards to avoid risk. Performing the rest of its functions, it will accept deposits, offer remittance services, mobile payments/transfers/purchases and other banking services like ATM/debit cards, net banking and third-party fund transfers. It will also deliver the benefits of schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana. Statement (2) is correct- The maximum limit on deposits is Rs 1 lakh, beyond which the account will be automatically converted into post office savings account. The Department of Posts (DoP) wants to ensure that a customer‘s cash balance that exceeds ₹1 lakh in its payments bank remains within the postal system through a sweep-out mechanism, whereby the excess balance will be channelised to their Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) account at the end of the day. Source: http://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/india-post-payments-bank- ippb/5c184e5e2099372ce5792fd5/ Q6. The term ―monopsony‖ was in the news recently. Which one of the following statements provides its most apt description? a) It is a market condition where a large seller, controls a sizeable proportion of the market. b) It is a market condition where a large buyer, controls a sizeable proportion of the market. c) It is a market structure consists of a single seller and a single buyer. d) It is a formal agreement between a group of producers to regulate supply in an effort to regulate or manipulate prices. Answer: b Explanation: New words such as ‗monopsony‘ and the ‗Amazon effect‘ have been coined by US central bankers and economists in the background of growing dominance of few companies and its impact on wages, inflation and growth. A monopsony, also called a buyer‘s monopoly, is a market condition similar to a monopoly but where a large buyer, and not a seller, controls a sizeable proportion of the market and drives prices down.