VAJIRAM & RAVI LIVE Test – 3 4th April 2020 Q1. With reference to the snow leopard, consider the following statements: 1. In 2017, status of Snow leopard in the Red List of the IUCN was changed from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’. 2. Project snow leopard was launched in 2009 in all hilly states in India. 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: Statement 1 is correct. Snow leopard is a member of the genus ‘Panthera’ to which tiger, leopard and lion also belong. Its Scientific name is “Panthera uncia”. They inhabit alpine and subalpine zones at elevations from 3,000 to 4,500 m (9,800 to 14,800 ft). It is native to the mountain ranges of Central and South Asia. The 12 range countries are Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India is home to 10% of the global population in less than 5% of its global range. The major threat to snow leopard populations is poaching and illegal trade of skins and body parts. Poaching is linked to prey declines and livestock depredation. Greenhouse gas emissions will likely cause a shift of the treeline in the Himalayas and a shrinking of the alpine zone, which may reduce snow leopard habitat causing further danger. In 2017, status of Snow leopard in the Red List of the IUCN was changed from ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’. • Endangered Species: According to IUCN, species are considered ‘endangered,’ if they are fewer than 2,500 and experiencing high rate of decline. • Vulnerable Species: Species are fewer than 10,000 and its population has declined at least 10% over three generations. It is also listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Listed in Appendix I of the CITES, which makes trading of animal body parts (i.e., fur, bones and meat) illegal in signatory countries. VAJIRAM & RAVI Statement 2 is incorrect. Project snow leopard was launched in 2009 in the 5 Himalayan states of Jammu & Kashmir, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to conserve India’s high altitude wildlife populations such as Snow Leopard, Asiatic Ibex, Tibetan Argali, Ladakh Urial, Chiru, Takin etc. Source: https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/india-plans-first-ever-snow-leopard- survey/5db250f61d5def7eb9248deb/ Q2. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? Select the correct answer using the code given below: a. 2 only b. 1 and 2 only c. 2 and 3 only d. 1, 2 and 3 Answer: a Explanation: Pair (1) is not correctly matched: NITI Aayog with Institute for Competitiveness as the knowledge partner released the India Innovation Index (III) 2019. The study examines the innovation ecosystem of Indian states and union territories. The aim is to create a holistic tool which can be used by policymakers across the country to identify the challenges to be addressed and strengths to build on when designing the economic growth policies for their regions. The states have been bifurcated into three categories: Major States, North-East & Hill states, and Union territories/City States/Small States. Karnataka is the most innovative major state in India. Pair (2) is correctly matched: School Education Quality Index (SEQI) was released by Niti Aayog. Kerala bagged the top spot on the index. SEQI has been developed by NITI Aayog through a collaborative process, including key stakeholders such as Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) and VAJIRAM & RAVI World Bank. The index aims to evaluate the performance of States and UTs in the school education sector. Pair (3) is not correctly matched: The Global Hunger Index (GHI) was brought out by US based International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in collaboration with Germany based Welthungerhilfe. Now IFPRI has stepped aside and Concern Worldwide has joined as a partner. It is published since 2000; this year’s report is the 14th one. The latest Global Hunger Index (GHI) has ranked India a lowly 102 among the 117 countries it has mapped. Source: https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/india-innovation-index- 2019/5da92bb41d5def5b88b44f55/ https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/global-hunger-index/5da7dc011d5def4029dbb6d8/ https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/school-education-quality-index- seqi/5d92e0c71d5def640e0c1551/ Q3. With reference to the Palaeochannel, consider the following statements: 1. A palaeochannel is a remnant of an inactive river or stream channel that has been filled or buried by younger sediment. 2. The Union Water Ministry has recently excavated an old, dried-up river in Prayagraj that linked the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. 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: c Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: A palaeochannel is a remnant of an inactive river or stream channel that has been filled or buried by younger sediment. A palaeochannel is distinct from the overbank deposits of currently-active river channels, including ephemeral water courses that do not regularly flow. Paleochannels typically act as pathways for groundwater movement and provide a potential source of groundwater. Their presence can be helpful in identifying areas suitable for recharge. Statement 2 is correct: The Union Water Ministry has excavated an old, dried-up river in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) that linked the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. The aim is to develop it as a potential groundwater recharge source. This “ancient buried river” is around 4 km wide, 45 km long and consisted of a 15-metre-thick VAJIRAM & RAVI layer buried under soil. The newly discovered river was a “buried paleochannel that joins the Yamuna river at Durgapur village, about 26 km south of the current Ganga-Yamuna confluence at Prayagraj. These paleochannels reveal the course of rivers that have ceased to exist. Evidence from palaeochannels suggested that the mythological Saraswati River did indeed exist. The discovery was made in 2018 by a team of scientists from the CSIR-NGRI (National Geophysical Research Institute) and the Central Groundwater Board. Source: https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/paleochannel/5d92e0561d5def640e0c1531/ Q4. With reference to the Doing Business Report (DBR, 2020), consider the following statements: 1. It was released by World Economic Forum (WEF). 2. It is not related with Ease of Doing Business Ranking. 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: d Explanation: The World Bank released its latest Doing Business Report (DBR, 2020). Doing Business 2020 measures regulations across 190 economies. Doing Business covers 12 areas of business regulation. Ten of these areas—starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency—are included in the ease of doing business score and ease of doing business ranking. Doing Business also measures regulation on employing workers and contracting with the government, which are not included in the ease of doing business score and ranking. Hence both statements 1 and 2 are incorrect. By documenting changes in regulation in 12 areas of business activity in 190 economies, Doing Business analyzes regulation that encourages efficiency and supports freedom to do business. The data collected by Doing Business address three questions about government. First, when do governments change regulation with a view to developing their private sector? Second, what are the characteristics of reformist governments? Third, what are the effects of regulatory change on different aspects of economic or investment activity? India has recorded a jump of 14 positions against its rank of 77 in 2019 to be placed now at 63rd rank among 190 countries. As a result of continued efforts by the Government, India has improved its rank by 79 positions in last five years [2014-19]. India continues to maintain its first position among South Asian countries. VAJIRAM & RAVI Source: https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/doing-business-report- 2020/5db259321d5def7ebd092bab/ Q5. With reference to ‘The Gandhian Challenge’, consider the following statements: 1. It was launched by Ministry of Human Resource Development. 2. It provides a platform for every child across India to ideate innovative solutions for a sustainable India of their dreams, using Gandhi’s principles. 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: Statement 1 is incorrect. On the 150th birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Atal innovation mission (AIM), NITI Aayog’s Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and UNICEF India, including Generation Unlimited, have launched ‘The Gandhian Challenge’. Statement 2 is correct. This innovation challenge provides a platform for every child across India to ideate innovative solutions for a sustainable India of their dreams, using Gandhi’s principles. The problem statement for the Gandhian Challenge is: “Share your innovative solutions/ideas to create a futuristic and sustainable world of your dreams, following Gandhi's principles”. Value Addition Generation Unlimited is a new UNICEF-led global partnership that aims to ensure that every young person age 10-24 is in some form of school, learning, training, self-employment, or age-appropriate employment by 2030. It aims to co-create and scale up proven solutions related to secondary age- education, skills for learning, employability and decent work, and empowerment, with a focus on girls. Source: https://vajiramias.com/current-affairs/the-gandhian-challenge/5d94310b1d5def0ab2c6a049/ Q6. Mediterranean Sea borders which of the following countries? 1. Israel 2. Turkey 3. Lebanon VAJIRAM & RAVI 4. Russia Select the correct answer using the code given below: a. 1 and 4 only b.