UPSC JANUARY- 2020 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS TEST – 02 1. Consider the following statements regarding Choose the Incorrect statement using the “Operation Twist”: code given below: 1. It is being carried out to change the (a) 1 only liquidity conditions in Indian economy. (b) 2 only 2. It is being carried out by changing the (c) Both 1 and 2 Repo rate. (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Choose the correct answer using the code Answer: a) given below: Explanation: (a) 1 only • It was one of the last battles of the Third (b) 2 only Anglo-Maratha War, which ended the (c) Both 1 and 2 Peshwa domination. So, statement 1 is (d) Neither 1 nor 2 incorrect. Answer: d) • Bhima-Koregaon battle of 1818 was Explanation: fought between Peshwa forces and the • Operation Twist involves simultaneous British. Hence, statement 2 is correct. buying and selling of long-term and short- term government securities to influence 3. “Drake Passage” connects which of the the interest rate of the government following: securities. It is not about influencing (a) Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean liquidity conditions in the economy. So, (b) Arctic Ocean and Pacific Ocean statement 1 is incorrect. (c) Arctic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean • It is done in order to moderate the interest (d) Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean rates of long-term securities and bring it Answer: d) closer to repo rate. It does not involve Explanation: changing the repo rate. So, statement 2 is • The Drake Passage is the body of water incorrect. between South America’s Cape Horn, Chile and the South Shetland Islands of 2. Consider the following statements regarding Antarctica. “Bhima-Koregaon battle”: • It connects the south-western part of the 1. This battle was a part of Second Anglo- Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the Maratha War. south-eastern part of the Pacific Ocean 2. It was fought by Peshwa forces against and extends into the Southern Ocean. British. www.iasgatewayy.com UPSC JANUARY- 2020 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS TEST – 02 4. ‘Value Subtracting Enterprises’, a term often (a) 1 only seen in economics is referred to (b) 1 and 2 only (a) Quality of the commodity is compromised (c) 3 only (b) losses incurred by enterprises are greater (d) 1, 2 and 3 than their revenue Answer: d) (c) Quantity of the commodity is Explanation: compromised • Insurance Regulatory and Development (d) Profit incurred by the enterprises are Authority of India or the IRDAI is the apex greater than their production body responsible for regulating and developing the insurance industry in India. Answer: b) Explanation: • It is an autonomous body. It was established by an act of Parliament known as the • Some of the major loss-making PSUs, Bharat Insurance Regulatory and Development Sanchar Nigam Limited, Mahanagar Authority Act, 1999. Telephone Nigam Limited and Air India • IRDAI is headquartered in Hyderabad in should go under the block as their losses are Telangana. greater than their revenue. They are called as • Its primary purpose is to protect the rights of value subtracting enterprises. the policyholders in India. It gives the registration certificate to insurance companies 5. Consider the following statements regarding in the country. Insurance Regulatory and Development • It also engages in the renewal, modification, Authority of India (IRDAI): cancellation, etc. of this registration. 1. Insurance Regulatory and Development • It also creates regulations to protect Authority of India or the IRDAI is the apex policyholders’ interests in India. body responsible for regulating and developing the insurance industry in India. 6. In the context to the Bhima Koregaon battle, 2. It is an autonomous body established by an act consider the following statements: of Parliament known as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1. The Battle of Koregaon was fought 1999. between the Mughal forces under 3. It also gives the registration certificate to Aurangazeb and the Peshwa faction of the insurance companies in the country. Maratha Confederacy, at Koregaon Which of the statement(s) given above is/are Bhima. correct? www.iasgatewayy.com UPSC JANUARY- 2020 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS TEST – 02 2. The Jaystambh built by the British acts as • The Koregaon pillar inscription or the a symbol of power of Mahars and serves Jaystambh (Victory pillar) features the as a memorial for them. names of the 49 Company soldiers killed in Which of the statement(s) given above is/are the battle. Incorrect? • It was built by the British as a symbol of their (a) 1 only own power, today it serves as a memorial of (b) 2 only the Mahars. (c) Both 1 and 2 7. In the context to Swachh Survekshan, (d) Neither 1 nor 2 consider the following: Answer: a) 1. It is conducted by Ministry of Housing Explanation: and Urban Affairs. • The Battle of Koregaon was fought on 1 2. It currently focusses on continuous January 1818 between the British East India monitoring, sustainable Outcomes and Company and the Peshwa faction of the Institutionalizing Swachhata Maratha Confederacy, at Koregaon Bhima. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are • The 28,000-strong Marathas, led by Peshwa Baji Rao II intended to attack Pune. On their correct? way, they were met by an 800-strong (a) 1 only Company force that was on its way to (b) 2 only reinforce the British troops in Pune. (c) Both 1 and 2 • The Peshwa dispatched around 2,000 soldiers (d) Neither 1 nor 2 to attack the Company force stationed in Answer: c) Koregaon. Explanation: • Led by Captain Francis Staunton, the • It is conducted by MoHUA every year since Company troops defended their position for 2016. nearly 12 hours. • Last year it focused on Sustainability and now • The Marathas ultimately withdrew, fearing the it currently focusses on continuous arrival of a larger British force led by General monitoring, sustainable Outcomes and Joseph Smith. Institutionalizing Swachhata (which means • The Company troops of Indian origin included cleanliness). predominantly Mahar Dalit soldiers belonging • Swachh Survekshan league 2020 is a part of to the Bombay Native Infantry, and therefore Swachh Survekshan. Its weightage is 25% in Dalit activists regard the battle as a heroic Swachh Survekshan 2020. episode in Dalit history. www.iasgatewayy.com UPSC JANUARY- 2020 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS TEST – 02 • It is mainly focused on service level progress 9. In context to Indian Space Research of Solid Waste Management. Organisation (ISRO), consider the following: • Indore, Jamshedpur are recently declared as 1. It will establish a second launch port in the cleanest on Swachh 2020 table. Thoothukudi. 2. It developed a Small Launch vehicle 8. Which of the following body launched Mobile (SSLV) with payload capacity to deliver Aided Note Identifier (MANI) app? 500kg to low Earth orbit. (a) Securities and Exchange Board of India Which of the statement(s) given above is/are (SEBI) correct? (b) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) (a) 1 only (c) NITI Aayog (b) 2 only (d) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural (c) Both 1 and 2 Development (NABARD) (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: b) Answer: c) Explanation: Explanation: • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched a • ISRO will establish a second launch port in mobile app, Mobile Aided Note Identifier Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu (MANI) to help visually challenged people to exclusively to launch small satellite launch identify denomination of currency notes. vehicles (SSLVs). • RBI said that the visually challenged can • SSLV is a launch vehicle being developed by identify the denomination of a note by using the ISRO with payload capacity to deliver 500 the application, which can also work offline kg to Low Earth orbit or 300 kg to Sun once it is installed. synchronous orbit for launching small • Through the downloaded app, users can scan satellites, with the capability to support the notes using the camera. The audio output multiple orbital drop-offs. in December 2018, will give the result in Hindi and English. the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at • The app is available both on Android and iOS Thumba completed the design for the vehicle. operating systems. • The maiden flight is expected in early 2020. After entering the operational phase, the vehicle's production and launch operations will be done by a consortium of Indian firms along with New Space India Limited. www.iasgatewayy.com UPSC JANUARY- 2020 DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASS TEST – 02 10. Consider the following statements regarding Roles and functions: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): • CDS will provide synergy in planning, 1. The post of CDS was created based on the procurements and logistics in the armed recommendations of the K forces. Subrahmanyam-led Kargil Review • The post will ensure integration of land-air- Committee. sea operations through the eventual setting up of theatre commands. 2. CDS will be a member of the Defence • The CDS will also function as the military Acquisition Council and the Defence advisor to the PM-led Nuclear Command Planning Committee. Authority. 3. Commands related to cyber, space and • CDS will have direct command over the tri- special operations will be under the Service organizations to handle the new command of the CDS. warfare domains of space and cyberspace. Which of the following statement(s) is/are • He will function as the Principal Military correct? Adviser to the Defence Minister and also as (a) 1 and 2 only. the Permanent Chairman, Chiefs of Staff (b) 2 and 3 only. Committee (COSC). (c) 2 only • The CDS will be member of Defence (d) 1, 2 and 3 Acquisition Council and Defence Planning Answer: d) Committee. Explanation: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS): • The creation of CDS as a single-point military adviser to the government, was created based on the recommendations of the Kargil Review Committee (led by K Subrahmanyam) in 1999.