May 8, 2020 60 DAYS PROGRAMME-PRELIMS 2020

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan [Day - 59]- IAS Prelims Test Series 2020 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY & CURRENT AFFAIRS

ARCHIVES OF 60 DAY PLAN PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASSES (12 SESSIONS-By Tauseef Sir): STARTING ON 16 APRIL JOIN NOW!   Dear Students, The 60 Days Training has finally begun:) DAY 59 is here! It is time to Introspect, Ideate and Improve!! We have come-up with articles to instil confidence, motivate you in the present situation. Do read these articles. Mark the words/lines in your dairy. These very lines can be the driving force’ in the time of uncertainty. [STRATEGY] MUST READ: 21 Days of Lockdown-What to do? Introspect, Ideate and Improve !! MUST READ: PRELIMS in Testing Times – Don’t Forget the ‘WHY’; IASbaba’s dedicated HOTLINE for Aspirants and Prelims Postponing Rumours Coronavirus[VIDEO]: Awareness, Myths, Solidarity and Message to All UPSC Aspirants by Mohan Sir Founder IASbaba   To ensure that your preparation goes smoothly and keeping up with our promise, we have come up with a Dedicated HOTLINE (Communication channel) - Connect with BABA for all UPSC/IAS Aspirants. From today, you will be able to speak with the Founders and Core Team of IASbaba on telephone regarding ‘any queries’ related to UPSC preparation in general or Subject-specific doubts. This Hotline, will be in addition to the 'ASK YOUR BABA' (#ASKBABA) thread opened on a daily basis for our 60 Day plan. We will try to make sure that with so much going around these days, you have at least one less thing to worry about.   How to make use of HOTLINE and ASK YOUR BABA (#ASKBABA)? There are 2 initiatives which will be running parallely. 1. HOTLINE - Connect with BABA (5pm - 7pm) The communication channel will be open ONLY for 2 hours Daily (except on Sundays - holiday) from 5pm to 7 pm. Please do not make calls before or after the specified time. As we will be occupied with other daily initiatives running on the website and mentorship. Hope you understand our time constraints. Please note that, call facilities are mainly for queries related to preparation per se like strategies, difficulties in reading a subject, what to read, what not to read, how to manage time, revision, motivation etc. You can call on the numbers given below. For any queries related to - UPSC Preparation (Prelims, Mains, Interview) Strategy & Current Affairs – contact 9986190082 Environment & Science and Technology – contact 9986193016 Polity & Economics – contact 9899291288 Geography & History – contact 9591106864 We have separated General Strategy (Preparation per se – Pre, Mains, Interview) and Current Affairs from other subjects. You can make use of the HOTLINE, as per your needs.   2. ASK YOUR BABA (#ASKBABA) - clear your doubts on the 60 Day Platform (Online from 11 am - 10 pm) Use the disqus comment section of that particular day (60 Day post - For Ex: Today is Day 25) to clear all your subject specific doubts of the day. You can post your queries/doubts with #ASKBABA !! Here, doubts related to the 60 day questions or conceptual clarity in a particular subject can be asked. Your doubts will be cleared on real-time basis (or max within hour it will be answered from the subject experts) If you are genuinely finding difficulty interms of preparing with that particular subject, then you can use 5pm-7pm window to make calls. If you are not able to speak to IASbaba's Team, then you can still post your doubts/queries in the same post of the 60 day initiative. As mentioned above, your doubts will be cleared on real-time basis (or max within hour it will be answered from the subject experts). Make the best use of the communication channel (Ask Your Baba/comment section on daily 60 Day post and calls) provided. We will make sure that, all your queries will be answered to. So we have  tried our bit, to ensure your preparation goes smoothly, you can do your bit by keeping in touch with us via phone/ website to keep yourself going, keep yourself engaged and staying positive during the rough times.   How to make the maximum use of this HOTLINE and #ASKBABA (Disqus comment of 60 Day Plan) on Daily basis? Now, that I have solved 30 mcq’s, what to do next?  How to Analyse my Performance? For Answers to the above Questions  ->CONNECT WITH BABA: IASbaba’s Dedicated HOTLINE for UPSC/IAS Aspirants !!   Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (5 PM), cross-check the answers and again, comment the marks (you got) in the same comment thread. This will keep you responsible and sincere in days to come. Also, we need more sets of scores for releasing the cut offs in the night so, requesting all of you to sincerely put your scores in comment section.    You can also take part in discussion with peers.   Q.1) Consider the following statement(s) with regard Indian Data Relay Satellite System (IDRSS) –  It enabling satellite to satellite communication and transfer of data. IDRSS satellites will be placed in geostationary orbit. India will be the third country to have Data Relay Satellite System. Select the correct option –  1 only 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only All of the above Q.1) भारतीय डेटा रिले सैटेलाइट सिस्टम (IDRSS) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें - यह उपग्रह को संचार उपग्रह और डेटा के हस्तांतरण में सक्षम बनाता है। IDRSS उपग्रहों को भूस्थैतिक कक्षा (geostationary orbit) में स्थापित किया जाएगा। भारत, डेटा रिले सैटेलाइट सिस्टम क्षमता वाला तीसरा देश होगा। सही विकल्प का चयन करें - केवल 1 केवल 1 और 2 केवल 1 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.2) “This type of computing means taking real-time decisions close to the source of data. By locating computational intelligence close to the individual and different sources of the data, it reduces latency in the implementation of a requested service. Instead of sending data through the entire core network to the cloud for processing, it uses a distributed network architecture to ensure near-real-time processing with reduced delays, which would otherwise simply not be acceptable for the specific service.” Which technology has been depicted in the above paragraph? Cloud Computing Quantum Computing Edge Computing Nano computing Q.2) “इस प्रकार की कंप्यूटिंग का अर्थ, डेटा के स्रोत के समीप वास्तविक समय में निर्णय लेना है। कम्प्यूटेशनल इंटेलिजेंस द्वारा डेटा के व्यक्तिगत और अलग-अलग स्रोतों से पता लगाकर, यह अनुरोधित सेवा के कार्यान्वयन में विलंबता को कम करता है। प्रोसेसिंग के लिए क्लाउड पर पूरे कोर नेटवर्क के माध्यम से डेटा भेजने के बजाय, यह वितरित नेटवर्क आर्किटेक्चर का उपयोग कम विलंब के साथ वास्तविक समय प्रोसेसिंग सुनिश्चित करने के लिए करता है, जो अन्यथा विशिष्ट सेवा के लिए स्वीकार्य नहीं होगा। "   उपरोक्त पैराग्राफ में किस तकनीक का चित्रण किया गया है? क्लाउड कंप्यूटिंग क्वांटम कम्प्यूटिंग एज कम्प्यूटिंग नैनो कंप्यूटिंग Q.3) Consider the following pairs –  Satellite  Function   1. RISAT Can take pictures of the earth during day and night and also under cloudy conditions.   2. GISAT-1 Continuous observation of Indian subcontinent from Geostationary orbit.    3. XPoSat dedicated mission to study polarisation   Which of the above has been correctly matched? 1 only 1 and 3 only 3 only All of the above Q.3) निम्नलिखित युग्मों पर विचार करें -               उपग्रह                                           कार्य    1. RISAT दिन और रात के दौरान तथा बादलों की स्थिति में भी पृथ्वी की तस्वीरें ले सकते हैं।   2. GISAT -1 भूस्थैतिक (Geostationary) कक्षा से भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप का निरंतर अवलोकन।   3. XPoSat ध्रुवीकरण (polarisation) का अध्ययन करने के लिए समर्पित मिशन   उपरोक्त में से कौन सही ढंग से सुमेलित है? केवल 1 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.4) Which of the following can be the application of gravitational lensing? Study of very far-away galaxies Study of dark matter Understanding the star formation Select the correct option –  1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.4) निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा गुरुत्वाकर्षण लेंसिंग (gravitational lensing) का अनुप्रयोग हो सकता है? अत्यधिक दूरस्थ आकाशगंगाओं का अध्ययन डार्क मैटर का अध्ययन तारा निर्माण को समझना सही विकल्प का चयन करें - केवल 1 केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.5) Which of the following correctly describes Ploonets recently in news? Moons that are in gaseous state. Ancient heavenly bodies which are theories to have signs of life. Moons that have escaped the bonds of their parent planet and started orbiting their stars instead. Moons that have escaped the bonds of their parent planet and started to exist as a separate planet.  Q.5) हाल ही में समाचारों में रहने वाले प्लुनेट्स (Ploonets) का, निम्नलिखित में से कौन सही ढंग से वर्णन करता है? चंद्रमा, जो गैसीय अवस्था में हैं। प्राचीन बड़े भौतिक पिंड, जो सिद्धांत रूप में जीवन के संकेत देने वाले हैं। चंद्रमा, जो अपने मूल ग्रह के बंधनों से बाहर निकल गए हैं तथा उनके बजाय अपने तारों की परिक्रमा आरंभ कर दी है। चंद्रमा, जो अपने मूल ग्रह के बंधनों से बाहर निकल गए हैं तथा एक अलग ग्रह के रूप में अस्तित्व में हैं। Q.6) Consider the following statements with regard to Global Innovation & Technology Alliance – It is operated as a Public Private Partnership.  It is headed by Finance secretary.  Select the correct option –  1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2  None of the above Q.6) वैश्विक नवाचार और प्रौद्योगिकी गठबंधन (Global Innovation & Technology Alliance) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें - यह एक सार्वजनिक निजी भागीदारी के रूप में संचालित है। इसकी अध्यक्षता वित्त सचिव करते हैं। सही विकल्प का चयन करें - केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों इनमें से कोई भी नहीं Q.7) Which of the above is incorrect about OSIRIS-Rex mission? It is NASA’s first mission to study an asteroid. It is part of NASA’s New Frontiers program. It has orbiter, lander and rover as mission components. None of the above  Q.7) उपरोक्त में से कौन OSIRIS-Rex मिशन के बारे में गलत है? यह एक क्षुद्रग्रह का अध्ययन करने वाला नासा का पहला मिशन है। यह नासा के न्यू फ्रंटियर्स कार्यक्रम का हिस्सा है। इसमें मिशन घटकों के रूप में ऑर्बिटर, लैंडर और रोवर हैं। इनमें से कोई भी नहीं Q.8) Indigenously built Typbar TCV is the world’s first clinically proven conjugate Typhoid vaccine. Consider the following statement regarding this –  It is basically a Polysaccharide linked to a carrier protein to create more powerful combined immune response. Its single dose gives life-long immunity.  Select the correct option –  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  None of the above Q.8) देशी रूप से निर्मित टाइपबार टीसीवी (Typbar TCV) विश्व की पहली चिकित्सीय रूप से प्रमाणित संयुग्मित टाइफाइड वैक्सीन है। इस बारे में निम्नलिखित कथन पर विचार करें - यह मूल रूप से एक पॉलिसैकेराइड है जो एक वाहक प्रोटीन से संबद्ध है ताकि अधिक शक्तिशाली संयुक्त प्रतिरक्षा प्रतिक्रिया बनाई जा सके। इसकी एकल खुराक जीवन भर के लिए प्रतिरक्षा देती है। सही विकल्प का चयन करें - केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों इनमें से कोई भी नहीं Q.9) Which of the following statements correctly describes the Elastocaloric effect? Reversible thermal response to changes, induced by an applied electric field. Cooling effect produced by twisting and untwisting of rubber bands. Heating or cooling of materials under external pressure variation. Energy released in a fuel or food by the complete combustion of a specified quantity of it. Q.9) निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन एलास्टोकैलोरिक प्रभाव (Elastocaloric effect) का सही वर्णन करता है? एक एप्लाइड विद्युत क्षेत्र द्वारा प्रेरित, परिवर्तनों की प्रतिवर्ती थर्मल प्रतिक्रिया। रबर बैंडों के मरोड़ने (twisting) और पुनःसुलझाने (untwisting) द्वारा निर्मित शीतलन प्रभाव। बाह्य दाब भिन्नता के अंतर्गत सामग्री का गर्म होना या ठंडा होना। ईंधन या भोजन के रूप में जारी की गई एक निर्दिष्ट मात्रा के पूर्ण दहन से ऊर्जा। Q.10) Consider the following statements regarding the National Supercomputing Mission: It is joint Mission of Niti Aayog, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Electronics and Information Technology. Under this Mission, supercomputers will also be networked on the National Supercomputing Grid over the National Knowledge Network (NKN). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.10) राष्ट्रीय सुपरकंप्यूटिंग मिशन (National Supercomputing Mission) के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: यह नीति आयोग, विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी विभाग तथा इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स और सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी विभाग का संयुक्त मिशन है। इस मिशन के तहत, सुपरकंप्यूटरों को राष्ट्रीय ज्ञान नेटवर्क (NKN)) पर राष्ट्रीय सुपरकंप्यूटिंग ग्रिड पर भी नेटवर्क किया जाएगा। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.11) The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), a multipurpose spacecraft to make a comprehensive atlas of the Moon’s features and resources, was launched by which of the following organizations/ institutions? ISRO European Space Agency NASA SpaceX Q.11) चंद्रमा की विशेषताओं और संसाधनों का एक व्यापक एटलस बनाने के लिए बहुउद्देशीय अंतरिक्ष यान, लूनर रेकॉन्सेन्स ऑर्बिटर (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter -LRO) को निम्नलिखित में से किस संगठन / संस्थान द्वारा लॉन्च किया गया था? इसरो यूरोपीय अंतरिक्ष एजेंसी नासा स्पेस-एक्स (SpaceX) Q.12) With reference to recently announced National Guidelines for Gene Therapy, consider the following statements: It seeks to regulate the gene therapy procedures in India. It mandates registration of all clinical trials with Clinical Trials Registry-India (CTRI). All entities producing gene therapy products must establish an Institutional Bio-safety Committee (IBSC). Which of the statements given above are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.12) जीन थेरेपी के लिए हाल ही में घोषित राष्ट्रीय दिशानिर्देशों के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: यह भारत में जीन थेरेपी प्रक्रियाओं को विनियमित करने का प्रयास करता है। यह क्लिनिकल ट्रायल रजिस्ट्री-इंडिया (CTRI) के साथ सभी नैदानिक परीक्षणों के पंजीकरण को अनिवार्य करता है। जीन थेरेपी उत्पादों का उत्पादन करने वाली सभी संस्थाओं को एक संस्थागत जैव-सुरक्षा समिति (IBSC) की स्थापना करनी चाहिए। ऊपर दिए गए कौन से कथन सही हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 केवल 1 और 3 1, 2 और 3 Q.13) Global Consortium for Digital Currency Governance is an initiative of –  European Union G-20 World Bank World Economic Forum Q.13) डिजिटल मुद्रा शासन के लिए वैश्विक संघ (Global Consortium for Digital Currency Governance) किसकी एक पहल है - यूरोपीय संघ जी -20 विश्व बैंक विश्व आर्थिक मंच Q.14) Consider the following statements with reference to NEST (New and Emerging Strategic technologies): NEST will negotiate technology governance rules, standards and architecture, suited to India’s conditions, in multilateral and plurilateral frameworks. It is formed under the aegis of NITI Aayog Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.14) NEST (नई और उभरती सामरिक प्रौद्योगिकियों) के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: NEST, बहुपक्षीय और बहु-बहुपक्षीय रूपरेखा में भारत की स्थितियों के अनुकूल प्रौद्योगिकी शासन नियमों, मानकों और अवसंरचना पर कार्य करेगा। इसका गठन नीति आयोग के तत्वावधान में किया गया है ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.15) Which among the following is/are genetic diseases? Haemophilia Down's syndrome Sickle-cell anemia Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.15) निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा / से आनुवंशिक रोग हैं? हीमोफीलिया डाउन सिंड्रोम सिकल सेल एनीमिया नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें। केवल 1 केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 1, 2 और 3 Q.16) Which of the following diseases are caused by viruses? Kala-azar Dengue Tuberculosis Influenza Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1, 2 and 4 only 2 and 3 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 4 only Q.16) निम्न में से कौन सी बीमारी वायरस के कारण होती है? कालाजार डेंगू तपेदिक (TB) इंफ्लुएंजा नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें। केवल 1, 2 और 4 केवल 2 और 3 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 4 Q.17) Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB)? It is a statutory body established under the provisions of Trade Marks Act, 1999. The Chairman of IPAB should be a retired judge of the Supreme Court. Appeals against the decision of IPAB can only be filed before the Supreme Court. Select the correct answer using the code given below. 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 1 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.17) बौद्धिक संपदा अपीलीय बोर्ड (IPAB) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन सही है? यह एक वैधानिक निकाय है जो ट्रेड मार्क्स एक्ट, 1999 के प्रावधानों के तहत स्थापित किया गया है। IPAB का अध्यक्ष सर्वोच्च न्यायालय का सेवानिवृत्त न्यायाधीश होना चाहिए। IPAB के निर्णयों के विरुद्ध अपील केवल उच्चतम न्यायालय के समक्ष दायर की जा सकती है। नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें। केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 केवल 1 1, 2 और 3 Q.18) India is purchasing ‘Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS)’ from which of the following nation? The United States of America Russia France Israel Q.18) भारत निम्नलिखित में से किस देश से ‘एकीकृत वायु रक्षा हथियार प्रणाली (IADWS)’ खरीद रहा है? सयुंक्त राष्ट्र अमेरिका रूस फ्रांस इजराइल Q.19) Which of the following statements is/are correct with regard to Space Activities Bill, 2017? A non-transferable licence shall be provided by the Central Government to any person carrying out commercial space activity.  There are provisions for financial subsidy and technical support in terms of designing and launching of satellites to the private sector.   The bill sets the target of annual space revenue generation of $10 billion. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.19) अंतरिक्ष गतिविधि विधेयक, 2017 (Space Activities Bill) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन सही है / हैं? केंद्र सरकार द्वारा वाणिज्यिक अंतरिक्ष गतिविधि करने वाले किसी भी व्यक्ति को एक गैर-हस्तांतरणीय लाइसेंस प्रदान किया जाएगा। निजी क्षेत्र को उपग्रहों के डिजाइन और प्रक्षेपण के संदर्भ में वित्तीय सब्सिडी और तकनीकी सहायता के प्रावधान हैं। यह विधेयक 10 बिलियन डॉलर की वार्षिक अंतरिक्ष राजस्व उत्पादन का लक्ष्य निर्धारित करता है। नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें: केवल 1 केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.20) The India Knowledge Hub (IKH), a dynamic web portal, functioning as a repository to disseminate best practices in various sectors from across the country was launched by –  NITI Aayog Ministry of Human Resource Development Ministry of Science and Technology Ministry of Communications and Information Technology Q.20) द इंडिया नॉलेज हब (IKH), एक डायनेमिक वेब पोर्टल, जो देश भर के विभिन्न क्षेत्रों में सर्वोत्तम प्रथाओं को प्रसारित करने के लिए एक रिपॉजिटरी के रूप में कार्य कर रहा है, किसके द्वारा लॉन्च किया गया है- नीति आयोग  मानव संसाधन विकास मंत्रालय विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्रालय संचार एवं सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्रालय Q.21) Which of the following organization releases Trade and Development Report (TDR)? WHO UNCTAD UNIDO World Bank Q.21) निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा संगठन व्यापार और विकास रिपोर्ट (Trade and Development Report- TDR) जारी करता है? WHO UNCTAD UNIDO विश्व बैंक Q.22) Which of the following statement is/are correct regarding White Label ATM? ATMs set up, owned and operated by non-bank entities are called white label ATMs. These ATMs display the logo of the sponsored bank. TATA launched the first white label ATM in India under the brand name of Indicash. Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.22) व्हाइट लेबल एटीएम के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन सही है / हैं? गैर-बैंक संस्थाओं द्वारा स्वामित्व और संचालित एटीएम को व्हाइट लेबल एटीएम कहा जाता है। ये एटीएम प्रायोजित बैंक का लोगो प्रदर्शित करते हैं। TATA ने Indicash के ब्रांड नाम के तहत भारत में पहला व्हाइट लेबल ATM लॉन्च किया था। नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें: केवल 1 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 1, 2 और 3 Q.23) With reference to Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), Consider the following statements: It is an autonomous society under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.  The main objective of STPI is the promotion of software exports from the country. STPI in collaboration with Govt. of Telangana, has setup a STPI Semiconductor Measurement Analysis & Reliability Test (SMART) Lab at Hyderabad. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.23) भारत में सॉफ्टवेयर प्रौद्योगिकी पार्क (STPI) के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: यह इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स और सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी मंत्रालय के तहत एक स्वायत्त सोसाइटी है। STPI का मुख्य उद्देश्य देश से सॉफ्टवेयर निर्यात को बढ़ावा देना है। तेलंगाना सरकार के सहयोग से STPI ने हैदराबाद में STPI सेमीकंडक्टर माप विश्लेषण और विश्वसनीयता परीक्षण (SMART) लैब की स्थापना की है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2  केवल 1 और 3 1, 2 और 3 Q.24) Which of the following statement is/are correct regarding Aarogya Setu app? The app does not use the GPS feature of smartphones and relies only on the data provided by users to track Covid-19 infection. The government has launched the app in 11 different languages.  The mobile app has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.24) आरोग्य सेतु ऐप के संबंध में निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा कथन सही है / हैं? ऐप स्मार्टफोन की जीपीएस सुविधा का उपयोग नहीं करता है तथा केवल उपयोगकर्ताओं द्वारा प्रदान किए गए डेटा पर निर्भर करता है जो कोविड -19 संक्रमण को ट्रैक करता है। सरकार ने 11 अलग-अलग भाषाओं में ऐप लॉन्च किया है। मोबाइल ऐप राष्ट्रीय सूचना विज्ञान केंद्र (NIC) द्वारा विकसित किया गया है नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें: केवल 1 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 1, 2 और 3 Q.25) Consider the following statements: Craters are formed by the outward explosion of rocks and other materials from a volcano whereas calderas are formed by the inward collapse of a volcano.  Craters are also usually much smaller than calderas, only extending to a maximum of one kilometer in diameter.  Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2 Q.25) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: एक ज्वालामुखी से चट्टानों और अन्य सामग्रियों के बाह्य विस्फोट से क्रेटर का निर्माण होता है, जबकि एक ज्वालामुखी के आंतरिक रूप से पतन से काल्डेरा का निर्माण होता है। क्रेटर आमतौर पर काल्डेरा की तुलना में बहुत छोटे भी होते हैं, जो केवल व्यास में अधिकतम एक किलोमीटर तक फैले होते हैं। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.26) Which of the following counties is not part of the ‘Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI)’? United States China India Select the appropriate code: 1 and 2 1 and 3 2 and 3 All of the above Q.26) निम्न में से कौन सा देश ‘लोअर मेकांग इनिशिएटिव (Lower Mekong Initiative- LMI)’ का हिस्सा नहीं है? संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका चीन भारत उपयुक्त कूट का चयन करें: 1 और 2 1 और 3 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.27) ‘Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP)’ is launched by UN Environment World Economic Forum Bluedot Network Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank Q.27) ‘सतत अवसंरचनात्मक भागीदारी (Sustainable Infrastructure Partnershi- SIP)’ किसके द्वारा लॉन्च किया गया है संयुक्त राष्ट्र-पर्यावरण विश्व आर्थिक मंच ब्लूडॉट नेटवर्क एशियन इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर एंड इनवेस्टमेंट बैंक Q.28) The “6+2+1” group is mentioned in the news in the context of which of the following issues? South China Sea Peace in Afghanistan ASEAN and RCEP Vulnerability of Island nations due to rising sea levels Q.28) "6 + 2 + 1" समूह का उल्लेख समाचारों में, निम्नलिखित में से किस मुद्दे के संदर्भ में किया गया है? दक्षिण चीन सागर अफगानिस्तान में शांति आसियान और आरसीईपी समुद्र के बढ़ते स्तर के कारण द्वीप राष्ट्रों की भेद्यता Q.29) The Ozone hole in the Arctic ozone layer is closed primarily due to Reduced Pollution Weakening of Polar Vortex Weakening of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) Select the correct statements 1 Only 1 and 2 2 Only 2 and 3 Q.29) आर्कटिक ओजोन परत में ओजोन छिद्र मुख्य रूप से किस कारण बंद हुआ है प्रदूषण में कमी ध्रुवीय भंवर (Polar Vortex) का कमजोर होना अटलांटिक मेरिडियन ओवरर्टनिंग सर्कुलेशन (AMOC) का कमजोर होना सही कथनों का चयन करें केवल 1 1 और 2 केवल 2  2 और 3 Q.30) Consider the following statement with respect to ‘Cytokines’. Cytokines are proteins produced by the body that sound the alarm when there’s an infection. When the cytokines become abundant, it causes intense inflammation. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.30) 'साइटोकिन्स' (Cytokines) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथन पर विचार करें। साइटोकिन्स शरीर द्वारा उत्पादित प्रोटीन होते हैं, जो संक्रमण होने पर चेतावनी देते हैं। जब साइटोकिन्स प्रचुर मात्रा में हो जाता है, तो यह तीव्र जलन का कारण बनता है। सही कथनों का चयन करें केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 DOWNLOAD THE SOLUTION ENGLISH HINDI NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2020  PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASSES (12 SESSIONS-By Tauseef Sir): STARTING 15 APRIL- JOIN NOW! All the Best! IASbaba  

May 8, 2020 AIR

FDI Policy change and Government Initiatives - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES FDI Policy change and Government Initiatives Search 19th April, 2020 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx  TOPIC:  General Studies 2 Government Policies on trade General Studies 3 Economy - FDI In News: The government has notified changes to the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy and put into effect the requirement of prior clearance for investments from countries with which India shares its land border.  An entity of a country that shares a land border with India can now invest in firms here “only under the Government route”. This also applies to “beneficial” owners — even if the investing company is not located in a neighbouring country, it would still be subject to these conditions if its owner is a citizen or resident of such a country. Objective: To curb opportunistic takeover due to the Covid-19 pandemic, especially from China  Provides safety net for Indian Companies: Economic slowdown due to COVID-19 has led to decreased valuation of firms making it vulnerable to hostile takeover by other Fear of Chinese domination: The Chinese have already restarted manufacturing when the rest of the world still grappling with coronavirus thus giving them several months’ advantage Background The move comes amid reports of China trying to acquire distressed assets in strategic sectors globally, with companies seeing a substantial fall in their valuations because of the containment measures to rein in the pandemic. In fact, Australia and the European Union have also taken measures to counter the Chinese move. A Brookings India paper pegs the total current and planned Chinese investment in India at over $26 billion. However, India’s decision may come in the way of home-grown unicorns and startups that aim to expand their businesses. At least 18 of the 23 Indian unicorns, including Paytm, Snapdeal, OYO Rooms, Ola, Swiggy, Zomato, and BigBasket, are backed by Chinese investors such as Alibaba, Tencent and Ant Financial. The new FDI norms may force these investors to postpone or even stop these funds from topping up their investments or respecting the agreed term sheets. Therefore, the unicorns, which depend on their largest investors to keep the cash flowing, may now have to start looking for new anchor investors. Growth-stage startups may also see investments drying up. So, has the Government banned foreign investment from China? The government has not banned foreign investment from China. It has only put a filter to have an oversight to examine the implications of the investment, alarmed by the People’s Bank of China raising its stake in the country’s largest mortgage lender, HDFC Ltd, from 0.8% to 1.01% through open-market purchases in the March quarter. The move led to concerns that India’s most valued companies could be susceptible to hostile takeovers as their market values have taken a severe hit because of covid-19-related uncertainties. This has led to India now talking about legal vetting of not just direct ownership but also beneficial ownership. What was China’s response? China has called for India to revise these “discriminatory practices” and treat investments from different countries equally. The additional barriers set by Indian side for investors from specific countries violate WTO’s (World Trade Organization) principle of non-discrimination, and go against the general trend of liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment. More importantly, they do not conform to the consensus of G20 leaders and trade ministers to realize a free, fair, non-discriminatory, transparent, predictable and stable trade and investment environment, and to keep our markets open. Is this the first time that India has resisted possible Chinese aggression in trade? Had refused to join the China-led Belt and Road Initiative despite, citing security reasons.  Had allowed Huawei to participate in the 5G trial only after much deliberation Had blocked certain FDI investments during bilateral standoffs with China The Way Forward The govt should lay out a clear road map for the approval process for investments from Chinese firms by – Setting some rules about Chinese investments in strategic assets and protecting investments into startups.  To curb the growing distrust between the Chinese investors and Indian regulators, the government could have allowed a Category I and II Alternative Investment Funds to raise money from China to support the startups here, as they are not after management control. It should ensure that proposals are considered in a time-bound manner and restrictions should not have any adverse impact on bonafide investments in these challenging times, wherein Indian companies are in need of funds About Ordinance:  Ordinances are laws that are promulgated by the President of India on the recommendation of the Union Cabinet, which will have the same effect as an Act of Parliament.  They can only be issued when Parliament is not in session.  They enable the Indian government to take immediate legislative action Foreign direct investment (FDI) Investment from a party in one country into a business or corporation in another country  Foreign direct investment can be made by expanding one’s business into a foreign country or by becoming the owner of a company in another country. India’s FDI policy A foreign direct investment (FDI) is an investment in the form of a controlling ownership in a business in one country by an entity based in another country. India’s FDI policy allows foreign investment in certain sectors under the automatic route.  100% FDI is permitted under the automatic route in manufacturing, oil and gas, greenfield airports, construction, railway infrastructure etc.  In other sectors, FDI is allowed under the automatic route upto a certain threshold, say 26% or 49%. Such conditions apply to defence, broadcast and print media, aviation and other sectors.  There is also a list of prohibited sectors, such as lottery, cigarettes, atomic energy where FDI is not permitted.  India’s neighbouring countries: India shares a land border with:  China Pakistan  Bangladesh Nepal  Myanmar Bhutan  Afghanistan Connecting the Dots: The change in FDI rule could potentially end the growth of the booming startup ecosystem in India. Comment. Why has India tightened FDI rules? List out pros vs cons. The action signals India’s intent of not separating commerce and security in dealing with China Do you agree?

May 7, 2020 Motivational Articles

MOTIVATION: The ABCD of Self Management During Crisis and Uncertainty

Dear Friends, Crisis is perceived differently by different people. For the majority, crisis brings frustration and despondency. For others, it brings an opportunity to prepare for the future. How one perceives a crisis also depends on the way it hits that person. For the onlookers unaffected by the crisis, it might create opportunities to relax and procrastinate. For the ones who are directly or indirectly trapped in the chaos, there is a sense of urgency to get out of the crisis. They must prioritise their goals and aspirations in the broader context of the crisis. For example, a medical practitioner might be planning to go abroad for higher education but is compelled to stay back and take care of COVID-19 patients. Maybe, she has to wait for another year to even think about her dream of pursuing higher studies in the school of her dreams. But dreams can only get deferred, not vanished.  Its absolutely fine to hide your dreams for the time being but it is criminal to stop dreaming. Today, we are all faced by a crisis that threatens to put an end or at least inordinately linger the realisation of our dreams. Should you stop dreaming then? Never. If your dream is close to your heart, even the major setbacks that go beyond your control can’t dissuade you from pursuing your dreams.  Then what is the best way to manage yourself during the crisis? Well the answer lies in the ABCD of self management during crisis and uncertainty.  The ‘A’ stands for ADVANCEMENT - the advancement of skills and knowledge. While you are locked down during the current crisis, you have one precious thing at your disposal that you don’t get in abundance- TIME. Utilise this time to learn new concepts. You can also improve your skills and explore certain fields that were always close to heart but you didn’t have the time to pursue them earlier. An investment in knowledge and skills today will give you smart dividends tomorrow. As UPSC aspirant, you can think of reading books, improving your verbal communication, pursuing your indoor hobby, creative writing for improving answer writing skills and so on.  The ‘B’ stands for BUILDING - building Relationships. Invest in the hitherto ignored connections that you have with your family and friends. Call your mother and tell her how much you love her. Talk to your siblings and remind them of the wonderful childhood that you spent together. Send a text to your old school buddy and tell her how much you miss the fun days at school. Forge the network that you always wanted to have with your college friends and co-workers. The more you build these relationships, the less likely are the chances of you feeling isolated and alone.  The ‘C’ stands for COMPASSION - compassion towards your fellow beings. Don’t get so engrossed in self development that you forget the millions for whom the crisis has brought unmanageable challenges. It doesn’t mean that you should start thinking about the millions out there. Rather a simple act of compassion for even a single human being would be enough. Calling your housemaid, asking about her well being and assuring her that you won’t cut her salary in the upcoming months is no less an act of kindness and compassion. It will give you immense satisfaction.  The ‘D’ stands for DRIVE- drive for steering through the crisis. It is all about managing the ups and downs of that the crisis might throw at you. There will be occasions when you feel disillusioned about your career and future. You must develop the emotional intelligence to keep steering your life towards the ultimate goal. The drive to get what you have cherished since long will give you the courage to face the occasional mood swings you might have. This drive can only come if you ask yourself a simple question- why did you start what you started? If the answer to this question thrills you even during a crisis, there is no option to stop and procrastinate. Just keep going!! With these words, we would like to stop here and give you a reason to follow the ABCD of self-management during this crisis. There are thousands of civil servants working day and night on the ground. They are saving lives, feeding people, managing administration, controlling crowds, arranging supplies for doctors and nurses, helping construct hospitals and whatnot. Now, just imagine the kind of feeling that they must be having when they lay down to take a nap. In the exhaustion and excursion of public duty, there is a satisfaction that can’t be explained in words. To attain this satisfaction, you must attain personal advancements, invest in building relationships, show compassion and have the drive to overcome the crisis.   Also, if you want to help in our social cause, at the time of this crisis, READ the below post - MUST DO: 2020 – THE YEAR OF CRISIS AND COMING TOGETHER TO FIGHT IT!!!   Happy Guru Purnima IASbaba Team  

May 7, 2020 Important Articles

MUST DO: 2020 – THE YEAR OF CRISIS AND COMING TOGETHER TO FIGHT IT!!!

Dear Friends, The dawn of this New Year brought destruction and calamity for us. With people dying across the world and complete shut down of economy all over, this year should be dubbed as the year of crisis. And while we were fighting with Covid – 19, another devastating tragedy has occurred for us. India is shocked and shaken by the Gas leak at Vishakhapatnam. The leakage occurred around 3 am at LG Polymers industry. While we are writing this, the death toll is already 11 and more than 5000 people have been affected. People are falling unconscious on the roads with breathing difficulties and the picture looks like a scene from an apocalyptic movie. Animals have not been spared either. It reminded many of 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. In this case, the leaked gas is STYRENE or Vinylbenzene, which is a synthetic chemical. Exposure to this can cause irritation of the skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract. Long exposure can also lead to cancer. On one hand, where people were asked to stay indoors, after the leakage they are asked to move out of their houses. All these disasters make life so uncertain and insignificant. All those lofty plans and self-centric career goals makes no sense when a person dies. Amidst this crisis, many of our students and their parents are facing loss of job and income. We are compassionate towards their pain. This has made us ponder on how we can have a positive impact on society? What can we do to make a difference in other people's life? We have decided that as an Institute, on behalf of all our students we will be providing food and medical supplies for the under-privileged during these difficult times, who have suffered intensifying harm. We would request all of you to do your bit, by donating below. Even 100 Rupees, will matter during these difficult times. Apart from the above work, for every donation of Rs 1000 and above, IASbaba will donate the same amount. (Example: If you donate 1000, we will add another 1000 rs from our side, if you donate 5000 rs we will donate an additional 5000 rs from our end). We thought this will nudge others to contribute more. This amount will be utilized for providing food and medical supplies directly to the people who are in need. We will also update you on the works undertaken. If you think you are capable of contributing some amount for the welfare of the downtrodden, you can also donate. The minimum amount can be 100 rupees. Click on the DONATE Button below- We wish that all these crises end now and we hope that this little Endeavour will bring a smile on some unknown faces. When we all help each other out, when we stand together, we are stronger together! Thank You IASbaba Team

May 7, 2020 AIR

Government Initiatives for Agriculture Sector during COVID-19 pandemic - All India Radio (AIR) IAS UPSC

ARCHIVES Government Initiatives for Agriculture sector during COVID-19 pandemic Search 18th April, 2020 Spotlight here: http://www.newsonair.com/Main_Audio_Bulletins_Search.aspx  Topic: General Studies 2: Government policies COVID-19 Crisis The COVID-19 crisis is affecting rural India at a time when agriculture is already in a precarious situation. The thousands of migrant workers who have returned to their villages since the lockdown used to send home large remittances. In Bihar, these remittances accounted for 35.6 per cent of gross state domestic product in 2011-12, up from 11.6 per cent in 2004-05. Agriculture is important from two standpoints.  The first is inflation control, which is predicated on adequate supply of food, feed and fibre.  Secondly, farmers and rural labourers have high marginal propensity to consume.  The Indian economy today needs both low and stable inflation as well as boost to spending, which is best guaranteed by increased farm production and incomes. The brewing trouble in villages Because of significant disruption in supply chains as a result of the lockdown, farmers are stuck with a large amount of produce, especially of perishables like milk, fruits and vegetables, flowers and even poultry meat and eggs.  Due to this glut, farm prices are collapsing, pushing farmers into destitution. Many of them are dumping milk and vegetables on the roads.  With the procurement season for rabi crops having started, the mandi system will choke, if immediate steps are not taken to organise procurement operations in an orderly manner. Steps being taken by the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare for smooth harvesting of Rabi Crop and sowing of summer crop A lot of rabi crop has already been harvested, but for the crop still standing, there could be shortage of farm labour, as a panicked exodus of migrant workers explodes around us. After the crop is harvested, it has to be packed and transported to markets, which again needs workers, vehicle drivers, and uninterrupted movement. Video conference was conducted with all States and Insurance companies to review the payment of claims, status of Conduct of CCEs for Rabi 2019-20 crops, crop loss survey and implementation of Smart Sampling Technique. For facilitating farm insurance, letters issued to all States to issue passes to representatives of concerned Insurance companies for co-witnessing Crop Cutting Experiments and to relax the norms for conducting field level survey for intimation received for Post-Harvest crop losses due to unseasonal rainfall and hailstorm. Phytosanitary certification for export consignments and Import releases of plant and plant products are continuing.  Enabling FPOs to upload produce from collection centers with picture/ quality parameter and also avail bidding facility without going to mandis, which will reduce their logistic costs and hassle to sell their produce. e-NAM platform has created an interface with large transport aggregators like Blackbuck, Rivigo, Mavyn, Truck Suvidha, Truck Guru, Transin Logistics, Elastic Run etc. This would help traders to find and arrange timely movement of produces from mandi to various other locations. e-NAM platform/ mobile app has been further strengthened with ‘Farmers friendly’ features such as advance registration of the lot through app which in turn will reduce waiting time for farmers at gate entry of the mandi and will bring huge efficiency and will facilitate smooth arrival recording at gate. For providing support to horticulture crops necessary coordination is being done with growers, aggregators, wholesalers, mandi associations, State Horticulture Missions, for smooth transport of the commodities and to sort out all difficulties. In lockdown period, Kisan Call Centres at all 21 locations are being operated by diverting calls to individual mobile numbers of Farm Tele Advisors, who are now operating from homes.  Shops of Agricultural machinery, its spare parts (including its supply chain) & repairs and shops for truck repairs on highways, preferably at fuel pumps, can remain open in order to facilitate transportation of farm produce.  Besides, tea industry, including plantations can function with maximum of 50% workers. Further Solutions Agri-Marketing Reforms Abolish/reframe the APMC Act and encourage direct buying of agri-produce from farmers/farmer producer organisations (FPOs) Warehouses can also be designated as markets, and the warehouse receipt system can be scaled up.  The private sector should be encouraged to open mandis with modern infrastructure, capping commissions.  Futures trading should be encouraged by allowing banking finance to hedge for commodity price risks. Procurement must be staggered through coupons and incentives that give farmers an additional bonus for bringing produce to the market after May 10, or so.  The APMC mandis can be better structured, with smaller mandis allowed to be set up in government schools or other areas instead of people converging at one big market. Farmers can be given day-wise or hour-wise slots, along with clear assurances that the sale of their produce will be looked-after. Under e-NAM: Promote e-NAM through proper assaying and grading the produce and setting up dispute settlement mechanism; rope in major logistics players for delivery of goods. PM Kisan: The amount provided under PM Kisan should be increased from Rs 6,000 to at least Rs 10,000 per farming family to partially compensate them for their losses. Fundamental reforms in the UN System: India must ask for fundamental reforms in the UN System, including the WHO, making it more transparent, competent, and accountable. Policy Focus: This sector of the economy should become a priority again in term of policies. More Investments: Indian agriculture needs more investments (in irrigation, for instance) and more financial support (by relaunching the MGNREGA, among other things). But not only that.  The issue of Liberalisation: Further liberalisation of Indian agriculture would hamper food security as the existing food procurement system is essential in maintaining food reserves and protection of vulnerable farmers from the whims of the global markets with the minimum support price offered for wheat and rice under the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Act. Introduction of agro-ecological system of farming: The transition to an agro-ecological system of agriculture has the capacity to become the engine to restart a sustainable economy by increasing soil fertility and reducing groundwater exploitation. An agro-ecological transition will regenerate not only the soil which was depleted due to the excessive use of chemical pesticides but also ensure sustainable supply of food in the long run. It will make the system more resilient overall and provide a safety net for farmers in case of crop damage due to factors such as climate change or droughts.  It will also strengthen food security and help the nation fight hunger and malnutrition.  It will help bridge the urban-rural divide as much-needed investment will occur in rural areas after decades of neglect that created the staggering inequalities. Connecting the Dots: Converting the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity for reforming the agri-marketing system Rural India suffers from “urban consumer bias”. Explain.

May 7, 2020 VIDEO:CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT

[VIDEO] IASbaba Daily CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) - TO THE POINT! 7th May, 2020 (Prelims Topics Discussion and MCQ’s)

Dear Students, Previous PRELIMS Topics [VIDEOS] -> ARCHIVES The Prelims Video Discussions are done by Ayman Jamal, IPS 2018. She was the highest scorer (206) in the UPSC 2018 Interview. She has cleared UPSC Prelims 4 times and many other competitive exams like Bihar State Board Exam, Labour Commissioner Exam etc. Her knowledge and experience of the competitive exam and especially UPSC Prelims will be a special value add in this series of Video Discussions.   ABOUT THE PROGRAM – CAP - TO THE POINT! A video will be uploaded Daily (Monday – Friday)covering the most important Current Affair Topics for Prelims. Daily 5 Most Important topics from Prelims perspective will be covered. The video will also include 5 MCQs on the topics discussed so that you can grasp those concepts clearly and understand the dynamics and demands of the Exam. Each Video will be of 15-20 minutes Duration. The first 12-15 minutes will be on Prelims Topics Discussion, followed by Prelims Mcq's in the last 5 Minutes. In a week we will cover 20 Topics and 20 MCQ's. Coverage will be from The Hindu, Indian Express, and PIB which are the most important sources for the Prelims Exam.   Today’s CURRENT AFFAIRS PRELIMS (CAP) – TO THE POINT, 7th May,2020 SUBSCRIBE to IASbaba’s Website (below) and our YOUTUBE Channel for the latest and most important updates!! As per the Students Demand, now you can Download the PPT of the Prelims Discussion below- TO DOWNLOAD THE PPT -> CLICK HERE   TOPICS & SOURCES IN TODAY’S VIDEO: Qutub Minar Comples The Hindu www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/driver-damages-qutub-minar-complex-wall/article31513359.ece/amp/       2. Vande Bharat and Samudra Setu Mission The Hindu www.thehindu.com/news/national/three-ships-sent-to-evacuate-stranded-indians-from-the-maldives-uae/article31506983.ece/amp/ The Indian Express https://indianexpress.com/article/india/flight-plan-by-mea-india-to-operate-64-flights-to-bring-back-citizens-stranded-abroad-6394513/    3. World Health Organisation The Hindu www.thehindu.com/news/international/trumps-lab-claim-remains-speculative-who/article31512139.ece/amp/     4. Pulitzer Prize The Hindu www.thehindu.com/news/international/associated-press-wins-feature-photography-pulitzer-for-kashmir-coverage/article31507324.ece/amp/    5. INSPIRE Scheme PIB https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1621513   To get Regular Updates from IASbaba, follow- 👉 TELEGRAM Channel – https://t.me/IASbabaOfficialAccount 👉 YOUTUBE  –  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChvbVdio9Wgj7Z3nQz1Q0ZQ 👉 FACEBOOK  – https://www.facebook.com/iasbaba/ Also, SUBSCRIBE to the WEBSITE Below, so that you don’t miss out on important posts!   Happy learning :) All the best IASbaba

May 7, 2020 IASbaba's Daily Current Affairs

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th MAY 2020

IAS UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 7th May 2020 Archives Excise duty on alcohol: a major contribution to States' revenue Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III - Economy  In News: Recently, the Delhi government announced a 70% hike in the price of liquor.  Delhi’s “special corona fee” on alcohol underlines the importance of liquor to the economy of the states. Important value additions: Liquor contributes a considerable amount to the exchequers of all states and Union Territories.  It is the 2nd or 3rd largest contributor to the State’s revenue; GST is the largest. However, in Gujarat and Bihar, liquor sale is prohibited. Kind of charges/tax/fees States may levy on liquor: Excise duty on manufacture and sale of liquor Value added tax (Tamil Nadu) Special fees on imported foreign liquor Transport fee Label & brand registration charges. Special duty on liquor to collect funds for special purposes, such as maintenance of stray cattle (UP)  According to a report published by the RBI in September 2019, state excise duty on alcohol accounts for around 10-15% of a majority of states.  Value added tax It is a tax on the amount by which the value of an article has been increased at each stage of its production or distribution. States with most Swine Flu cases now victims of majority of COVID-19 cases as well Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II - Health  In News: Data from the Health Ministry’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), show that the five States/UTs - Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and Tamil Nadu accounted for the highest number of swine flu cases (H1N1) since 2015. These states are hotspots for people infected with COVID-19 as well.  Important value additions: Swine Flu H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu) is an infection caused by type A influenza viruses. It is usually found amongst pigs.  Human infections may take place as well. It is contagious and spreads from human to human. Symptoms: Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Both H1N1 and COVID-19 belong to different virus families. Both infiltrate the lungs and cause respiratory infections with varying fatality. Swine flu has a higher fatality rate (deaths per confirmed cases).  It also causes significant deaths in children as well as those less than 60. COVID-19 is relatively more dangerous to those above 60 and almost harmless in children.  SC brings Co-operative Banks within the ambit of Sarfaesi Act Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Banking Sector  In News: Recently, the Supreme Court held that Co-operative banks and co-operative societies shall come within the ambit of the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (Sarfaesi) Act of 2002. Key takeaways from the verdict: Co-operative banks come within the definition of “Banks” under the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 for the purposes of the Sarfaesi Act. The recovery procedure under the Sarfaesi Act is also applicable to co-operative banks.  The Parliament has legislative competence to provide procedures for recovery of loans under the Sarfaesi Act with respect to cooperative banks. Important value additions: Sarfaesi Act It allows banks and other financial institutions to auction residential or commercial properties to recover loans. The first asset reconstruction company of India, ARCIL, was set up under this act. Banks utilize Sarfaesi Act as an effective tool for bad loans (Non-Performing Asset) recovery. It is effective only against secured loans. It promotes the setting up of asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) and asset securitization companies (SCs) to deal with NPAs.  Objectives of the Act are: To provide the legal framework for securitization activities in India. To give the procedures for the transfer of NPAs to asset reconstruction companies.  To give powers to banks and financial institutions to take over the immovable property that is pledged to enforce the recovery of debt. NPAs can be recovered through: Securitisation: Practice of pooling together various types of debt instruments (assets) and selling them as bonds.  Asset Reconstruction: Activity of converting NPA into performing assets.  Enforcement of Security without the intervention of the Court. Miscellaneous  Arktika-M Russia announced that it will launch first Arktika-M satellite for monitoring Arctic climate by the end of the year 2020. Pulitzer Prize 5 Indian photojournalists have recently won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for feature photography. It is awarded for outstanding public service and achievement in American journalism, letters, and music. It is awarded in the name of Joseph Pulitzer.  Each winner receives a certificate and a US$15,000 cash award.  The winner in the public service category is awarded a gold medal. Silent hypoxia It is observed in COVID-19 patients.  They have extremely low blood oxygen levels, yet they do not show signs of breathlessness. It is a form of oxygen deprivation that is harder to detect because patients appear to be less in distress. Medical device called a pulse oximeter can be used in the early detection of silent hypoxia Toman: Iran's new currency Iran's parliament has passed a bill allowing the government to slash four zeros from the rial and  Iran's national currency will be changed from the Rial to the Toman, which is equal to 10,000 rials. The move came after a sharp fall in the value of the currency as a result of crippling US sanctions. The currency has been devalued 3,500 times since 1971. (MAINS FOCUS) ECONOMY/ GOVERNANCE  Topic: General Studies 2 & 3: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment.  Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors  CONSOL BOND Context: As COVID-19 curve stretches further, there is a call for a large stimulus to pull the economy back from recession. What were the concerns with India’s fiscal situation in pre-COVID time period? In the Budget before the pandemic, India projected a deficit of ₹7.96-lakh crore There were concerns about off-balance sheet borrowings of 1% of GDP  Excessive target of ₹2.1 lakh crore through disinvestments In recent times, both Union government and RBI have tried several times to nudge banks into lending to below investment grade MSMEs, but have not been successful. What will be the challenges with India’s fiscal situation in post-COVID time period? In addition to the expenditure that was planned, the government has to spend between ₹5-lakh crore and ₹6-lakh crore as stimulus. The financial deficit number is set to grow by a wide margin due to revenue shortage caused due to lockdown There is lack of appetite for disinvestment. Even though RBI has increased the limit on ways and means for States by 60%, many of them have asked to double the limits. This is due to the shortages faced by States in indirect taxation collections from GST, fuel and liquor.  What are the avenues for government to raise finances in post-COVID times? Firstly, there is a traditional option of monetising the deficit by having the RBI buy government bonds Relaxing FDI norm to attract foreign investment. However, this is not promising given the rise in Nationalistic sentiment during COVID crisis The other alternative suggested is Consol Bonds  Consol Bond- A Brief History  This has been used as early as the First World War (WWI) The bonds, which paid out an interest of 5%, were issued in 1917 by UK government to raise more money to finance the ongoing cost of war  Citizens were asked to invest in these bonds with a message that their investment will help fight the country, akin to a soldier’s fight but with no risk to their lives. As a result, most of the Consol bonds in the UK were owned by small investors, with over 70% holding less than £1,000  In 2014, the British government, a century after the start of the WWI, paid out 10% of the total outstanding Consol bond debt Why Consol Bond is a better option? An attractive coupon rate for the bond or tax rebates could also be an incentive for investors, who are looking for avenues to invest. Participative: It makes citizens active participants in the fight against slowdown caused by pandemic Attractive: With the fall of real estate and given the lack of profitable alternatives, the bond would offer a dual benefit as a risk free investment for retail investors. Guaranteed: It would be issued by the central government on a perpetual basis with a right to call it back when it seems fit Flexibility: The government can consider a phased redemption of these bonds after the economy is put back on a path of high growth Welfare Oriented: Unlike PM-CARES, the proceeds of the bonds could be used for everything — from Personal Protective Equipment for doctors to a stimulus for MSMEs Conclusion With the pandemic’s shadow over the economy, a Consol Bond issue seems like a compelling solution for the government Connecting the dots: Impact of WWI on global economy Measures adopted in the wake of 2008 financial crisis (TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE) Model questions: (You can now post your answers in comment section) Note:  Correct answers of today’s questions will be provided in next day’s DNA section. Kindly refer to it and update your answers.  Comments Up-voted by IASbaba are also the “correct answers”. Q.1 Swine flu is caused by which of the following virus? H1N1 Coronavirus Kobuvirus Alphavirus Q.2 Consider the following statements regarding Sarfaesi Act: It allows banks and other financial institutions to auction residential or commercial properties to recover loans. The first asset reconstruction company of India, ARCIL, was set up under this act. Which of the above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.3 Arktika-M satellite, recently seen in news, will be launched by which of the following country? Russia China Australia USA Q.4 Pulitzer Prize is awarded for which of the following? Wildlife Conservation Water conservation Photography in journalism Fight against nuclear weapons ANSWERS FOR 6th May 2020 TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE (TYK) 1 C 2 D 3 D 4 D Must Read About return of Indian expatriates: The Hindu About Trump’s anti-China rhetoric over COVID-19: The Hindu An article by Parameswaran Iyer (who championed Swachh Bharat Mission) about India’s strength: The Indian Express

May 7, 2020 60 DAYS PROGRAMME-PRELIMS 2020

DISCUSSION PAGE- IASbaba’s ALL INDIA OPEN MOCK EXAM-3 2020

Hello Friends,  IASbaba’s ALL INDIA MOCK EXAM 3 -UPSC PRELIMS 2020 General Studies Paper I, is now LIVE and many of you are taking the same. This page is Open for the Discussion. You can discuss the concepts and new learnings from the test. You can also clear your doubts by posting your questions in the comment section below. Here is the Time-table for IASBaba's All India Mocks GENERAL STUDIES MOCK 1- Already Conducted on 23rd April GENERAL STUDIES MOCK 2 & CSAT 1- 1st MAY 2020 and  GENERAL STUDIES MOCK 3 & CSAT 2- 7th MAY 2020 GENERAL STUDIES MOCK 4 & CSAT 3- 14th MAY 2020 GENERAL STUDIES MOCK 5 & CSAT 4- 20th MAY 2020 प्रिलिम्स फुल मॉक टेस्ट अब हिंदी में To Know about the All India Mock Tests (GS & CSAT) and To Register for Mocks-> CLICK HERE For Discussion Page of Mock Test -1-> CLICK HERE For Discussion Page of Mock Test -2-> CLICK HERE Thank You IASbaba

May 7, 2020 60 DAYS PROGRAMME-PRELIMS 2020

IASbaba’s 60 Day Plan [Day - 58]- IAS Prelims Test Series 2020 ECONOMICS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

ARCHIVES OF 60 DAY PLAN PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASSES (12 SESSIONS-By Tauseef Sir): STARTING ON 16 APRIL JOIN NOW!   Dear Students, The 60 Days Training has finally begun:) DAY 58 is here! It is time to Introspect, Ideate and Improve!! We have come-up with articles to instil confidence, motivate you in the present situation. Do read these articles. Mark the words/lines in your dairy. These very lines can be the driving force’ in the time of uncertainty. [STRATEGY] MUST READ: 21 Days of Lockdown-What to do? Introspect, Ideate and Improve !! MUST READ: PRELIMS in Testing Times – Don’t Forget the ‘WHY’; IASbaba’s dedicated HOTLINE for Aspirants and Prelims Postponing Rumours Coronavirus[VIDEO]: Awareness, Myths, Solidarity and Message to All UPSC Aspirants by Mohan Sir Founder IASbaba   To ensure that your preparation goes smoothly and keeping up with our promise, we have come up with a Dedicated HOTLINE (Communication channel) - Connect with BABA for all UPSC/IAS Aspirants. From today, you will be able to speak with the Founders and Core Team of IASbaba on telephone regarding ‘any queries’ related to UPSC preparation in general or Subject-specific doubts. This Hotline, will be in addition to the 'ASK YOUR BABA' (#ASKBABA) thread opened on a daily basis for our 60 Day plan. We will try to make sure that with so much going around these days, you have at least one less thing to worry about.   How to make use of HOTLINE and ASK YOUR BABA (#ASKBABA)? There are 2 initiatives which will be running parallely. 1. HOTLINE - Connect with BABA (5pm - 7pm) The communication channel will be open ONLY for 2 hours Daily (except on Sundays - holiday) from 5pm to 7 pm. Please do not make calls before or after the specified time. As we will be occupied with other daily initiatives running on the website and mentorship. Hope you understand our time constraints. Please note that, call facilities are mainly for queries related to preparation per se like strategies, difficulties in reading a subject, what to read, what not to read, how to manage time, revision, motivation etc. You can call on the numbers given below. For any queries related to - UPSC Preparation (Prelims, Mains, Interview) Strategy & Current Affairs – contact 9986190082 Environment & Science and Technology – contact 9986193016 Polity & Economics – contact 9899291288 Geography & History – contact 9591106864 We have separated General Strategy (Preparation per se – Pre, Mains, Interview) and Current Affairs from other subjects. You can make use of the HOTLINE, as per your needs.   2. ASK YOUR BABA (#ASKBABA) - clear your doubts on the 60 Day Platform (Online from 11 am - 10 pm) Use the disqus comment section of that particular day (60 Day post - For Ex: Today is Day 25) to clear all your subject specific doubts of the day. You can post your queries/doubts with #ASKBABA !! Here, doubts related to the 60 day questions or conceptual clarity in a particular subject can be asked. Your doubts will be cleared on real-time basis (or max within hour it will be answered from the subject experts) If you are genuinely finding difficulty interms of preparing with that particular subject, then you can use 5pm-7pm window to make calls. If you are not able to speak to IASbaba's Team, then you can still post your doubts/queries in the same post of the 60 day initiative. As mentioned above, your doubts will be cleared on real-time basis (or max within hour it will be answered from the subject experts). Make the best use of the communication channel (Ask Your Baba/comment section on daily 60 Day post and calls) provided. We will make sure that, all your queries will be answered to. So we have  tried our bit, to ensure your preparation goes smoothly, you can do your bit by keeping in touch with us via phone/ website to keep yourself going, keep yourself engaged and staying positive during the rough times.   How to make the maximum use of this HOTLINE and #ASKBABA (Disqus comment of 60 Day Plan) on Daily basis? Now, that I have solved 30 mcq’s, what to do next?  How to Analyse my Performance? For Answers to the above Questions  ->CONNECT WITH BABA: IASbaba’s Dedicated HOTLINE for UPSC/IAS Aspirants !!   Note- Download the OMR Sheet and attempt the questions exactly like UPSC Prelims. After you are done, please post your OMR in the comment section. Once the solution key is released (5 PM), cross-check the answers and again, comment the marks (you got) in the same comment thread. This will keep you responsible and sincere in days to come. Also, we need more sets of scores for releasing the cut offs in the night so, requesting all of you to sincerely put your scores in comment section.    You can also take part in discussion with peers.   Q.1) A Liquidity Trap can occur under which of the following circumstances? Expectations of Inflation. Unwillingness to hold bonds. Preference for saving. Choose the correct answer using the codes given below 1 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.1) एक तरलता जाल (Liquidity Trap) निम्नलिखित में से किन परिस्थितियों में घटित हो सकता है? मुद्रास्फीति की अपेक्षा। बांड्स धारण करने की अनिच्छा। बचत के लिए वरीयता। नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें केवल 1 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.2) Consider the following statements regarding direct monetization of fiscal deficit Direct monetization is suitable in the event of a positive demand shock caused due to events such as a lockdown. In this, the Government asks the RBI to print new currency to finance its deficit. It can lead to an increase in inflation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 2 only All of the above Q.2) राजकोषीय घाटे के प्रत्यक्ष मुद्रीकरण (direct monetization of fiscal deficit) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें प्रत्यक्ष मुद्रीकरण एक लॉकडाउन जैसी घटनाओं के कारण होने वाली सकारात्मक मांग झटके की स्थिति में उपयुक्त होता है। इसमें, सरकार RBI को अपने घाटे का वित्तपोषण करने के लिए नई मुद्रा मुद्रित करने के लिए कहती है। यह मुद्रास्फीति में वृद्धि का कारण बन सकता है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 केवल 2  उपरोक्त सभी Q.3) Which of the following are Fiscal measures to combat inflation? Credit control Increase in Taxes Reduction in unnecessary expenditure Choose the correct answer using the codes given below 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.3) मुद्रास्फीति से निपटने के लिए, निम्नलिखित में से कौन सा राजकोषीय उपाय हैं? उधार नियंत्रण कर में वृद्धि अनावश्यक व्यय में कमी नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें केवल 1 और 2 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.4) Consider the following statements regarding Ways and Means Advances It is a type of long term credit that the government can borrow from the central bank. It is a source of financing fiscal deficit of the government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.4) तरीके और साधन अग्रिम (Ways and Means Advances) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें यह एक प्रकार का दीर्घकालिक ऋण है जिसे सरकार केंद्रीय बैंक से उधार ले सकती है। यह सरकार के राजकोषीय घाटे के वित्तपोषण का एक स्रोत है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.5) Consider the following statements regarding escape clause provision under the FRBM Act The government deviated from the fiscal deficit target for 2019-20 on account of structural reforms undertaken by the government. The current Coronavirus pandemic is a valid ground for exceeding the annual fiscal deficit target. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.5) FRBM अधिनियम के तहत पलायन खंड प्रावधान (escape clause provision under the FRBM Act) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें सरकार द्वारा किए गए संरचनात्मक सुधारों के कारण, 2019-20 के लिए राजकोषीय घाटे के लक्ष्य से सरकार विचलित हो गयी है। वर्तमान कोरोनावायरस महामारी वार्षिक राजकोषीय घाटे के लक्ष्य को पूरा नहीं कर पाने के लिए एक वैध आधार है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.6) Consider the following statements regarding Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) One REC is created when one megawatt-hour of electricity is generated from an eligible renewable energy source. Even homeowners with rooftop solar panels are eligible to receive RECs. The price of RECs is fixed by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 1 only All of the above Q.6) अक्षय ऊर्जा प्रमाणपत्र (Renewable Energy Certificates- REC) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। एक आरईसी तब प्रदान किया जाता है, जब एक पात्र अक्षय ऊर्जा स्रोत से एक मेगावाट बिजली उत्पन्न होती है। यहां तक कि, छत के सौर पैनलों वाले गृहस्वामी भी आरईसी प्राप्त करने के लिए पात्र हैं। आरईसी की कीमत केंद्रीय विद्युत नियामक आयोग द्वारा तय की जाती है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 1 उपरोक्त सभी Q.7) Consider the following statements regarding Foreign exchange swap auction held by the RBI The objective was to reduce volatility in the forex market. It has the effect of increasing liquidity in the system. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.7) RBI द्वारा आयोजित विदेशी मुद्रा विनिमय नीलामी (Foreign exchange swap auction) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें इसका उद्देश्य विदेशी मुद्रा विनिमय बाजार में अस्थिरता को कम करना था। यह प्रणाली में बढ़ती तरलता का प्रभाव है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.8) Consider the following statements regarding Long Term Repo Operation (LTRO) Funds borrowed through LTRO will have an interest rate lower than the funds borrowed at Bank rate. Only government securities will be accepted as collateral to avail LTRO facility. LTRO will boost investment in corporate bonds. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.8) दीर्घ आवधिक रेपो संचालन (Long Term Repo Operation- LTRO) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। LTRO के माध्यम से उधार ली गई निधि पर, बैंक दर से उधार ली गई निधि से कम ब्याज दर होती है। LTRO सुविधा का लाभ उठाने के लिए केवल सरकारी प्रतिभूतियों को संपार्श्विक (collateral) के रूप में स्वीकार किया जाएगा। LTRO कॉर्पोरेट बॉन्ड में निवेश को बढ़ावा देगा। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.9) The government recently brought hand sanitizers and masks under the purview of the Essential Commodities Act (ECA).  Consider the following statement regarding the Essential Commodities Act The Act also empowers the state governments to control production, supply and distribution of certain commodities. The Drug Price Control Orders (DPCO) is issued under the powers of the ECA. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.9) सरकार ने हाल ही में आवश्यक वस्तु अधिनियम (ECA) के दायरे में हैंड सैनिटाइजर और मास्क लाए हैं। आवश्यक वस्तु अधिनियम के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथन पर विचार करें अधिनियम राज्य सरकारों को भी कुछ वस्तुओं के उत्पादन, आपूर्ति और वितरण को नियंत्रित करने का अधिकार देता है। औषधि मूल्य नियंत्रण आदेश (DPCO), ECA की शक्तियों के तहत जारी किया जाता है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.10) Consider the following statements regarding recent developments in the agricultural sector A Farmer Producer Organisation is a legal entity registered under the Companies Act 2013. Livestock, poultry and fishery are included in the definition of agricultural produce in the Model Contract Farming Act 2018. Recently, Tamil Nadu became the first state to enact a law on contract farming. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.10) कृषि क्षेत्र में हाल के घटनाक्रमों के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें एक किसान उत्पादक संगठन कंपनी अधिनियम 2013 के तहत पंजीकृत एक कानूनी संस्था है। पशुधन, मुर्गीपालन और मत्स्य पालन को मॉडल अनुबंध खेती अधिनियम 2018 के दायरे में शामिल किया गया है। हाल ही में, तमिलनाडु अनुबंध खेती पर एक कानून बनाने वाला पहला राज्य बना है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.11) Consider the following statements regarding Harmonized System of Nomenclature (HSN) It is a multipurpose international product nomenclature developed by the World Customs Organization. The code is used by private-sector firms for purposes such as freight tariffs. India has recently decided to adhere to HSN for classification of goods for purposes of the Customs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 only 1 and 3 only All of the above Q.11) नामकरण के हार्मोनाइज्ड सिस्टम (Harmonized System of Nomenclature- HSN) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। यह एक बहुउद्देशीय अंतर्राष्ट्रीय उत्पाद नामकरण है जिसे विश्व सीमा शुल्क संगठन द्वारा विकसित किया गया है। माल-भाड़ा टैरिफ (freight tariffs) जैसे उद्देश्यों के लिए निजी क्षेत्र की फर्मों द्वारा कोड का उपयोग किया जाता है। भारत ने हाल ही में, सीमा शुल्क के प्रयोजनों के लिए माल के वर्गीकरण हेतु HSN का पालन करने का निर्णय किया है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2  केवल 1 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.12) The term Securitization is sometimes seen in the news. It refers to which of the following Issuance of Government security to finance the fiscal deficit. The Pooling of financial assets into a consolidated financial instrument. Unwillingness to hold government security due to expectation of default. Conversion of unsecured debt into secured debt to reduce Non-Performing Asset issue. Q.12) प्रतिभूतिकरण (Securitization) शब्द कभी-कभी समाचारों में देखा जाता है। यह निम्न में से किसको संदर्भित करता है राजकोषीय घाटे के वित्तपोषण के लिए सरकारी प्रतिभूति जारी करना। समेकित वित्तीय साधन में वित्तीय परिसंपत्तियों की पूलिंग। डिफ़ॉल्ट की अपेक्षा के कारण सरकारी प्रतिभूति रखने की अनिच्छा। गैर-निष्पादित परिसंपत्ति मुद्दे को कम करने के लिए असुरक्षित ऋण से सुरक्षित ऋण में रूपांतरण। Q.13) India recently ratified the Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures (MLI). Consider the following statements regarding it. MLI is an outcome of the OECD and FATF project to tackle base erosion and profit shifting and money laundering. MLI provides flexibility through provisions such as “reservation” MLI does not modify any existing bilateral tax treaty agreements between signatory countries. Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.13) भारत ने हाल ही में, कर संधि से संबंधित उपायों (MLI) को लागू करने के लिए बहुपक्षीय कन्वेंशन की पुष्टि की है। इसके बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। MLI आधार क्षरण और लाभ हस्तांतरण तथा धन शोधन से निपटने के लिए OECD और FATF प्रोजेक्ट का एक परिणाम है। MLI "आरक्षण" जैसे प्रावधानों के माध्यम से लचीलापन प्रदान करता है MLI हस्ताक्षरकर्ता देशों के बीच किसी भी मौजूदा द्विपक्षीय कर संधि समझौतों को संशोधित नहीं करता है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा गलत है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.14) Consider the following statements regarding recent reforms in E-nam platform Farmers can now trade on e-nam without physically bringing their produce to the APMC mandis. All Farmer Producer organizations (FPO) need to store their produce in selected Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) registered warehouses. Provision has been made for linking large logistic aggregator platforms with e-nam Platform. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 3 only Q.14) ई-नाम (e-NAM) प्लेटफॉर्म में हालिया सुधारों के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें किसान अब अपनी उपज को भौतिक रूप से एपीएमसी मंडियों में लाए बिना ई-नाम पर व्यापार कर सकते हैं। सभी किसान उत्पादक संगठनों (FPO) को अपनी उपज को चयनित भण्डारण विकास और नियामक प्राधिकरण (WDRA) के पंजीकृत गोदामों में संग्रहीत करने की आवश्यकता है। बड़े लॉजिस्टिक एग्रीगेटर प्लेटफॉर्म को ई-नाम प्लेटफॉर्म से जोड़ने के लिए प्रावधान किया गया है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 केवल 3 Q.15) Consider the following statements regarding Special Economic Zones While SEZ units may import goods from Domestic tariff area (DTA) without payment of duty, they shall, however, pay applicable duty to export goods to DTA. Goods procured from units in SEZs by single-brand retailers would qualify for meeting the local sourcing norms, if applicable. SEZ units which are not positive Net Foreign exchange Earner shall be liable to pay a penalty. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 1 and 3 only 2 and 3 only All of the above Q.15) विशेष आर्थिक क्षेत्रों (SEZs) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें हालांकि SEZ इकाइयां शुल्क के भुगतान के बिना घरेलू टैरिफ क्षेत्र (DTA) से माल आयात कर सकती हैं, हालांकि, वे DTA को माल निर्यात करने के लिए लागू शुल्क का भुगतान करते हैं। सिंगल-ब्रांड खुदरा विक्रेताओं द्वारा SEZ में इकाइयों से खरीदे गए सामान, यदि लागू हो, तो स्थानीय सोर्सिंग मानदंडों को पूरा करने के लिए योग्य होंगे। SEZ इकाइयां जो सकारात्मक शुद्ध विदेशी मुद्रा अर्जन नहीं करती हैं, एक दंड का भुगतान करने के लिए उत्तरदायी होंगी। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.16) Consider the following statements regarding Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan This is an umbrella scheme which will provide income support to the farmers. Cotton is covered under Price Deficiency Payment Scheme. There will be no physical procurement of crops under Price Support Scheme. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 only 3 only None of the above Q.16) प्रधान मंत्री अन्नदाता आय संरक्षण अभियान के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें यह एक अम्ब्रेला योजना है जो किसानों को आय सहायता प्रदान करेगी। कपास को प्राइस डेफिसिएंसी पेमेंट स्कीम के तहत कवर किया गया है। मूल्य समर्थन योजना के तहत फसलों की भौतिक खरीद नहीं होगी। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2  केवल 3 इनमें से कोई भी नहीं Q.17) The government recently disbursed 15841 crores under the PM-KISAN scheme. Consider the following statements regarding PM-KISAN scheme. Identification of beneficiary is done through Socio-Economic Caste Census-2011 data. Big Farmers who hold more than 4 hectares of land are excluded from the scheme. All PM-KISAN beneficiaries will be given the Kisan Credit Cards (KCC). Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 and 2 only 2 and 3 only 3 only All of the above Q.17) सरकार ने हाल ही में PM-KISAN योजना के तहत 15841 करोड़ रुपये वितरित किए हैं। PM-KISAN योजना के बारे में निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। लाभार्थी की पहचान सामाजिक-आर्थिक जाति जनगणना -2011 के आंकड़ों के माध्यम से की जाती है। 4 हेक्टेयर से अधिक भूमि रखने वाले बड़े किसानों को योजना से बाहर रखा गया है। सभी PM-KISAN लाभार्थियों को किसान क्रेडिट कार्ड (KCC) दिया जाएगा। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 2 और 3 केवल 3 उपरोक्त सभी Q.18) Consider the following statements regarding the National Rural Economic Transformation Project The government will avail a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) for its implementation. The Project will support rural infrastructure development programs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.18) राष्ट्रीय ग्रामीण आर्थिक परिवर्तन परियोजना (National Rural Economic Transformation Project) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें इसके कार्यान्वयन के लिए सरकार पुनर्निर्माण और विकास के लिए अंतरराष्ट्रीय बैंक (IBRD) से ऋण प्राप्त करेगी। परियोजना ग्रामीण बुनियादी ढांचे के विकास कार्यक्रमों का समर्थन करेगी। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.19) Project Monitoring Group is linked to which of the following A Consortium of Public sector Banks to monitor NPA projects. Institutional mechanism for resolving bottlenecks in Public-Private Partnership projects. A civil society organization that works in the field of infrastructure development. A Special Task Force formed by the Union government to monitor Mission mode projects. Q.19) परियोजना निगरानी समूह (Project Monitoring Group) निम्नलिखित में से किससे संबद्ध है गैर-निष्पादित परिसंपत्ति परियोजनाओं की निगरानी के लिए सार्वजनिक क्षेत्र के बैंकों का एक संघ। सार्वजनिक-निजी भागीदारी परियोजनाओं में बाधाओं का समाधान करने के लिए संस्थागत तंत्र। एक नागरिक समाज संगठन, जो बुनियादी ढांचे के विकास के क्षेत्र में काम करता है। मिशन मोड परियोजनाओं की निगरानी के लिए केंद्र सरकार द्वारा गठित एक विशेष कार्य बल। Q.20) Consider the following statements regarding Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvIts) They are regulated by the Infrastructure Policy & Finance Division under the Department of Economic affairs. Foreign Portfolio investors are barred from investing in InvIts.  Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 1 only 2 only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.20) इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर इन्वेस्टमेंट ट्रस्ट्स (InvIts) के बारे में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। उन्हें आर्थिक मामलों के विभाग के तहत अवसंरचना नीति और वित्त प्रभाग द्वारा विनियमित किया जाता है। विदेशी पोर्टफोलियो निवेशकों को InvIts में निवेश करने से रोक दिया गया है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.21) With reference to Ambubachi Mela, Consider the following statements: It is celebrated when goddess Kamakhya goes through her annual cycle of menstruation. Kamakhya temple is situated at Nilachal Hills on the banks of the River Ganges. Kamakhya temple is one of the prominent 51 Saktipeeths spread across South Asia. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  1 and 3 only 2 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.21) अंबुबाची मेले के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: यह तब मनाया जाता है जब देवी कामाख्या मासिक धर्म के अपने वार्षिक चक्र से गुजरती हैं। कामाख्या मंदिर गंगा नदी के तट पर नीलाचल पहाड़ियों पर स्थित है। कामाख्या मंदिर दक्षिण एशिया में फैले प्रमुख 51 शक्तिपीठों में से एक है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 3 केवल 2  केवल 2 और 3 1, 2 और 3 Q.22) Which of the following is/are the part of The South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF)? Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan Myanmar Thailand Select the correct answer using the code given below: 1, 2, 3 and 4 only 1, 2 and 3 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Q.22) निम्नलिखित में से कौन दक्षिण एशियाई जलवायु आउटलुक फोरम (SASCOF) का हिस्सा है? अफ़ग़ानिस्तान बांग्लादेश भूटान म्यांमार थाईलैंड नीचे दिए गए कूट का उपयोग करके सही उत्तर चुनें: केवल 1, 2, 3 और 4 केवल 1, 2 और 3 केवल 2 और 3 1, 2, 3, 4 और 5 Q.23) Consider the following statements: Lift irrigation is a method of irrigation in which water is not transported by natural flow but is lifted with pumps or other mechanical means. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project is the world's largest multi-stage lift irrigation project. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  1 only  2 only  Both 1 and 2  Neither 1 nor 2 Q.23) निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: लिफ्ट सिंचाई (Lift irrigation), सिंचाई की एक विधि है जिसमें पानी को प्राकृतिक प्रवाह द्वारा अपवाहित नहीं किया जाता है बल्कि पंप या अन्य यांत्रिक साधनों से लिफ्ट किया जाता है। कालेश्वरम लिफ्ट सिंचाई परियोजना संसार की सबसे बड़ी बहु-चरण लिफ्ट सिंचाई परियोजना है। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.24) The term New Umbrella Entities (NUE) is sometimes seen in the news with reference to: It is a proposed organization under smart cities mission. It is a proposed digital retail payments organization set up by the Reserve Bank of India. It is a proposed organization by Government of India to bring all social sector schemes under it  None of the above Q.24) न्यू अम्ब्रेला एंटीटीज (New Umbrella Entities- NUE) शब्द को कभी-कभी समाचारों में, किसके संदर्भ में देखा जाता है: यह स्मार्ट शहरी मिशन के तहत एक प्रस्तावित संगठन है। यह भारतीय रिज़र्व बैंक द्वारा स्थापित एक प्रस्तावित डिजिटल रिटेल भुगतान संगठन है। यह भारत सरकार द्वारा सभी सामाजिक क्षेत्र की योजनाओं को इसके अंतर्गत लाने का एक प्रस्तावित संगठन है इनमें से कोई भी नहीं Q.25) With reference to National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), Consider the following statements: It is the investment plan unveiled by the Central Government for enhancing infrastructure in identified sectors for a period of five years from 2020-25. It includes both economic and social infrastructure projects. The funding of the NIP will be jointly made by the Centre, states and the private sectors.  Which of the statements given above is/are correct?  1 and 2 only 1 only 2 and 3 only 1, 2 and 3 Q.25) राष्ट्रीय अवसंरचना पाइपलाइन (NIP) के संदर्भ में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें: यह केंद्र सरकार द्वारा 2020-25 में पांच वर्ष की अवधि के लिए चिन्हित क्षेत्रों में बुनियादी ढांचे को बढ़ाने के लिए अनावरण की गई निवेश योजना है। इसमें आर्थिक और सामाजिक दोनों बुनियादी ढांचा परियोजनाएं शामिल हैं। NIP का वित्तपोषण केंद्र, राज्यों और निजी क्षेत्रों द्वारा संयुक्त रूप से किया जायेगा। ऊपर दिए गए कथनों में से कौन सा सही है / हैं? केवल 1 और 2 केवल 1 केवल 2 और 3 1, 2 और 3 Q.26) Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? Agasthyavanam Biological Park – Tamil Nadu Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary – Assam Tropical butterfly conservatory – Kerala Select the correct code: 1 and 2 2 Only 2 and 3 1 and 3 Q.26) निम्नलिखित में से कौन सी जोड़ी सही ढंग से सुमेलित है? अगस्त्यवनम जैविक उद्यान - तमिलनाडु देहिंग पटकाई वन्यजीव अभयारण्य - असम उष्णकटिबंधीय तितली कंज़र्वेटरी - केरल सही कूट का चयन करें: 1 और 2 केवल 2  2 और 3 1 और 3 Q.27) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser’. India has had a Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) since 1999. The term of the PSA is three years. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.27) 'प्रमुख वैज्ञानिक सलाहकार के कार्यालय' के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। भारत में 1999 से एक प्रमुख वैज्ञानिक सलाहकार (PSA) है। PSA का कार्यकाल तीन वर्ष होता है। सही कथनों का चयन करें केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.28) Mekong River does not flow through Malaysia Laos Vietnam Cambodia Q.28) मेकांग नदी किस देश में नहीं बहती है मलेशिया लाओस वियतनाम कंबोडिया Q.29) Consider the following statements with respect to ‘Monetising deficit’. It refers to the exercise of RBI purchasing government bonds directly in the primary market and financing this debt by printing more money. It may shoot up inflation and lead to devaluation or weakening of the Indian Rupee. Select the correct statements 1 Only 2 Only Both 1 and 2 Neither 1 nor 2 Q.29) 'मुद्रीकरण घाटे' (Monetising deficit) के संबंध में, निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार करें। यह आरबीआई द्वारा प्राथमिक बाजार से सीधे सरकारी बॉन्ड खरीदने और अधिक धन छापकर इस ऋण का वित्तपोषण करने की क्रिया को दर्शाता है। इससे मुद्रास्फीति बढ़ सकती है तथा भारतीय रुपये का अवमूल्यन या कमजोर हो सकता है। सही कथनों का चयन करें केवल 1 केवल 2  1 और 2 दोनों न तो 1 और न ही 2 Q.30) ‘MINUSCA’ is a UN peacekeeping mission associated with which of the following countries? Central African Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Burkina Faso Sierra Leone Q.30) ‘MINUSCA’ संयुक्त राष्ट्र का एक शांति मिशन, निम्नलिखित में से किस देश से संबंधित है? सेंट्रल अफ्रीकन रिपब्लिक डेमोक्रेटिक रीपब्लिक ऑफ द कॉंगो बुर्किना फासो सियरा लिओन DOWNLOAD THE SOLUTION ENGLISH HINDI NOTE- Follow this for Comments Mention- Time Taken after solving the Test After the release of Solution Edit your Comment to Mention-  Correct/Incorrect and Score 2 Marks for Correct/0.66 minus for Incorrect. DOWNLOAD THE 60 DAYS PLAN 2020  PRELIMS EXCLUSIVE CURRENT AFFAIRS CLASSES (12 SESSIONS-By Tauseef Sir): STARTING 15 APRIL- JOIN NOW! All the Best! IASbaba  

May 7, 2020 Motivational Articles

MOTIVATION [VIDEO]: At the time of Uncertainty - Be Better, not Anxious!

Hello Friends, This world has seen multiple crisis situations before. With previous experiences of humanity we can be assured that nothing lasts forever. And those who last the tough time are called survivors. There is this thing about survivors, they become a better version of their previous self. Unfortunately, you all are facing a situation which no one was prepared for. However, look at this as just another challenge before you get into the services. If you lose your mind right now, just because your exam has been postponed, how will you face much bigger challenges which are waiting for you once you qualify for the exam? Don't look at it as a misfortune but an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. Be positive and plan your preparation accordingly. Don't forget, the exam is going to be held in the near future and your competitors are preparing. You have absolutely no time to let your guard down by being anxious or frightened. Here is a small message from IASbaba team to cheer you up. Thank You