11 MAY CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)
Q1. Consider the following statements
- 35 kg of food grains would be provided to 80 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
- It is implemented by the department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Which of the above statement/s is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: a)
Explanation:
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
● Recently, the Union government announced that 5 kg of food grains would be provided to 80 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) for the months of May and June 2021.
About PMGKAY
● Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was announced as part of the relief package during the COVID-19 pandemic.
● Aim: To ensure sufficient food for the poor and needy during the coronavirus crisis.
● Ministry: The department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
● Features: Under the scheme, about 80 Crore National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries are eligible for an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains (Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month over and above their regular monthly entitlement.
● Duration: The scheme was announced in 2020 for three months till July. Later it was extended till November 2020 to combat the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the poor.
● However, the scheme is functional once again. As many States are undergoing curfews and the high rates of coronavirus infections, leading to a slowdown in economic activity.
Q2. Consider the following pairs
- Arun Gopal v. Union of India (2017): Diwali fireworks
- M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (2018): Central Motor Vehicle Rules
- Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018): Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
Select the correct code
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution: d)
Explanation:
Examples where the judges may have encroached upon the legislature/executive
● Arun Gopal v. Union of India (2017): The Supreme Court fixed timings for bursting Diwali fireworks and prohibited the use of non-green fireworks, although there are no laws to that effect.
● M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (2018): The court annulled the statutory Rule 115(21) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, when it directed that no BS-4 vehicle should be sold after March 30, 2020, and that only BS-6 vehicles can be sold after that date.
● Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018): The court amended the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, by annulling Section 18 which said that no anticipatory bail will be granted to persons accused under the Act; by requiring a preliminary enquiry; and by prohibiting arrest under the Act except with permission in writing by the appropriate authority.
● Rajesh Sharma v. The State of Uttar Pradesh (2017): The court felt that Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code was being misused. So it amended that Section by requiring complaints under that provision to be sent to a Family Welfare Committee constituted by the District Legal Services Authority, although there is no such requirement in Section 498A.
● National Green Tribunal (NGT): Ordered that no 15-year-old petrol-driven or 10-year-old diesel-driven vehicle will ply in Delhi, and the Supreme Court has directed impounding such vehicles, though neither the NGT nor the Supreme Court are legislative bodies.
Q3. Houthi Insurgency related to which country?
a) Iran
b) Saudi Arabia
c) Yemen
d) None of the above
Solution: c)
Explanation:
Recently, Saudi Crown Prince offered an olive branch to his country’s main adversary. He seeks “to have good relations” with Iran. That represents at least a rhetorical retreat for the Saudis, who are fighting a vicious and destructive war against Iran’s Houthi proxies in Yemen and were public supporters of former President Donald Trump’s economic warfare against Iran.
Houthi Rebels supported by Shia majority country Iran
● The Saudi-led coalition feared that continued success of the Houthis would give their rival regional power and Shia-majority state, Iran, a foothold in Yemen, Saudi Arabia’s southern neighbour.
● Saudi Arabia says Iran is backing the Houthis with weapons and logistical support – a charge Iran denies.
● Both sides have since been beset by infighting. The Houthis broke with Saleh and he was killed by Houthi fighters in December 2017.
● On the anti-Houthi side, militias include separatists seeking independence for south Yemen and factions who oppose the idea.
Q4. Consider the following statements
- Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list.
- India is not a member of the FATF.
Which of the above statement/s is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: b)
Explanation:
Financial Action Task Force
It is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris.
The FATF assesses the strength of a country’s anti-money laundering and anti-tenor financing frameworks, however it does not go by individual cases.
The FATF currently has 39 members including two regional organisations – the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF.
Grey List:
Countries that are considered safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put in the FATF grey list.
This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
Black List:
Countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put in the blacklist.
These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities.
The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
Q5. Consider the following statements about RBI guidelines for PSL for scheduled commercial banks
- 40% of the total net bank credit should go to a priority sector advances.
- 18% of the total net bank credit should go to agricultural advances.
Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: c)
Explanation:
RBI guidelines for PSL for scheduled commercial banks
● 40% of the total net bank credit should go to a priority sector advances.
○ 10% of the priority sector advances or 10% of the total net bank credit, whichever is higher should go to weaker section.
○ 18% of the total net bank credit should go to agricultural advances. Within the 18 percent target for agriculture, a target of 8 percent of Adjusted Net Bank Credit (ANBC) or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher is prescribed for Small and Marginal Farmers, to be achieved in a phased manner.
○ 5 of ANBC or Credit Equivalent Amount of Off-Balance Sheet Exposure, whichever is higher should go to Micro enterprises.
Q6. Consider the following statements regarding Seaweeds
1. Out of total global seaweed production, India’ share is more than 10 %.
- could be used to create bio-fuels.
- They help in carbon sequestration.
- China is the largest producer of seaweed in the world.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
a) 1, 2 and 4 only
b) 1, 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1 only
Solution: d)
Explanation:
SEAWEEDS
Out of the global seaweed production of ~ 32 million tons fresh weight valued
around 12 billion US dollars. China produces ~57 %, Indonesia ~28% followed by
South Korea, whereas India is having a mere share of ~0.01-0.02%. Despite several
advantages, commercial seaweeds cultivation has not been taken place in the
country at an appropriate scale, as being practiced in South-East Asian countries.
By an estimate, if seaweed cultivation is done in 10 million hectares or
5% of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) area of India, it can
Provide employment to 50 million people.
Set up a new seaweed industry.
Contribute to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Enhance ocean productivity.
Abate algal blooms.
Sequester millions of tons CO2.
Could produce bioethanol of 6.6 billion litres.
Q7. Battle of Haldighati was fought on 18 June 1576 between the Mughal
emperor Akbar’s forces, led by Man Singh I of Amber and the forces of:
a) Maharana Pratap
b) Bajirao II
c) Shivaji Bhonsale
d) None of the above
Solution: a)
Explanation:
Battle of Haldighati: It was fought on 18 June 1576 between the forces Maharana
Pratap; and the Mughal emperor Akbar’s forces, led by Man Singh I of Amber. The
Mughals were the victors but failed to capture Pratap, who escaped.
Resurgence: Mughal pressure on Mewar relaxed after 1579 following rebellions in
Bengal and Bihar. Taking advantage of the situation, Pratap recovered Western
Mewar including Kumbhalgarh, Udaipur and Gogunda. During this period, he also
built a new capital, Chavand, near modern Dungarpur.
Chetak: Chetak is the name given in traditional literature to the horse ridden by
Maharana Pratap at the Battle of Haldighati. However, some Historians debate it.
According to tradition, Chetak, although wounded, carried Pratap safely away from
the battle, but then died of his wounds. The story is recounted in court poems of
Mewar from the 17th century onwards.
Pratap Gaurav Kendra: It is a tourist spot at Tiger Hill in Udaipur city, Rajasthan.
It aims at providing information about Maharana Pratap and the historical heritage
of the area with the help of modern technology.
Q8. With reference to the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary
Herbs (CCSCH), consider the following statements:
- It is the youngest of the Codex Commodity Committees.
- The Committee is chaired by India.
- Spices Board India is its Secretariat
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution: d)
Explanation:
The Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs (CCSCH) has finalized and
recommended quality standards for four spices; cloves, oregano, basil, and ginger,
during its fifth session held virtually from 20th -29th April 2021.
The committee forwarded these four new standards to the Codex Alimentarius
Commission (CAC) for adoption at final step 8, as full -fledged Codex standards.
The committee also took up the following new work items: to develop Codex
standards for small cardamom and turmeric, and to develop the first group
standard for spices that fall under the class ‘dried fruits and berries’.
CCSCH is the youngest of the Codex Commodity Committees. The Committee is
Chaired by India and Spices Board India is its Secretariat. This committee is
mandated to elaborate worldwide, science-based quality standards for spices and
culinary herbs, in accordance with the Codex principles of consumer protection
and fair-trade practices. Dr M.R. Sudarshan is the current Chairman of the
Committee.
Q9. The term “Two-State Solution” was frequently seen in the news. It is
related to toa) Iraq and Syria
b) Palestine and Israel
c) Afghanistan and USA
d) India and Pakistan
Solution: b)
Explanation:
The two-state solution has for decades been the primary focus of efforts to
achieve peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The solution would establish an independent Palestinian state alongside
Israel — two states for two peoples.
In theory, this would win Israel’s security and allow it to retain a Jewish
demographic majority while granting the Palestinians a state.
The 1947 UN Partition Plan led to decades of military action and violence
between Israel and Palestine. It is was only after the mediation of the US, in
the 1991 Madrid Peace conference a two-state solution was agreed to resolve
the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to the United Nations, only a two-state solution that realizes the
legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis can lead to
sustainable peace.
Q10. “Fordo”, “Arak”, “Bushehr” was frequently seen in the news isa) Underground cave systems
b) Iran’s Nuclear Programme Sites
c) USA Military bases in Afghanistan and Syria
d) Russia’s maritime claim on Caspian Sea
Solution : b)
Q11. Consider the following statements:
- The genetic material of the coronavirus is ribonucleic acid (RNA) strands.
- When a virus multiplies inside the cells of a living organism, it creates copies
of the DNA.
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: b)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is incorrect.
When a virus multiplies inside the cells of a living organism, it creates
copies of the RNA.
However, the process it uses to make these copies is not perfect, and
often introduces tiny errors in the sequence of bases.
These errors are called genetic mutations.
The genetic material of the coronavirus is ribonucleic acid (RNA) strands.
Each virus has about 26,000 to 32,000 bases or RNA “letters” in its
length.
These letters — A, C, U and G — stand for adenine, cytosine, uracil and
guanine, nitrogen-containing biological molecules that are the
fundamental units of the genetic code.
Q12. Consider the following statements:
- Jerusalem’s Old City is under Israeli control.
- The Al-aqsa mosque has remained under the administration of the Jordanian
and Palestinian-led Islamic Waqf since 1967.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: c)
Explanation:
Both statements are correct.
Exp: The Al-Aqsa mosque & the Mount
History: Originally built as a small prayer house, the mosque was
reconstructed by the Umayyad caliph Abd al-Malik in 705 CE.
o After the Crusades, the mosque was recaptured by Saladin, the first
sultan of Egypt and Syria, in 1187.
Significance: Masjid Al-Aqsa is an important holy site in Islam, located
in the Old City of Jerusalem.
o The wider compound of Al-Aqsa, about 35 acres, is usually referred
to as al-Haram (noble sanctuary) and includes the Dome of the
Rock.
o The mosque is revered as Islam’s third holiest site. The Mount is
also Judaism’s holiest site.
o The Al-Aqsa is located on a plaza at Temple Mount, which is known
in Islam as Haram-e-Sharif.
The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall sacred to Jews, is one
side of the retaining wall of the Al-Aqsa compound.
Under control of: Though Jerusalem’s Old City is under Israeli
control, the mosque has remained under the administration of the
Jordanian and Palestinian-led Islamic Waqf since 1967.
o The Waqf is a religious trust that manages Islamic historical sites
around the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Q13. Consider the following statements
- 35 kg of food grains would be provided to 80 crore beneficiaries under the
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) - It is implemented by the department of Food and Public Distribution under
the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Which of the above statement/s is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution: a)
Explanation:
Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)
● Recently, the Union government announced that 5 kg of food grains would be
provided to 80 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna
Yojana (PMGKAY) for the months of May and June 2021.
About PMGKAY
● Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was announced as part of the relief
package during the COVID-19 pandemic.
● Aim: To ensure sufficient food for the poor and needy during the coronavirus
crisis.
● Ministry: The department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of
Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
● Features: Under the scheme, about 80 Crore National Food Security Act
(NFSA) beneficiaries are eligible for an additional quota of free-of-cost foodgrains
(Rice/Wheat) at a scale of 5 Kg per person per month over and above their regular
monthly entitlement.
● Duration: The scheme was announced in 2020 for three months till July. Later
it was extended till November 2020 to combat the economic impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the poor.
● However, the scheme is functional once again. As many States are undergoing
curfews and the high rates of coronavirus infections, leading to a slowdown in
economic activity.
Q14. Consider the following pairs
- Arun Gopal v. Union of India (2017): Diwali fireworks
- M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (2018): Central Motor Vehicle Rules
- Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018): Scheduled
Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
Select the correct code
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Solution: d)
Explanation:
Examples where the judges may have encroached upon the
legislature/executive
● Arun Gopal v. Union of India (2017): The Supreme Court fixed timings for
bursting Diwali fireworks and prohibited the use of non-green fireworks, although
there are no laws to that effect.
● M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (2018): The court annulled the statutory Rule
115(21) of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, when it directed that no BS-4
vehicle should be sold after March 30, 2020, and that only BS-6 vehicles can be
sold after that date.
● Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra (2018): The court
amended the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)
Act, 1989, by annulling Section 18 which said that no anticipatory bail will be
granted to persons accused under the Act; by requiring a preliminary enquiry; and
by prohibiting arrest under the Act except with permission in writing by the
appropriate authority.
● Rajesh Sharma v. The State of Uttar Pradesh (2017): The court felt that Section
498A of the Indian Penal Code was being misused. So it amended that Section by
requiring complaints under that provision to be sent to a Family Welfare Committee
constituted by the District Legal Services Authority, although there is no such
requirement in Section 498A.
● National Green Tribunal (NGT): Ordered that no 15-year-old petrol-driven or
10-year-old diesel-driven vehicle will ply in Delhi, and the Supreme Court has
directed impounding such vehicles, though neither the NGT nor the Supreme Court
are legislative bodies.
Q15. Houthi Insurgency related to which country?
a) Iran
b) Saudi Arabia
c) Yemen
d) None of the above
Solution: c)
Explanation:
Recently, Saudi Crown Prince offered an olive branch to his country’s main
adversary. He seeks “to have good relations” with Iran. That represents at least a
rhetorical retreat for the Saudis, who are fighting a vicious and destructive war
against Iran’s Houthi proxies in Yemen and were public supporters of former
President Donald Trump’s economic warfare against Iran.
Houthi Rebels supported by Shia majority country Iran
● The Saudi-led coalition feared that continued success of the Houthis would give
their rival regional power and Shia-majority state, Iran, a foothold in Yemen, Saudi
Arabia’s southern neighbour.
● Saudi Arabia says Iran is backing the Houthis with weapons and logistical
support – a charge Iran denies.
● Both sides have since been beset by infighting. The Houthis broke with Saleh and
he was killed by Houthi fighters in December 2017.
● On the anti-Houthi side, militias include separatists seeking independence for
south Yemen and factions who oppose the idea
Ground Floor,
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