9 & 10 OCT CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. RUDRAM recently seen in news is :
a) Medium Altitude Long Endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV)
b) Light Combat Aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
c) Anti-Radiation Missile
d) An AYUSH ministry’s flagship medicine to treat asymptomatic Covid patients.
Solution : c)

Explanation :-
No Explanation

Q2. The International Organization World Food Program is a member of :
a) UN Security Council
b) Food and Agriculture Organization
c) UN development group.
d) World Bank
Solution : c)

Explanation :-
No Explanation

Q3. With reference to the Gyan Circle Ventures, consider the following statements:

Gyan Circle Ventures would function as a Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE 2.0) incubation center as approved by the Ministry of Information Technology (MeitY). The Gyan Circle Ventures will serve as a hub for innovation and startups by providing support, in various phases, via investments, infrastructure and mentoring. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : c)

Explanation :-

Union Minister for Education inaugurated the Gyan Circle Ventures, a MeitY funded Technology Business Incubator (TBI) of Indian Institute of Information Technology, Sri City Chittoor), Andhra Pradesh
•Gyan Circle Ventures would function as a Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE 2.0) incubation center as approved by the Ministry of Information Technology (MeitY).
•The incubator would leverage the institutions’ entrepreneurial spirit via utilizing its intellectual capital and engage in using emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Block-chain, Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), Cyber Security, Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, etc.
•the Gyan Circle Ventures will serve as a hub for innovation and startups by providing support, in various phases, via investments, infrastructure and mentoring.
•Hence both statements are correct.

Q4. DBT-BIRAC Clean Tech Demo Park, recently seen in news, is located in:
a) New Delhi
b) Mumbai
c) Chandigarh
d) Mysuru
Solution : a)

Explanation :-

Union Minister for Science & Technology inaugurated the “DBT-BIRAC Clean Tech Demo Park” at Barapullah drain site in Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi.
•The DBT-BIRAC Clean Tech Demo Park will be used to demonstrate innovative Waste-toValue technologies with support from Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), a DBT PSU.
•This park will be managed by the Clean Energy International Incubation Centre (CEIIC), a public-private-partnership incubator set up jointly by DBT, BIRAC and Tata Power.
•Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q5. With reference to the TRPs (Television Rating Points), consider the following statements:

TRPs represent how many people, from which socio-economic categories, watched which channels for how much time during a particular period.

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India is a statutory body.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : a)

Explanation :-

Mumbai police is looking into a scam about manipulation of TRPs (Television Rating Points) by rigging the devices used by the Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India, which has the mandate to measure television audience in India.
•TRPs represent how many people, from which socio-economic categories, watched which channels for how much time during a particular period.
•Methodology:
• This could be for an hour, a day, or even a week; India follows the international standard of ne minute. The data is usually made public every week.
• For calculating TRP, BARC has installed “BAR-O-meters” in over 45,000 empanelled
households. These households are classified into 12 categories under the New Consumer Classification System (NCCS)
•Importance of TRPs:
• Television ratings in turn influence programmes produced for the viewers. Better ratings would promote a programme while poor ratings will discourage a programme.
•TRPs are the main currency for advertisers to decide which channel to advertise on by calculating the cost-per-rating-point (CPRP).
BARC?
•It is an industry body jointly owned by advertisers, ad agencies, and broadcasting companies, represented by The Indian Society of Advertisers, the Indian Broadcasting Foundation and the Advertising Agencies Association of India.
•Though it was created in 2010, the I&B Ministry notified the Policy Guidelines for Television Rating Agencies in India in 2014 and registered BARC in July 2015 under these guidelines, to carry out television ratings in India.
•Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q6. With reference to the New Development Bank, consider the following statements:

It is also known as Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. The headquarters is located in Beijing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : c)

Explanation :-

New Development Bank, also known as BRICS Bank has approved infrastructure projects worth 741 million dollars in India.
•Its Board of Directors approved a loan of USD 500 million for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Project and a loan of USD 241 million for Mumbai Metro Rail II (Line 6) Project
•The loan for Delhi NCR region would be used by Government of India for on-lending to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) for construction of a rapid rail corridor connecting the NCT of Delhi with the cities of Ghaziabad and Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
•The loan for Mumbai Metro will be used by the Government of India for on-lending to the Government of the State of Maharashtra for implementing a metro rail Line 6 with length of about 14.47 km in the city of Mumbai. The Project will be implemented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.
•New Development Bank (NDB), the Shanghai based bank, was established by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS countries and other emerging economies
•Hence both statements are incorrect.

Q7. With reference to the Pusa Decomposer, consider the following statements:

It has been developed by DRDO.

‘Pusa Decomposer’ is essentially a fungi-based liquid solution that can soften hard stubble to the extent that it can be easily mixed with soil in the field to act as compost. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : b)

Explanation :-

Union Environment Minister has said that the Pusa Decomposer will be used on a trial basis this year in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
•The burning of paddy stubble left in the fields after harvest has been a cause of concern for the past several years as it contributes to air pollution in the northern Gangetic plains and its already polluted cities like Delhi.
•It is a common practice in October and November across North West India, but primarily in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to quickly clear crop residue from their fields before planting the rabi wheat crop. Pusa Decomposer:
•To tackle the issue ‘Pusa Decomposer’ capsule has been developed by Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI).
•‘Pusa Decomposer’ is essentially a fungi-based liquid solution that can soften hard stubble to the extent that it can be easily mixed with soil in the field to act as compost.
•This would then rule out the need to burn the stubble, and also help in retaining the essential microbes and nutrients in soil that are otherwise damaged when the residue is burned.
•There are seven strains of fungi that IARI has identified after research which help in rapid breakdown of hard stubble. These seven strains of fungi are packed into four capsules. Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Q8. Which of the following are the objectives of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North Eastern Areas (SARDP-NE)?

Upgrade National Highways connecting State Capitals to 2/ 4 lane Improve roads of strategic importance in border area Improve connectivity to neighboring countries Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has enhanced the allocation of funds for expenditure under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North Eastern Areas (SARDP-NE) related works during the current financial year.
•Government of India has undertaken massive road development programme under SARDPNE Scheme in NE Region.
•The scope of the programme has been enlarged from time to time, since September. 2005.
•Under SARDP-NE (Phase –A and Arunachal Pradesh), 6418 km (5998 km actual design length) has already been identified for development at an estimated investment of about Rs. 30,450 crore, out of which 3356 km has been completed and 1961 km is under construction.
•Objectives of SARDP-NE:
• Upgrade National Highways connecting State Capitals to 2/ 4 lane
•Improve roads of strategic importance in border area.
•Improve connectivity to neighboring countries
•Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q9. With reference to the World Mental Health Day, consider the following statements:

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year. Its objective is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : c)

Explanation :-

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.
•The Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
•The goal of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign is increased investment in mental health. According to WHO, Countries spend on average only 2% of their health budgets on mental health.
•Hence both statements are correct.

Q10. Which of the following state has become the first Har Ghar Jal State in the country by providing tap water connection to every rural household?
a) Goa
b) Kerala
c) Tamil Nadu
d) Karnataka
Solution : a)

Explanation :-

Goa has become the first Har Ghar Jal State in the country by providing tap water connection to every rural household.
•The state has provided tap water connection to two lakh 30 thousand rural households.
•North Goa with one lakh 65 thousand rural households and South Goa with 98 thousand rural households in 191 Gram Panchayats are fully saturated with assured piped water supply through tap connections.
•The Ministry said the State is now planning for a sensor-based service delivery monitoring system to monitor the functionality of water supply.
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q11. With reference to the SVAMITVA Scheme, consider the following statements:

It aims to provide the record of rights to village household owners in rural areas and issue Property Cards. The Scheme is being implemented across the country in a phased manner over a period of four years and will cover around 6.62 lakh villages of the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : c)

Explanation :-

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the physical distribution of Property Cards under the SVAMITVA Scheme on October 11, 2020 to transform rural India.
•The SVAMITVA scheme, which was launched in April this year, aims to provide the record of rights to village household owners in rural areas and issue Property Cards.
•The Scheme is being implemented across the country in a phased manner over a period of four years and will cover around 6.62 lakh villages of the country.
•The launch will enable around one lakh property holders to download their Property Cards through the SMS link delivered on their mobile phones. This would be followed by physical distribution of the Property Cards by the respective State governments.
•The move will pave the way for using property as a financial asset by villagers for taking loans and other financial benefits.
•Hence both statements are correct.

Q12. Which of the following institution won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020?
a) World Food Programme (WFP)
b) International Atomic Energy Agency
c) Amnesty International
d) None of the above
Solution : a)

Explanation :-

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 to the World Food Programme (WFP) for its efforts to combat hunger.
•The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world’s largest humanitarian organization focused on hunger and food security.
•Founded in 1961, it is headquartered in Rome.
•In 2019, the WFP provided assistance to close to 100 million people in 88 countries who are victims of acute food insecurity and hunger.
•In 2015, eradicating hunger was adopted as one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The WFP is the UN’s primary instrument for realising this goal.
•The World Food Programme was an active participant in the diplomatic process that culminated in May 2018 in the UN Security Council’s unanimous adoption of Resolution 2417, which for the first time explicitly addressed the link between conflict and hunger.
•Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q13. With reference to the International Day of the Girl Child, consider the following statements:

Every year on 11th October, the International Day of the Girl, UNICEF launches an annual campaign with girls to amplify their voices and stand up for their rights. This year’s theme is “My voice, our equal future”.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : c)

Explanation :-

Films Division is showcasing select animation and documentary films to mark the International Day of the Girl on 11th October, 2020. The films being screened too amplify the voice of girls and those who are in the forefront of saving girl child from all kinds of exploitation.
•Every year on 11th October, the International Day of the Girl, UNICEF launches an annual campaign with girls to amplify their voices and stand up for their rights.
•This year’s theme is “My voice, our equal future”, seizing the opportunity to re-imagine a better world inspired by adolescent girls – energized and recognized, counted and invested in.
•October 11, 2012, was the first Day of the Girl Child.
•In 2020, the world is commemorating 25 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – the global agenda for advancing the rights and empowerment of women and girls, everywhere.
•In 1995 at the World Conference on Women in Beijing countries unanimously adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The Beijing Declaration is the first to specifically call out girls’ rights.
•Hence both statements are correct.

Q14. Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh often mentioned in news, is located in:
a) Lahore
b) Amritsar
c) Delhi
d) Chandigarh
Solution : a)

Explanation :-

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has bowed to Bhai Taru Singh Ji, on the occasion of his 300th birth anniversary.
•Bhai Taru Singh (1720 – 1745) was a prominent Sikh martyr known for sacrificing his life, in the name of protecting Sikh values, by having had his head scalped rather than cutting his hair and converting to Islam.
•Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh or Gurdwara Shahidi Asthan Bhai Taru Singh ji is a Sikh Gurdwara at Naulakha Bazaar in Lahore, Pakistan, which commemorates the spot where Bhai Taru Singh was martyred.
•He was born in Punjab during the reign of the Mughal Empire.
•Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q15. With reference to the IFS Day, consider the following statements:

On September 13, 1783, the Board of Directors of the East India Company passed a resolution at Fort William, Calcutta, to create a department, which could relieve the pressure on the Warren Hastings administration in conducting its business. Established on October 9, 1946, the Indian Foreign Service celebrated 74 years of its existence.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution : c)

Explanation :-

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted the Indian Foreign Service officers on IFS Day.
•The Indian Foreign Service is the diplomatic civil service under Group A and Group B of the
Central Civil Services of the executive branch of the Government of India.
•The service is entrusted to conduct diplomacy and manage foreign relations of India.
•The administrative and political heads are respectively the Foreign Secretary and the External Affairs Minister.
•In 1948, the first group of Indian Foreign Service officers recruited under the combined Civil Services Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission joined the service. This exam is still used to select new foreign service officers.
•The origin of the Indian Foreign Service can be traced back to the British rule when the Foreign Department was created to conduct business with the “Foreign European Powers”.
•On September 13, 1783, the Board of Directors of the East India Company passed a resolution at Fort William, Calcutta, to create a department, which could relieve the pressure on the Warren Hastings administration in conducting its business.
•Established on October 9, 1946, the Indian Foreign Service celebrated 74 years of its existence.
•Hence both statements are correct.