QUESTIONS AUGUST 2018

STA-I status has recently been granted by USA to India. Which of the statements given below are correct
in relation to STA.

1. Though being a major defence partner with USA since 2016 no major military
technologies/weapons could be acquired from US as the earlier US administration had set a
condition that India should be a partner in all the four major technology regimes out of which
India was not a part of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
2. China has been playing a key role on the international stage to deny India membership of the
Nuclear Suppliers Group which necessitated the USA to grant India the STA-I status an exception
to the general rule in 1 above.
3. STA-I is a license exemption which facilitates exports, re-exports and transfers without the need
of a transaction specific licence.
4. India is the only Asian country to be granted the STA-I status by USA.
a. 1 and 4 b. all the above c. 1, 2 and 3 4. 2, 3 and 4
Answer: c

The Fields Medal is described as the “Nobel Prize” for mathematicians and is awarded by the
International Congress of the International Mathematical Union. Identify the correct statements from
those given below pertaining to this prize.

1. The criteria for determining the recipients includes the one where the age of the person must be
less than 40 years as on 1st January of the year under consideration. This stipulation does
appreciate the work already done and the potential, and also encourages the recipient to keep
doing path-breaking research.
2. Like the Nobel Prize the Fields Medal for mathematicians is given annually.
3. The Fields Medal has been instituted in the name of John Charles Fields, a Canadian
mathematician who founded, designed and financed the medal.
4. The medal can be awarded to an individual only once. After receiving the award the individual is
ineligible to be considered again.
5. The last awardee of Indian origin was Manjul Bhargawa in 2014.
a. 1, 3, 4 and 5 b. all the above c. 1, 3 and 5 d. 3 and 5 only
Answer: a

The Government has introduced a Bill in the Parliament to restore the original provisions contained in
the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. Which of the following
statements pertaining to the introduction of the Bill given below are correct?

1. The government had to take recourse to legislative intervention as the Supreme Court refused to
change its earlier order diluting the provisions of the Act pertaining to the immediate arrest and
jail of a person acting against the interests of a member of the Scheduled caste/Scheduled Tribe.
 2. The government sought to insert three clauses after Section 18A in the SC/ST (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act to ensure that an FIR would be registered without conducting a preliminary
enquiry; no approval was required prior to the arrest; and the provisions of Section 438 of the Cr.
Pc pertaining to anticipatory bail would not apply.
a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. both 1 and 2

Answer: c

Identify the correct statements pertaining to the Supreme Court from those given below.

1. The strength of the Supreme Court is determined by Parliament which has put the current
strength at 31 including the chief justice.
2. In the court the judges sit in smaller benches, as against the “full bench” they sat in earlier,
which are referred to as a “division bench” and when five or more judges sit together in
specially constituted benches for the purpose, it is known as a “constitution bench” which
decides and settles law pertaining to the fundamental rights of the citizens of the country, and
other issues emanating from the changes in, or challenges under the Constitution.
3. The division bench and the constitution bench are constituted by the chief justice of the
Supreme Court and the distribution of cases is also determined by the chief justice. This is now
well settled that the Chief Justice of India is “master of the roster”. by virtue of a decision of the
Court in November 2017.
a. 2 and 3 b. 1 and 3 c. all the above d. only 3
Answer: c

The National Commission for Backward Classes has been provided Constitutional Status by the recently
passed 123rd Constitutional Amendment Bill. Which of the statements given below pertaining to the
history of the Backward Classes Commission are correct?

1. The right to reservation for Backward Classes in Government employment had been included by
Dr. Ambedkar in the Constitution of India which was adopted in 1950.
2. The first Commission was set up in 1953 (Kaka Kalelkar Commission) which gave its report in
1955. Thereafter the next Commission was set up after 26 years.
3. The BP Mandal Commission which gave its report in December 1980 recommending 27 per cent
reservation for OBCs in government jobs. Implementation was also immediately ordered by Mrs
Gandhi the Prime Minister in 1980.
4. The Mandal Commission’s recommendations on 27 per cent reservation in central government
jobs was only implemented by the Janata Dal government in 1990.
a. 1, 2 and 3 b. 1, 2 and 4 c. 2 and 4 d. 2 and 3
Answer: c

The central government has taken a decision to remove the requirement for foreign nationals to obtain
a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) to visit 29 islands of the Andaman group of the Andaman and Nicobar
islands. Which of the statements given below pertaining to this action are correct?

1. The need for obtaining an RAP has been lifted without any final date.
2. The Nicobar group of islands is also included in the removal of the RAP.
 3. This privilege of not obtaining RAP has not yet been extended to the citizens of Pakistan, China
and Afghanistan who would need clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
4. Tourists desirous of visiting tribal areas or national parks would require permission from the
competent authorities.
a. 1, 2 and 3 b. 3 and 4 c. 1 and 2 d. 3 only
Answer: b

From the statements pertaining to Neoface technology identify those which are correct?
1. NeoFace technology has been developed by NEC Corp of USA and will be used by the Japanese
during the Olympics in 2020.
2. The NeoFace technology will be used to monitor all accredited persons as also all visitors to all
the venues of the Tokyo Olympics.
3. The new security system is expected to prevent use of forged IDs as also reduce the waiting
time for entry by athletes by avoiding the conventional x-ray machines and visual checks by
security personnel.
a. 1 and 2 b. 1, 2 and 3 c. 2 and 3
Answer: c

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2018 has been passed by the Lok Sabha. From the statements given
below identify the correct ones pertaining to the Bill of 2018.

1. The new Bill prescribes an enhancement in the minimum sentence for the offence of rape of a
child less than 12 years old from 10 to 20 years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of death.
In the case of gang rape of a girl below 12 years the minimum punishment is now life
imprisonment and the maximum is death.
2. Repeat offenders will be punished with life imprisonment or death.
3. Since investigation normally is protracted the Bill provides for a two month period for
completion of the investigation and the filing of the charge sheet in a fast track court.
4. The accused would be allowed to apply for bail pending investigation until proved guilty.
a. 1, 2 and 3 b. 1, 2 and 4 c. 1 and 2 d. 1 and 4
Answer: a

The Ministry of Culture, Government of India has introduced a new scheme namely ‘Seva Bhoj Yojna’.
Which of the statements given below pertaining to the scheme are correct?

1. The objective of the scheme is to encourage charitable institutions to serve food, through
community kitchens without any discrimination, to the devotees/people.
2. Under the Scheme Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Central Government’s share of
Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) paid on purchase of specific raw food items shall be
reimbursed by the Government of India.
3. Those charitable/religious institutions blacklisted under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act
would also be eligible for the financial incentive as they are doing service to the people.
4. There is no time limit on up to when the scheme would run.

a. 1, 2 and 3 b. 1 and 2 c. 1, 2 and 4 d. 3 and 4

 Answer: b

From the statements, pertaining to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, given below choose the ones that are
correct.

1. He was the recipient of only one civilian award given by the government of India which was the
Bharat Ratna.
2. His birthday on 25th December is observed as “Good Governance Day”.
3. It was under his watch that a series of nuclear tests were carried out in Pokhran, catapulting
India amongst the select few nuclear powers in the world.
4. Shri Vajyapee inaugurated that Delhi-Lahore bus service by travelling in the bus to Lahore.
a. 2, 3 and 4 b. all the above c. 2 and 4
Answer: a

Repurpose Used Cooking Oil or RUCO is an initiative launched by the Food Safety and Standards Authority
of India (FSSAI) to address the requirement of biodiesel in the country. Identify the correct statements
from those given below pertaining to RUCO.

1. Used cooking oil can be used to produce biodiesel and thereby address the petroleum needs of
the country as also the problem of emissions.

2. India is one of the smallest consumers of vegetable oil in the world and therefore the potential to
generate large volumes of biodiesel is limited.

3. FSSAI has prescribed the required limits for Total Polar Compounds in cooking oil at 25 per cent
and declared that beyond that limit the oil is unfit for consumption. Any outlet using more than
the prescribed limit could be liable for legal action.

4. Some companies such as Mcdonalds have started converting used cooking oil to bio diesel in
Mumbai and Pune.

a. 1, 3 and 4 b. all the above c. 1 only d. 1 and 4 only

Answer: a

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had appointed a Bollywood actor as its brand
ambassador to create awareness on road safety. Which amongst the following actors is the brand
ambassador?

1. Salman Khan

2. Shahrukh Khan
 3. Amir Khan

4. Akshay Kumar

Answer: 4

Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the draft Compensatory
Afforestation Fund Rules, 2018. Which among the following statements pertaining to the CAMPA fund
is/are correct?

1. The CAMPA funds are estimated to be around Rs. 50,000 crores, collected for the diversion of
forest land for non-forest purposes under the Forest (Conservation) Act.
2. 80 per cent of the funds allocated to a state in a financial year would be used for capacity
building of forest personnel and for building infrastructure and paying salaries and 20 per cent
would be used for forest and wildlife management.
3. The draft rules clearly lay down the activities which would be permissible and those which
would not be allowed under CAMPA funds.
4. Under the draft rules consent of the gram sabhas is a mandatory requirement.
a. 1 and 3 b. 1 only c. 1, 2 and 3 d. 1, 3 and 4
Answer: a

The Chairperson of the National Commission for Women is?

1. Mamta Sharma
2. Lalitha Kumaramangalam
3. Rekha Sharma
4. Sharmila Tagore
Answer: 3