1. Which of the following statements about the Union government’s stand on the use of pesticide Endosulphan is/are correct?
I. The pesticide is hazardous to human health and the ban on its use should continue
II. The pesticide is hazardous to human health only when it is sprayed aerially
III. The government has asked the Supreme Court to lift the ban on use of Endosulphan
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 1:
Maintaining that Endosulfan is unlikely to cause any public health concern or hazard, the Centre on August 2, 2011 urged the Supreme Court to lift the ban imposed on its production and sale in May this year. In its response to a petition filed by the Democratic Youth Federation of India, the Centre said that long-term use of the pesticide was unlikely to present public health concern. The Centre made it clear that Endosulfan was not the reason behind health problems in Kasaragod in Kerala. The tragedy in Kasaragod was due to aerial spraying of Endosulfan. The Centre said: “Studies by the World Health Organisation in 2006 had given a clean chit to the pesticide.”
2. Which of the following will no longer be considered for Padma Awards according to decision announced by the government in August 2011?
a) Foreigners
b) Bureaucrats
c) Sportspersons
d) Businessmen
e) All the above
Answer 2:
The government has decided not to confer Padma Awards on serving bureaucrats, Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran informed the Lok Sabha on August 2, 2011.
3. A government committee set up to review the functioning of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) submitted its report in August 2011. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. ICSSR is fully funded by the Union HRD Ministry
II. Sukhadeo Thorat is the Chairperson of ICSSR
III. The committee has called for increasing the allocation of funds for ICSSR
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 3:
A government committee set up to review the functioning of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has recommended some measure of financial autonomy and major changes in the governance pattern. The report says that social science research remains extremely under-funded in India, compared to research in science and technology. The committee was constituted by the Government in September 2010 to review the functioning of the Council (in the last five years) as well as the research institutes funded by ICSSR for promoting social science research. Funding for ICSSR is quite meagre when compared to funding received by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research. “This clearly shows that compared to the natural and medical sciences, the research support to social sciences is extremely low” says the report unveiled on August 4, 2011. The committee comprised Deepak Nayyar, Bakul Dholakia, and Kirit S. Parikh – all academics – with Krishnendu Ghosh Dastidar as member-secretary. The ICSSR was set up in 1969 as the apex body for social science research. It was envisaged to be a premier body for promoting social science research, funded by the Government, with the research agenda decided primarily by social scientists themselves. Sukhadeo Thorat was appointed ICSSR Chairperson for three years from April 1, 2011. The ICSSR is fully funded by the Human Resource Development Ministry.
4. Shahara Khatoon is Bangladesh counterpart of which Indian Minister?
a) A. K. Antony
b) Pranab Mukherjee
c) P. Chidambaram
d) S. M. Krishna
e) Anand Sharma
Answer 4:
Bangladesh and India have signed an important border management agreement to reduce incidents of killings and crime along the common frontier. The border guards of the two countries would exchange information on vulnerable areas to ensure joint patrolling in a coordinated manner. The Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) was signed in the presence of Home Minister P. Chidambaram and his Bangladesh counterpart Shahara Khatoon in Dhaka on July 30, 2011. The objective is to further enhance the quality of border management. The deal was signed by Maj. Gen. Anwar Hussain, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Raman Srivastava, Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF).
5. Chamal Rajapaksa came on an official visit to India in August 2011. He is the _______ of Sri Lanka.
a) Defence Minister
b) Trade & Commerce Minister
c) Chief Justice of Supreme Court
d) Foreign Minister
e) Speaker of Parliament
Answer 5:
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on August 1, 2011 expressed the hope that there would be comprehensive engagement between India and Sri Lanka to find an honourable solution to the problems of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Interacting with a 10-member parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka led by its Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Kumar referred to the expanding relationship between the two countries in various spheres, including in resettlement of internally displaced persons and urged for more people-to-people contact.
6. M. V. Rak Carrier, a cargo ship that sank off the Mumbai coast on August 4, 2011, was registered in which country?
a) Panama
b) Colombia
c) Chile
d) Suriname
e) Venezuela
Answer 6:
A Panama-flagged cargo ship named M. V. Rak Carrier sank nearly 20 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast on August 4, 2011. All the 30 crew members were rescued by the Navy and the Coast Guard in a joint operation. The bulk carrier ship was on its way from Lubuk Tutung in Indonesia to Dahej in Gujarat to deliver more than 60,000 tonnes of coal.
7. Which of the following pairs of recent books on terrorism and their authors is/are correctly matched?
I. Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad – Bruce Riedel
II. Radical, Religious, and Violent: The New Economics of Terrorism – Eli Berman
III. The Convert: A Tale of Exile and Extremism – Deborah Baker
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
8. Which of the following statements about land owned by the Defence Ministry is/are correct?
I. Defence forces own more than 27 lakh acres of land
II. Approx. 12,300 acres of defence land is under encroachment across the country
III. Among states, Uttar Pradesh has the largest acreage of defence land under encroachment
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 8:
“A total of 12,326 acres of defence land is under encroachment...862 cases pertaining to encroachment are pending in different courts,” Defence Minister AK Antony said on August 1, 2011 in reply to a Lok Sabha query. With more than 17 lakh acres land under them, the defence forces are one of the largest owners of land in the country. As per the state-wise data, 3,080 acres land is under encroachment in Uttar Pradesh followed by 1,491 acres in Madhya Pradesh. The Defence Minister said the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) has initiated a programme for computerisation of defence land registration.
9. Which of the following statements about steps being taken by the Army to meet shortage of officers is/are correct?
I. Re-employment of retired officers
II. Higher tenure for Short Service Commission (SSC) officers
III. Faster promotions for SSC officers
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 9:
The government has allowed a limited re-employment of retired Brigadiers has been allowed in staff and other positions to meet shortage of officers in the armed forces. “The government has allowed re-employment of retired Brigadiers against some staff, instructional and other positions. The number of re-employed retired Brigadiers is limited to a maximum 10 per cent of the authorised strength of re-employed officers,” Defence Minister A. K. Antony informed Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2011 in reply to a question on shortage of officers in armed forces. The minister said the government is taking steps to meet the shortage of 11,137 officers in the Army. All officers including those in Short Service Commission (SSC) are now eligible to hold substantive rank of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel after two, six and 13 years of reckonable service respectively. The tenure of SSC officers has been increased from 10 to 14 years and a total number of 750 posts of Lt Colonel have been upgraded to Colonel-level.
10. August 1, 2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the launch of the first train service of _________.
a) Southern Railway
b) Central Railway
c) Eastern Railway
d) Western Railway
e) Northern Railway
Answer 10:
The romance of the rail journey has been brought out in a compendium launched to mark the sesquicentenary of Southern Railway. The compendium, unveiled on August 1, 2011, marks the 150th anniversary of the maiden run of Southern Railway’s first train service from “Negapatam’ (Nagapattinam) to Tanjore. Published by the Railway Heritage Centre in Tiruchi, the “Marvels of The South Indian Railway” was conceptualised by S. Subramhanyan, DRM, Tiruchi Division, Southern Railway.
I. The pesticide is hazardous to human health and the ban on its use should continue
II. The pesticide is hazardous to human health only when it is sprayed aerially
III. The government has asked the Supreme Court to lift the ban on use of Endosulphan
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 1:
Maintaining that Endosulfan is unlikely to cause any public health concern or hazard, the Centre on August 2, 2011 urged the Supreme Court to lift the ban imposed on its production and sale in May this year. In its response to a petition filed by the Democratic Youth Federation of India, the Centre said that long-term use of the pesticide was unlikely to present public health concern. The Centre made it clear that Endosulfan was not the reason behind health problems in Kasaragod in Kerala. The tragedy in Kasaragod was due to aerial spraying of Endosulfan. The Centre said: “Studies by the World Health Organisation in 2006 had given a clean chit to the pesticide.”
2. Which of the following will no longer be considered for Padma Awards according to decision announced by the government in August 2011?
a) Foreigners
b) Bureaucrats
c) Sportspersons
d) Businessmen
e) All the above
Answer 2:
The government has decided not to confer Padma Awards on serving bureaucrats, Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran informed the Lok Sabha on August 2, 2011.
3. A government committee set up to review the functioning of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) submitted its report in August 2011. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
I. ICSSR is fully funded by the Union HRD Ministry
II. Sukhadeo Thorat is the Chairperson of ICSSR
III. The committee has called for increasing the allocation of funds for ICSSR
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 3:
A government committee set up to review the functioning of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) has recommended some measure of financial autonomy and major changes in the governance pattern. The report says that social science research remains extremely under-funded in India, compared to research in science and technology. The committee was constituted by the Government in September 2010 to review the functioning of the Council (in the last five years) as well as the research institutes funded by ICSSR for promoting social science research. Funding for ICSSR is quite meagre when compared to funding received by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Indian Council of Medical Research. “This clearly shows that compared to the natural and medical sciences, the research support to social sciences is extremely low” says the report unveiled on August 4, 2011. The committee comprised Deepak Nayyar, Bakul Dholakia, and Kirit S. Parikh – all academics – with Krishnendu Ghosh Dastidar as member-secretary. The ICSSR was set up in 1969 as the apex body for social science research. It was envisaged to be a premier body for promoting social science research, funded by the Government, with the research agenda decided primarily by social scientists themselves. Sukhadeo Thorat was appointed ICSSR Chairperson for three years from April 1, 2011. The ICSSR is fully funded by the Human Resource Development Ministry.
4. Shahara Khatoon is Bangladesh counterpart of which Indian Minister?
a) A. K. Antony
b) Pranab Mukherjee
c) P. Chidambaram
d) S. M. Krishna
e) Anand Sharma
Answer 4:
Bangladesh and India have signed an important border management agreement to reduce incidents of killings and crime along the common frontier. The border guards of the two countries would exchange information on vulnerable areas to ensure joint patrolling in a coordinated manner. The Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP) was signed in the presence of Home Minister P. Chidambaram and his Bangladesh counterpart Shahara Khatoon in Dhaka on July 30, 2011. The objective is to further enhance the quality of border management. The deal was signed by Maj. Gen. Anwar Hussain, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Raman Srivastava, Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF).
5. Chamal Rajapaksa came on an official visit to India in August 2011. He is the _______ of Sri Lanka.
a) Defence Minister
b) Trade & Commerce Minister
c) Chief Justice of Supreme Court
d) Foreign Minister
e) Speaker of Parliament
Answer 5:
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on August 1, 2011 expressed the hope that there would be comprehensive engagement between India and Sri Lanka to find an honourable solution to the problems of the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Interacting with a 10-member parliamentary delegation from Sri Lanka led by its Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, Kumar referred to the expanding relationship between the two countries in various spheres, including in resettlement of internally displaced persons and urged for more people-to-people contact.
6. M. V. Rak Carrier, a cargo ship that sank off the Mumbai coast on August 4, 2011, was registered in which country?
a) Panama
b) Colombia
c) Chile
d) Suriname
e) Venezuela
Answer 6:
A Panama-flagged cargo ship named M. V. Rak Carrier sank nearly 20 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast on August 4, 2011. All the 30 crew members were rescued by the Navy and the Coast Guard in a joint operation. The bulk carrier ship was on its way from Lubuk Tutung in Indonesia to Dahej in Gujarat to deliver more than 60,000 tonnes of coal.
7. Which of the following pairs of recent books on terrorism and their authors is/are correctly matched?
I. Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America and the Future of Global Jihad – Bruce Riedel
II. Radical, Religious, and Violent: The New Economics of Terrorism – Eli Berman
III. The Convert: A Tale of Exile and Extremism – Deborah Baker
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
8. Which of the following statements about land owned by the Defence Ministry is/are correct?
I. Defence forces own more than 27 lakh acres of land
II. Approx. 12,300 acres of defence land is under encroachment across the country
III. Among states, Uttar Pradesh has the largest acreage of defence land under encroachment
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 8:
“A total of 12,326 acres of defence land is under encroachment...862 cases pertaining to encroachment are pending in different courts,” Defence Minister AK Antony said on August 1, 2011 in reply to a Lok Sabha query. With more than 17 lakh acres land under them, the defence forces are one of the largest owners of land in the country. As per the state-wise data, 3,080 acres land is under encroachment in Uttar Pradesh followed by 1,491 acres in Madhya Pradesh. The Defence Minister said the Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) has initiated a programme for computerisation of defence land registration.
9. Which of the following statements about steps being taken by the Army to meet shortage of officers is/are correct?
I. Re-employment of retired officers
II. Higher tenure for Short Service Commission (SSC) officers
III. Faster promotions for SSC officers
a) I only
b) I and II only
c) II only
d) II and III only
e) I, II and III
Answer 9:
The government has allowed a limited re-employment of retired Brigadiers has been allowed in staff and other positions to meet shortage of officers in the armed forces. “The government has allowed re-employment of retired Brigadiers against some staff, instructional and other positions. The number of re-employed retired Brigadiers is limited to a maximum 10 per cent of the authorised strength of re-employed officers,” Defence Minister A. K. Antony informed Rajya Sabha on August 3, 2011 in reply to a question on shortage of officers in armed forces. The minister said the government is taking steps to meet the shortage of 11,137 officers in the Army. All officers including those in Short Service Commission (SSC) are now eligible to hold substantive rank of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel after two, six and 13 years of reckonable service respectively. The tenure of SSC officers has been increased from 10 to 14 years and a total number of 750 posts of Lt Colonel have been upgraded to Colonel-level.
10. August 1, 2011 marked the 150th anniversary of the launch of the first train service of _________.
a) Southern Railway
b) Central Railway
c) Eastern Railway
d) Western Railway
e) Northern Railway
Answer 10:
The romance of the rail journey has been brought out in a compendium launched to mark the sesquicentenary of Southern Railway. The compendium, unveiled on August 1, 2011, marks the 150th anniversary of the maiden run of Southern Railway’s first train service from “Negapatam’ (Nagapattinam) to Tanjore. Published by the Railway Heritage Centre in Tiruchi, the “Marvels of The South Indian Railway” was conceptualised by S. Subramhanyan, DRM, Tiruchi Division, Southern Railway.
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