ENGLISH QUIZ 30.01.2020

1. Which of the following words has been named as the Oxford Hindi Word of the Year for 2019?

A. Samvidhaan

B. Sawad

C. Sachar

D. Sanbodhan

2. Which state government has launched a virtual police station where people can lodge complaints from their respective districts without visiting Police Station?

A. Maharashtra

B. Odisha

C. Rajasthan

D. Punjab

3. Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdelaziz Al Thani has been appointed as new Prime Minister of which country?

A. United Arab Emirates

B. Saudi Arab

C. Qatar

D. Lebanon

4. Famous sportsperson and Arjuna Awardee Sunita Chandra passed away recently, she is associated with which sports?

A. Cricket

B. Badminton

C. Football

D. Hockey

5. The Indian Navy launched Operation Vanilla in the Southern Indian Ocean to assist the people of which country who were affected by Cyclone Diane?

A. Madagascar

B. Somalia

C. Suriname

D. Maldives

6. As per the World Social Report 2020, India successfully managed to use digital platforms to reduce disparities among population groups. Which of the following publishes the report?

A. UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

B. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Welfare

C. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

D. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

7. Which state’s tableau was awarded the first prize in the states category in the 71st Republic Day Parade?

A. Uttar Pradesh

B. Tripura

C. Assam

D. Gujarat

8. Which country has become the second largest market for smartphones in the world, leaving America behind?

A. China

B. Japan

C. Indonesia

D. India

9. Which country’s citizens are not allowed in Saudi Arabia?

A. Israel

B. United Arab Emirates

C. Lebanon

D. Qatar

10. Which country’s Prime Minister Marjan Sarek resigns?

A. United Arab Emirates

B. Slovenian

C. Lebanon

D. Qatar

11. Consider the following statements:

1. Govt Signs ‘Historic’ Peace Accord with NDFB, ABSU to Resolve Assam’s Decades-old Bodo Issue.

2. The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and the Government of India have signed the first accord in 1983.

Which of the above statement/statements are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

12. Consider the following statements related to laden airline:

1. Govt invites bids to sell 100% stake in debt-laden airline.

2. Air India is currently incurring a daily loss of about Rs 20-35 crore.

3. The government released a document inviting expressions of interest in Air India on January 27, which states that it is willing to sell its full stake in the carrier.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 are correct

B. 1 and 3 are correct

C. 2 and 3 are correct

D. All of the above

13. Consider the following statements:

1. Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal has recently issued an order giving the Police Commissioner .

2. The NSA was described as “An Act to provide for preventive detention in certain cases and for matters connected therewith”.

Which of the above statement/statements are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

14. Consider the following statements related to 4th state to pass anti-CAA resolution:

1. Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal becomes 4th state to pass anti-CAA resolution.

2. The Kerala government had challenged the Citizenship Amendment Act and other rules, saying that this law violates the fundamental rights under Articles 14, 21 and 25 and that the law is unfair and irrational.

3. Punjab government also passed the House against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Punjab government, in this proposal, termed the Citizenship Amendment Act as unconstitutional and demanded that this law should be scrapped.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 are correct

B. 1 and 3 are correct

C. 2 and 3 are correct

D. All of the above

15. Consider the following statements related to Paradip Port:

1. An inter-ministerial panel has approved a Ministry of Shipping proposal for deepening and optimisation of inner harbour facilities of the Paradip Port Trust.

2. India’s 85% of trading is done through maritime transport.

Which of the above statement/statements are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

ANSWERS:-

Answer: 1) A 

Explanation

Oxford University Press (OUP) has named ‘Samvidhaan’ (Constitution) in the Oxford Hindi Word -2019. OUP received widespread attention in the year which was witness to the spirit of the Indian Constitution being embraced across segments of the society. The Oxford Hindi Word of the Year is a word or expression that has attracted a great deal of attention and reflects the ethos, mood, or preoccupations of the past year.

Oxford

• Oxford is the main city of Oxfordshire, England.
• Here is the world-famous Oxford University, which is the oldest English university here.
• It is located in the narrow plain between the River Thames and its tributary Charwell, 63 miles and 51 miles respectively by rail and roadways in a northwest west direction from London.
• The 10 miles (16 km) area along the banks of the River Thames is called The Isis.
• The area is 87.85 sq km.

Answer: 2) B  

Explanation

AIR PICS In Odisha, the State Government has launched a virtual police station where people can lodge complaints from their respective districts regarding theft of their vehicles without visiting Police Station. The e-police station will function from State Crime Records Bureau in Bhubaneswar. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the facility along with road accident case documents module and medico legal opinion system projects of Odisha Police. These are the initiatives to effectively reduce the necessity of citizens to visit Police Stations.

Utkal Divas or Odisha Day falls every year on 01st April.

CM of Odisha: Naveen Patnaik;

Governor of Odisha: Ganeshi Lal.

Answer: 3) C 

Explanation

Qatar’s Aamir (Ruler) Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani appointed trusted adviser Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani as prime minister of the country. Sheikh Khalid is a close associate of Qatar’s ruler. He has been chosen for the influential role to ensure that the emir’s writ runs throughout the Gulf State’s administration. He was sworn in during a ceremony at the Diwan in downtown Doha.

Qatar

• Qatar is a small peninsula located on the north eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
• To the south of it is Saudi Arabia, while the remaining three are the Persian Gulf. Qatar, as an oil rich nation, is the second (per capita gross ferrule product) rich country in the world.
• In 1783, the Al Khalif dynasty of Kuwait began to rule here. Subsequently it remained under Turkey. After the First World War it remained under the protection of Britain.
• After independence in 1971, the rule of Khalifa bin Hamad started in 1972.

Answer: 4) D

Explanation

The former captain of Indian women’s hockey team Sunita Chandra passed away in her residence in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. The 76-year-old Hockey player had also received the prestigious Arjuna award. She represented the country at the time when women’s Hockey in the country was not motivated or was not encouraged as much as other sports or even the men’s hockey. The country and the sports of hockey will always be indebted to her contribution at such difficult times. Her efforts played a key role in inspiration to the next generation of players which led the Indian woman’s hockey team to finish at the fourth place in the 1974 World Cup.She had played for the Indian women’s hockey team from 1956 to 1966 and also served as the captain of the team from 1963 to 1966.

Answer: 5) A

Explanation

The Indian Navy launched “Operation Vanilla” in the Southern Indian Ocean to assist the population of Madagascar that were affected by Cyclone Diane. The Indian Navy ship Airavat has been deployed in the relief mission. The operation will provide succour to the flood-affected population. The ship will also set up a medical camp and offer water, food and other essential relief materials.

Madagascar

• Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean.
• It is the fourth largest island in the world.
• India has been trying to include Madagascar and Comoros in its Indian Ocean Vision for their strategic location.
• On the other hand, Seychelles and Mauritius are part of Indian Ocean Region division.
• All the four islands Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar and Comoros are members of African Union and Indian Ocean Commission.

Answer: 6) B

Explanation

The World Social Report 2020, published by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, notes how India harnessed the potential of digital technologies for more inclusive development. In the report, the UN said the experience of India suggests that mobile digital technologies need to be complemented by other technologies to reduce inequality in access to financial services.

Answer: 7) C

Explanation

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh gave away Best Tableaux awards for Republic Day Parade, 2020 in New Delhi. Assam’s tableau has been chosen as the best tableau, followed by Odisha and Uttar Pradesh who were tied for the second position. Odisha’s tableau depicted Lord Lingaraja’s Rukuna Rath Yatra whereas the tableau of UP showcased the state’s cultural and religious heritage. Best among the Ministries and Departments- NDRF and Jal Shakti Mission.

Answer: 8) D

Explanation

India has become a key market for many companies in different domains. There are a lot of opportunities for growth here and the companies see that clearly. As for the smartphone market, we’ve seen significant growth over the years. India has left the US behind to become the world’s second-largest smartphone market, according to a recent counterpoint report. That’s right, India is now a bigger market than the US, which is pretty incredible. More than 158 million smartphones were delivered in the US in 2019, the study reports. That is a considerably greater amount than 145 million delivered in 2018. The sudden growth is due in large part to the rise of Chinese producers.

Answer: 9) A

Explanation

Saudi Arabia has announced that Israeli citizens are not allowed to visit the kingdom, home to Islam’s holiest sites. This decision comes after Israel’s Interior Ministry said Israeli citizens (Muslims and Jews) have the right to travel to Saudi Arabia for religious and business visits. Like most Arab countries, Saudi Arabia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. Israel has peace deals with only two Arab countries Jordan and Egypt.

Answer: 10) B

Explanation

Slovenian Prime Minister Marjan Sarec (youngest-ever PM) has announced a step-down and called for fresh elections. Earlier, he is best known as a comedian and political satirist before he launched himself as an anti-establishment politician. The Prime Minister of Slovenia is the head of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia.

Answer: 11) A

Explanation

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Assam government and the Bodo groups on Monday signed an agreement to redraw and rename the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) in Assam, currently spread over four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri.

History of Bodo Accord

• The government of India has been signed three agreements with Bodo tribes so far for 27 years. Several clashes between extremists groups of Assam and the government have claimed hundreds of lives.
• The All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) and the Government of India have signed the first accord in 1993. This agreement resulted to the creation of a Bodoland Autonomous Council with some political powers.
• The second Bodo accord was signed in 2003 between Government of India and extremist group Bodo Liberation Tigers (BLT).
• The second agreement resulted to the formation of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) with four districts – Udalguri, Chirang, Baska and Kokrajhar. These areas are commonly called Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD).

What is Bodoland Movement?

• The Bodo people are the largest tribe of Assam settled in the northern part of the Brahmaputra river valley. These tribes claimed themselves as natives of the Assam. According to an estimate, the Bodo tribe is about 28 percent of Assam’s population.
• The Bodo tribe has been complaining that their land in Assam was occupied by other cultures and communities with different identities.
• In 1966 the Bodo tribals formed the Plains Tribal Council of Assam (PTCA) and demanded a separate union territory Udayachal.
• The Bodo movement started witnessing violence post-1980s.
• Now, this movement divided into three streams.
• The first group NDFB is demanding for a separate state for itself. The second group Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) is demanding greater autonomy and targeted non-Bodo groups. The third group All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) is looking for more political powers and involvement in state administration.

Highlights of Bodo Accord

• The Minister of Home Affairs, Amit Shah, said on this occasion that the Central Government, Assam Government and representatives of Bodo have signed this historic agreement.
• He said that this agreement will ensure the bright future of the people of Assam as well as the Bodo tribe.
• He also said that the 1,550 Bodo members will surrender on January 30, 2020, with 130 weapons.
• He ensured all the representatives that all the promises will be fulfilled in a time-bound manner.
• Bodo tribes will get political and economic benefits after this agreement. The agreement will provide some political rights and some economic packages to the community.
• According to the political pundits, the agreement will ensure the safety of Bodo language, cultural and regional matters.

Answer: 12) B

Explanation

The government announced sale of 100 per cent stake in debt-laden Air India as it issued the preliminary bid document for the strategic disinvestment with the deadline for submitting expression of interest set as March 17.

Air India debt

• Air India has a debt of thousands of crores of rupees. It also includes long-term loans for the purchase of aircraft and working capital.
• Air India is currently incurring a daily loss of about Rs 20-25 crore.
• Air India has been in deficit for a long time. There was a loss of Rs 8,556.35 crore in the financial year 2018-19. The airline has a debt of over Rs 50,000 crore.
• Therefore, the Central Government wants to sell Air India.

Air India disinvestment: Key Highlights

• The government released a document inviting expressions of interest in Air India on January 27, which states that it is willing to sell its full stake in the carrier.
• The document has set March 17 as the deadline for the submissions of the expressions of interest.
• The document states that the bidder would have to agree to assume roughly $3.26 billion in debt, along with other liabilities, as per a Reuters report.
• All the attention currently is on the portion of the airline’s debt that will be taken off its books and qualification for the prospective bidders.
• The bidders will have to respond to the Expression of Interest (EoI) by March 17, 2020. Some of the potential bidders include Tata Group, Hindujas, IndiGo, SpiceJet and a few private equity firms.
• The government document limits the scope of any foreign bidders interested in the asset, saying that substantial ownership and effective control of Air India would have to remain with an Indian entity following the sale.
• However, foreign airlines could join hands with local players and place a joint bid.

Air India sell-off bid 2018

• In 2018, the Union Government had attempted to sell off its 76 percent stake in the national carrier.
• However, the prospective bidders found the terms of sale to be too burdensome as they would have had to assume roughly $5.1 billion of the airline’s debt

Answer: 13) C

Explanation

Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal has recently issued an order giving the Police Commissioner the power to detain individuals under the tough National Security Act (NSA), 1980.

About The National Security Act, 1980

• The NSA was described as “An Act to provide for preventive detention in certain cases and for matters connected therewith”.
• The Act has been widely criticised as being “draconian” because of the powers of preventive detention that it gives to the government.
• The detention under the NSA can extend up to 12 months — or even for longer if the government is able to produce more evidence against the detainee.

Bengal Regulation III of 1818

• The Bengal Regulation III of 1818 was enacted to empower the government to arrest anyone for defence or maintenance of public order without giving the person recourse to judicial proceedings.

The Rowlatt Acts of 1919

• The British government enacted the Rowlatt Acts of 1919 that allowed confinement of a suspect without trial.

Answer: 14) D

Explanation

West Bengal on Monday became the fourth opposition-ruled state to pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in its assembly, after Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Party (TMC) controls more than two-thirds of the seats in the 294-member House but faces a major test of its popularity in the 2021 state election, which will pit it against a BJP buoyed by its performance in last year’s general election.

What did the governments of Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan say on this law?

• The Kerala government had challenged the Citizenship Amendment Act and other rules, saying that this law violates the fundamental rights under Articles 14, 21 and 25 and that the law is unfair and irrational.
• Punjab government also passed the House against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The Punjab government, in this proposal, termed the Citizenship Amendment Act as unconstitutional and demanded that this law should be scrapped.
• The Rajasthan government passed a resolution in the Legislative Assembly against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The government said in the resolution that the purpose of the recently passed Citizenship Amendment Act in Parliament is to isolate illegal migrants on the basis of religion.

Background

• The Citizenship Amendment Act allows non-Muslim illegal migrants who came to India on or before December 31, 2014 to escape religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to gain Indian citizenship. The implementation of the law has led to protests across the nation.
• The main aim behind the introduction of the law is to help the religious minorities facing persecution in the Muslim-dominated neighbouring nations. However, according to the critics, the bill violates the secular fabric of the Indian constitution by discriminating on the basis of religion.

Answer: 15) A

Explanation

An inter-ministerial panel has approved a Ministry of Shipping proposal for deepening and optimisation of inner harbour facilities of the Paradip Port Trust.

About Paradip Port

• Paradip Port is a natural, deep-water port on the East coast of India in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha.
• It is situated at the confluence of the Mahanadi River and the Bay of Bengal.
• The port is administered by the Paradip Port Trust (PPT), an autonomous corporation wholly owned by the Government of India.
• India’s 95% of trading is done through maritime transport.