ENGLISH QUIZ 20.08.2020

1.The Madhya Pradesh state government has announced to name Gwalior-Chambal Expressway after who among the following?

A. Atal Bihari Vajpayee

B. Sushma Swaraj

C. Arun Jaitley

D. Uma Bharti

2.Who among the following has been appointed as the director-general of the Border Security Force (BSF)?

A. Kaushik khona

B. Rakesh Asthana

C. Dinesh K. Tripathi

D. Pramod Bhasin

3.Who resigned from the election commissioner?

A. Kaushik khona

B. Rakesh Asthana

C. Ashok lavasa

D. Dinesh K. Tripathi

4.World Humanitarian Day is observed every year on which date?

A. 10 August

B. 17 August

C. 18 August

D. 19 August

5.Who among the following has been appointed as Meghalaya Governor?

A. Satya Pal Malik

B. Pradeep Kumar Joshi

C. Arvind Joshi

D. Pradeep Saxena

6.Renowned personality Pandit Jasraj passed away recently, he was a veteran _____.

A. Flute player

B. Classical singer

C. Veena player

D. Kathak dancer

7.Consider the following statements:

1.The recent revival of the demand for two autonomous councils in Arunachal Pradesh has led to the           call for bringing the entire Arunachal Pradesh under the ambit of the 6th Schedule or Article 351              (A) of the Constitution.

2.The Sixth Schedule includes 10 autonomous district councils in 4 north eastern states.

Which of the above statement/statements are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

8.Consider the following statements:

1.The Kerala government has taken control of Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Church at                     Mulanthuruthy in Ernakulam district, Kerala.

2.The 500-year-old Marthaman Jacobite, built in the 12th century, has long been the subject of                     controversy between the Jacobite and Orthodox groups over Syrian Cathedral Church.

3.It is one of the ancient Churches in Kerala.

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

ANSWERS:-

Answer: 1)A

Explanation

On the 2nd death anniversary of the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced that the Gwalior-Chambal Expressway will be named Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Chambal Progressway.

About Gwalior-Chambal Expressway:

• The Gwalior Chambal Expressway is a 6 lane expressway connecting Madhya Pradesh with Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, through the ravines of Chambal region.
• The expressway will go parallel to the Chambal river via Shivpuri, Bhind, Morena to Kota (Rajasthan).

Answer: 2)B

Explanation

Rakesh Asthana (IPS Officer 1984 batch) has been appointed as the Director General of Border Security Force (BSF). S S Deswal was handed additional charge as DG of BSF since March 2020. Rakesh Asthana will hold the office till 31st July 2021. He is presently serving as Director General of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, BCAS along with additional charge of DG, Narcotics Control Bureau.

He also served as the Special Director at the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Other Appointments:

• The Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) has stated that 1986 batch IPS officer, V S K Kaumudi, who is currently the director-general of BPRD (Bureau of police research and development) has been appointed as special secretary (internal security) or SS(IS) in the ministry of home affairs.
• Another 1986 batch IPS officer, Jawed Akhtar has been appointed as DG Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard.

Answer: 3)C

Explanation

Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa resigned  to take up the position of vice-president at Asian Development Bank next month. Lavasa, who would have retired as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) in October 2022, would be the second election commissioner to step down from the poll panel before the completion of his term.

Ashok Lavasa is a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Haryana cadre (Batch 1980) and assumed charge as the Election Commissioner of India on 23rd January, 2018. He is renowned for his contribution to good governance and policy reform initiatives. He has also awarded with the International Alumnus Impact Award in 2019 from Southern Cross University, Australia.

Chief Election Commissioner of India: Sunil Arora.

President of Asian Development Bank: Masatsugu Asakawa.

Answer: 4)D

Explanation

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is held every year on August 19.The day pays tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world.Thousands of men and women all around the world put their lives in danger working in Humanitarian causes and do it selflessly, not for ulterior selfish motives.This year WHD comes as the world continues to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.On 19 August 2003, a bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq took place in which 22 people were killed brutally and among these ones was the chief humanitarian in Iraq.In 2009, the UN General Assembly announced this day as World Humanitarian Day in remembrance of the bomb attack.

Answer: 5)A

Explanation

Goa Governor Satya Pal Malik has been appointed as the new Governor of Meghalaya, a statement from Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Satya Pal Malik

• Malik served as the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in 2018-19. It was during his tenure that the constitutional decision to abrogate Article 370 was implemented.
• He was elected as Member of Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh in 1974.
• He was elected as Rajya Sabha representative in 1980-86. He served as Governor of Bihar in 2017-18.
• In 2018, he was given the additional charge to serve as Governor of Odisha.

Governor

• The governor appointment, powers and his office holdings are discussed in Article 153 to Article 162 in Indian constitution. Governor is the constitutional head of the state.
• He has “Dual Capacity”, that is, as the constitutional head of the state and also the representative of the centre.

For a person to become governor, he should be

• A citizen of India
• He should not be a member of parliament or state legislature
• He should not hold office of profit
• He should have attained the age of 35 years

Termination of the Governor

The term of a Governor is for five years. However, he shall be terminated for following reasons

• He shall be dismissed by the president on advice of the council of ministers
• He shall be dismissed by the President if his acts are upheld as unconstitutional or malafide
• His term terminates if he resigns addressing to the President.

Answer: 6)B

Explanation

Legendary Indian classical vocalists, Pandit Jasraj (90 years) passed away in New Jersey, US due to cardiac arrest. He belongs to Mewati Gharanaa and his musical career spanned over eight decades.

About Pandit Jasraj

• Pandit Jasraj was born on 28 January 1930 in Hisar (Haryana). His father Pandit Motiram ji was also a musician in the Mewat Gharana.
• He got his initial training from his father and after that he took music lessons from Maharana Jaywant Singh Vaghela of Mewati Gharana and Swami Vallabhadas of Agra.
• He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in the year 2000.
• Pandit Jasraj gave a new height to Indian classical music. Pandit Jasraj played an important role in giving Indian classical music an important place on the world stage.
• Not only this, he also sang songs in the Hindi film industry.
• Jasraj’s father himself was also a distinguished musician of the Mewati Gharana. Pandit Jasraj was famous worldwide for his singing.
• In the US, he gave many presentations. Pandit Jasraj sang the first song for Bollywood, “Vandana Karo” in the 1966 film ‘Girl Shehyadri Ki’, which was a hymn.

Awards

• Jasraj, who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (in 2000), the country’s second highest civilian honor, received the Padma Shri in 1975.
• Pandit Jasraj was brought home by the sweet praises of Lord Krishna composed by Shri Vallabhacharya Ji from door to door.
• People in his name were praised by this Madhurashtakam sung in his voice.

The planet is named after Pandit Jasraj

• In the year 2019, NASA named a 13-year-old discovered planet after Pandit Jasraj.
• The planet was discovered by scientists from NASA and the International Astronomical Union.
• The planet was named after Pandit Jasraj’s date of birth.
• His date of birth is 28/01/1930 and the planet’s number was 300128.
• The full name of the planet was ‘Minor Planet’ 2006 VP 32 (Number 300128).
• While naming this planet, NASA had said that Pandit Jasraj planet is orbiting the Sun in our solar system, between Guru and Mars.

Answer: 7)A      

Explanation

The recent revival of the demand for two autonomous councils in Arunachal Pradesh has led to the call for bringing the entire Arunachal Pradesh under the ambit of the 6th Schedule or Article 371 (A) of the Constitution.

What is the issue?

• The regions under the Autonomous councils of Arunachal Pradesh are currently under the Fifth Schedule of Indian Constitution.
• This does not provide special rights for the indigenous communities as that of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• The autonomous councils in the sates are demanding to include Arunachal under the sixth schedule, to make the Arunachalees the owners of Natural resources rather than being protectors. Also, the Sixth Schedule will enable legitimate ownership making the indigenous communities self sufficient.

Sixth Schedule

The Sixth Schedule includes 10 autonomous district councils in 4 north eastern states. They are Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Tripura. It seeks to safeguard the rights of the tribal population by forming Autonomous District Councils.

The Article 244 and Article 275 provide these special provisions.

Key provisions:

1. The governor is empowered to organise and re-organise the autonomous districts.If there are different tribes in an autonomous district, the governor can divide the district into several autonomous regions.
2. Composition: Each autonomous district has a district council consisting of 30 members, of whom four are nominated by the governor and the remaining 26 are elected on the basis of adult franchise.
3. Term: The elected members hold office for a term of five years (unless the council is dissolved earlier) and nominated members hold office during the pleasure of the governor.
4. Each autonomous region also has a separate regional council.
5. Powers of councils: The district and regional councils administer the areas under their jurisdiction. They can make laws on certain specified matters like land, forests, canal water, shifting cultivation, village administration, inheritance of property, marriage and divorce, social customs and so on. But all such laws require the assent of the governor.
6. Village councils: The district and regional councils within their territorial jurisdictions can constitute village councils or courts for trial of suits and cases between the tribes. They hear appeals from them. The jurisdiction of high court over these suits and cases is specified by the governor.
7. Powers and functions: The district council can establish, construct or manage primary schools, dispensaries, markets, ferries, fisheries, roads and so on in the district. It can also make regulations for the control of money lending and trading by non-tribals. But, such regulations require the assent of the governor. The district and regional councils are empowered to assess and collect land revenue and to impose certain specified taxes.

Composition of Autonomous Councils:

• Each autonomous district and regional council consists of not more than 30 members, of which four are nominated by the governor and the rest via elections. All of them remain in power for a term of five years.
• However, the Bodoland Territorial Council is an exception as it can constitute up to 46 members.

Article 371 A:

The Acts of Parliament relating to the following matters would not apply to Nagaland unless decided by the State Legislative Assembly:

1. Religious or social practices of the Nagas.
2. Naga customary law and procedure.
3. Administration of civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law.
4. Ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

Answer: 8)B

Explanation

Recently, the Kerala government has taken control of Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Church at Mulanthuruthy in Ernakulam district, Kerala.The 800-year-old Marthaman Jacobite, built in the 12th century, has long been the subject of controversy between the Jacobite and Orthodox groups over Syrian Cathedral Church. Presently the Jacobite Group was operating this church. As per the decision given by the Supreme Court on 3 July 2017, this church is to be given to the Orthodox Group and the Kerala Government has taken this action as per the order of the Supreme Court.

Marthoman Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Church

• It was founded and established in the 11th Century A.D, under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch, and the Church was consecrated on 3rd Karkkidakkam (July),in between 1100-1125 A.D.
• Church was modified in the 16th Century A.D. The carvings on the main door of the Church, made of granite, on which is inscribed in Syrian script, read as ʹʹthe door of the Mar Thoman Church was re-erected on 9th Thulam 1575 A.D.ʹʹ
• It is one of the ancient Churches in Kerala.
• The church is a fine example of Gothic architecture. The carvings, sculptures, symbolic icons and lovely wall paintings, are a blend of Indian, West-Asian and European architecture.
• The Althar of the Church with wooden carvings and paintings of unique design, are reminiscent of the Church at Jerusalem.

Gothic Architecture

• It is a European style of architecture popular in the 12th-16th century.
• Origin: This architecture has its roots in France and England.
• Features: Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses.
• The Britishers merged some Indian features of architecture to the Gothic architecture, which resulted in the Indo-Gothic style of architecture.

Examples of Indo-Gothic style of architecture: Madras High Court, Victoria Memorial, The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (previously Victoria Terminus) etc.

Its features are as follows:

1. Pointed Arches
2. Rib Vault
3. Flying Buttresses
4. Columns and Piers
5. Towers and Spiers