2020

CURRENT
AFFAIRS
WEEKLY PRACTICE QUESTIONS

15th June - 20th June

1. With reference to ‘Agenda 21’, sometimes seen in the news, consider the
following statements:
1. It is a global action plan for sustainable development.
2. It originated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in
Johannesburg in 2002.
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
Answer- (a)
Explanation:
 Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations (UN)
related to sustainable development.Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
 It was an outcome of the Earth Summit 1992.Hence, Statement 2 is
not correct.
 The number 21 refers to an agenda for the 21st century.
 Since 2015, Sustainable Development Goals are included in the Agenda
2030.

2. Which of the following microorganism is responsible for the Great

Oxidation Event?
a. Virus
b. Fungi
c. Algae
d. Prions
Answer- (c)
Explanation:
 Great Oxidation Event:
o The atmosphere of the early Earth lacked oxygen. This began to
change during what is known as the Great Oxidation Event
(GOE).
o It refers to a series of chemical changes that geologists and
geochemists have observed in rocks that are between 2.5 and 2.3
billion years old.
o These changes were the result of oxygen given off by ancient
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Communities of this bacteria
lived in shallow seawater and were preserved in rocks as structures
called stromatolites. Hence, Option (c) is correct.
 Stromatolite means ‘layered rock’. It is a rocky structure
created by the activity of colonies of single-celled bacteria,
mostly cyanobacteria.
  Oxygen first accumulated in Earth’s atmosphere at this time
and has been present ever since.

3. With reference to ‘Karst Topography’, consider the following statements:

1. Karst Topography is characterised by erosional landforms only.
2. It is formed by the action of groundwater through the processes of
solution and deposition.
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
Answer- (b)
Explanation:
Karst Topography
 Any limestone or dolomitic region showing typical landforms produced
by the action of groundwater through the processes of solution and
deposition is called Karst topography. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
 It is named after the typical topography developed in limestone rocks of
Karst region in the Balkans adjacent to Adriatic Sea.
o The name of this type of topography comes from the Karst region
in Yugoslavia, karst topography can be found all over the world.
 The karst topography is also characterised by erosional and depositional
landforms. Karst landscapes feature caves, underground streams and
sinkholes on the surface. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct.

4. Consider the following statements:

1. Protozoans are autotrophs and have holozoic nutrition.
2. Protozoans are present in the rumen or human intestine.
3. Protozoans are the single-celled prokaryotes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer- (b)
Explanation:
Protozoa
 Protozoans are the single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or
parasitic, which feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or
organic tissues and debris. Hence, Statement 1 is not correct.
 o Eukaryotes are organisms whose cells have a nucleus enclosed
within membranes, unlike prokaryotes, which have no membrane-
bound organelles.
o A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host and gets its food
from or at the expense of its host. E.g. plasmodium parasite which
causes malaria.
 Habitat: Mostly they are aerobic (with oxygen) but some are anaerobic
(without oxygen) and present in the rumen or human intestine. Hence,
Statement 2 is correct.
 Nutrition: Protozoans are heterotrophs and have holozoic nutrition.
Hence, Statement 3 is not correct.
o Holozoic nutrition can be defined as a method of nutrition which
involves the ingestion of some complex organic substances (such
as parts of a plant or animal) that may be in the solid or the liquid
form.

5. Consider the following pairs:

Theatre form Region
1. Nautanki Uttarakhand
2. Koodiyaattam Karnataka
3. Maach Madhya Pradesh
Which of the above given pairs is/are correctly matched?
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer- (c)
Explanation:
Theatre form Region
1. Nautanki Uttar Pradesh
2. Koodiyattam Kerala
3. Maach Madhya Pradesh
Hence, Option (c) is correct

6. With reference to the GST Council, consider the following statements:

1. It is a statutory body established by the Good and Services Act,
2017.
2. It is a federal body where every decision shall be taken by a
majority of not less than two-thirds of the weighted votes of the
members present and voting.
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
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
 GST Council is a constitutional body under Article 279A. It makes
recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to
Goods and Service Tax and was introduced by the Constitution (One
Hundred and First Amendment) Act, 2016. Hence, Statement 1 is not
correct.
 Every decision of the Goods and Services Tax Council shall be taken at a
meeting by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted
votes of the members present and voting, in accordance with the
following principles, namely:
o The vote of the Central Government shall have a weightage of one-
third of the total votes cast, and
o The votes of all the State Governments taken together shall have a
weightage of two-thirds of the total votes cast in that meeting.
Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.

7. With reference to the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, consider the
following statements:
1. The Schedule was added through the first constitutional
amendment in 1951.
2. The laws protected under the schedule deals only with land
reforms.
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
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
 The Ninth Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which
cannot be challenged in courts and was added by the Constitution (First
Amendment) Act, 1951. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
o It was created by the new Article 31B, which along with Article
31A was brought in by the government to protect laws related to
agrarian reform and for abolishing the Zamindari system.
o While Article 31A extends protection to ‘classes’ of laws, Article
31B shields specific laws or enactments.
 The first Amendment added 13 laws to the Schedule. Subsequent
amendments in various years have taken the number of protected laws to
284 currently.
 o While most of the laws protected under the Schedule concern
agriculture/land issues, the list includes other subjects, such as
reservation. The Tamil Nadu Act of 1994, that provides 69 per
cent reservation in the state was added through Seventy-sixth
Constitution Amendment Act, 1994, is part of the Ninth
Schedule. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.

8. Which of the following mentioned schemes is not implemented by Small

Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)?
a. Equity Grant & Credit Guarantee Fund (EGCGF) Scheme
b. Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) Scheme
c. National Agriculture Market (NAM) Scheme
d. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
Answer: (d)
Explanation
 Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) was established in
1994 under Societies Registration Act, 1860 as an autonomous body
promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare.
 Its objective is to promote agribusiness by encouraging institutional and
private sector investments and linkages to ensure the empowerment of all
farmers in the country.
 Few Important Schemes Implemented by SFAC: Equity Grant & Credit
Guarantee Fund (EGCGF) Scheme, Venture Capital Assistance
(VCA) Scheme, Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) Scheme, National
Agriculture Market (NAM) Scheme etc.
 Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana is implemented through a multi-
agency framework by selected insurance companies under the overall
guidance & control of the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation &
Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers
Welfare (MoA&FW) and the concerned State in coordination with
various other agencies.
Hence, Option (d) is correct.

9. Which of the following countries announced the ‘Jet Zero’ Plan recently?
a. United Kingdom
b. Australia
c. India
d. United States of America
Answer: (a)
Explanation
 The United Kingdom (U.K.) announced a ‘Jet Zero’ plan to bring down
its aviation emissions.
 o It aims to bring down greenhouse gas emissions from aviation
to make carbon-free transatlantic flights possible within a
generation. Hence, Option (a) is correct.

10. Consider the following statements:

1. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is
dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and
disarmament.
2. India has larger military expenditure than the US and China.
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
Answer: (a)
Explanation
 Swedish think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
(SIPRI) is an independent international institute dedicated to
research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament.
Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
 SIPRI releases the annual report ‘Trends in World Military
Expenditure’ and in 2019, India was among the top three largest
military spenders.
o In 2019, the top five largest spenders — U.S., China, India,
Russia and Saudi Arabia — accounted for 62% of the global
expenditure. Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.

11. Talamaddale is a variant of which of the following traditional arts?

a. Jatra
b. Ottan Thullal
c. Yakshagana
d. Terukkuttu
Answer: (c)
Explanation
 The traditional art of talamaddale, is a variant of Yakshagana
theatre. Hence, Option (c) is correct.
 In the conventional ‘talamaddale,’ the artists sit across in a place without
any costumes and engage in testing their oratory skills based on the
episode chosen.
 It has only spoken words without any dance or costumes. Hence, it is
Yakshagana minus dance, costumes and stage conventions.
12. Regarding the ‘Gateway Lunar Orbit Outpost’, consider the following
statements:
1. It is a spaceship that is going to replace the International Space
Station (ISS) in 2026.
2. The project is led by NASA in collaboration with ISRO.
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
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
 Gateway Lunar Orbit Outpost is a small spaceship that will orbit the
Moon, meant for astronaut missions to the Moon and later, for
expeditions to Mars.
o It will act as a temporary office for astronauts, distanced at about
250,000 miles from Earth. It will not replace the International
Space Station (ISS). Hence, Statement 1 is not correct.
 One of the most unique features of the Gateway is that it can be moved to
other orbits around the Moon to conduct more research.
 While the project is led by NASA, the Gateway is meant to be developed,
serviced, and utilized in collaboration with commercial and international
partners: Canada (Canadian Space Agency), Europe (European Space
Agency), and Japan (JAXA). Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.

13. Which of the following states has recently launched a virtual class initiative
called ‘First Bell’?
a. Andhra Pradesh
b. Kerala
c. Delhi
d. Telangana
Answer: (b)
Explanation
 The Kerala Government has started a virtual class initiative called ‘First
Bell’. The virtual classes for state school students are being organised so
that education is imparted amid Covid-19 crisis. Hence, Option (b) is
correct.

14. Axone, a popular condiment of Nagaland, is made from which of the

following?
a. Rice
b. Wheat
c. Corn
 d. Soya bean
Answer: (d)
Explanation
 Recently, Axone or fermented Soya bean has become popular, which is
eaten by many tribal communities in different parts of Northeast India
especially in Nagaland.
 Axone is also called Akhuni. It is made from fermented Soya bean. It is
known for its distinctive flavour and smell. Hence, Option (d) is correct.
 It is a condiment (a spice, sauce, or preparation that is added to food)
used to make pickles, chutney or curries.
 It is prepared and eaten across Nagaland mainly by the Sumi (also Sema)
tribe.
 It belongs to the broader phenomena of fermentation necessary for food
preservation in certain ecological contexts.

15. Consider the following statements:

1. The oxygen in the atmosphere of earth was generated by
cyanobacteria during the archaean and proterozoic eras.
2. Stromatolites are structures in shallow seawater where
communities of cyanobacteria lived.
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
Answer: (c)
Explanation
 Cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in the
water, and can manufacture their own food. Because they are bacteria,
they are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in
colonies large enough to see.
o They have the distinction of being the oldest known fossils, more
than 3.5 billion years old.
o The oxygen atmosphere that we depend on was generated by
numerous cyanobacteria during the Archaean and Proterozoic Eras
(4.6 billion to 541 million years ago). Hence, Statement 1 is
correct.
 The atmosphere of the early Earth lacked oxygen. This began to change
during what is known as the Great Oxidation Event (GOE).
o It refers to a series of chemical changes that geologists and
geochemists have observed in rocks that are between 2.5 and 2.3
billion years old.
 o These changes were the result of oxygen given off by ancient
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Communities of this bacteria
lived in shallow seawater and were preserved in rocks as
structures called stromatolites. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.

16. Consider the following statements about recently discovered Malabar

gliding frog:
1. It is a grey frog with slender body, webbed feet, unusual body positions
and very well camouflaged.
2. The amphibian is endemic to eastern ghats.
3. It has high gliding abilities with capacity to cover 10 to 12 feet in one leap.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. 1 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 3 only
d. All of the above
Answer:(c)
Explanation:
 It is a green frog with slender body, webbed feet, unusual body positions
and very well camouflaged. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
 The amphibian is endemic to the rainforest of western ghats. Hence
statement 2 is incorrect.
 The fingers and toes are like sticks to attach and walk through tree
branches.
 It has a high gliding abilities, with the long skin between the fingers which
helps to cover 10 to 12 feet in one leap. Hence statement 3 is correct.

17. Consider the following statements:

1. Project Artemis is a crewed spaceflight program of European Space
agency.
2. It aims to land the first woman and the next man on the Moon,
specifically at the lunar south pole region by 2024.
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
Answer:(b)
Explanation:
 It is a crewed spaceflight program of NASA that has the goal of landing
"the first woman and the next man" on the Moon, specifically at the lunar
south pole region by 2024. Hence, Option (b) is incorrect.
18. Consider the following statements about Sumi Tribe:
1. The Sumi Tribe is one of the major ethnic groups in Manipur.
2. Tuluni and Ahuna are their major festivals.
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
Answer:(b)
Explanation:
 The 'Sumi Naga' is one of the major ethnic groups in Nagaland. Hence
statement 1 is incorrect.
 Tuluni and Ahuna are the major festivals. Hence statement 2 is correct.

19. Consider the following statements about Saltwater Crocodile:

1. It is considered as the Earth’s largest living crocodile species.
2. It is found in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, the Sundarbans in
West Bengal and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands.
3. It is also found across South America and northern America
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. All of the above
Answer:(a)
Explanation:
 It is considered as the Earth’s largest living crocodile species. Hence
statement 1 is correct
 It is found in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, the Sundarbans in
West Bengal and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands. Hence statement 2
is correct.
 It is also found across Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Hence
statement 3 is incorrect.

20. World Investment Report is published by

a. World Economic Forum
b. IMF
c. World Bank
d. UNCTAD
Answer:(d)
Explanation:
Recently, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) released the World Investment Report 2020.
  The World Investment Report focuses on trends in Foreign Direct
Investment (FDI) worldwide, at the regional and country levels and
emerging measures to improve its contribution to development. Hence
Option (d) is correct.

MAINS QUESTIONS
1. What is the New START treaty? Discuss its role in realizing a nuclear
disarmament world.
2. COVID-19 taught us that to fight better against future pandemic or
emergency, we need to change our strategy from “Just in Time” to “Just
in Case.” Substantiate.

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