Consider the following statements: 1. BharOS comes with No Default Apps (NDA) meaning that users are not forced to use apps that they may not be familiar with. 2. Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has updated its Guidelines for Disclaimers made in advertisements. 3. Several Olive Ridley Turtle breeding grounds in Godavari region are witnessing mass mortality of turtles Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(A) 1 & 2 only
(B) 2 & 3 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
ANSWER: D
Consider the following statements: 1 BharOS is an Indian government-funded project. 2. The Advertisement Standards Council of India was established in the year 1999. 3. In India, Olive Ridley Turtles nest mostly in eastern coast in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(A) 1 & 2 only
(B) 1 & 3 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
ANSWER: B
Consider the following statements: 1 BharOS Services are currently being provided to organisations that have stringent privacy and security requirements. 2. ASCI is defined as a “voluntary, self-regulatory council” which has been registered as a non-profit company. 3. IUCN status of Olive Ridley Turtle is ‘Endangered’. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
(A) 1 & 2 only
(B) 2 & 3 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
ANSWER: A
Consider the following statements: 1. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) moved Doomsday clock to 90 seconds to midnight largely because of mounting nuclear warfare in Ukraine. 2. BAS was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein and University of Chicago scientists Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
ANSWER: C
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) moved Doomsday clock to 90 seconds to midnight largely because of mounting nuclear warfare in Ukraine.
BAS was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein and University of Chicago scientists who worked on Manhattan Project to build first atomic bomb.
The world events are discussed by a board of scientists and other experts in various fields, including 13 Nobel Laureates, who determine where to place the hands of the clock each year.
Doomsday Clock, created in 1947, is a design that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making.
More than 75 years ago, the clock started ticking at seven minutes to midnight. At 17 minutes to midnight, the clock was furthest from doomsday in 1991 as the Cold War ended and the US and Russia (then Soviet Union) signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
Since its debut, minute hand has been reset 25 times.
Consider the following statements: 1 Nidhi Company is a type of Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) formed with primary object of inculcating saving habits among its members. 2. They are regulated by Finance Ministry for operational matters. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
ANSWER: A
The Government has now made it mandatory for Nidhi companies to inform the authority about change in control of the organisation. This is part of additional disclosers required by these companies. Other information required includes details of collection centres and profit details.
These changes have been incorporated in the revised forms NDH-1 (return of statutory compliances), NDH-2 (application to Regional Director and intimation to the Registrar), NDH-3 (return for the half year ended) and NDH-4 (form for filing application for declaration as Nidhi company and for up-dation of status by Nidhis).
About Nidhi Companies
Nidhi Company is a type of Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) formed with primary object of inculcating saving habits among its members and works on principle of mutual benefit.
Registered under Companies Act, they are regulated by Ministry of Corporate Affairs for operational matters.
They don’t require a license from RBI but RBI can issue directions to them on deposit-taking activities.
They are controlled by Nidhi Rules, 2014.
Consider the following statements: 1 Demo-run of Vessel named SB Gangadhar running on 15 per cent methanol blended High Speed Diesel was held recently in Narmada river. 2. Methanol (CH3OH), also known as wood alcohol, is a high carbon hydrogen carrier fuel. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
ANSWER: D
Demo-run of Vessel named SB Gangadhar in Guwahati, Assam was held in run-up to India Energy Week 2023 (IEW 2023).
The boat ride was conducted on the 50-seater motor launch vessel ‘SB Gangadhar’, equipped with two Ruston diesel engines, and will run on MD-15 (15 per cent methanol blended High Speed Diesel).
IEW 2023, first major event under India’s G20 Presidency, follows PM’s pledge at COP26 to cut India’s emissions to net-zero by 2070.
IEW 2023 is held under Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
About Methanol
Methanol (CH3OH), also known as wood alcohol, is a low carbon hydrogen carrier fuel produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, CO2 from thermal power plants and natural gas.
It has properties similar to ethanol.
It is used in various products, including plastics, paints, cosmetics etc.
Significance of Methanol economy for India
Blending of 15% methanol in gasoline can result in at least 15% reduction in import of gasoline/crude oil.
Would bring down GHG emissions by 20% in terms of particulate matter, NOx, and SOx.
Although slightly lower in energy content than petrol and diesel, methanol can replace these fuels in transport sector, energy sector and retail cooking.
Cost to convert vessels to run on methanol is significantly less than other alternative fuel conversions.
Would create close to 5 million jobs.
Consider the following statements: 1 UNDP has recently launched a campaign in India to drive inclusive circular economy. 2. Circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
ANSWER: C
It is launched in partnership with Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) and will focus on:
End-to-end management of plastic waste by promoting segregation of waste at source and collection of segregated waste.
Setting up Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) or Swachhata Kendras for recycling all kinds of plastic waste along the value chain.
Social Inclusion of 20,000 Safal Saathis or waste pickers through access to government welfare schemes and linkages etc.
Building capacities of Urban Local Bodies for adopting MRFs model for plastic and dry waste management.
Initiative is a scale-up of existing partnership under UNDP’s flagship Plastic Waste Management Programme to develop a sustainable model for plastic waste management in India. It promotes collection, segregation, and recycling of all plastics to move towards a circular economy.
Circular economy
An alternative to current linear economy, circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible to:
Extend life cycle of products.
Reduce waste to a minimum by creating further value.
Consider the following statements: 1 Geothermal energy is stored in the form of heat beneath the earth’s surface and is considered to be clean, renewable and carbon-free. 2. According to estimates, India has a potential of 100 GW of geothermal energy. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
ANSWER: A
ONGC plans to map the geothermal energy sources of India in search of clean energy.
Move comes at a time when India has set an ambitious target of 500 GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2030 and net zero carbon emission by 2070.
Geothermal Energy
Geothermal energy is stored in the form of heat beneath the earth’s surface and is considered to be clean, renewable and carbon-free.
Magma in inner layer of earth heats nearby rocks and underground aquifers, as a result hot water is released through geysers, hotsprings, steam vents,underwater hydrothermal vents, and mud pots. Hot water and steam can be piped up through underground wells and used to generate electricity in a power plant.
As per preliminary investigations undertaken by Geological Survey of India, there are around 300 geothermal hot springs in India.
Puga and Chumathang in eastern Ladakh are the most promising geothermal sites.
Other sites include Cambay in Gujarat,Tattapani in Chattisgarh, Khammam in Telangana & Ratnagiri in Maharasthra.
According to estimates, India has a potential of 10 GW of geothermal energy.
Benefits of Geothermal energy : carbon-free, renewable, provides a continuous, uninterrupted supply etc.
Disadvantages: location-specific energy source, associated with other emissions like sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, causes mini tremors in area of operation, high initial cost etc
A Special police team has been recently formed to check illegal mining in-
(A) Lahaul Spiti
(B) Solan
(C) Nurpur
(D) None of the above
Show Answer
ANSWER: C
The Nurpur district police have deployed a special team in Khanni area in Nurpur to check illegal mining on the Chakki riverbed on the inter-state border. The police team led by an ASI and comprising nine other personnel has started patrolling Khanni, Maira, Mouja Pail, Nakki and their surrounding areas that are affected by illegal mining.
A delegation of elected representatives of gram panchayats surrounding the Chakki rivulet in Nurpur and villagers had met Chief Minister during his stay here last week and apprised him of rampant illegal mining in their area. In a memorandum submitted to Sukhu, they had alleged that the mining mafia had destroyed their fertile land in Khanni, Maira, Mouja Pail, Nakki and surrounding rural areas and created big trenches due to unscientific mining done with heavy machinery like JCB machines.
The villagers had appealed to the state government to launch an aggressive crackdown against the mining mafia and save their fertile land from turning barren, underground water resources and the ecology of the area.
Ashok Ratan, SP, Nurpur, said that on the receipt of complaints from locals and on the directions of the state government, a special mining police team comprising 10 members had been deployed in the affected areas to keep strict vigil on illegal mining.
The President’s Police Medal for distinguished service has been awarded to which official from the state?-
(A) Inder Dutt
(B) Satwant Atwal Trivedi
(C) Sanjay Kundu
(D) None of the above
Show Answer
ANSWER: B
Five police officials from the state were felicitated with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and Police Medal for Meritorious Service on Republic Day.
The President’s Police Medal for distinguished service has been awarded to Satwant Atwal Trivedi, ADGP, State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV & ACB), Shimla.
Four police officials Rahul Sharma, Deputy SP, Forensic Science Laboratory, Junga; Jitender Singh, Assistant Commandant, 1st HPAP (HP Armed Police) Battalion, Junga, Shimla; Sub-Inspector Inder Dutt, 1st HPAP Battalion, Junga; and Head Constable Susheel Kumar, (SV & ACB), Shimla have been selected for the Police Medal for Meritorious Service.
DGP Sanjay Kundu has congratulated all award winners for their achievements.
Consider the following statements: 1. International Customs Day 2023 was observed on 26th January. 2. Siddharth Sharma has been named as CEO of Tata Trusts. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
ANSWER: C
Consider the following statements: 1. Himachal Pradesh Celebrated its 53rd Statehood Day on January 25. 2. Balkrishna Doshi, who passed away recently was an architect. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
ANSWER: C
Consider the following statements: 1 Prabha Atre has been conferred with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Lifetime Achievement Award 2. TROPEX-23, Indian navy’s largest war game is being held in Indian Ocean. Which of the following statements is/ are correct?
