Articles from General Knowledge Today

GK & Current Affairs 2013: March 2, 3

2013-03-07 15:03:51 GKToday

1. Who among the following has been appointed as new United States Defence Secretary? [A]John McCain [B]John Kerry [C]Chuck Hagel [D]Robert Gates Chuck Hagel Former Republican senator Chuck Hagel was sworn-in as the new US Defence Secretary, in the midst of a controversy over his remarks that India "financed problems" for Pakistan in Afghanistan.

Show Answer 2. Which among the following department is responsible for the preparation and presentation of Union Budget to the Parliament? [A]Department of Economic Affairs [B]Department of Revenue [C]Department of Expenditure [D]Department of Financial Services Department of Economic Affairs Department of Economic Affairs of the Finance Ministry is responsible for the preparation and presentation of Union Budget to the Parliament.

Show Answer 3. Recently, who among the following Indian-origin writer has won the inaugural British Physics Journalism Prize? [A]Anita Sengupta [B]Ashwin Vasavda [C]Jitendra Mehta [D]Anil Ananthaswamy Anil Ananthaswamy A London-based Indian-origin writer has won the inaugural Physics Journalism Prize aimed at inspiring the next generation of physicists by encouraging journalists to spread awareness about the complex subject.Anil Ananthaswamy, a consultant at New Scientist Magazine and author of 'The Edge of Physics', has won the prize sponsored by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and the Science and Technology

Facilities Council (STFC). The Physics Journalism Prize offers an expenses paid trip to Japan to visit world-leading facilities carrying out research at the frontiers of physics. His article 'Hip Hip Array', that "brings to life" on the Square Kilometre Array, an international project to design and build the largest radio telescope ever conceived, made him the winner, according to an IOP release.

Show Answer 4. Medellin, which is named as the World's most innovative city is located in ___________? [A]Canada [B]Colombia [C]Brazil [D]Mexico Colombia Medellin, in Colombia, has been named the world's most innovative city in a competition organised by the non-profit Urban Land Institute. Medellin, once known for being the stronghold of the Medellin drugs cartel, beat Tel Aviv and New York. The institute said Medellin had excelled in increasing the mobility of citizens living in poor communities. The city has an efficient metro and cable car system, which allows people to access the city centre easily. The Urban Land Institute compiled a list of 200 cities based on eight criteria ranging from culture and liveability to education and infrastructure.

Show Answer 5. Which among the following countries is set to launch first solid fuel rocket by 2016? [A]United States [B]China [C]Japan [D]Russia China China plans to launch its first solid fuel rocket by 2016, marking a strategic shift from liquid fuel rockets, which so far has been used in over 170 successful launches in the last two decades. Chinas first solid-fuel rocket Long March-11 is expected to make its first launch before 2016. The rocket will be easy to operate and costefficient to launch. It can remain in storage for long periods and reliably launched at a short notice. China has launched more than 170 liquid-fuel rockets successfully, but is yet to make breakthrough in developing solid-fuel rockets, which analysts say can be applied in missiles as well.

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6. Babli project, which is recently making in news is present in ___________? [A]Andhra Pradesh [B]Madhya Pradesh [C]Karnataka [D]Maharashtra Maharashtra In what is being considered as a major blow to the Telangana farmer, the Supreme Court said the Maharashtra government could go ahead with the Babli project. While delivering its final judgment, the apex court constituted a three-member committee to oversee sharing of Godavari water between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. One member each from AP and Maharashtra and a member from the Central governments side will constitute the committee. While delivering the judgment, the apex court directed the Maharashtra government not to use more than 2.47 tmc of water from Godavari and release 0.6 tmc for the needs of Andhra Pradesh. Annalists consider it as a big blow to the interests of Telangana, where around 18 lakh acres are supposed to receive water from Sri Ram Sagar Project (SRSP). The SRSP could release water only if Maharashtra releases from the Babli project. The storage capacity of SRSP was 112 tmc, which got reduced to 87 tmc due to silt. Babli was constructed in backwaters of SRSP and it could take water from the project too, as SRSP is at a height of 17.5 feet above Babli.

Show Answer 7. The Sampriti-III is the Joint Special Forces Exercise of India and __________? [A]Nepal [B]Bhutan [C]Sri Lanka [D]Bangladesh Bangladesh Sampriti-III is the Joint Special Forces Exercise of India and Bangladesh. The exercise was conducted from Feb 18 to March 3 at Agra.

Show Answer 8. The Spratly Islands, which are under dispute are located in ____________? [A]East China Sea [B]South China Sea [C]Sea of Japan [D]North Pacific ocean South China Sea Recently, Taiwan announced to stage a live-fire exercise in the month of April in disputed South China Sea islands, a move that could raise regional tensions. The drill will take place on Taiping Island in the Spratlys, a sprawling group of islands claimed in whole or part by Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and

Brunei. Taiping is the biggest island in the Spratlys and has long been governed by Taiwan, which maintains a small coastguard garrison there. Vietnam voiced anger after Taiwan moved the new, longer-range artillery and mortars to Taiping Island last year. All claimants except Brunei have troops based on the archipelago of more than 100 islets, reefs and atolls, which cover a vast area but have a total land mass of less than five square kilometres. The potentially resource-rich sea, home to important trade routes, is a potential military flashpoint and there has been a string of diplomatic rows between countries with overlapping territorial claims in recent years. The Philippines and Vietnam have complained that China is becoming increasingly aggressive in its actions in the area -- such as harassing fishermen -and also through bullying diplomatic tactics.

Show Answer 9. Who among the following has created history by becoming the first Indian on a solo non-stop trip across the world in a sail boat? [A]Vamsi Krishna [B]Anurag Kumar [C]Abhilash Tomy [D]Ankit Yadav Abhilash Tomy Lt-Commander Abhilash Tomy, the naval officer who embarked on a solo "non-stop" circumnavigation of the globe on a sail boat last November, is now back in the Indian Ocean after sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. While around 5,000 people have climbed Mt Everest, only around 80 have successfully done the solo non-stop circumnavigation of the globe. He is the first Indian to do that. After Commander Dilip Donde became the first Indian ever to undertake solo circumnavigation of the world in Mhadei in 2009-2010, Tomy - a maritime reconnaissance Dornier pilot by specialization - then came forward to do one better by undertaking a "solo, unassisted, non-stop" endeavour in the 'Sagar Parikrama-II' mission.

Show Answer 10. Which among the following States has the highest decadal (2001-11) growth rate of population? [A]Gujarat [B]Haryana [C]Kerala [D]Bihar Bihar Bihar has the highest decadal (2001-11) growth rate of population (25.07 per cent), while Kerala has the lowest rate (4.86 per cent).

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