QUESTIONS ON CURRENT AFFAIRS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2018

A National Dolphin Research Centre is proposed to be set up in the campus of

the Patna University in Bihar. Identify the correct statements from those given
below pertaining to the Gangetic Dolphin.
1. The National Dolphin Research Centre, at Patna, is expected to conduct
research on the conservation of the Gangetic Dolphin, whose numbers
have been dwindling rapidly.
2. The numbers of the Gangetic Dolphin have been reducing due to the
destruction of its natural habitat, the River Ganga, due to pollution,
siltation and diversion of water for irrigation purposes resulting in
reduction of flow in the river.
3. The Gangetic Dolphins are the only freshwater species of dolphin in the
world and thrive in deep turbulent water with adjoining shallow water
and feed on fish. They survive in no-current areas as it helps them
conserve energy. They are also completely blind.
4. Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary is also located in Patna.
a. All the above b. 1 and 2 c. 1, 2 and 4 d. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: b

The renowned ‘Alphonso’ mango from five districts of Maharashtra, Ratnagiri,

Sindhudurg, Palghar, Thane and Raigadha, has been granted the GI or
Geographical Indication tag by the Geographical Indication Registry based in
Chennai. Which of the statements given below are correct in regard to the GI
tag.

1. The GI tag identifies a product as belonging to a specific area and its

reputation and quality are assured due to its origin. Once a product is
granted the GI tag the price of the product can also be enhanced.
2. The first product to get the GI tag was the Banarsi sari in 2004.
3. ‘GI’ is an Indian protection, and not recognised under TRIPS.

a. 1 only b. 2 only c. both 1 and 2

 Answer: a

Which of the following statements given below pertaining to DigiYatra are

correct?

1. DigiYatra is a new facial recognition biometric based digital program

aimed at making the experience of air travel easy right from booking a
ticket; going through security and boarding the aircraft by making the
experience completely paperless.
2. DigiYatra has been conceptualized and developed by the Ministry of
Information Technology.
3. The primary objective is to reduce queues at the airport which are
increasing every year given the fact that the sector is growing rapidly with
India now the third largest aviation market in the world.
4. The system is based on four pillars: Connected passengers, connected
airports, connected flying and connected systems.

a. 1, 3 and 4 b. 1 and 2 c. 1 and 4 d. 1 only

Answer: a

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was set up to strength regional

cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region. IORA
recently held a Renewable Energy Ministerial Meeting in Delhi and adopted the
Delhi Declaration on Renewable Energy in the Indian Ocean Region. Which of
the following statements are correct pertaining to the development of
renewable energy in the Indian Ocean Region.

1. IORA agreed to enter into a collaboration with the member nations of the
International Solar Alliance to focus on research and development in solar
energy and exchange best practices.
2. IORA member states would collaborate in the promotion and transfer of
technology and in strengthening public private partnerships in renewable
energy. IORA would also develop a renewable energy agenda for the
region.
3. IORA would also collaborate with the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA) to develop a database on the renewable energy potential
 in the Indian Ocean Rim and also to expand the global renewable energy
Atlas.

a. 1 and 3 b. 1, 2 and 3 c. 1 and 2

Answer: b

Which of the following statements pertaining to the new initiative of the

Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Sustainable Alternative towards
Affordable Transportation (SATAT) are correct?

1. The initiative is aimed at developing an alternative fuel by utilizing farm

stubble (agricultural residue), cattle dung and municipal solid waste which
will also lead to a cleaner environment.
2. The utilization of agricultural residue would mean that the farmers would
also get an additional source of income a win-win situation for both the
producers of compressed Bio-Gas and the farmers.
3. The pricing for the Compressed Bio Gas has been decided under the bio-
fuels policy and its pricing has been kept extremely competitive much
below the price of the CNG currently available.
4. CBG can only be sold in retail at CNG stations it cannot be used to augment
the supply of domestic gas through gas pipelines.

a. All the above b. 1 and 2 c. 2, 3 and 4 d. 1 only

Answer: b

From the two statements pertaining to Parakram Parv choose the correct one.

1. Parakram Parv is the name of the new festival created by the Ministry of
Tourism to celebrate the arrival of more than 10 lakh foreign tourists into
the country in the year 2018.
2. Parakram Parv is the name given to the Surgical Strike carried out by the
Indian Army across the border in September 2016.
 a. 1 above b. 2 above c. none of the above.

Answer: b

India and Russia have signed an agreement whereby which Russia would supply
five S-400 long range surface to air missiles to India. Which of the statements
given below are correct?
1. The five S-400 missiles would be supplied immediately thereby increasing
the effectiveness of the Indian armed forces against any attack against the
country.
2. The payment for the contract would need to be paid in advance in US
dollars and one of the major criticisms is that it would adversely affect the
Current Account Deficit of the country.
3. India has in the case of purchase taken a calculated risk of annoying USA
which has under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions
Act (CAATSA) imposed sanctions against Russia and discourages countries
from doing any defence deals with its adversaries.
4. The S-400 is required by the Indian armed forces due to a depletion of its
squadron strength as also the fact that it has an aging fleet.
a. 1 and 2 b. 3 and 4 c. 1 and 4 d. 1 only
Answer: b

The Prime Minister of the country had unveiled a statue of Sir Chhotu Ram in
Rohtak, Haryana. Which of the statements given below pertaining to Sir Chhotu
Ram are correct?

1. Sir Chottu Ram was a co-founder of the National Unionist Party which
ruled Punjab in pre-independent India.
2. He was a peasant leader who fought for the rights of the farmers and was
successful in getting certain pro-farmers laws enacted. He considered the
farmers as ‘Anndata’ and got disturbed at the thought that those who
provided people with grain went hungry.
3. He was a member of the Bharitya Janta Party which he joined in 1916.
4. He fought elections in 1936 forming a coalition government and was
made Revenue Minister.
 a. 1, 2 and 4 b. 1, 2 and 3 c. 1 and 2 d. all the above

Answer: a

Eurasian Otters have recently been spotted in India in which part of the country.
Identify the correct sanctuary/s from the list given below.

1. The Ranthambore tiger Reserve in Rajasthan.

2. The Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.
3. The Kanha Pench wildlife corridor.
4. The Kaziranga sanctuary in Assam.

Answer: 2 and 3

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released its latest
report, drawn up at the behest of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change. Identify the correct statements from those given below
pertaining to the report.

1. The IPCC report emphasises that the world should limit rise in global
temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius and not be satisfied with 2 degrees
Celsius limit, within the next decade, if the world wanted a sustainable
and equitable society.
2. The limit of global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius was possible with the
introduction of rapid and far reaching changes in the use of land, energy,
industry and buildings, transport and cities which would reduce the
human caused emissions in the atmosphere. What was required is the
political will.
3. One of the ways to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere by using technology to
suck the CO2 out and store it. Moving to ‘greener’ fuels would also help
in achieving the target of an increase of global temperatures to 1.5
degrees Celsius.
4. Forests play a big role in cutting emissions, accounting for removing 25
per cent of the CO2 currently. Reforestation and making forest
 management more efficient is one way of reaching the goal mentioned
in the IPCC report.

a. All the above b. 1 and 2 c. 1, 2 and 4 d. 1 and 3

Answer: a

Which of the following statements pertaining to the Environment Pollution

Control Authority (EPCA) are correct?

1. It was notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate

Change in 2017 to tackle the problem of severe air pollution in Delhi
as a result of burning of crop residue in Punjab in the winter
months.
2. The EPCA is also called upon by the Supreme Court to assist it in
environment related matters in the NCR.
3. The term of the EPCA expired in October 2018 and the Authority
has been reconstituted enlarging the number of members from 14
to 20.
4. EPCA was responsible for the closure of all brick kilns in the NCR
and the ban on diesel vehicles.
a. 1 and 2 b. 2, 3 and 4 c. 2 and 3 d. only 1

Answer: b

The National Mission for Clean Ganga has recently mandated an ecological flow
for the river. Which of the statements given below pertain to ecological flows?

1. Environmental flows are defined in terms of the quantity, quality and

timing of water running through rivers and wetlands ensuring that
sediments are moved which maintain the form and the function of the
river; ground water is recharged; and flow of fresh water prevents the
ingress of saline water.
2. Extraction of water for agriculture from the River Ganga reduces the
ecological flow of water in the river.
 3. Hydroelectric projects on the river and its tributaries need to make
necessary modifications in their operations to ensure that water is not
ponded and is released into the river.
4. A reduction in ecological flows has an adverse impact on the local
communities living along the river as their dependence for food on the
aquatic life in the river is threatened.

a. All the above b. 1 and 4 c. 1, 2 and 3 d. 1 only

Answer: a

Identify from the names given below the current chairperson of the National
Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

1. Kushal Singh
2. Priyank Kanoongo
3. Stuti Narain Kackkar
4. Shanta Sinha

Answer: 2

President Trump has announced withdrawal from the 1987 Intermediate-range

Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia. Which of the statements pertaining to
the INF are correct?

1. The treaty bans the US and Russia from possessing or producing ground
launched nuclear missile with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. Air or
sea launched missiles are not covered by the Treaty.
2. The agreement between US and Russia was signed, in 1987, by President
George Bush I and Nikita Khrushev after several years of negotiations.

a. 1 only b. 2 only c. both 1 and 2

Answer: a
In order to keep global temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius a Green
Climate Fund (GCF) has been created. Identify the correct statements from
those given below pertaining to the Green Climate Fund.
1. GCF has been created by the 194 member countries of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change to help developing countries
limit or reduce their emissions in the global effort to limit the increase in
global temperatures to less than 2 degrees Celsius.
2. Contributions to the GCF are made by all countries who are parties to the
Climate Change Convention and one city, namely Paris.
3. The funds can be transferred directly to national and sub-national
organizations accredited by GCF and not through international
intermediaries.
4. The fund is headquartered at Paris, France and is governed by a board and
is accountable to the Convention of Parties (COP) under the UNFCC.
a. 1 and 3 b. 1, 3 and 4 c. 1, 2 and 4 d. all the above
Answer: a