Current Affairs Strategist Program 2020

Weekly Test 7 (Objective Test 4)

Answer Key and Solutions
Ques ANSWER EXPLANATION
1 C Article 23 of the Indian Constitution prohibits trafficking in human beings, begar and
other similar forms of forced labor.
2 C STATEMENTS 1 AND 3 ARE CORRECT.
Refer CA Booklet Sept part 1
3 B STATEMENT 3 IS INCORRECT
Refer CA Booklet Sept part 1
4 A Statement 1 is incorrect
The EEF was established by a decree of the President of the Russian Federation,
Vladimir Putin, in 2015, with the aim of supporting the economic development of
Russia s Far East, and to expand international cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
The ongoing EEF Summit at the Far Eastern Federal University is the fifth in its
history.

Among the participants in the Summit are India, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, and South
Korea. According to the EEF website, the 2018 Summit was attended by more than
6,000 participants from over 60 countries.

5 D Fly ash or flue ash, is a coal combustion product that is composed of

the particulates (fine particles of burned fuel) that are driven out of coal-
fired boilers together with the flue gases. Ash that falls to the bottom of the boiler's
combustion chamber is called bottom ash. Depending upon the source and
composition of the coal being burned, the components of fly ash vary considerably,
but all fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2)
(both amorphous and crystalline), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO),
the main mineral compounds in coal-bearing rock strata.
The minor constituents of fly ash depend upon the specific coal bed composition but
may include one or more of the following in trace concentrations:
arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent
chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium,
and vanadium, along with very small concentrations of dioxins and PAH compounds.
6 A All the statements are correct
Refer class notes SEPT 2019 part 1.
7 D Both the statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.
 Eco-sensitive zones are buffer zones around protected areas (NP, WLS etc) where
only regulated activities for specialized eco-system are allowed.

In December, 2006, the Supreme Court had ordered all states and Union territories
for sending proposals to the MoEF for demarcation of ESZs.
In case no ESZ proposal is sent, ESZ of 10 km shall apply around Protected Areas.
8 A Statement 1 is correct.
The Main recommendations of WGEEP were :

i. Entire Western Ghat (1,29,037 sq km)should be designated as Ecologically Sensitive

Area (ESA).
ii. Three levels of Ecological Sensitivity: Assign three levels of Ecologically Sensitivity
to different regions, termed as ESZ1, ESZ2 and ESZ3.
iii. Implement regulatory as well as promotional measures appropriately fine-tuned
to local ecological and social contexts within the broad framework of ESZ1, ESZ2, and
ESZ3.
iv. No new dams based on large scale storage be permitted in ESZ1.
v. Restrictions on Mining:
• Indefinite moratorium on new environmental clearances for mining in ESZ1 and
ESZ2
• Phasing out of mining in ESZ1 by 2016, and continuation of existing mining in ESZ2
under strict regulation.
vi. No New polluting industries, which would include coal-based power plants,
should be permitted to be established in ESZ1 and ESZ2.
9 C Statement 1 and 3 are correct.
Refer to class notes Sept 2019 part 1.
10 C All the statements are correct
Refer class notes Sept 2019 part 1.
11 A Only statement 1 is correct.
Refer class notes Sept 2019 part 1.
12 C Statement 1 and 2 are not correct.
Statement 3 is correct.
Finance commission is a constitutional body (article 280) generally formed every five
years to give suggestions on centre-state financial relations. It is appointed by the
President.
Each Finance Commission is required to make recommendations on:
1. Vertical Devolution: Sharing of central taxes with states.
2. Horizontal Devolution: Allocation between states of the amount decided by
vertical devolution.
3. Distribution of Center's Grant to states
FC decides on the principle that should govern the grants-in-aid to the states by the
 Centre (i.e., of the Consolidated Fund of India) .Grants in Aid are provided to states
under article 275 and article 282 of the Indian constitution.
4. Measures needed to augment the consolidated fund of a state (i.e. finances of a
state) to supplement the resources of Panchayats and the municipalities in the state
on the basis of the recommendations made by the state finance commission.
5. Any other matter referred to it by the President.
13 A All the statements are correct.

The 15th Finance Commission was formed in Nov 2017 under the chairmanship of
Shri N.K. Singh. It will give recommendations about financial relations between centre
and states for the period of 2020-2025. The commission will be using 2011 data for
making its recommendations
i. Review the impact of 14th Finance Commission recommendations on the fiscal
position of the centre.
ii. The commission may also examine whether revenue deficit grants be provided at
all.
iii. Review the debt level of centre and states, and recommend a roadmap
iv. Study the impact of GST on the economy.
v. Recommend the performance based incentives for the states based on their
efforts to control population, promote ease of doing business, and control
expenditure on populist measures, among others.
14 A All the statements are correct.
Refer class notes Aug part 6
15 B International labor organization
Refer class notes Aug part 6
16 A Statement 1 is incorrect.
Refer class notes Aug part 6
17 C
International Initiatives which deal with Plastic Waste
i. #Clean Seas campaign of UN Environment • To reduce and eliminate the use of
single use plastic, cosmetics and micro-plastic sources

ii. Stockholm Convention on POPs • It is an international environment treaty that

came into force in 2004 and aims to restrict or eliminate the production of PoPs.

iii. Honolulu Strategy aimed at reduce marine debris by UNEP • The Honolulu
Strategy is a framework for a comprehensive and global collaborative effort to
reduce the ecological, human health, and economic impacts of marine debris
worldwide. This framework is organized by a set of goals and strategies applicable
all over the world, regardless of specific conditions or challenge.

iv. Alliance to end Plastic Waste (AEPW) -It is a not for profit organization that
 includes companies which make, use, sell, process, collect and recycle plastics.
18 A Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
19 B Motihari – Amalekhgunj Petroleum Pipeline is between India and Nepal.
20 A
Statement 1 and 2 are correct.
Refer to class notes Aug 2019 part 6
21 C Both the statements are correct.
Refer to class notes Aug 2019 part 6
22 A Travel and Tourism Competitive Index is released by World Economic Forum
23 D Both the statements are correct.
Refer to class notes Aug 2019 part 6.
24 B Only statement 2 is correct.
National Genomic Grid is only for cancer patients.
25 C Both the statements are correct.
About the Market Intervention Price Scheme:

1. It is a price support mechanism implemented on the request of State

Governments.
2. It is for procurement of perishable and horticultural commodities in the event
of a fall in market prices.
3. The Scheme is implemented when there is at least 10% increase in production
or 10% decrease in the ruling rates over the previous normal year.
4. Its objective is to protect the growers of these horticultural/agricultural
commodities from making distress sale in the event of bumper crop during the
peak arrival period when prices fall to very low level.
5. The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation is implementing the scheme.