Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

The ‘Sinai Peninsula’ or simply ‘Sinai’ is a triangular peninsula in Egypt, and the only part of the country located in Asia. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, and is a land bridge between Asia and Africa. Hence, both the statements are incorrect.

Explanation :

Syria is bordered by Turkey to the north, Lebanon and Israel to the west and south west, Iraq to the east and Jordan to the south.

Explanation :

• TAPI pipeline source of gas is from Galkynysh gas field which is in Turkmenistan.
• TAPI pipeline was first proposed in 1995 with an aim to transport natural gas from energy rich Caspian Sea (Galkynysh gas field: fourth largest in the world) in Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The project will supply both India and Pakistan about 38 mmscmd of natural gas whereas Afghanistan will get a supply of 14 mmscmd.

Explanation :

• The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake in Israel. It is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world (after the Dead Sea, a saltwater lake).
• The lake is fed partly by underground springs, although its main source is the Jordan River, which flows through it from north to south.

Explanation :

• India joined the Interpol in 1949 and designated CBI as the National Central Bureau of India.
• The Director of CBI is an ex-officio head of NCB, India.

Explanation :

• The bilateral naval exercise initiated in 1983 and christened as ‘Varuna’ in 2001, form a vital part of the Indo-French strategic partnership.
• The Varuna exercise aims at developing interoperability between the two navies and fostering mutual cooperation by learning from each other’s best practices to conduct joint operations.

Explanation :

• The Royal Turtle, also known as Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis), is one of the world’s most endangered freshwater turtles and is listed on the IUCN Red List as ‘Critically Endangered’. Hence, statements 1 and 3 are incorrect.
• It is endemic to South-east Asian countries.

Explanation :

• Echidnas are mammals and are also called spiny anteaters.
• Echidnas are one of the world’s oldest surviving mammals.
• They are egg-laying mammals and are covered with coarse hairs & spines.
• It is listed as ‘Least Concern’ in the IUCN Red List.
• Echidnas are found only in Australia and Papua Guinea. They don’t inhabitate the polar regions of the world.