Explanation :

It is a Surface to Surface Intercontinental Ballistic missile developed by DRDO which is capable of carrying Nuclear warheads. Its range is more than 5000 km. According to the Federation of American Scientists, ICBMs have a minimum range of 5,500 kilometers (3,400 miles), with maximum ranges varying from 7,000 to 16,000 kilometers.

With the Induction of Agni V Missile System, India will join an exclusive club of countries like the US, Russia, China, France and Britain which have Intercontinental Ballistic Missile capabilities. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.

Purpose of the Question:

India had test fired the Agni V Missile for the 2^nd time in 6 months from Dr. Abdul Kalam Island off Odisha coast. Students are expected to know about Agni V Missile system.

Source Name : PIB, IE, TH

Explanation :

“ENSURE” Portal has been launched by “NABARD” and will be operated under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries.

Purpose of the Portal:

Under the National Livestock Mission’s component called “Entrepreneurship Development and Employment Generation” (EDEG), subsidy payment for activities related to poultry, small ruminants, pigs etc. through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) goes directly to the beneficiary’s account. In order to make it better, simpler and transparent, the NABARD has developed an online portal “ENSURE” so that the information related to beneficiary and processing of application can be made readily available.

Source Name : PIB

Explanation :

Thorium 232 when bombarded with Neutron gets converted into Uranium 233 which is a Fissile Material and Uranium 238 when bombarded with Neutron gets converted into Plutonium 239 which is also Fissile Material. It is clear that Uranium 233 & Plutonium 239 are artifically developed Fissile Material (i.e they are the outcome of Th -233 & U-238)

Purpose of the Question:

Kaiga Nuclear Plant has set up a world record for running uninterrupted for 941 days, Students shall have an idea about the Nuclear plants and nuclear fuels, Hence we have framed the question related to this topic.

Source Name : TH

Explanation :

Agni V is referred to as “Weapon of Peace” by the Government of India as it has a potential to create massive deterrence being an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

Stages- 3 stages, all solid stage

Speed- Mach number 24

Nuclear Warhead- 1500 kg

Source Name : Livemint

Explanation :

Government of India hadconstituted a six-member committee under the Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog, Dr.Rajiv Kumarto look at the selling of 149 small and marginal oil and gas fields of state-owned the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Limited (OIL) to private and foreign companies to boost domestic output.

How will it Boost Domestic Outputs?

Small Gas & oil fields contribute to only 5% of the total gas & oil, so by disinvesting these small oil & gas fields to Private Companies, ONGC/ OIL can focus on major oil fields. The main purpose is to streamline the functioning of ONGC &OIL.

Source Name : Business Standard

Explanation :

It is India’s First Privately built satellite that has been launched by Space X.

The satellite is built by Mumbai based start up “Exceedspace” & costs around Rs. 2 crore.

Features of ExceedSAT1:

1. It has paved the way for privately funded space missions.

2. It will help the private radio operators in coordinating in better ways.

3. It can be used for communication during the disaster.

Note-It’s life span is 5 years and is placed in the polar orbit.

Source Name : TOI

Explanation :

Namdapha National Park is present in the state of Andhra Pradesh & is the only reserve in the country to have four big cat species- Tiger, Leopard, Clouded Leopard & Snow Leopard together.

Namdapha was originally declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1972, then a National Park in 1983 and became a Tiger Reserve under the Project Tiger scheme in the same year. It is a part of the Biodiversity Hot spot of Eastern Himalayas.

Geographical Location

• It is located between the Dapha bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range.
• It is crossed from east to west by the “Noa Dihing” River which is a tributary of Brahamputra.

Note: Mishmi tribes are settled in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Purpose of the Question:

Mishmi tribals live in complete harmony with the animals of Namdapha National Park, so we rarely find any Human-Animal conflict over there. This park was in news because of the cordial relation between Mishmi tribals and animals, hence the question.

Source Name : The Hindu

Explanation :

The Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management Project Directorate is an attached office of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), and was established at Chennai in 1998. The Project Directorate has been continuing its activities in the field of Coastal Research, fully funded by MoES and it was re-designated as National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) on 20th April, 2018.

Purpose of the Question:

Recently, NCCR has published its report on Beach Pollution contributed majorly by tourism and fishing. Students are required to have basic knowledge about this Institution.

Source Name : ICMAM, MoES

Explanation :

The “Andean Glacier and Water Atlas Report” presented at COP24 (Katowice,Poland) has been publishedby the UNESCO, the Norwegian GRID-Arendal Foundation.

The report states that temperatures could increase in the Tropical Andes by 2°Cby the end of the 21st century and lower-altitude glaciers of the Tropical Andes could lose between 78-97% of their volume by the end of the century.

Where are the Andes Located?

The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world, extending for more than 7,000 km from Venezuela in the North to Argentina in the South.

Source Name : Down to Earth

Explanation :

Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram Temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thanjavur. It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Dravidian architecture. It is called as Dhakshina Meru (Meru of South). Built by Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples", along with the Chola dynasty era Gangaikonda Cholapuram temple and Airavatesvara temple.

It is made up of Granite and has one of the largest Vimmana in South India. It was at this temple that “Nataraja” was commissioned.

Purpose of the Question:

Recently, High Court has stayed the Art of Living event at Brihadishvara Temple seeing the historical importance and other factors related to this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Students must have a fair idea about this temple which falls under the Art & culture syllabus.

Source Name : CCRT, TH

Explanation :

The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger and promoting food security. It is headquartered at Rome, Italy and was formally established in 1963 by the FAO and the United Nations General Assembly on a three-year experimental basis. In 1965, the programme was extended to a continuing basis.

India is celebrating 2018 as the National Year of Millets for promoting cultivation and consumption of these nutri-cereals. Millets consists of Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and minor millets. FAO has agreed to declare 2023 as International Year for Millets.

Purpose of the Question:

India has been chosen for the Executive Board Member for WFP for year 2020 and 2021. Students shall have idea about WFP & its parent body FAO.

Source Name : PIB

Explanation :

• Recently, the cabinet has approved “Agriculture Export Policy 2018” to double agricultural exports from present ~US$ 30+ Billion to ~US$ 60+ Billion by 2022 and reach US$ 100 Billion in the next few years.
• It also aims to diversify the Export Baskets along with promoting novel, organic, traditional and non-traditional Agri product exports.
• Ministry of Commerce will act as the nodal agency in collaboration with other Ministries. Hence, statement 2 is wrong.

Source Name : PIB

Explanation :

Recently, scientists have developed a Virus M13 Bacteriophage that is used to speed up the computers.

How this VIRUS Works?

There is a time delay between transfer and storage of information between a traditional RAM chip and a hard drive. This M13 Bacteriophage reduces that milliseconds time delay as low temperature construction memory can be achieved by this.

Source Name : Science Direct, TH

Explanation :

• Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 for sharing of Indus waters. According to the Treaty, India got the full rights for utilization of waters of the three Eastern Rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Satluj. Statement 1, hence, is incorrect.
• Shahpurkandi Dam project is being constructed on Ravi River & funding for Central Assistance to Shahpurkandi Dam project will be made through NABARD under Long Term Irrigation Project (LTIF) and not SIDBI. Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.

Source Name : PIB

Explanation :

India’s installed capacity is around 350 GW with 60 GW as Renewable Energy. In 60 GW around 60% of the Renewable Energy is contributed by wind & around 21% by solar power. Hence, the correct answer is B.

Source Name : Economic Times

Explanation :

• Bioplastics simply refers to plastic made from plant or other biological material instead of petroleum. It is also often called bio-based plastic. It can be made from microorganisms too. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• When bioplastics are made by extracting sugar from plants like corn and sugarcane to convert into polylactic acids (PLAs). It is called as PLA Plastic and is mostly used for food packaging as these are easily available & cheap.
• When bioplastic is made from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) engineered from microorganisms. We call it as PHAs Plastic and is generally used in medical devices like sutures and cardiovascular patches.

Hence, all the statements are incorrect.

Note: Bioplastics were considered to be Carbon Neutral as these were made from usually plant based products but in a recent study it has been found that increase in demand of bioplastics lead to diversion of forest land for maize or other crop cultivation to extract starch or sugarcane for making bioplastic. The carbon sequestration of forest is not same as that of crops; recent studies have shown that this is no more a carbon neutral process.

Source Name : IE, TH

Explanation :

• A virus is a biological agent that reproduces only inside the cells of living hosts. When infected by a virus, a host cell is forced to produce thousands of identical copies of the original virus at an extraordinary rate.
• Viruses are not living organisms and their genes have either RNA or DNA. So, statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.
• Microcephaly in children is caused because of Zika Virus. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Source Name : IE

Explanation :

Indra-Navy is a naval exercise between India and Russia which is being held at Vizag. The primary aim of the exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the two navies, develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations.

Source Name : TH