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(PRELIMS & MAINS Focus)


Sri Lanka’s first Karnataka cultural festival

Syllabus

Context: Recently, Sri Lanka hosted its very first Karnataka cultural festival.

Key highlights of the events:-

About Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre:-

MUST READ: Kalyana Karnataka Utsav

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following statements about Sangam literature in ancient South India is correct? (2022)

  1. Sangam poems are devoid of any reference to material culture.
  2. The social classification of Varna was known to Sangam poets.
  3. Sangam poems have no reference to warrior ethics.
  4. Sangam literature refers to magical forces as irrational.

Q.2) With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’? (2014)

  1. It is an ancient Bhakti cult of Shaivism still prevalent in some parts of South India
  2. It is an ancient style bronze and brass work still found in the southern part of the Coromandel area
  3. It is an ancient form of dance-drama and a living tradition in the northern part of Malabar
  4. It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India

Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant water issue

Syllabus

Context: South Korean protesters recently, called for government action to avoid any disaster caused by the release of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Background of the issue:-

Concerns Raised-

Japan’s Alternative Options:-

Expert Opinion:-

About the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant tragedy:-

Development after tragedy:-

MUST READ: India’s Nuclear Energy

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2022)

  1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
  2. Monazite contains thorium.
  3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
  4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. 1, 2 and 3 only
  2. 1, 2 and 4 only
  3. 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Band-e-Amir National Park

Syllabus

Context: The Taliban government has banned women from visiting the Band-e-Amir National Park in Afghanistan, recently.

About Band-e-Amir National Park:-

IMAGE SOURCE: discoverytumundo.blogspot.com.ar

MUST READ: Eco-sensitive Zones (ESZ)

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following countries: (2022)

  1. Azerbaijan
  2. Kyrgyzstan
  3. Tajikistan
  4. Uzbekistan
  5. Turkmenistan

Which of the above has borders with Afghanistan?

  1. 1, 2 and 5 only
  2. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
  3. 3, 4 and 5 only
  4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Q.2) Recently, there was a proposal to translocate some of the lions from their natural habitat in Gujarat to one of the following sites (2017)

  1. Corbett National Park
  2. Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary
  3. Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
  4. Sariska National Park

Zonal Council

Syllabus

Context: As per recent reports, Union Minister Amit Shah will Chair the Western Zonal Council meeting organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat.

Background:-

About Zonal Council:-

Composition:-

Historical Background:-

Objectives:-

Organizational structure:-

Functions:-

MUST READ: Inter-State Council

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2022)

  1. The Constitution of India classifies the ministers into four ranks viz. Cabinet Minister, Minister of State with Independent Charge, Minister of State, and Deputy Minister.
  2. The total number of ministers in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister, shall not exceed 15 percent of the total number of members in the Lok Sabha.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) Which of the following bodies does not/do not find mention in the Constitution? (2013)

  1. National Development Council
  2. Planning Commission
  3. Zonal Councils

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

ASTRA missile

Syllabus

Context: Recently, the Indigenous ASTRA missile was tested from Tejas aircraft.

Light Combat Aircraft Tejas:-

About ASTRA missile:-

Type:-

Salient features:-

Significance:-

MUST READ: Vertical Launch Short Range Surface to Air Missile

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2023)

  1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
  2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) With reference to the Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct? (2014)

  1. It is a surface-to-surface missile.
  2. It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
  3. It can deliver a one-tonne nuclear warhead about 7500 km away.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Mains:

India’s fiscal federalism

Syllabus

Context: As India transitioned from a planned economy to a market-oriented system and experienced changes like multi-tier fiscal systems and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the interplay between fiscal policies and federalism requires a fresh perspective.

About Fiscal Federalism:

Need for rethinking India’s Fiscal Federalism

Altered Fiscal Landscape

Complex System of Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations

Challenges associated with fiscal federalism:

The share of the States in divisible pool is shrinking despite their carrying a higher burden of expenditure:

Suggestive measures:

Empowering the Third Tier

Curbing Off-Budget Borrowing

Other measures:

Source: The Hindu


India – Iran relations

Syllabus

Context: Recently India and Iran have agreed to drop the clause for arbitration in foreign courts concerning the Chabahar port.

About India – Iran relationship:

History:

Political relations:

Trade and Commerce:

Defense cooperation:

Cultural relations:

Indian diaspora:

Challenges associated with the bilateral relations:

Way Forward:

If India can extend assertive diplomacy being practiced by it, emphasizing on standing by its neighbours and friends and focusing solely on fulfilling its national interests, it could open a huge potential for cooperation between these two great nations and civilizations.

Therefore, there is a need to look forward toward areas of convergence, where both countries have a mutual understanding of each other’s common interests and further work together to achieve the same.

Source: The Hindu


Practice MCQs

Daily Practice MCQs

Q1) Consider the following pairs:

Nuclear power plant Location
1.Zaporizhzhia Ukraine
2.Fukushima China
3.Chernobyl Russia

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. All three
  4. None

Q2) Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

Zonal Councils are constitutional bodies.

Statement-II:

The North Eastern States are not included in the Zonal Councils.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
  4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q3) Consider the following statements

Statement-I:

Band-e-Amir National Park is located in Yakawlang district, Afghanistan.

Statement-II:

It was declared Afghanistan’s first national park in 2007.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
  2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
  3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
  4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Mains Practice Questions

Q.1) Analyse the challenges associated with the present India’s fiscal structure and give suggestive measures. (250 words)

Q.2) With recent changes in the geopolitical events, how can India and Iran rebuild their ties affected adversely? Discuss (250 words)


Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’ 28th August 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st


ANSWERS FOR 26th August – Daily Practice MCQs

Answers- Daily Practice MCQs

Q.1) – d

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – d

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