UPSC Weekly Quiz is a current affairs-based quiz on relevant topics from the past week, curated for the aspirants of competitive examinations. Attempt the weekly quiz every Saturday and find answers to the MCQs with explanations at the end of the article.
QUESTION 1
Consider the following statements:
1. The official language and the national language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
2. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
3. The Munshi-Ayyangar formula considered the demands of the Hindi protagonists and the delegates from South India.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 2
With reference to the India-Middle East-Europe mega economic corridor (IMEC), consider the following statements:
1. It is the rail and shipping corridor which is a part of the World Bank.
2. The Project does not include the United States.
3. The corridor will include a rail link, a hydrogen pipeline and a high-speed data cable.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 3
India has signed an agreement to train Indian seafarers in polar and arctic waters with:
(a) Norway
(b) Canada
(c) Russia
(d) Sweden
QUESTION 4
With reference to the Hyderabad in late 1940s, consider the following statements:
1. The state had a majority Hindu population with the state administration almost entirely run by its Muslim rulers.
2. The primary strike against Hyderabad state forces was led by Maj Gen Chaudhuri’s division.
3. Operation Vijay was launched by the Indian Army to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 5
He was born on September 15, 1861, in the Muddenahalli village of Karnataka. After completing his school education in his hometown and later on went to study Bachelor of Arts at the University of Madras. He then pursued a diploma in civil engineering at the College of Science in Pune. Having played a role in major public works projects across the nation, he later served as the 19th Dewan of Mysore and wrote two books on the Indian economy.
The above-mentioned lines refer to:
(a) Kempe Gowda
(b) Basaveshwara
(c) Mysore Ananthaswamy
(d) Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya
QUESTION 6
With reference to the C-295 aircraft, consider the following statements:
1. It is a versatile tactical transport which can perform a variety of missions.
2. The aircraft is not equipped for air-to-air refueling of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
3. This aircraft is set to replace the Avro-748 fleet.
How many of the statements given above are not correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 7
With reference to the OIML certificate, consider the following statements:
1. OIML is an international standard-setting body that develops model regulations, standards and related documents for use by legal metrology authorities and industry.
2. India has become an OIML certificate-issuing authority.
3. OIML stands for International Organisation of Legal Metrology headquartered in New York.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 8
Consider the following statements about Nipah Virus infection:
1. It is an emerging zoonotic disease reported its first case in Ethiopia in the late 1990s.
2. Large fruit bats are the natural reservoir of Nipah Virus infection.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
QUESTION 9
Consider the following pairs:
(Place/Area) (State/UT)
1. Kokernag Arunachal Pradesh
2. Upper Lake Delhi
3. Kozhikode Tamil Nadu
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
QUESTION 10
Which of the following countries have agreed to share technology on “K9 Vajra” to strengthen defence cooperation?
(a) India and Russia
(b) India and South Korea
(c) India and Japan
(d) India and Israel
ANSWERS TO THE MCQs
1. (b)
FYI:
— September 14 is observed as Hindi Diwas, or Hindi Day, to commemorate the Constituent Assembly of India making Hindi the official language of the Union government.
— The Munshi-Ayyangar formula, named after the drafting committee members K M Munshi and N Gopalaswamy Ayyangar, took into account the demands of the Hindi protagonists and the delegates from South India who wished English to have a Constitutional status. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
— As part of the Munshi-Ayyangar formula, Article 343 of the Constitution as adopted in 1950 said, “The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script.
— The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The Constituent Assembly chose Hindi as the country’s official — not the national — language. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
2. (a)
FYI:
— Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe mega economic corridor.
— The project includes India, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the European Union, France, Italy, Germany and the US. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— The corridor will give a new direction to connectivity and sustainable development of entire world.
— The rail and shipping corridor is part of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) — a collaborative effort by G7 nations to fund infrastructure projects in developing nations. PGII is considered to be the bloc’s counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— The project will aim to enable greater trade among the involved countries, including energy products.
— According to a document prepared by European Commission, the corridor will include a rail link as well as an electricity cable, a hydrogen pipeline and a high-speed data cable. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
3. (c)
FYI:
— India and Russia agreed to train Indian mariners in polar and arctic seas in this far eastern Russian port.
— During the meeting, both leaders discussed a wide range of maritime communication issues between India and Russia in order to expand maritime cooperation, including the potential use of new transport corridors such as the Northern Sea Route (NSR) and the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) between Vladivostok and Chennai.
— The two sides also agreed to train Indian seafarers in Polar and Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute, named after GI Admiral Nevelsky, which is equipped with simulator training facilities, in Vladivostok.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
4. (b)
FYI:
— September 13 marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Polo, the military action launched by the Indian Army. Operation Polo was launched to integrate the princely state of Hyderabad. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
— The Nizam of Hyderabad was dithering on joining India ever since Independence on August 15, 1947. The military offensive in Hyderabad state was termed as ‘Police Action’ at the time by the then home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the Nizam’s forces surrendered to the Indian Army by September 18.
— The Nizam of Hyderabad state, Mir Osman Ali Shah, had the intention of keeping his state as an independent entity and did not join India or Pakistan after Independence.
— Hyderabad is situated in the Deccan and was one of the most populous and richest states and had 17 districts including Aurangabad (now in Maharashtra) and Gulbarga (now in Karnataka).
— The landlocked state had a majority Hindu population with the state administration almost entirely run by its Muslim rulers. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The Indian forces were led by Maj Gen Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri, the General Officer Commanding of 1 Armoured Division, who later went on to become the Chief of Army Staff. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
5. (d)
FYI:
— September 15 is marked as the birthday of Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya (1861-1962), credited for his role as a civil engineer and administrator in colonial India.
— He was born on September 15, 1861, in the Muddenahalli village of Karnataka, Visvesvaraya completed his school education in his hometown and later on went to study Bachelor of Arts at the University of Madras.
— He pursued a diploma in civil engineering at the College of Science in Pune and later played a role in major public works projects across the nation, he later served as the 19th Dewan of Mysore and wrote two books on the Indian economy.
— Some of his significant works includes:
(i) Introduction of the block system of irrigation in the Deccan canals in 1899
(ii) Solving the problem of the “muddy and discoloured” water in the city of Sukkur located on the banks of the Indus river
(iii) Inventing automatic gates meant to regulate the flow of water in reservoirs, which is patented.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
6. (a)
FYI:
— The Indian Air Force (IAF) received the first of the 56 C295 aircraft, which are set to replace its ageing Avro-748 fleet, at the Airbus production site in Seville, Spain. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
— According to Airbus, the C295 is a versatile tactical transport which can perform a variety of missions, such as carrying troops and cargo, maritime patrol, airborne warning, surveillance and reconnaissance, armed close air support, medical evacuation, VIP transport, and airborne firefighting. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— It can carry up to nine tonnes of payload or up to 71 personnel at a maximum cruise speed of 260 kts.
— It is also equipped for air-to-air refueling of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— It is powered by two Pratt & Whitney turboprop engines, the aircraft can cruise at altitudes up to 30,000 ft and can quickly take off from and land at unpaved, soft, and sandy/grassy airstrips.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
7. (b)
FYI:
— India has become an OIML certificate-issuing authority. India applied to become an OIML certificate-issuing authority earlier in March 2023. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The OIML stands for International Organisation of Legal Metrology which was established in 1955 and headquartered in Paris. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
— The OIML is an international standard-setting body. It develops model regulations, standards and related documents for use by legal metrology authorities and industry. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— It plays a crucial role in harmonising national laws and regulations on the performance of measuring instruments like clinical thermometers, alcohol breath analysers, radar speed measuring instruments, ship tanks found at ports, and petrol dispensing units.
— India became a member of the OIML in 1956. In the same year, India signed the metric convention.
— The OIML-CS is a system for issuing, registering and using OIML certificates, and their associated OIML-type evaluation/test reports, for instruments like digital balance, clinical thermometers, etc.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
8. (b)
FYI:
— For the fourth time since 2018, Kerala is facing the deadly virus Nipah. The zoonotic disease is revisiting the North Kerala district of Kozhikode for the third time since 2018.
— Human Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a new zoonotic disease that was originally identified in a significant epidemic of 276 confirmed cases in Malaysia and Singapore between September 1998 and May 1999. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— Large fruit bats of Pteropus genus are the natural reservoir of NiV. Presumably, pigs may become infected after consumption of partially bat eaten fruits that are dropped in pigsties. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
9. (d)
FYI:
| Place/Area | State/UT |
| Kokernag | Jammu and Kashmir |
| Upper Lake | Madhya Pradesh |
| Kozhikode | Kerala |
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
10. (b)
FYI:
— South Korea is willing to share technology on submarines and missile systems with India to strengthen defence cooperation.
— Both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in defence referring to K9 Vajra, a 52-calibre tracked self-propelled howitzer designed by a South Korean company.
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— South Korea will provide USD 4 billion to India as a line of credit over the next three years for “high-value” projects.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
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