Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 13 April 2020

Q1 National Informatics Centre (NIC) facilitated a record number of digital payments in the country during the last fortnight. Which of the following statements regarding the centre stands true ?

1) The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is an institute set up by the Indian government in 1976 to drive its technology and e-governance initiatives in the country.
2) The institute has the mandate to set up, implement and support all the information technology led-programs of the central and state governments and other government organizations in India.
3) NIC is also in charge of providing the information network which connects various law-making bodies throughout the country and collecting crucial data that helps the government in its socio-economic development plans.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only 
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q2 Shifting cultivation is known by different names in different parts of the world.Which of the following names and their corresponding locations are correctly matched ?

1) Milpa : Mexico
2) Ladang : Thailand
3) Jhumming : India
4) Roca : Brazil
Options :

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 4 only 
c) 1,3& 4 only
d) 1,2 & 4 only 

Q3 The Indo-U.S. Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), has invited Proposals for ‘COVID-19 Indo-U.S. Virtual Networks’ to address COVID-19 challenges. Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) The IUSSTF established under an agreement between the Governments of India and the United States of America in March 2000 is an autonomous bilateral organization jointly funded by both the Governments.
2) It promotes Science, Technology, Engineering, and Innovation through substantive interaction among government, academia, and industry.
3) TheMinistry of New and Renewable Energy, Governments of India, and the U.S. Department of State are respective nodal departments.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q4 Marine red algae may hold key to prevent spread of coronavirus as biocompatible compounds extracted from them can be used as a coating material on sanitary items. Which of the following statements regarding the species stands true ?

1) The red colour of these algae results from the pigments phycoerythrin and phycocyanin.
2) Some rhodophytes are also important in the formation of tropical reefs, an activity with which they have been involved for millions of years; in some Pacific atolls, red algae have contributed far more to reef structure than other organisms, even more than corals.

3) In Asia, rhodophytes are important sources of food, such as nori. The high vitamin and protein content of this food makes it attractive, as does the relative simplicity of cultivation, which began in Japan more than 300 years ago.
Options :

a) 1 & 2 only 
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q5 The “Anak Krakatau” volcano spewed a column of ash 500 meters.................

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