Daily Current Affair Quiz: 17th April 2020
1. Which of the following statements are true?
1. The fortified city of Jaipur, in India’s north western state of Rajasthan was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II.
2. Jaipur was India’s first city to win the ‘heritage city’ tag.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: a
Justification:
- In 2017, old Ahmedabad was India’s first city to win the ‘heritage city’ tag. With Jaipur’s inclusion, the number of heritage sites across India that are on the UNESCO World Heritage list, has grown to 38.
- The fortified city of Jaipur, in India’s north western state of Rajasthan was founded in 1727 by Sawai Jai Singh II.
- Jaipur boasts of vibrant intangible culture and heritage reflected in it being preferred tourism destination owing to its iconic monuments such as the Govind Dev temple, Amer Fort, City Palace, Jantar Mantar and Hawa Mahal among many.
2. SPEEL Programme is associated with
(a) Languages
(b) Indigenous tribes
(c) Ancient water harvesting techniques
(d) Cultural Properties
Ans: a
Justification:
- In India, five languages have become extinct since 1950, while 42 are critically endangered. The Central Government is implementing ‘Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages of India’ (SPEEL)’ for protection, preservation and documentation of all mother tongues and languages of India, which are spoken by less than 10,000 people.
- Dialects are also covered under this programme.
- It is being implemented by Mysore-based Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL)
3. Which of the following statements are true?
1. India and Bhutan have successfully concluded the ‘testing transfer’ of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline
2. This is the first transnational petroleum pipeline from India and first South Asian oil pipeline corridor.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: b
Justification:
- India and Nepal have successfully concluded the ‘testing transfer’ of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline. The 69-km long petroleum pipeline from Motihari in Bihar to Amelkhgunj in Nepal has been constructed by India.
- This is the first transnational petroleum pipeline from India, first South Asian oil pipeline corridor and first oil pipeline in Nepal. It will ensure smooth, cost-effective and environment-friendly supply of petroleum products to Nepal.
4. Which of the following statement/s is/are true.
1. The Sargasso Sea lies within the Northern Atlantic Subtropical Gyre.
2. The Sargasso Sea is defined only by ocean currents.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: c
Justification:
- The Sargasso Sea lies within the Northern Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. While all other seas in the world are defined at least in part by land boundaries, the Sargasso Sea is defined only by ocean currents. o The Gulf Stream establishes the Sargasso Sea’s western boundary, while the Sea is further defined to the north by the North Atlantic Current, to the east by the Canary Current, and to the south by the North Atlantic Equatorial Current. o Since this area is defined by boundary currents, its borders are dynamic, correlating roughly with the Azores High Pressure Center for any particular season.
5. Ashadhi Bij festival is celebrated at
(a) Ladakh
(b) Gujarat
(c) Assam
(d) Tripura
Ans: b
Justification:
- Ashadh Bij or Kutchi New Year is a distinguished culture where arrival of rain is celebrated. Kutchi community in Kutch region (desert area) of Gujarat observes Kutchi New Year as per an indigenous calendar.
- Ganesha, Lakshmi and other regional deities are worshipped on this occasion. During Ashadhi-beej, they check the moisture in the atmosphere to help predict which crop would do best in coming monsoon.