Current Affairs for UPSC Exams of 5th Apr 19 Download free PDF

1. 5th April

2. What are the Factors influencing Inflation 1. Behaviour of the monsoon 2. Trend in global oil prices 3. Exchange Rates (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

3. • Ans D • Factors influencing Inflation • there are some factors that could spring a surprise on the upside, such as the behaviour of the monsoon and the trend in global oil prices, both of which feed directly into inflationary expectations. • Early forecasts indicate a strong possibility of a below-normal monsoon due to El Niňo. Such an event would cast a shadow on agricultural output, and consequently the food prices. • Similarly, global oil prices are now edging close to the $70 a barrel mark on the back of production cuts by the OPEC cartel.

4. Who inspired the Bhakti movement in Assam? A. Srimanta Sankardev B. Jaya Prakas Narayan C. Basavapunnaiah D. Nimbkar, Krishnabai

5. • Ans A • Sankardev inspired the Bhakti movement in Assam just as GuruNanak, Ramananda, Namdev, Kabir, Basava and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu inspired it elsewhere in the Indian subcontinent. His influence spread even to some kingdoms as the Matak Kingdom founded by Bharat Singha, and consolidated by Sarbanda Singha in the latter 18th century endorsed his teachings

6. With reference to National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) choose the correct one 1. It is a fund created by the Government of India. 2. It is for enhancing infrastructure financing in the country. 3. It is Same as the National Investment Fund. (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

7. • Ans a • National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is a fund created by the Government of India for enhancing infrastructure financing in the country. • This is different from the National Investment Fund. • Objective: to maximize economic impact mainly through infrastructure development in commercially viable projects, both greenfield and brownfield, including stalled projects. • NIIF was proposed to be set up as a Trust, to raise debt to invest in the equity of infrastructure finance companies such as Indian Rail Finance Corporation (IRFC) and National Housing Bank (NHB). • NIIF is envisaged as a fund of funds with the ability to make direct investments as required. As a fund of fund it may invest in other SEBI registered funds.

8. What is Kessler syndrome which was recently in news A. It is related to formation of planetary motion , known as the nebular hypothesis, maintains that 4.6 billion years ago B. It is a situation wherein the density of objects in the Low Earth Orbit grows so high that collisions between two objects could cause a massive cascade C. It is a a cosmological model in which the Sun is assumed to lie at or near a central point D. None

9. • Ans B • The Kessler syndrome, proposed by the NASA scientist Donald J. Kessler in 1978, is a scenario in which the density of objects in low Earth orbit is high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascade where each collision generates space debris that increases the likelihood of further collisions

10. Consider the following statements regarding the Black soil: 1. It is a soil group typical to the dry and hot regions of the Peninsula. 2. In general, black soils of uplands are of low fertility while those in the valleys are very fertile. 3. The black colour is due to the presence of a small proportion of titaniferous magnetite or iron and black constituents of the parent rock. (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1 and 3 (c) 2 and 3 (d) All of the above

11. • Ans D • These soils are best suited for cotton crop. Hence these soils are called as regur and black cotton soils. Other major crops grown on the black soils include wheat, jowar, linseed, virginia tobacco, castor, sunflower and millets. Rice and sugarcane are equally important where irrigation facilities are available. Large varieties of vegetables and fruits are also successfully grown on the black soils. This soil has been used for growing a variety of crops for centuries without adding fertilizers and manures, with little or no evidence of exhaustion.

12. The first country to commercially launch fifth-generation (5G) services is A. Israel B. South Korea C. Japan D. China.

13. • South Korea will become the first country to commercially launch fifth-generation (5G) services on Friday as it rolls out the latest wireless technology with Samsung Electronics' new 5G-enabled smartphone Galaxy S10.

14. Which of the following statements best describes “carbon fertilization”? a) Increased plant growth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere b) Increased temperature of Earth due to increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere c) Increased acidity of oceans as a result of increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere d) Adaptation of all living beings on Earth to the climate change brought about by the increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

15. • Ans a • It is the increased the rate of photosynthesis in plants that results from increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The effect varies depending on the plant species, the temperature, and the availability of water and nutrients. However, enhanced rates of photosynthesis in plants due to CO2 fertilization are only partially transferred to enhanced plant growth. • One related trend may be what has been termed "Arctic greening". Scientists have been finding, that as northern portions of the planet warm up even as total atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, there’s been an increase in plant growth in these regions