Current Affairs Quiz , 20 Nov 2018

1) The International Tourism Mart has been organised recently in which of the following states?

a) Tripura
b) Nagaland
c) Sikkim
d) Mizoram

Answer: a
• International Tourism Mart, an annual event organised in the North Eastern region with the objective of highlighting the tourism potential of the region in the domestic and international markets.
• It brings together the tourism business fraternity and entrepreneurs from the eight North Eastern States.
• The event has been planned and scheduled to facilitate interaction between buyers, sellers, media, Government agencies and other stakeholders.
• The International Tourism Marts are organised in the North Eastern States on rotation basis.
• The earlier editions of this mart have been held in Guwahati, Tawang, Shillong, Gangtok and Imphal.

2) The 12th edition of Aero India biennial air show will be organised in

a) Hyderabad
b) Jaipur
c) Bangalore
d) Kochi

Answer: c
• The 12th edition of ‘Aero India 2019’ would be held at Air Force Station, Yelahanka, Bengaluru, (Karnataka).
• This five-day event will combine a major trade exhibition of the aerospace and defence industries with public air shows.
• Aero India will provide a unique opportunity for exchange of information, ideas and new developments in the aviation industry.
• Besides giving a fillip to the domestic aviation industry it would further the cause of Make in India.

3) The Global Education Monitoring Report is brought out by which of the following organisations?

a) Oxfam International
b) Institute of International Education
c) UNESCO
d) World Bank

Answer: c
• UNESCO report says that 80% of seasonal migrant children in 7 cities lacked access to education and 40% were likely to end up in work.
• Literacy levels in rural households of India dip with seasonal migration, the UNESCO global education monitoring report 2019 has observed.
• In India, 10.7 million children aged 6 to 14 lived in rural households with a seasonal migrant in 2013.
• About 28% of youth aged 15 to 19 in these households were illiterate or had not completed primary school, compared to 18% of the cohort overall,” says the report.
• About 80% of seasonal migrant children in seven cities lacked access to education near work sites, and 40% are likely to end up in work rather than education, experiencing abuse and exploitation.
• Construction sector:
o The report says that the construction sector absorbs the majority of short-term migrants.
o A survey in Punjab state of 3,000 brick kiln workers in 2015-16 found that 60% were inter-State migrants.
o Between 65% and 80% of all children aged five to 14 living at the kilns worked there seven to nine hours per day.
o About 77% of kiln workers reported lack of access to early childhood or primary education for their children.

4) Which among the following countries is not a part of BASIC bloc, formed at the COP 15, Copenhagen Climate Summit?

a) India
b) Brazil
c) Singapore
d) China

Answer: c
• Ahead of the UN climate conference in Poland, the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China) group met to put pressure on developed countries to meet pre-2020 climate efforts.
• The group through a joint statement urged developed countries to take urgent actions close the pre-2020 implementation gaps by 2023 which can be a useful input for the first Global Stocktake (GST).
• The GST refers to a proposed five-yearly-review of the impact of climate change action undertaken by countries.
• Under the Paris Agreement, each country has to present a climate action plan every five years.
BASIC Group of countries:
• The BASIC countries (also Basic countries or BASIC) are a bloc of four large newly industrialized countries – Brazil, South Africa, India and China.
• The four committed to act jointly at the Copenhagen climate summit, including a possible united walk-out if their common minimum position was not met by the developed nations.
• This emerging geopolitical alliance, initiated and led by China, then brokered the final Copenhagen Accord with the United States.
• Subsequently, the grouping is working to define a common position on emission reductions and climate aid money, and to try to convince other countries to sign up to the Copenhagen Accord.
• The grouping described the Accord as merely a political agreement and not legally binding, as is argued by the US and Europe.

5) Sri Lankan Frogmouth, a nocturnal bird found in the Western Ghats of South India, and Sri Lanka, belongs to which IUCN category?

a) Vulnerable
b) Critically Endangered
c) Near Threatened
d) Least Concern

Answer: d
• The Sri Lanka frogmouth, Sri Lankan frogmouth or Ceylon frogmouth is a small frogmouth found in the Western Ghats of south India and Sri Lanka.
• It is nocturnal and is found in forest habitats.
• The sexes differ slightly in plumage.
• IUCN status: Least Concern.