Quizzing Time-----

1. Barack Obama Signed Into Law the Violence against Women Act Reauthorization 2013 at Washington. Which of the following statements in context of the statement are true?
I. The Violence against Women Act was first passed in 1994, re-authorised since then, the new Act offers support to the organisations which serve to the victims of domestic violence.
II. The Violence against Women Act of 1994 is primarily a US Federal Law which was signed in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.
III. The Act established the Office on Violence against Women in the Department of Human and Justice for mankind.
IV. The new Act creates as well as expands the federal programs for helping local communities for the purpose of law enforcement as well as helping the victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
a) Statements I, and III are true
b) Statements I, II and IV are true 
c) Statements II, and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (b) Statements I, II, and IV are true

2. Name the person, who was the chief guest during the 45th Independence Day of Mauritius?
a) President of India, Pranab Mukherjee
b) Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh
c) UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi
d) Chairperson of BJP, Lal Krishna Advani 
Answer: (a) President of India, Pranab Mukherjee

3. India and Bhutan signed Currency Swap Agreement worth 100 million Dollars. Which of the following statements in context of the statement are true?
I. It enables RMAB (Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan to make withdrawals of US dollar, euro or Indian rupee in multiple tranches up to a maximum of 100 million dollars or its equivalent.
II. The swap agreement is intended to provide a precaution line of funding for SAARC member countries to meet any balance of payments and liquidity crisis till longer term arrangements are made or if there is need for short-term liquidity due to market turbulence.
III. The arrangement would be for a three-year period and would help bring financial stability in the region.
a) Statements I, and III are true
b) Statements I, and II are true 
c) Statements II, and III are true
d) All the three statements are true
Answer: (d) All the three statements are true

4. China on 10 March 2013 unveiled its Government Restructuring Plan. Which of the statements in context of the restructuring plan are true?
I. The Ministry of Railways will be dissolved with the Ministry of Aviation. The commercial functions of the Ministry of Railways will be taken over by the Ministry of Aviation. The Ministry of Aviation will be the in-charge of development and planning of the Chinese railways. 
II. The National Family Planning Commission will be merged with the Ministry of Health. It is important to note that National Family Planning Commission is that agency of China which controls the one-child policy.
III. The new Government Restructuring Plan of China will have focus on boosting the food and drug safety by combining the responsibilities and duties of various agencies into the General Administration of Food and Drug. 
IV. There will be a merger of two main media watchdogs- the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television as well as the General Administration of Press and Publication.
a) Statements I, and III are true
b) Statements I, II and IV are true 
c) Statements II, III and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (c) Statements II, III, and IV are true

5. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari on 11 March 2013 launched a 7.5 billion dollar gas pipeline project which will link Iran's gas pipeline to that of Pakistan. Which of the following statements in context of the pipeline construction are true?
I. Iran has constructed 900 km of the 1600-km pipeline on its soil.
II. Both Iranian and Pakistani firms have undertaken the construction of the remaining part in Pakistan.
III. The project is completed by mid-2014, as scheduled; Iran will export 21.5 million cubic metres of natural gas to Pakistan on daily basis.
IV. The work on the Iranian side is almost complete and on 11 March 2013 saw the construction work start on the Pakistani side. The total of 1780km of pipeline is to be built in Pakistan by December 2014.
a) Statements I, and III are true
b) Statements I, II and III are true 
c) Statements II, III and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (b) Statements I, II, and III are true
6. The India-UK Summit talks took place on 19 February 2013 in New Delhi during the official visit of British Prime Minister, David Cameron to India. During the talks several issues were discussed between the two nations, which of the following statements are true in context of the summit?
I. The two nations considered the results of India-UK Education Forum meeting which took place on 30 January 2013 in London.
II. India welcomed the British Council’s programme for providing digital English language materials for Indian learners.
III. Both India and UK created limitations over welcoming legitimate travellers, including students, tourists, visitors, business people or qualified workers.
IV. UK Prime Minister David Cameron committed to facilitate India with cutting edge British technology, civil and military, in accordance with the international obligations.
a) Statements I, II and III are true
b) Statements I, II and IV are true 
c) Statements II, III and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (b) Statements I, II and IV are true

7. India and Republic of Portugal Signed a Social Security Agreement on 4 March 2013. Which of the following statements in context of the signed agreement are true?
I. The agreement was signed at New Delhi during the India visit of Paulo Sacadura Cabral Portas, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.
II. The bilateral social security agreement would help in taking advantage of the emerging employment opportunities and strengthening the trade and investments between the two countries.
III. For short term contract of up to 10 year, no social security contribution should be paid under the Portuguese law by the detached workers, in case they are making their contribution of the social security payment in India.
IV. In case an employee is sent to Republic of Portugal by an Indian Company from a third company then also the benefits of the agreement will be available to the Indian worker.
a) Statements I, II and III are true
b) Statements I, II and IV are true 
c) Statements II, III and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (b) Statements I, II and IV are true
8. Pranab Mukherjee and Sheikh Hasina Inaugurated Freight Train to Bangladesh. Which of the statements mentioned below in context of the event are true?
I. The locomotives and tank wagons being supplied to Bangladesh under 1800 million US Dollar line of credit that was provided by India.
II. The freight train was inaugurated at Dhaka cantonment railway station. The freight train comprised of twenty broad gauge tank wagons, two locomotives and one brake van.
III. Inauguration of the railway wagons as well as locomotives in Dhaka was a part of the implementation of 114 projects which were approved under the 800 million US dollar credit line provided by India to Bangladesh.
IV. Out of the total projects to be implemented, 12 are the railway projects which encompass four infrastructure development projects as well as eight rolling stock projects, which in turn will be implemented at an overall cost of 629 million US dollars approximately.
a) Statements I, and III are true
b) Statements I, II and IV are true 
c) Statements II, and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (c) Statements II and IV are true

9. Japan and US agreed on Free Trade Auto Exception in the month of March 2013. Which of the following statements in context of the Agreement true?
I. Agreement on exemptions for the auto industry in a thoughtful Pacific-wide free trade pact was reached, with Japan showing its readiness to announce its entry into negotiations.
II. Both the Countries agreed in principle that the US will be able to keep tariffs on car imports — 2.5 per cent for passenger cars and 25 per cent on trucks — for at least five to 10 years under the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
III. US auto sector also welcomed Japan’s entry, claiming Tokyo maintains non-tariff barriers on autos, and says a deal would give Japanese automakers unfettered access to their market, and allow them the same chances.
IV. The emerging pact could boost growth and set rules to govern trade in the dynamic but unwieldy region, which includes much of East Asia, as well as some American countries.
a) Statements I, and III are true
b) Statements I, II and IV are true 
c) Statements II, and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (b) Statements I, II and IV are true

10. India in the month of March 2013 proposed the idea of a hydrocarbon pipeline with Kazakhstan that is intended to bring fuel through a five-nation route.
I. The proposed pipeline would cover about 1500 kms (no study has yet been done), thus making it longer than the planned Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline which will serve as the role model.
II. It will head from the former Silk Road caravanserai city of Shymkent, known today for oil refining, and enter Uzbekistan.
III. From there it will go to Afghanistan and then follow the route to be taken by the TAPI pipeline into India via Pakistan.
IV. It has the potential to be extended to Russia resolving the headache of transportation that has vexed Indian energy security managers when they scout for hydrocarbon collaboration with Moscow.
a) Statements I, and III are true
b) Statements I, II and IV are true 
c) Statements II, and IV are true
d) All the four statements are true
Answer: (b) All the four Statements are true