Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 13-07-2022

Q1. Which of the following is/are predominantly Rabi crop/crops in Indian cropping cycle?

1. Wheat
2. Rice
3. Pulses
4. Oilseeds

Answer (a)

Explanation:

• Planting Kharif or summer-sown crops is currently lagging last year’s levels due to an uneven monsoon, despite a recent pick-up in rain and flooding in many states.
• In the week ended July 8, rice, the main summer staple, witnessed a worrying 24% drop in acreage over the same period last year, the latest available official data shows.
• Acreage of oilseeds, a scarce commodity India imports to meet overall demand, was 20.21% lower than the year-ago period, while the area under pulses showed a slight increase.
• Rainfall in July is considered most critical for paddy, whose planting has been slow, mainly due to deficit rainfall in producer states.
• Wheat is Rabi crop compared others discussed above not directly affected by monsoon.

Q2. Which of the following global weather events affect Indian Monsoon?

1. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
2. La Nina
3. El Nino
4. All of the above

Answer (d)

Explanation:

• A key weather pattern known as La Nina, marked by cooler ocean-surface temperatures that tend to boost the monsoon, is expected to be favourable for the Indian monsoon. El Nino however negatively affects the monsoon.
• But the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) index, another monsoon- influencing ocean parameter, has been “below zero for 8 consecutive weeks” Skymet said.
• A negative IOD suppresses monsoon bursts and a likely negative IOD event through the monsoon months is expected to persist till November 2022.

Q3. What is ‘Lavender Scare’ recently seen in news?

1. Locusts attack
2. New african viral fever
3. A spyware
4. The marginalisation of LGBTQ

Answer (d)

Explanation:

What was the ‘Lavender Scare’, and how is it linked to NASA’s James Webb?

• NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, which will show the clearest-ever images of the universe, is set to bring about a change in the way we perceive However, the telescope’s name has come under intense criticism from the LGBTQ community.
• The telescope has been named after James Webb, who ran the US space agency from 1961 to 1968 and allegedly had a role to play in the “Lavender Scare” at NASA.
• The Lavender Scare was the marginalisation of LGBTQ employees working in the US government’s offices during the 1950s and It is often described as a “witch-hunt”, where those suspected of being from the LGBTQ community were fired from their jobs.

Q4. It is the first systematically written historical text in Indian history. It deals with the chronicles of five dynasties that ruled Kashmir. Which of the following books is described here?

1. Kavirajamarga
2. Rajatarangini
3. Mṛcchakatika
4. Mudrarakshasa

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Kalhana’s Rajatarangini is the first systematically written historical text in Indian history. It deals with the five dynasties that ruled Kashmir.

1. Lalitha Aditya Muktapada – The greatest of the Karkota dynasty (1st dynasty to rule Kashmir). He constructed the famous Martanda temple in Srinagar and promoted trade between Kashmir and China.
2. Avantivarma, the most popular king in the history of Kashmir promoted many irrigation With the help of his minister Suia, he constructed a dam across the Vitasta river (Jhelum). He belonged to the Utpala dynasty.
3. Diddadevi, the only woman ruler in the history of Kashmir, was the wife of Kshama Gupta and belonged to the Poorvagupta dynasty.

Q5. Chandbardai was court poet of

1. Jaichnadra
2. Prithviraj
3. Mihir Bhoja
4. Gopala

Answer (b)

Explanation:

700 – 1200CE witnessed maximum decentralization of political authority. As many as 1200 regional kingdoms were formed. It was called the ‘heyday of Indian Feudalism’.

A new community called Rajputs emerged for the first time. According to Chand Bardai, the court poet of Prithviraj and the author of Prithviraj Charitra and Prithviraj Raso, the Rajputs were born out of the sacred fire at Mount Abu. The four Rajput clans were Chauhans, Pratihars, Paramars and Solanki. These together are called Agnikula Kshatriyas.

Q6. Consider the following statements about Rajaraja Chola

1. He attacked Ceylon
2. He constructed Brihadeswara temple

Which of the above statements are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (c)

Explanation:

Rajaraja Chola was the greatest of the Chola rulers He defeated Pandyas, Cheras, Banas, Kadambas and Western Gangas. Vimaladitya of the Eastern Chalukyas became the son-in-law of Rajaraja Chola. He attacked Ceylon, destroyed the capital city Anuradhapura and annexed Northern Ceylon. Rajaraja Chola held titles such as Chola martanda, Shivapadasekhara, Mummadicholadeva and Madurai Konda.