Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & all other competitive exams 2012-13

Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & all other competitive exams 2012-13

1. Among the following sentences about the suggestions made by Parliamentary panel, pick out the wrong one:
(A) It has recently suggested to the government to build capabilities to face any challenge.
(B) It has suggested allocating funds towards the modernization of Indian army.
(C) It also underscored the need to fast-track procurement of ammunition for the Army considering that the situation is critical.
(D) It has suggested to restart India’s IGMDP.
Answer: It has suggested to restart India’s IGMDP

2. Who among the following leaders was re-elected General Secretary of the CPI (M) for the third consecutive term at the party's 20th Congress, which took place at Kozhikode?
(A) Brinda Karat
(B) Prakash Karat
(C) Sitaram Yechury
(D) (A) (B) Bardhan
Answer: Prakash Karat

3. The Union Cabinet, on April 26, 2012 decided to retain the voting rights in the private sector banks at 10 percent and felt it could be raised progressively to
(A) 26 percent
(B) 11 percent
(C) 33 percent
(D) 42 percent
Answer: 26 percent

4. ISRO recently gave clearance for using which frequency band from satellite for internet on trains?
(A) C Band
(B) KU band
(C) S Band
(D) 3G Spectrum
Answer: KU band

5. Who is appointed Governor of Rajasthan on 12th May 2012?
(A) Shivraj Singh
(B) Aruna Roy
(C) Margaret Alwa
(D) Prabha Singh
Answer: Margaret Alwa

6. Mother's day is celebrated on–
(A) 13 May
(B) 8 May
(C) 8 April
(D) 14 November
Answer: 13 May

7. The multi-disciplinary steering committee of the Union Sports Ministry approved National coaching camps and exposure trips for the Olympic-bound wrestlers, Name the place where the camp was set up?
(A) Chandigadh
(B) Bhiwani
(C) Patiala
(D) Sonepat
Answer: Sonepat

8. A new naval base, INS Dweeprakshak, of the Indian Navy has been commissioned at–
(A) A&N Islands
(B) Lakshadweep
(C) Visakhapatnam
(D) Kochi
Answer: Lakshadweep

9. The Supreme Court on 2nd May ordered the release of merchant navy ship Enrica Lexie which was seized at Kerala. The ship belongs to–
(A) Italy
(B) France
(C) Singapore
(D) Thailand
Answer: Italy

10. A report title “Premature baby deaths in India” was released on May 2 by which one of the following body?
(A) WHO
(B) UNESCO
(C) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(D) None of the above
Answer: None of the above

11. Veteran actor of Bengali cinema Soumitra Chatterjee was honoured with one of the following award–
(A) Dadasaheb Phalke Award
(B) Dadasaheb Phalke Ratna Award
(C) Lifetime Achievement Award
(D) Sahitya Academy Award
Answer: Dadasaheb Phalke Award

12. According to the 66th round of National Sample Survey (NSS) carried out between July 2009 and June 2010, about…………….of India's rural population lives on less than Rs 35 a day–
(A) 60%
(B) 62%
(C) 66%
(D) 69%
Answer: 66%

13. Which of the following Indian actress has been chosen as the brand ambassador for sanitation programme?
(A) Kareena Kapoor
(B) Vidya Balan
(C) Aishwarya Rai
(D) Hema Malini
Answer: Vidya Balan

14. Recently which of the following body has directed to the Central government to eliminate Haj Subsidy?
(A) Law Commission of India
(B) Supreme court of India
(C) Ministry of Minority Affairs
(D) PMO
Answer: Supreme court of India

15. Yesteryear actress Sushma Seth has been recently awarded by–
(A) Dada Saheb Phalke Award
(B) Jgyanpith Award
(C) Kalpana Chawla Award
(D) Best Jury Award at National Film Festival
Answer: Kalpana Chawla Award

16. Which one of the following statements regarding Vladimir Putin in incorrect?
(A) He is the leader of the United Russia Party.
(B) took the oath as the President of Russia on 7 May 2012.
(C) He had served as the President of Russia for two consecutive terms from 2000 to 2008.
(D) He is known as the father of modern Russia.
Answer: He is known as the father of modern Russia

17. Francois Hollande is elected as the President of which of the following nation?
(A) France
(B) Portugal
(C) Greece
(D) Poland
Answer: France

18. Which of the following group of nations has decided to hold consultations on South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region later this year?
(A) U.S., Russia and China
(B) U.S., Russia and India
(C) U.S., India and China
(D) U.S., Japan and China
Answer: U.S., India and China

19. The Teesta treaty has becomes a bone of contention between India and……………...?
(A) Pakistan
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Nepal
(D) China
Answer: Bangladesh

20. Kumbum is a monastery found in which of the country?
(A) India
(B) China
(C) Thailand
(D) Japan
Answer: China

21. The President of which of the following country has recently supported same-sex marriage?
(A) The Netherlands
(B) U.S.A.
(C) Canada
(D) Vatican City
Answer: U.S.A.

22. India said the report biased titled “One Planet” on Asia Pacific region. The report was released by which of the following UN body–
(A) UNESCO
(B) UNSC
(C) UNDP
(D) UNCTAD
Answer: UNDP

23. The Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf is found at–
(A) Antarctica region
(D) Arctic region
(C) Extra-polar region
(D) Himalayan region
Answer: Antarctica region

24. Consider the following statements–1. invited Indian companies to participate in the exploration.
2. Puntaland is a territory of European continent.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) only 1
(B) only 2
(C) None of them
(D) Both of them
Answer: only 1

25. Which one of the following is not a nuclear site of Iran?
(A) Qom
(B) Natanz
(C) Bushehr
(D) Abadan
Answer: Abadan

26. Recently a team of Indian scientists have achieved a breakthrough in the search for new anti-malarial compounds of natural origin to combat different strains of the parasites responsible for the dreaded disease. The project is funded by which one of the followings?
(A) Department of Biotechnology
(B) Department of Science and Technology
(C) World Health Organisation
(D) UNESCO
Answer: Department of Biotechnology

27. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) banned the use of live animals in dissection and other experiments in educational and research institutions. The ban is based on which one of the followings?
(A) The prevention of cruelty to Animals Act 1960.
(B) The prevention of cruelty to animals act 1970
(C) The prevention of cruelty to animals act 1980
(D) The Prevention of cruelty to animals act 1990
Answer: The prevention of cruelty to Animals Act 1960

28. A 600 MW solar power park, touted as Asia's first and largest, was dedicated to the nationat which one of the following place?
(A) Badmer, Rajasthan
(B) Patan, Gujarat
(C) Anand, Gujarat
(D) Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
Answer: Patan, Gujarat

29. The two-member Adarsh Judicial Commission set up to probe into the scam-tainted Adarsh Housing Society submitted its interim report to the state Government on 13 April 2012? By which of the following governments was the committee set up?
(A) Maharashtra Government
(B) Union Government
(C) Gujarat Government
(D) Andhra Pradesh Government
Answer: Maharashtra Government

30. Who among the following leaders was re-elected General Secretary of CPI (M) for the third consecutive term at the party's 20th Congress, which took place at Kozhikode?
(A) Brinda Karat
(B) Prakash Karat
(C) Sitaram Yechury
(D) AB Bardhan
Answer: Prakash Karat

31. Consider the following statements–1. A High-Level Expert Group (HLEG) chaired by Srinath Reddy was mandated to develop a framework for providing easily accessible and affordable health care to all Indians.
2. The HLEG was appointed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 & 2
(D) None of the above
Answer: Only 1

32. Consider the following statements–1. Today India is the largest producer of movies in the world.
2. The National Film Development Corporation of India plans to launch the National Film Heritage Mission with a view to conserving blockbuster movies of the past 100 years of Indian cinema.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both 1 & 2
(D) None of the above
Answer: Both 1 & 2

33. Which of the following district of Bihar has achieved highest record paddy and potato production?
(A) Nawada
(B) Nalanda
(C) Saharasa
(D) Saran
Answer: Nalanda

34. The Centre on 2nd April has rewarded.........................States for performing well in executing rural drinking water schemes during 2011-12?
(A) Six
(B) Seven
(C) Eight
(D) Nine
Answer: Eight

35. Which one of the following will be the longest tunnel of India being constructed in J&K?
(A) Banihal tunnel
(B) Rohtang tunnel
(C) Chenani-Nashri tunnel
(D) None of them
Answer: Chenani-Nashri tunnel

36. As per a report by Security and Defence Agenda (SDA) and McAfee on 6 May 2012, India ranked………………in affected cyber crimes?
(A) 4th
(B) 5th
(C) 6th
(D) 7th
Answer: 6th

37. Pranahita-Chevella irrigation project was signed between which two states?
(A) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
(B) Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra
(C) MP and Maharashtra
(D) Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Answer: Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra

38. Which of the following job guarantee scheme was expanded on 9th May to include 30 works in agriculture, watershed, livestock, fisheries, flood management and irrigation?
(A) MNREGA
(B) NRLM
(C) SSGRY
(D) PRY
Answer: MNREGA

39. A centre dedicated to the life and works of Rabindranath Tagoreis being proposed to be established at–
(A) London
(B) Washington
(C) Edinburgh
(D) Tokyo
Answer: Edinburgh

40. The………………..alone have been empowered to decide on the priority of work to be taken up under MNREGA:
(A) Gram Panchayat
(B) Gram Sabha
(C) DRDA
(D) State government
Answer: Gram Panchayat

41. The UN General Assembly started observing the World Environment Day in 1972 to1. raise public awareness about the need of better environment.
2. to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment
Choose the right option–
(A) Both 1and 2 are correct.
(B) Only 1 is correct.
(C) Only 2 is correct.
(D) Neither 1 nor 2 is correct.
Answer: Both 1and 2 are correct

42. Scientists at the Tomato Genome Consortium (TGC) successfully sequenced the genomes of which of the following vegetables?
(A) Tomato
(B) Onion
(C) Brinjal
(D) Potato
Answer: Tomato

43. One of the Asia-Pacific nations has agreed to hold its first ever maritime exercises with India. The nation is–
(A) Vietnam
(B) U.S.A
(C) Australia
(D) Japan
Answer: U.S.A.

44. A report titled “Living Planet Report 2012” was released on 15 May 2012 by which one of the following international body–
(A) UNEP
(B) WWF
(C) IUCN
(D) IPCC
Answer: IPCC

45. Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi was after a long wait allowed visiting any nation. First of all she has visited–
(A) Thailand
(B) Vietnam
(C) India
(D) China
Answer: Thailand

46. The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, received the Templeton Prize on 14 May 2012 for his role in promoting links between spirituality and science. The prize money of the award is–
(A) 1.7 million dollar
(B) 2.2 million dollar
(C) 2.7 million dollar
(D) 2.2 million dollar
Answer: 1.7 million dollar

47. Muktinath Temple, a pilgrimage destination for Hindus is situated at which of the following nation?
(A) India
(B) Nepal
(C) Trinidad & Tobago
(D) Malaysia
Answer: India

48. Which of the following country on 9th May has passed a law to encourage a multiparty political system in the country?
(A) Jordan
(B) Qatar
(C) Russia
(D) India
Answer: Jordan

49. Pakistan successfully test-fired Hatf III missile on 10 May 2012. Another name of the missile is–
(A) Babar
(B) Ghaznavi
(C) Gouri
(D) Shahin
Answer: Ghaznavi

50. Consider the following statements–1. About 50 people on board were killed in a Superjet 100 aircraft crash about 40 miles (64 km) south of Jakarta on 9 May 2012.
2. The Superjet 100 aircraft, Russia's first all-new passenger jet since the fall of the Soviet Union went missing on 9 May 2012.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
(A) Only 1
(B) only2
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) None of them
Answer: Only 1