Thursday Acknowledge with General Knowledge
I. The first stage is when cases of an infection are imported into a country which was not the source of the infection. In this case, all the countries outside of China which started reporting cases of coronavirus, reached Stage 1 of the outbreak as soon as they reported their first case. If an infection is contained after transmission to only a few countries, it does not become a pandemic, but if it cannot be contained in a short span of time and spreads across the globe, like COVID-19 did, it becomes a pandemic. The second stage of an outbreak is when there are cases of local transmission in the country. This means that the person from whom the infection spread to another person is from the country itself. In this stage, the trajectory of the (X) can be identified from the source to all the infected individuals. Community transmission is the third stage of an outbreak. In this stage, it becomes hard to track the chain of transmission of the virus in a large number of cases. This means that virus has started circulating within the community and can also infect those individuals who have neither travelled to a country affected by the outbreak nor have come into the contact of a person infected by the virus. In this case, a lockdown becomes highly important as any person can spread the virus, regardless of their travel history or the people they have come in contact with.
1. Which of the following was the origin of the pandemic being referred to in the above passage?
a. Wuhan
b. Beijing
c. Shanghai
d. Tianjin
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The pandemic being referred in the above passage is COVID-19. THE virus first emerged in the Wuhan city of Hubei province of C hina in late December and has spread throughout the world claiming lives of lakhs of people.
• WHO announced “COVID-19” as the name of this new disease on 11 February 2020, following guidelines previously developed with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
• The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
2. What does (X) and (Y) stand for in the passage and is also the causative agent of COVID 19?
a. Protozoa
b. Virus
c. Bacteria
d. Fungi
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.
• Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
• The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
3. The causative agent of COVID 19 is closely related to which of the following disease’s causative agent?
a. EBOLA
b. HIV
c. SARS
d. Malaria
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• Viruses are named based on their genetic structure to facilitate the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines and medicines. Virologists and the wider scientific community do this work, so viruses are named by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV).
• ICTV announced “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)” as the name of the new virus on 11 February 2020. This name was chosen because the virus is genetically related to the coronavirus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003. While related, the two viruses are different.
• SARS stands for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
• SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) – virus was identified in 2003. It is thought to be an animal virus from an as-yet-uncertain animal reservoir, perhaps bats, that spread to other animals (civet cats) and first infected humans in the Guangdong province of southern China in 2002.
4. Who among the following has been considered as the whistleblower of China being the source of COVID-19?
a. Li Wenilang
b. Xi Jinping
c. Chen Pokong
d. Zhong Nanshan
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Li Wenliang was the Chinese ophthalmologist who worked as a physician at Wuhan Central Hospital.
• Li warned his colleagues in December 2019 about a possible outbreak of an illness that resembled severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), later acknowledged as COVID-19. He became a whistleblower when his warnings were later shared publicly.
• On 3 January 2020, Wuhan police summoned and admonished him for "making false comments on the Internet”.
• Li returned to work, later contracted the virus from an infected patient (who had been originally treated for glaucoma) and died from the disease on 7 February 2020, at age 33.
5. Where are the headquarters of the World Health Organisation (WHO) situated?
a. Dublin
b. Washington DC
c. Geneva
d. New York
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• WHO headquarters is located in Geneva, Switzerland.
• There are 6 WHO regions, each with a regional office. In addition, WHO has 149 field offices in countries, territories or areas. Countries without a WHO office are covered by nearby field offices or by the appropriate regional office.
• WHO has dedicated staff working in 149 field offices, as well as support from 6 regional offices. They advise ministries of health on technical issues and provide assistance in scaling up essential prevention, treatment and care services throughout the health sector.
• Founded on-7 April 1948
• Director General Tedros Adhanom
II. Government has announced a complete lockdown of the entire country for 21 days to fight COVID-19 from 25th March 2020 midnight. All road, rail and air services will remain suspended during the lockdown. However, freight movement will continue to carry essential commodities across the country. Essential services like Medical shops, Petrol pumps, grocery stores milk booths, and online shopping have been exempted from the lockdown. India intensified the Covid-19 lockdown by stopping all domestic flights from midnight of 25th March 2020 and said those out and about without good reason could face arrest and jail time. The Centre asked all states to take strict legal action against violators after PM Narendra Modi tweeted his displeasure amid TV pictures of people milling about in crowded markets and elsewhere.Apart from those classed as performing essential services, people venturing out could be arrested, fined up to Rs 1,000 and jailed for as much as six months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of an assistance and emergency situation relief fund, PM CARES fund where people can contribute and help in the government's fight against coronavirus. This Fund will also cater to similar distressing situations, if they occur in the times ahead. While the (X) is the chairman of the new public charitable trust, its members include the defence minister (Rajnath Singh), home minister (Amit Shah) and the finance minister (Nirmala Sitaraman). People can visit www.pmindia.gov.in to make contributions using credit and debit cards, UPI, net banking and RTGS or NEFT.
6. What does ‘C’ stand for in PM-CARES fund?
a. Citizen
b. Country
c. Corporate
d. Cornarelief
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• PM-CARES stand for Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund.
• It has been set up as a public charitable trust. Relief funds are the charitable funds that are not governed by laws and regulations meant for ordinary charitable trusts. With PM as the chairman of the trust and defence minister, home minister and finance minister as its members, legal issues like registration of the trust, etc will hardly be an issue.
• People can visit www.pmindia.gov.in to make contributions using credit and debit cards, UPI, net banking and RTGS or NEFT.
7. According to the above passage, what does ‘X’ mean?
a. Prime Minister
b. President
c. Union Health Minister
d. Health Secretary
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• PM-CARES stand for Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund.
• The prime minister is the chairman of the new public charitable trust, its members include the defence minister (Rajnath Singh), home minister (Amit Shah) and the finance minister (Nirmala Sitaraman).
• People can visit www.pmindia.gov.in to make contributions using credit and debit cards, UPI, net banking and RTGS or NEFT.
8. What is the minimum donation that can be made to PM-CARES Fund?
a. 100
b. 1000
c. 10
d. 50
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• PM-CARES stand for Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) Fund.
• The PM CARES Fund enables micro-donations as a result of which a large number of people will be able to contribute with smallest of denominations.
• One can donate as low as Rs 10 in the PM CARES Fund.
• Contributions towards PM CARES Fund will be an eligible expenditure under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations. Under CSR, companies have to spend 2% of their last year's profit towards social causes.
• People can visit www.pmindia.gov.in to make contributions using credit and debit cards, UPI, net banking and RTGS or NEFT.
• People comfortable with electronic transfers can use the following details to make online transfers. The fund accepts any amount as a contribution. Account Name: PM CARES, Account Number: 2121PM20202 , IFSC Code: SBIN0000691, SWIFT Code: SBININBB104, Name of Bank & Branch: State Bank of India, New Delhi Main Branch.
9. Which section of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) implies violation of orders by a public servant that can endanger human life, health or safety?
a. 188
b. 269
c. 270
d. 192
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Section 188 implies violation of orders by a public servant that can endanger human life, health or safety.
• Sections 188 come with a jail term up to six months and a fine of Rs 1,000 and is bailable.
• During the lockdown period, the states can invoke Sections 188 and 269 of the Indian Penal Code, which are both bailable.
• The other two sections that can be invoked are 269 and 270 for infected people flouting quarantine rules. These sections imply negligent acts and malignant acts respectively, to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.
• Section 270 stipulates jail of up to two years. Singer Kanika Kapoor, who had tested positive for Covid-19, was charged by the Uttar Pradesh police under all the three sections for attending parties upon her return from the UK and not going into self-quarantine.
10. Under the Section 270 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), what is the maximum time for which a person can be jailed?
a. Six months
b. Two months
c. One year
d. Two years
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Section 270 of the Indian Penal Code includes malignant acts that tend to spread infection of disease dangerous to life.
• It stipulates the jail for a period of upto two years.
III. The Election Commission has allowed usage of indelible ink by health authorities for stamping & home quarantined on the hands of those suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, easing its policy of using the ink only for voting purposes. The poll panel has, said authorities should be instructed not to use the ink on any finger of the left hand. It also suggested the health ministry may standardise the mark and the location on the body where the ink is to be applied. The indelible ink mark normally stays for three days when applied on the skin. It also suggested the health ministry may standardise the mark and the location on the body where the ink is to be applied. The indelible ink mark normally stays for three days when applied on the skin.
11. Which rule of Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 authorises the left forefinger of the elector to be marked with the inedible ink?
a. 49K
b. 48K
c. 48 J
d. 72A
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• Under Rule 49K of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, the left forefinger of electors is required to be marked with indelible ink at the polling stations before a vote is cast.
• The indelible ink mark normally stays for three days when applied on the skin.
• The Election Commission has allowed usage of indelible ink by health authorities for stamping & home quarantined on the hands of those suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, easing its policy of using the ink only for voting purposes.
• Election Commissioner of India-Sunil Arora
• Election Commission Headquarters-New Delhi
12. When was the Election Commission of India established?
a. 21 January 1999
b. 25 January 1950
c. 26 January 1948
d. 26 January 1971
S-b
EXPLANATION-
• The Election Commission of India was established on 25 January 1950.
• This day is celebrated as National Voters Day since 2011 in India to mark the foundation of Election Commission of India.
• Theme of NVD 2020-‘Electoral Literacy for Stronger Democracy’.
13. Who among the following will head the commission for welfare of socially, educationally backward classes in Jammu and Kashmir?
a. Munir Ahmad Khan
b. Sindhu Sharma
c. Justice GD Sharma
d. Rup Lal Bharti
S-c
EXPLANATION-
• Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a commission for socially and educationally backward classes in the union territory. It will look into the issues of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the J&K.
• Justice GD Sharma has been appointed as chairperson, and former IFS Rup Lal Bharti and IPS officer Munir Ahmed Khan as members of the commission. The commission will determine the criteria to be adopted in considering any section of the people in Jammu and Kashmir as Socially and Educationally Backward Class.
14. What is the maximum cost that can be charged from the customer for the testing of COVID 19 by a private hospital?
a. 6000
b. 3000
c. 5000
d. 4500
S-d
EXPLANATION-
• The central government recommended that the maximum charge for each Covid-19 test by private laboratories should not exceed Rs 4,500.
• All private laboratories which have NABL accreditation for real-time PCR SA for RNA virus will be allowed to conduct COVID-19 tests, according to the guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for COVID-19 testing in private laboratories, which were notified by the Union Health Ministry.
• The National Task Force recommends that the maximum cost for testing should not exceed Rs 4,500. This may include Rs 1,500 as a screening test for suspect cases and an additional Rs 3,000 for confirmation test, the guidelines said.
• However, the ICMR encourages free or subsidised testing in this hour of national public health emergency.
15. Which Indian state launched the program Mo-Jeeban to contain the spread of COVID-19?
a. Odisha
b. Andhra Pradesh
c. Madhya Pradesh
d. Arunachal Pradesh
S-a
EXPLANATION-
• The “Mo Jeeban Programme” was launched by the Odisha Government to contain the spread of COVID-19.
• The programme was launched by the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
• Mo Jeeban’ means ‘My Life’.
• The State Government through the programme appeals to the people to stay indoors.
• The programme urges the working population to take an oath in name of their children and parents to cooperate and support by not stepping outside.
