September 14, 2020 - Daily Quiz
1. With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements:
1. Sand is a 'minor mineral' according to the prevailing law in the country.
2. State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.
3. State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(e) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. Consider the following minerals:
- Bentonite
- Chromite
- Kyanite
- Sillimanite
In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
3. What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?
1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only
4. With reference to the history of Indian rock-cut architecture, consider the following statements:
1. The canvas at Badami are the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
2. The Barabar rock-cut caves were originally made for Ajivikas by Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
3. At Ellora, caves were made for different faiths.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
5. Consider the following statements:
- Most of India's external debt is owed by governmental entities.
- All of India's external debt is denominated in US dollars.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
ANSWERS
1. (a) - Sand is a minor mineral as per the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). The Act empowers state governments to frame rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of minor minerals. The power to frame policy and legislation relating to minor minerals lies entirely in the hands of State Governments; while the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals and deals with policy and legislation of the major minerals.
2. (d) Major minerals are those specified in the first schedule appended in the MMDR Act. There is no official definition for “major minerals” in the MMDR Act. Hence, whatever is not declared as a “minor mineral” may be treated as the major mineral.
The central government has the power to notify “minor minerals” under section 3 (e) of the MMDR Act, 1957. On the other hand, as per Section 15 of the MMDR Act, 1957 State Governments have complete powers for making Rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals and levy and collection of royalty on minor minerals. Thus, “Minor Minerals” are building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand other than sand used for prescribed purposes etc. Therefore, Chromite, Kyanite and Sillimanite are major minerals, whereas Bentonite is a minor mineral.
3. (c) Fertigation is a process in which fertilizer is dissolved and distributed along with water in your drip or spray irrigation system. There is abundant research available that supports the superiority of fertigation as compared to traditional fertilizing techniques.
Advantageous of fertigation:
• Improves efficiency of fertilizer use
• Increases nutrient availability
• Saves 20-40% fertilizer without affecting growth and yield
• Saves labour and energy in application of fertilizer
• Reduce environmental contamination through fertilizer run-offs
• Reduces leaching of nutrients
• Allows to alter the pH of the irrigation water
4. (c) Ellora caves are famous for Hindu, Buddhist and Jain temples which constructed during the time of Kalachuri, Chalukya and Rashtrakutas.
5. (d) - India's External Debt is the total debt the country owes to foreign creditors such as private banks, foreign governments, and international financial institutions like International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. The debtors can be the Central or State governments, corporations or citizens of India as well. India's external debt is held in several currencies, the largest share is of the US dollar.
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