Which of the following has not been one of the focus areas under the National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence as given by NITI Aayog?
(a) Agriculture
(b) Waste Management
(c) Infrastructure
(d) Smart mobility
Answer: (b) Explanation: India, being the fastest growing economy with the second largest population in the world, has a significant stake in the AI revolution. Recognising AI’s potential to transform economies and the need for India to strategies its approach, Hon’ble Finance Minister, in his budget speech for 2018 – 2019, mandated NITI Aayog to establish the National Program on AI, with a view to guiding the research and development in new and emerging technologies. Focus areas for Artificial Intelligence as outlined by NITI Aayog:
1. Healthcare 2. Agriculture 3. Education 4. Smart cities and Infrastructure 5. Smart mobility and transportation Hence the correct answer is option (b).
2. ISRO has established a place for itself in the global space map. Consider the following statements regarding its endeavours:
(1) NISAR is the joint collaboration between NASA and ISRO for orbiting Jupiter.
(2) GSLV Mk -III has been the heaviest rocket launched so far by ISRO.
(3) Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) series of satellites are placed in Polar Sun Synchronous Orbits (PSSO).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) Explanation: The establishment of ISRO has institutionalised space activities in India. It is managed by the Department of Space, which reports to the Prime Minister of India: ISRO sent a lunar orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, on 22 October 2008. It sent a Mars orbiter, Mars Orbiter Mission, on 5 November 2013, which entered Mars orbit on 24 September 2014, making India the first nation to succeed on its first attempt to Mars, and ISRO the fourth space agency in the world as well as the first space agency in Asia to reach Mars orbit. Statement 1 is incorrect. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) is a joint project between NASA and ISRO to co-develop and launch a dual frequency synthetic aperture radar satellite to be used for remote sensing. It is notable for being the first dual band radar imaging satellite. Statement 2 is correct. ISRO launched its heaviest rocket, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III), on 5 June 2017 and placed a communications satellite GSAT-19 in orbit. Statement 3 is correct. Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS) are a series of earth observation satellites, built, launched and maintained by ISRO. All the satellites are placed in polar Sun-synchronous orbit. Hence, the correct answer is option (c).
3. Consider the following organisms:
(1) Bacteria
(2) Virus
(3) Fungus
Which of the organisms given above is/are used as biopesticides?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
4. Which of the following is not a physical change?
(a) Melting of ice
(b) Heating of an iron rod to red hot.
(c) Rancidity of fat.
(d) Boiling of water to give water vapour.
Answer: (c)
5. Which of the following functions of the pancreas will not be affected when pancreatic duct of a healthy person is blocked?
(a) Neutralisation of chyme
(b) Protein digestion
(c) Carbohydrate digestion
(d) Maintenance of normal blood sugar level
Answer: (d) Explanation: Insulin hormone is secreted by pancreas directly into the blood stream and not via pancreatic duct. The digestive secretions of pancreas are - sodium bicarbonate for neutralisation of chyme, trypsin enzyme for protein digestion and amylase enzyme for carbohydrate digestion, via the pancreatic duct.