581: Superconductors are so called because they
(a) Efficiently conduct heat from one hot body to another
(b) Offer no resistance to conduction of heat at high temperatures
(c) Offer no resistance to conduction of electricity at low temperatures
(d) Produce high temperatures while conducting electricity
582: India has experienced persistent and high food inflation in the recent past,what could be the reasons?
1.Due to a gradual switchover to the cultivation of commercial crops, the area under the cultivation of food grains has steadily decreased in the last five years by about 30%.
2. As a consequnce of increasing incomes, the consumption patterns of the people have undergone a significant change.
3. The food supply chain has structural constraints.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
There are four main reasons underlying food inflation in India. The immediate reason for the spurt in the prices of specific food items, like onions today or earlier in the case of sugar and pulses, is hoarding. Trader cartels, encouraged by an inept Government, are mainly responsible for this. Assured of inaction, hoarders are creating artificial shortages and fleecing people from time to time.
Secondly, the growing penetration of big corporates in the food economy, international trade in food items and speculative futures trading in agricultural commodities has weakened the government's capacity to control food prices. The share of corporate retail in food distribution has tripled over the past four years. The Government has manipulated trade policies to allow big traders to make huge profits through export and import of essential food items like wheat, sugar and onions. On the other hand, the PDS has been weakened considerably through targeting. In most states, the role of the ration shops, state agencies like the NAFFD etc. and consumer cooperatives in food distribution, has been whittled down. Therfore, the profit margins of private traders have also increased, reflected in growing gaps between wholesale and retail prices as well as farmgate and wholesale prices.
There are medium and long-term reasons too. Our agriculture is in a crisis. We are not producing enough to meet the needs of a growing population. The peasantry continues to be in distress, with 2.5 lakh farmers committing suicide over the past 15 year. State intervention in raising agricultural productivity has been weakened. The Government is more interested in handing over this role to big agribusinesses and retail giants like Walmart and Monsanto in the name of a 'second green revolution'. That will further marginalize the small peasants.
Finally, the cuts in subsidies and price hikes of inputs like diesel and fertiliser are also contributing to food inflation. The deregulation of petrol prices has led to very steep hikes in the recent weeks.
584: The Chairmen of public sector banks are selected by the
(a) Banks Board Bureau
(b) Reserve Bank of India
(c) Union Ministry of Finance
(d) Management of concerned bank
Explanation:
Bank Board Bureau is responsible for selection and appointment of Board of Directors in Public Sector Banks and Financial Institutions.
Source: https://financialservices.gov.in/sites/default/files/Functions%20of%20bank%20board%20bureau.pdf
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585: Assertion (A)
Red phosphorous is preferred to white phosphorous in the manufacture of matches.
Reason (R)
Red phosphorous is non-poisonous in nature.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true