656: Both Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) are related to investment in a country. Which one of the following statements best represents an important difference between the two ?
(a) FII helps bring better management skills and technology, while FDI only brings in capital
(b) FDI flows only into the secondary market, while FII targets primary market
(c) FII helps in increasing capital availability in general, while FDI only targets specific sectors.
(d) FII is considered to be more stable than FDI
657: Which one of the following types of glass can cut off ultraviolet rays ?
(a) pyrex glass
(b) Soda glass
(c) Crookes glass
(d) Jena glass
Explanation:
Crookes glass is type of glass that contain cerium and other rare earths resistant to ultraviolet rays (< 400 mm wavelength); used in sunglasses.
658: A genetically engineered form of brinjal Known as the Bt-brinjal has been developed. The objective of this is
(a) To make it drought-resistant
(b) To make its shelf-life longer
(c) To improve its taste and nutritive qualities
(d) To make it pest-resistant
Explanation:
The Bt brinjal is a suite of transgenic brinjals (also known as an eggplant or aubergine) created by inserting a crystal gene (Cry1Ac) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the genome of various brinjal cultivars. The insertion of the gene, along with other genetic elements like promoters, terminators and an antibiotic resistance marker gene into the brinjal plant is accomplished using Agrobacterium-mediated recombination. The Bt brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteron insects, in particular the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis) (FSB). Monsanto, a multinational company based in the USA, has developed the Bt brinjal in partnership with India's Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco).
659: Consider the following statements:
1. NTPC is the largest power utility in India.
2. ONGC accounts for half of the LPG production in India.
3. Indian Oil Corporation operates all the oil refineries in India.
4. The Indian Ordinance Factory is the largest departmentally run industrial undertaking in the country.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
Explanation:
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) incorporated in 1975 is a Schedule 'A' 'Navaratna Company, is the largest power utility in India. GAIL (India) Limited is the largest natural gas processing, transmission and distribution company in India. Alongwith 'IOC', some private companies like 'Reliance' are involved in oil refining in India.
660: A redistribution of income in a country can be best brought about through
(a) progressive taxation combined with progressive expenditure
(b) progressive taxation combined with regressive expenditure
(c) regressive taxation combined with regressive expenditure
(d) regressive taxation combined with progressive expenditure
Explanation:
Progressive taxation combined with regressive expenditure helps in redistribution on income in a country. Progressive tax is a tax rate which rises with the rise in income. It falls comparatively more on the rich with heavier dosage of taxation on luxuries.