22. Consider the following irrigation projects with states to which they are associated:
Kaleshwaram irrigation project – Telangana & Andhra Pradesh
Damanganga & Pinjal river inter-linking project -Maharashtra & Gujarat
Kalasa Banduri project – Karnataka and Goa
Which of the above is/are correct?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
Recently, the State Governments of Maharashtra and Gujarat have proposed to sign agreement on the Damanganga-Pinjal river inter-linking project. The Damanganga-Pinjal project proposes to divert the surplus water of the Bhugad and Khargihill reservoirs in the Damanganga basin to Mumbai, via the Pinjal dam on the Pinjal River in the Vaitarna basin.
The project is expected to provide 909 MLD (million litres per day) water daily, which will ensure safe drinking water supply to Mumbai till 2060. Recently, the Central Water Commission (CWC) accorded inter-state clearance to the Kaleshwaram irrigation project. The Kaleshwaram project is an off-shoot of the original Pranahitha-Chevella Lift Irrigation Scheme.
The Kaleshwaram project has provision for the storage of about 148 tmc ft with plans of utilising 180 tmc ft by lifting at-least 2 tmc ft water every day for 90 flood days. The project is designed to irrigate 738851 hectares of land. The projects include one of the largest tunnel to carry water in Asia, running up to 81 km, between the Yellampally barrage and the Mallannasagar reservoir. Kalasa-Banduri project is a part of the Mahadayi river water-sharing plan between Goa & Karnataka. Karnataka plans to divert a meagre 7.56 tmc of its Mahadayi basin contribution to the Malaprabha dam to meet the drinking water needs of the twin cities of Hubballi-Dharwad and the surrounding towns and villages.
The plan is to channelise the diverted water through Kalasa-Banduri, two separate canals so that water could be supplied to the twin cities and Nargund, Navalgund, Badami, Ron, Gadag and 100 villages.
23. Recently, Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into two states viz. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. In the bifurcation process, which among the following was / were changed?
1. First schedule of the constitution of India
2. Fourth schedule of the constitution of India
3. Representation of the People Act, 1950
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 1 & 3
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
The bill also made amendments to The Representation of the People Act, 1950, the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008, and First and fourth schedule of the Constitution of India. But amendment in constitution was not done via a constitution amendment bill.
24. Consider the following statements:
Ahmedabad has received India’s first World Heritage City certificate
Telangana became the First state in the country to construct eco-friendly bridges for movement of tigers
Maharashtra became the first state to provide digitally-signed land record receipts to farmers
Which of the above is/are correct?
[A] 1 Only
[B] 1 & 2 Only
[C] 3 Only
[D] 1, 2 & 3
Answer: D [1, 2 & 3]
Notes:
In 2017, Ahmedabad in Gujarat was formally accorded the status of India’s first World Heritage City by UNESCO. The Telangana state government decided to construct “eco-bridges” for movement of tigers from tiger corridor linking the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra with the forests in Telangana. Maharashtra became the first state to provide digitally-signed land record receipts (also known as 7/12 receipts). The 7/12 receipt is the most important document which establishes the ownership of the land and is primarily used by farmers while applying for loans.
25. What is the scientific name of the deadly agricultural pest “Fall Armyworm”, which has been spotted in Telangana?
[A] Chortoicetes terminifera
[B] Heteronychus arator
[C] Spodoptera frugiperda
[D] Mythimna convecta
Answer: C [Spodoptera frugiperda]
Notes:
The deadly agricultural insect-pest “Fall Armyworm (FAW)” has been recently spotted at a few places in the districts of Karimnagar, Kamareddy, Sangareddy, Medak and Gadwal in Telangana. It is known to attack and destroy several varieties of crops, but it prefers maize and sorghum because of the sweetness in their leaves. The Fall Armyworm (or Spodoptera frugiperda) is a species in the order of Lepidoptera and is the larval life stage of a fall armyworm moth. In its larva stage, it can cause significant damage to crops, if not well managed. The lifespan of the pest is 30 to 60 days and each generation can migrate to a distance of more than 400 km. It is considered deadly as it has caused massive agricultural losses in several countries in Africa. The worm was first found in Karnataka in the country and later spread to Tamil Nadu.
26. Who has been sworn-in as new Chief Justice of Telangana High Court?
[A] V Ramasubramanian
[B] A A Kureshi
[C] Thottathil B Radhakrishnan
[D] Raghvendra Singh Chauhan
Answer: D [Raghvendra Singh Chauhan]
Notes:
Justice Raghvendra Singh Chauhan has been sworn-in as new Chief Justice of Telangana High Court in Hyderabad. Governor ESL Narasimhan administered the oath of office to Justice Chauhan at Raj Bhavan. Justice Chauhan is the 2nd Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court after the bifurcation of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2018.
27. The Telangana government has signed pact with which tech company for ‘Digital Telangana’?
[A] Microsoft
[B] Google
[C] Wipro
[D] Infosys
Answer: B [Google]
Notes:
The Telangana Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Google India for ‘Digital Telangana’. The MoU will improve and get more local language content online using Google’s digital publishing tool “Navlekha”. As part of the MoU, Google will work with the state government to help digitize the government’s content in Telugu to make it easier for the common man to get access to all the information and services on government sites in their local languages. Apart from this, Google will also collaborate with the government to support its digital literacy vision and aid in the overall digitization agenda of the state.
28. With reference to the issues surrounding the closing of Kuntala Waterfalls, consider the following statements:
It is the highest waterfall in Telangana.
The waterfall is located in a Gond region.
The waterfall is in the Sahyadri range.
Which of the above statements is/are true?
[A] Only 1 and 2 are correct
[B] Only 2 and 3 are correct
[C] All are incorrect
[D] All are correct
Answer: D [All are correct]
Notes:
Statement 1 is correct:
The Kuntala Waterfalls is the highest in Telangana. It is 147 feet high. It is a popular tourist spot but is also the site of frequent accidents and death. The reason is the fissure structure in the rockbed which is hazardous for unsuspecting visitors. Other reasons include alcohol consumption. The high accident rate here has made the government close the site to tourists.
Statement 2 is correct:
The falls is located in a forest inhabited by the Gond tribe. The region has many Adivasis and they consider the waterfalls to be sacred. Because of this, they refuse to let the government close off the site. The falls is named after the mythological character of Shakuntala.
Statement 3 is correct:
The waterfall is located in the mountain range of Sahyadri. Its source is the River Kadam. Sahyadri is also known as the Western Ghats. The mountains are one of the four watersheds of India. Godavari is one of the rivers arising from it and Kadam River is a minor tributary of the Godavari.
29. With reference to the launch of the ‘Vahan Mitra’ scheme to aid taxi drivers, consider the following statements:
It was launched by Telangana government.
Ownership of the vehicle is a pre-requisite for availing the benefits under this scheme.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 1 is correct
[B] Only 2 is correct
[C] Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
[D] Both 1 and 2 are correct
Answer: B [Only 2 is correct]
Notes:
Statement 1 is incorrect:
The Vahan Mitra scheme was launched by the Andhra Pradesh government in October. It is aimed at taxi drivers and auto rickshaw drivers in the state. The scheme is expected to benefit over 1, 70,000 drivers across the state.
Statement 2 is correct:
The ownership of the vehicle is a required criteria for availing the scheme’s benefits. The scheme seeks to provide 10,000 INR per year for 5 years to the drivers. This is in aid of meeting insurance costs. It will also contribute to the vehicle maintenance and payment of road tax.
30. In context with the recent revival of the Cheriyal art form, consider the following statements:
It is a dance form.
It is an art form native to Telangana.
Which of the above statements is/are true?
[A] Only 1 is correct
[B] Only 2 is correct
[C] Neither 1 nor 2 is correct
[D] Both 1 and 2 are correct
Answer: B [Only 2 is correct]
Notes:
Statement 1 is incorrect:
The Cheriyal art is a form of scroll painting. It is about 500 years old and is characterised by its narrative style. It is used to depict stories from Indian mythology traditionally. Very few artists of this school remain.
Statement 2 is correct:
The Cheriyal scroll painting belongs to the Telangana region of South India. It earlier made use of natural sources for the pigments like seashells, turmeric, soot and tamarind seeds. It is being revived by modifying the artform to soot contemporary needs and demands like home décor and stationeries.