Top Ten Questions: ’Contributed by ‘Lakshya IAS Study Circle’, SCO 32, Phase 2, Mohali

1. Of which river waters are the Karnataka government and Goa government fighting?
2. Which Governor General established Central Public Works Department?
3. In which country China has established its first overseas military base?
4. Which state has constituted a nine-member committee to study and submit a report to the government on the possibility of“designing a separate flag and providing it a statutory standing?”
5. Name the countries which are taking part in Malabar Naval Exercise.
6. Name the venue of World Petroleum Congress (WPC) International Conference.
7. What is “Programme 17 for 17”?
8. Which city has become  India’s first World Heritage City?
9. The foundation stone for First Maize based Mega Food Park was recently laid in ______________.
10. In which city was the 12th G20 Summit held?
    
    

1. The Karnataka government and Goa government are fighting on sharing of waters of  the Mahadayi river. Mahadayi, also known as the Mandovi river, is known as a lifeline in the northern parts of Karnataka. The river originates and flows in Karnataka and goes through Goa before meeting the Arabian Sea.
2. CPWD came into existence on 12th July, 1854 when Lord Dalhousie established a central agency for execution of public works and set up Ajmer Provincial Division. It is housed under the Ministry of Urban Development.
3. China has dispatched People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel to man its first overseas military base at Djibouti in the strategic Indian Ocean region, a move likely to spark concerns in the U.S.
4. The Karnataka State government has constituted a nine-member committee headed by Principal Secretary, Department of Kannada and Culture, to study and submit a report to the government on the possibility of “designing a separate flag for Karnataka and providing it a statutory standing.”
   • Recently, some activists had urged the government to design a separate flag for Kannada ‘naadu’ and accord statutory standing for that.
   •  Are states permitted to have their own flags?
   • In S.R. Bommai v/s Union of India (Supreme Court 1994) case, the Supreme Court has declared that federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution and States are supreme in their sphere. This being the Constitutional position, there is no prohibition in the Constitution for the State to have its own flag. However, the manner in which the State flag is hoisted should not dishonour the national flag. It has to be always below the national flag. The national flag code specifically authorises use of other flags subject to the regulation by the court. So, State flag is not unauthorised.
     
5. Navies of India, US and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force have begun Malabar naval exercise 2017, aimed at achieving deeper military ties between the three nations. It is the 21st edition of the Malabar exercise.
   Venue for 22nd World Petroleum Congress (WPC) International Conference was Istanbul, Turkey. India is also taking part in the conference.
6. The tri-annual WPC Conference is widely recognized as the `Olympics` of the oil and gas industry. It attracts Ministers, CEOs of Oil and Gas MNCs, experts and academics from the hydrocarbon sectors and provides an ideal forum to showcase potential of countries’ hydrocarbon sector.It also provides a platform to interact with policy makers, technologists, scientists, planners and management experts.
7. It is a 17 point action plan for 2017 – for building digital campuses and high quality education.The action plan covers measures like universal adoption of digital education, digital financial transactions in the campuses from the current academic year.It was adopted at the end of the recently concluded National Convention of Vice Chancellors of all Universities in the Country, and Heads of IISc/IITs/IIMs/NITs/IIITs.
8. The 606-year-old walled city of Ahmedabad, which was founded by Sultan Ahmed Shah, has become India’s first World Heritage City. The World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO announced this. Ahmedaba is recognized the city as the cradle of India’s non-violent freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi. The decision was taken during the ongoing 41st session of the World Heritage Committee in the Polish city of Krakow, which acknowledged the preservation efforts made by the city in keeping its historical fabric intact.
9. The foundation stone for First Maize based Mega Food Park was recently laid in Kapurthala, Punjab. Kapurthala has been declared as a Dark Zone district where slow desertification is happening because of overexploitation of water due to cash crops. Establishment of this Mega Food Park will result in the development of this Dark Zone which includes Job opportunities, Environmental Conservation.
10. The 12th G20 Summit was recently held at the German city of Hamburg. The theme chosen for this year’s G20 Summit is “Shaping an Inter-connected World”. Issues like free and open trade, migration, sustainable development and global stability came up during the discussions.

For more inputs please contact ‘Lakshya IAS Study Circle’ at lakshyaias.chd@gmail.com, 78372-21070, 0172-5020469 

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