QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 04 April 2017

Solution: a.

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory occupying a narrow peninsula of Spain’s southern Mediterranean coast, just northeast of the Strait of Gibraltar, on the east side of the Bay of Gibraltar (Bay of Algeciras).

In the news: Following the triggering of formal Brexit negotiations, it was revealed the EU’s draft document on its Brexit strategy said no agreement on its future relationship with the UK would apply to Gibraltar without the consent of Spain – giving it a potential veto. Spain – a member of the EU – reportedly lobbied for the condition. Gibraltar, which voted by 96% to stay in the EU in June’s referendum, accused Spain of using Brexit to pursue its territorial aims.

BBC: Gibraltar Brexit row – what is the dispute about?;

Britannica: Gibraltar;

Solution: d.

PESO;

Improvisation: PIB;

Solution: b.

“Prof. Syiemlieh joined the Commission as Member on June 25, 2012 and was later appointed to perform the duties of the post of Chairman, UPSC under Article 316 (1A) of the Constitution of India w.e.f. January 4, 2017. He took the Oath of Office and Secrecy as Chairman, Union Public Service Commission, under clause (1) of Article 316 of the Constitution of India, today (3^rd April, 2017).”

• Usually, the Commission consists of nine to eleven members including the chairman.
• Further, no qualifications are prescribed for the Commission’s membership except that one-half of the members of the Commission should be such persons who have held office for at least ten years either under the Government of India or under the government of a state.
• The chairman and members of the Commission hold office for a term of six years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• The President can appoint one of the members of the UPSC as an acting chairman in the following two circumstances: (a) When the office of the chairman falls vacant; or (b) When the chairman is unable to perform his functions due to absence or some other reason.

Ch-39, UPSC, Indian Polity by M Laxmikanth;

Improvisation: PIB;

Solution: b.

• MSF: Currently, two vaccines exist against rotavirus, but they must be kept refrigerated at all times. In addition to being heat-stable, BRV-PV is also cheaper than the other two rotavirus vaccines on the market, with a price of less than $2.50. This price should help ensure that countries quickly incorporate the new vaccine into routine immunization programs.
• IE Explained: Rotavac, a rotavirus vaccine produced by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, became part of India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) when it was introduced in 4 states in April 2016, and was subsequently extended to 5 more states last month. The key step forward in the manufacture of Serum Institute of India’s new BRV-PV vaccine — to be ultimately called Rotasiil — is that it does not, unlike Rotavac, require refrigeration, and is, therefore, easier to store in low-income countries where rotavirus poses the greatest threat to children.

Solution: a.

These are organisations/groups which have appeared in the news recently, and on which we have framed questions repeatedly (except on the African Development Bank [AfDB] Group).

• India is a Non-Regional Member of the AfDB Group and is not a founding-member.
• The AfDB Group has 80 member countries, comprising 54 regional member countries (RMC) and 26 non-regional member countries (NRMC). The non-regional member countries are primarily from Europe, America and Asia. Initially, only independent African countries could become members of the Bank. However, due to growing demand for investments from African countries and because of the Bank’s limited financial resources, membership was opened to non-regional countries.

FAQs: AfDB Group;

Improvisation: PIB;

Ans: c.

“There was a time when India played a dominant role in the higher education system and we had renowned seats of learning like Takshashila, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Valabhi, Somapura and Odantapuri. However after them we have not been able to find a place in world rankings which is commensurate with our size, culture and civilization.  India now has to work towards regaining that glory of the past.”

Another seat of learning is Jagaddala.

2015: PIB;

Improvisation: TH: Pranab hopeful of reviving Vikramshila University;

Solution: d.

• Graphene oxide membranes have already proven their worth in sieving out small nanoparticles, organic molecules and even large salts. But until now, they couldn’t be used to filter out common salts, which require even smaller sieves.
• Previous work had shown that graphene oxide membranes became slightly swollen when immersed in water, allowing smaller salts to flow through the pores along with water molecules. Now, Dr Nair and colleagues demonstrated that placing walls made of epoxy resin (a substance used in coatings and glues) on either side of the graphene oxide membrane was sufficient to stop the expansion.
• Restricting the swelling in this way also allowed the scientists to tune the properties of the membrane, letting through less or more common salt for example.

BBC;

TH: The magic sieve;