QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 11 May 2017

Solution: b.

Its functions include the option of e-filing cases, checking listing dates, case status, online service of notice/summons, office reports and overall tracking of progress of a case filed with the apex court registry.

• All records of a particular case—at various stages—at the district court or high court will be integrated with the system to offer the complete record in digital form.
• In the future, linking of information on jail inmates and under-trials may be integrated into the system.

TH: CJI pitches for digital filing of cases; Livemint;

Solution: b.

A question on THAAD was posted here a few months ago.

• The THAAD system contains missiles that shoot down short and medium range ballistic missiles in the terminal phase of their flight (see image).
• What concerns Beijing is the system’s powerful X-band radars that can “reach” far into Chinese territory. The Chinese military worries that these could be used to spot Chinese missile launches and feed the data to cue up other US defensive systems, eg interceptor missiles based in the US, potentially affecting China’s deterrent capability.

Improvisation: SK’s new president faces many challenges;

BBC: THAAD;

Solution: a

“There was huge relief when 82 of the girls kidnapped by Islamist militants Boko Haram in Chibok, north-east Nigeria, in 2014 were freed on Saturday. Captured as children, the Chibok girls, as they have come to be known, are being freed as young women.”

BBC: Chibok girls – What fate awaits the ones set free?;

Solution: a.

• United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. It is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system.
• As an inter-governmental policy making and decision making body, the Governing Council of UN-Habitat seeks to promote integral and comprehensive approach to human settlements, assist the countries and regions in addressing human settlement problems and strengthen cooperation among all countries on human settlement issue.
• Since the UN-Habitat came into being in 1978, it is the third time that India has been elected to lead it after 2007 and 1988. It is a two-year term.

PIB: India unanimously elected to head the UNs’ Human Settlements Programme;

Solution: c.

• WIPO’s Technology and Innovation Support Centers (TISC) program provides innovators in developing countries with access to locally based, high quality technology information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP) rights.
• The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as the National Focal point for the TISC national network. As the national focal point, CIPAM shall identify potential host institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC project. CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC network.
• Over 500 TISCs operate worldwide and establishing TISC in India will give the host institutions access to the Global network.

PIB: DIPP and WIPO to set up TISCs;

Solution: d.

• The SMARTGRAM initiative of Rashtrapati Bhavan was inaugurated for five villages of Haryana in 2016. It was recently approved to extend it to 100 villages in the vicinity of the initially selected five villages.
• A large number of projects have been undertaken in the initially selected five villages of Haryana under the SMARTGRAM initiative in the fields of agriculture, skill development, energy, education, heath, employment generation, developing entrepreneurship etc. These initiatives have generated a lot of enthusiasm in the nearby areas. Therefore, this initiative was extended to 95 more villages in the vicinity of the earlier selected five villages.

PIB: Expansion of SmartGram initiative;

Solution: c.

Apart from statements 1 and 2, States can also use the flexi-fund to

• Pilot innovation to improve efficiency within the overall objective of any given scheme
• Satisfy local requirements in areas affected by internal security disturbances
• Undertake mitigation/restoration activities in case of natural calamities

This fund can be operatived at the level of the scheme, sub-scheme and its components, but not at the level of the umbrella programme. For example, the funds can be spent on any sub-scheme or component under the primary education scheme, but cannot be used to move primary education funds to higher education or any other sector.

Improvisation: PIB;

FinMin: September 2016 – Guidelines for flexi-funds within Centrally Sponsored Schemes