QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 21 & 22 May 2017

Solution: c.

The latest definition of an ‘electrified village’ came into effect from the year 2004-05, and this definition is no different in the case of DDUGJY. Apart from the two conditions provided in the question, there’s a third – “Basic infrastructure such as Distribution Transformer and Distribution lines are provided in the inhabited locality as well as the Dalit Basti hamlet where it exists.”

Improvisation: TH: In search of smart power;

Solution: a.

• A team of Indian researchers has been able to achieve 100-fold reduction in TB bacterial load in lungs of mice after 60 days of treatment using bergenin — a phytochemical isolated from tender leaves of sakhua or shala tree (Shorea robusta – the Sal tree).
• Unlike the regularly used antibiotic drugs that target the TB bacteria, the bergenin compound modulates the immune system to kill the bacteria.
• Since the compound does not target the bacteria directly but modulates the immune system to kill the bacteria, it can be used in patients with drug-resistant TB too.

TH: Indian researchers use a novel route to kill TB bacteria;

• Solution: c.
  • “…China also pointed out that India is a co-founder of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, which will support many B&RI projects, and also remains committed to the Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar economic corridor, which connects to the B&RI…”
  • “At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) next month, Mr. Modi will meet President Xi Jinping, as India officially becomes a member of the grouping. It remains to be seen whether the SCO, which also officially endorses the B&RI, or Mr. Xi himself are able to allay India’s fears over the project.”

  TH: Why did India boycott China’s road summit?;

Solution: a

TH, 19^th May, 2017;

‘Being’ Page, TH, 21^st May 2017;

Solution: a.

• The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of infectious diseases which primarily affect the poorest sectors of society, especially the rural poor and the most disadvantaged urban populations.
• Nearly one billion people in the world suffer from NTDs, which are referred to as “neglected” because they are characterized by little attention from policy-makers, lack of priority within health strategies, inadequate research, limited resource allocation and few interventions.

TH: In NTD fight, end in sight;

Solution: b.

• The committee in its report says erosion, sediment transport and siltation are very complex phenomena. It is impossible to apply a “one-size-fits-all‟ approach to sediment management and control, because the issues involved are frequently very regionally-specific.
• Local factors such as topography, river control structures, soil and water conservation measures, tree cover, and riparian land-use or land disturbance (for example agriculture, mining, etc.) can have a large impact on sediment loads in rivers.
• According to the report erosion, sediment transport and siltation in large rivers like Ganga are very complex phenomena and their estimation has inherent limitations and uncertainties.
• The committee says though de-siltation works can improve hydraulic performance of the river and this itself can justify undertaking de-siltation, these have no direct role in improving environment flow in the river. On the other hand, indiscriminate de-silting or sand mining would cause adverse impacts on river e-flow.

PIB: Chitale committee recommendations;

Solution: d.

• Trade ministers from the 11 remaining countries have met in Vietnam to get the deal back on track.
• The representatives also agreed to help the US rejoin the deal at any time.
• The bid to revive the TPP, which would have covered 40% of the global economy, was led by trade ministers from Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
• The remaining 11 countries pushing on with the deal are Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.

BBC: TPP will continue without Trump;

• Solution: d.

  The strategic partnership model will help build a domestic defence manufacturing base (no ‘foreign entity’).

  • “The policy will give a boost to the ‘Make in India’ policy in the defence sector and set Indian industry on the path to acquiring cutting-edge capabilities which will contribute to building of self-reliance in the vital sector,” the ministry said.
  • The new model, which is a chapter under the Defence Procurement Procedure, has four segments —submarines, single-engine fighter aircraft, helicopters and armoured carriers/main battle tanks. Additional segments may be added in the future.
  • The SP model was proposed by the Dhirendra Singh Committee in July, 2015.
  • Another aspect of the policy is the export potential of the domestic defence manufacturing base.

  TH: Defence deals await private firms; IE;

Solution: b.

• India is only a Non-Regional Member of the AfDB Group and not a founding-member.
• The AfDB Group has 80 member countries, comprising 54 regional member countries (RMC) and 26 non-regional member countries (NRMC).
• 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;

TH: Bid to boost India, Africa trade ties; ET;

Solution: b.

As the financial health of banks had deteriorated over the last three years, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised the norms for prompt corrective action early last month.

• PCA norms allow the regulator to place certain restrictions such as halting branch expansion and stopping dividend payment. It can even cap a bank’s lending limit to one entity or sector.
• Other corrective action that can be imposed on banks include special audit, restructuring operations and activation of recovery plan. Banks’ promoters can be asked to bring in new management, too. The RBI can also supersede the bank’s board, under PCA.
• Capital, asset quality and profitability continue to be the key areas for monitoring in the revised framework. There are a few indicators for these key areas. Breaching of any risk threshold (as defined for each of the indicators) would result in invocation of PCA.

TH: Prompt Corrective Action for Banks;