QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 21 September 2017

Solution: d.
SDG 8 seeks to “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”.
On the same day that the International Labour Organisation (ILO) released new global estimates of modern slavery, a group of over 40 activists and academics from different parts of the world have released a 25-point signed statement urging India to ensure a more effective implementation of labour law protections to eliminate modern slavery and forced labour in line with the SDGs. According to the statement, the current targets and indicators proposed by the Labour Ministry are wholly inadequate.

http://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/Mapping-SDGs%20V19-Ministries%20Feedback%20060416_0.pdf;
Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/scholars-activists-urge-india-to-act-against-forced-labour/article19722160.ece;
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Solution: b.
“The India-Japan ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership’ — a designation and status New Delhi accords to no other partner — has reached new heights under the stewardship of the two leaders.”
“Occasionally, as between India and China, a ‘strategic partnership’ is a way of opening a channel of communication and minimal cooperation intended to stabilise and develop the potential for a détente and conceivably something warmer.”
• On paper, India and China have had a strategic partnership—specifically, a strategic and cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity—since 2005.

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-time-of-strategic-partnerships/article19722970.ece;
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Solution: d.
• The two-plus-two dialogue comprising India’s defence and foreign secretaries and their Japanese counterparts takes place annually before the interaction of the two prime ministers.
• The two-plus-two dialogue mechanism is between countries which have institutionalised annual dialogue or at least a regular dialogue between the political heads of the two states. For instance, the US has institutionalised a regular bilateral dialogue with Japan and Australia. Both Japan and Australia also have similar summit level interaction between them on a regular basis.
• The two-plus-two dialogue comprising ministries of defence and foreign affairs discusses issues of bilateral cooperation threadbare and identifies new areas of cooperation, which are generally finalised later at the summit level interactions between the political leadership of the two states.
• It is a form of Track 1 diplomacy. These are official discussions typically involving high-level political and military leaders and focusing on cease-fires, peace talks, and treaties and other agreements.
• Additional Information: India and USA recently decided to establish a new dialogue between the defence and foreign ministers of the two countries. It is likely to be called “2 by 2”, which is similar to the India-Japan 2+2 dialogue.

About different tracks of diplomacy: https://www.usip.org/glossary/tracks-diplomacy;
Source and Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/a-time-of-strategic-partnerships/article19722970.ece;
http://www.idsa.in/askanexpert/Indiarestrictedthetwoplus-twodialogue;

Solution: c.
The Committee noted that 17 of the 20 most developed countries, including Europe, Japan, Russia, Israel, etc., do not grow GM crops. This is due to the increasing evidence about the lack of safety of GM crops and little or no benefits to justify the risks. In India, Bt cotton is the only GM crop that is cultivated. In its assessment on the success of Bt cotton, the Committee noted that government data talks about production and not the average yield in an area. A better assessment would be to see the increase in yield of cotton since the introduction of Bt cotton in 2005.

The Committee noted deficiencies in the functioning of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which grants approval for release of genetically engineered organisms and products in the environment. It stated that most members of GEAC were from government and government aided institutions, and there was no representation from states or from civil society organisations. It also observed ad hocism in the constitution of the Committee and the criteria adopted by the Ministry of Environment for selection of the members and their qualifications.

It said that there is evidence on adverse impacts of GM mustard (with reference to DMH-11) since it is an herbicide tolerant GM crop. It also noted that many state governments were opposed to its entry, even in the form of field trials. The Committee recommended that no GM crop should be introduced in the country unless its effect on the environment and human health is scientifically assessed.

http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Report%20Summary/Report%20Summary%20-%20Genetically%20Modified%20crops%20and%20its%20impact%20on%20environment.pdf;
Improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/agriculture/nod-for-gm-mustard-unlikely-soon/article19722585.ece;

Solution: b.
GIs are an area of strength and optimism for India as the “GI tag” has accorded protection to several handmade and manufactured products, especially in the informal sector.
A GI is supposed to convey to a consumer the assurance of a certain quality, reputation or other characteristics of the goods on which it is applied, which are essentially attributable to its geographical origin. Does the GI Act ensure that all the GIs registered thereunder meet such expectations?
• “Quality control” is the sine qua non of any GI protection. In fact, a European Community Regulation for the protection of GIs is titled as a regulation “on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs”. This regulation states that the added value of GIs is based on consumer trust and that it is only credible if accompanied by effective verification and controls. Further, the quality schemes should be subject to a monitoring system of official controls to ensure verification of compliance with the law and rules relating thereto, and should include a system of checks at all stages of production, processing and distribution.
• Unlike the European Regulation, the GI Act does not provide for monitoring mechanisms at multiple levels. In fact, there is no single reference to an inspection or monitoring structure in the Act.
• Currently, there is a proliferation of GI registrations in India without any legal provisions stipulating post-registration quality control measures that are to be employed in the production of goods branded as GIs. This is detrimental not only to the protection process of GIs in India but also to the very existence of these GIs, because prolonged failure to meet consumer expectations would dilute the premium and credibility of GI-branded goods

Kannauj Attar: https://twitter.com/CIPAM_India/status/910566459205500928;
Blue pottery of Jaipur: https://twitter.com/CIPAM_India/status/910190337385041920;
List of GIs: http://www.ipindia.nic.in/writereaddata/Portal/Images/pdf/Registered-GIs-of-India.pdf;
Source and improvisation: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/beyond-social-media/article19723042.ece;
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