QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz,16 May 2018

Solution: d.

This was not currently in the news (it was, last November) but it is relevant for prelims.

The need for integrated Logistics sector development has been felt for quite some time in view of the fact that the logistics cost in India is very high compared to developed countries.

• High logistics cost reduces the competitiveness of Indian goods both in domestic as well as export market.
• Development of logistics would give a boost to both domestic and external demand thereby encouraging manufacturing and ‘job creation’. This will in turn be instrumental in improving country’s GDP.

It’s inclusion in the harmonised list will enable the Logistics Sector to

• avail infrastructure lending at easier terms with enhanced limits,
• access to larger amounts of funds as External Commercial Borrowings (ECB),
• access to longer tenor funds from insurance companies and pension funds and
• be eligible to borrow from India Infrastructure Financing Company Limited (IIFCL).

Latest Updated Harmonised Master List of Infra Sub-Sectors; DEA: Infrastructure & Energy Division;

From November 2017: PIB;

Solution: d.

Option ‘d’ is certainly not one of the exclusive/main parameters. There, perhaps, could be a sub-parameter that measures safety/security of cargo movement in some way or the other (we have not checked this as it is unnecessary), but from the list given above, the most appropriate answer is option ‘d’.

What is important for us to know is the main parameters that do make up the LPI:

• Efficiency of customs and border management
• Quality of trade and transport infrastructure
• Ease of arranging competitively priced shipments
• Competence and quality of logistics services
• Ability to track and trace consignments
• Timeliness of deliveries

Once again, a general question that is relevant for preliminaries.

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Solution: a.

Article 35A was incorporated into the Indian Constitution in 1954 by an order of President Rajendra Prasad on the advice of the Jawaharlal Nehru Cabinet.

It gives the State Legislature carte blanche to decide who all are the “permanent residents” of the State and grant them special rights and privileges in public sector jobs, acquisition of property within the State, scholarships and other public aid and welfare programmes. The provision mandates that no act of the State legislature coming under the ambit of Article 35A can be challenged for violating the Indian Constitution or any other law of the land.

TH;

To read more about Article 35A, refer: IE;

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Solution: a.

“A two-week-long meeting was recently concluded in Bonn (April 30-May 10) where the operational guidelines for implementing the Paris Agreement were to be discussed and agreed upon by all parties… This meeting was the 48th session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), referred to as SB48…. The issues related to loss and damage (L&D) are another thorn in the negotiations. L&D is a means to provide assistance to poor countries that experience severe impacts from climate change but have contributed very little to the greenhouse gases responsible for the warming and its effects. This is a very important issue for the least developed countries and for small islands, which are already experiencing the brunt of sea level rise…”

TH;

Solution: c.

The Centre has demanded more tests for genetically modified mustard (DMH-11 or Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11), a year after clearing the crop for “commercial cultivation.”.. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee, the apex regulator of genetically modified crops, in a March meeting said that in light of several representations both “for and against” the release of GM mustard, there was need for more tests.”

TH;

Solution: c.

The institutional mechanism to update the Master List and for revisiting the sub-sectors outside the Master List, will be a Committee chaired by Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs with Member-Secretary, Planning Commission, Secretary, Department of Revenue, Chief Economic Adviser, and one representative each of RBI, SEBI, IRDA, PFRDA and the Secretary of the concerned Administrative Ministry/Department, as members. The Committee will be serviced by DEA and will make recommendations to the Finance Minister for his decision.

From 2012: PIB;

Improvisation: Q1 from today;

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