Insights Revision Through MCQs – 28 October 2019

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• It seeks to allow illegal migrants from certain minority communities in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan eligible for Indian citizenshipby amending the Citizenship Act of 1955.
  • The Bill, however, does not extend to illegal Muslim migrants.
• It seeks to grant citizenship to people from minority communities — Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians —after 6 years of stay in India even if they do not possess any proper document. The current requirement is 12 years of stay

Refer: http://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/citizenship-amendment-bill-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Eligibility
  • Public institutions are assessed on the basis of QS-2020 world rankings, in case of a tie QS- 2019 rankings are used.
  • Only higher education institutions currently placed in the top 500 of global rankings or top 50 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are eligible to apply for the eminence tag.
• Greenfield Proposals: Only after exhausting the above criterion, if any slot remains vacant, consideration shall be given to yet to be established (Greenfield) proposals.
  • The term green field project generally refers to the initiation of a project without the need to consider any prior work.
  • Greenfield Institutions would get 3 year period to establish and operationalise the institution, and thereafter, EEC will consider giving IoE status to such institutions.
  • Satya Bharti Foundation (telecom major Airtel’s philanthropic arm) became the second green field institution to be given IoE status, after Reliance’s Jio Institute.

Refer: http://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/institutes-of-eminence-scheme-5/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association was set up with the objective of strengthening regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region.
• Setup in 1997, it Consists of 22 coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean.
• The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them.
• The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene, Mauritius.

Refer: http://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/indian-ocean-rim-association-iora-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Organoids are 3D structures derived from iPSCs, hESCA, neonatal tissue stem cells, or AdSCs/adult progenitors, in which cells spontaneously self-organize into properly differentiated functional cell types and specialized progenitors, forming a tissue-like mass that resembles its in vivo counterpart to recapitulate at least some functions of the organ
• Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are adult cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to an embryonic stem cell–like state by being forced to express genes and factors important for maintaining the defining properties of embryonic stem cells
• Spheroids are clumps of cells generated by aggregation of cells. Spheroids possess little or no relevant tissue structure. Organoid is a general term that has been around for decades. In the past, it referred to what were essentially spheroids (i.e. generated by aggregation) that contained differentiated cells that exhibited some tissue-like structures.

Refer: http://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/organoids/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Blockchain’s Practical Application

• Bank Use: By integrating blockchain into banks, consumers can see their transactions processed in as little as 10 minutes, basically the time it takes to add a block to the blockchain, regardless of the time or day of the week. With blockchain, banks also have the opportunity to exchange funds between institutions more quickly and securely
• Healthcare Uses: Health care providers can leverage blockchain to securely store their patients’ medical records. When a medical record is generated and signed, it can be written into the blockchain, which provides patients with the proof and confidence that the record cannot be changed
• Property Records Use: Blockchain has the potential to eliminate the need for scanning documents and tracking down physical files in a local recording office. If property ownership is stored and verified on the blockchain, owners can trust that their deed is accurate and permanent.
• Use in Smart Contracts: Smart contract is a computer code that can be built into the blockchain to facilitate, verify, or negotiate a contract agreement. Smart contracts operate under a set of conditions that users agree to. When those conditions are met, the terms of the agreement are automatically carried out.
• Supply Chain Use: Suppliers can use blockchain to record the origins of materials that they have purchased. This would allow companies to verify the authenticity of their products, along with health and ethics labels like “Organic,” “Local,” and “Fair Trade.”
• Uses in Voting: Voting with blockchain carries the potential to eliminate election fraud and boost voter turnout, as was tested in the November 2018 midterm elections in West Virginia. Each vote would be stored as a block on the blockchain, making them nearly impossible to tamper with. The blockchain protocol would also maintain transparency in the electoral process, reducing the personnel needed to conduct an election and provide officials with instant results

Refer: http://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/block-chain-technology-3/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Fly ash includes substantial amounts of silicon dioxide (SiO2), aluminium oxide (Al2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO),
• Minor constituents include: arsenic, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, hexavalent chromium, cobalt, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, selenium, strontium, thallium, and vanadium, along with very small concentrations of dioxins and PAH compounds
• 
• Soil stabilization is the permanent physical and chemical alteration of soils to enhance their physical properties. Stabilization can increase the shear strength of a soil and/or control the shrink-swell properties of a soil, thus improving the load-bearing capacity of a sub-grade to support pavements and foundations. Stabilization can be used to treat a wide range of sub-grade materials from expansive clays to granular materials. Stabilization can be achieved with a variety of chemical additives including lime, fly ash, and Portland cement

Refer: http://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/fly-ash-4/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Sarayu flows through Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. This river is of ancient significance, finding mentions in the Vedas and the Ramayana.
• The Sarayu originates from Lake Mansarovar in the Himalayas and is also known as the Ghaghra and the Manas Nandini. It merges with the Ganga in Bihar’s Saran district.
• It forms at the confluence of the Karnali and Mahakali in Bahraich District.
• Ayodhya is situated on the banks of this river.
• It flows through the Kumaon Himalayas

Refer: Facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-28-october-2019/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Tropical cyclones are regarded as one of the most devastating natural calamities in the world.
• They originate and intensify over warm tropical oceans.
• These are ferocious storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over to the coastal areas causing violent winds, very heavy rainfall, and storm outpourings.
• Favorable condition for tropical cyclone
• 

Refer: Facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/28/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-28-october-2019/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

Refer: Facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/17/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-17-october-2019/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Tulagi Island – Solomon Islands
• Divar Island – lies in the Mandovi river in the Indian state of Goa, India
• Nancowry Island – central part of the Nicobar Islands, India

Refer: Facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/10/17/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-17-october-2019/