INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS (18 DECEMBER 2019) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Global Gender Gap Report 2020 has been released by the World Economic Forum.
• Global gender gap index is a part of this which measures gender equality across four pillars– they are economic opportunity, political empowerment, educational attainment and health and survival.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/12/18/gender-gap-index/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: AMRUT mission

• The scheme was launched in 2015 with the focus to establish infrastructure that could ensure adequate robust sewage networks and water supply for urban transformation by implementing urban revival projects.
• It falls under Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/12/18/amrut-mission/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is an authority, established by Article 148 of the Constitution of India, which audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government.
• The CAG is also the external auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts supplementary audit of government companies, i.e., any non-banking/ non-insurance company in which Union Government has an equity share of at least 51 per cent or subsidiary companies of existing government companies.
• The reports of the CAG are taken into consideration by the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs), which are special committees in the Parliament of India and the state legislatures.
• The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India is appointed by the President of India following a recommendation by the Prime Minister. On appointment, he/she has to make an oath or affirmation before the President of India.
• The CAG is ranked 9th and enjoys the same status as a judge of Supreme Court of India in Indian order of precedence.
• The CAG can be removed only on an address from both houses of parliament on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. The CAG vacates the office on attaining the age of 65 years even without completing the 6 years term by impeachment also.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/12/18/pradhan-mantri-ujjwala-yojana-pmuy-3/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/12/18/pradhan-mantri-ujjwala-yojana-pmuy-3/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: National Broadband Mission (NBM)

• The mission will facilitate universal and equitable access to broadband services across the country, especially in rural and remote areas.
• The mission also envisages increasing fiberisation of towers to 70% from 30% at present.
• The mission will envisage stakeholder investment of $100 billion (Rs 7 lakh crore) including Rs 70,000 crore from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) in the coming years.
• The mission also involves the development of a Broadband Readiness Index to measure the availability of digital communication infrastructure and foster conducive policy ecosystem within a state/UT.
• It will also strive for the creation of a digital fibre map of the communications network and infrastructure, including optical fibre cables and towers across the country.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/12/18/national-broadband-mission-nbm/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Here Directive word is Not Corrcet!!

• First ever Global Refugee Forum is being held in Geneva, Switzerland.
• Jointly hosted by United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) along with Government of Switzerland.
• What is Global Refugee Forum?
  • Guided by the Global Compact on Refugees, the Global Refugee Forum is an opportunity to translate the principle of international responsibility-sharing into concrete action.
  • The Forum will showcase impactful pledges and contributions and the exchange of good practices.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/12/18/global-refugee-forum/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Article 29 protects the interests of the minorities by making a provision that any citizen / section of citizens having a distinct language, script or culture have the right to conserve the same

Article 30 mandates that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• China was the largest emitter of carbon dioxide; the country accounted for around 27.5 percent of global CO2 emissions that year

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) was enacted by the Central Government in 1955 to control and regulate trade and prices of commodities declared essential under the Act.
• The Act empowers the Central and state governments concurrently to control production, supply and distribution of certain commodities in view of rising prices. The measures that can be taken under the provision of the Act include, among others, licensing, distribution and imposing stock limits.
• The governments also have the power to fix price limits, and selling the particular commodities above the limit will attract penalties. Black marketing of essential commodities was a major problem in the past and this has now been controlled to a large extent. The Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) and such other orders have been issued under the powers of the ECA
• Seven major commodities are covered under the act. Some of them are:
  • Petroleum and its products, including petrol, diesel, kerosene, Naphtha, solvents etc
  • Food stuff, including edible oil and seeds, vanaspati, pulses, sugarcane and its products like, khandsari and sugar, rice paddy
  • Jute and textiles
  • Drugs- prices of essential drugs are still controlled by the DPCO
  • Fertilisers- the Fertiliser Control Order prescribes restrictions on transfer and stock of fertilizers apart from prices
• In 2014, Govt brings onions, potatoes under Essential Commodities Act, to undertake de-hoarding operations and to control the prices of onions and potatoes.

Refer: https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=106033

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• India, US conclude Industrial Security Annex to facilitate collaboration between defence industries