QUIZ – 2020: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 14 January 2020

Solution: a)

28 airports and five seaports across the country have been designated as being eligible to process e-visas facilities.

International Travellers having Pakistani Passport or Pakistani origin may apply for regular Visa at Indian Mission.

eVisa is admissable only under the following categories:

e-Tourist Visa

e-Business Visa

e-Conference Visa

e-Medical Visa

e-Medical Attendent Visa

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Solution: d)

• Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement that was founded by Dayanand Saraswati in 1875 in Bombay. The movement believes in the infallible authority of the Vedas.
• According to the website of Arya Samaj Houston, the central objectives of Arya Samaj is to, “eradicate Ignorance (Agyan), Indigence or Poverty (Abhav) and Injustice (Anayay) from this earth. This mission is enshrined in the ten Niyams or Principles.”
• The website says that contrary to the misconception, Arya Samaj is not a religion or a new sect in the Hindu religion.
• Members of the Arya Samaj believe in one God and reject the worship of idols.

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Solution: b)

 For a better understanding of how much water is contained in each winter’s snowfall and how much will be available when it melts in the spring, NASA has launched a seasonal campaign — part of a five-year programme called SnowEx, initiated in 2016-17.

While the geographical focus of SnowEx is North America, NASA’s overall target is optimal strategies for mapping global snow water equivalent (SWE) with remote sensing and models leading to a Decadal Survey “Earth System Explorer” mission.

The mission will utilize a suite of airborne instruments such as Lidar, SAR, Passive Microwave, Multi-spectral/hyperspectral VIS/IR, and others, as well as ground measurements, to study Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) in forested areas.

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Solution: b)

Bt cotton is a genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically modified pest resistant plant cotton variety, which produces an insecticide to bollworm.

In India, it is the responsibility of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Environment Ministry to assess the safety of a genetically modified plant, and decide whether it is fit for cultivation.

Legally, sale, storage, transportation and usage of unapproved GM seeds is a punishable offence under the Rules of Environmental Protection Act. Also, sale of unapproved seeds can attract action under the Seed Act of 1966 and the Cotton Act of 1957.

Solution: d)

• With India grappling with issues like the security implications of the introduction of 5G and artificial intelligence, the Indian foreign ministry has announced the setting up of a new division on New and Emerging Strategic Technologies (NEST).
• The division will act as the nodal point in India’s foreign ministry for all matters connected to new and emerging technologies including exchange of views with foreign governments and coordination with domestic ministries and departments.
• It will also help assess foreign policy and international legal implications of emerging technology and technology-based resources.
• The desk will also be involved in negotiations to safeguard Indian interests at multilateral fora like the United Nations or the G20 where rules governing the use and access to such technologies could be decided.

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