QUIZ – 2020: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 18 February 2020

Solution: c)

The most common hazard in forests is forests fire. Forests fires are as old as the forests themselves. They pose a threat not only to the forest wealth but also to the entire regime to fauna and flora seriously disturbing the bio-diversity and the ecology and environment of a region. During summer, when there is no rain for months, the forests become littered with dry senescent leaves and twinges, which could burst into flames ignited by the slightest spark. The Himalayan forests, particularly, Garhwal Himalayas have been burning regularly during the last few summers, with colossal loss of vegetation cover of that region.

The youngest mountain ranges of Himalayas are the most vulnerable stretches of the world susceptible to forest fires. The forests of Western are more frequently vulnerable to forest fires as compared to those in Eastern Himalayas. This is because forests of Eastern Himalayas grow in high rain density. With large scale expansion of chirr (Pine) forests in many areas of the Himalayas the frequency and intensity of forest fires has increased.

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Solution: d)

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with help from Gujarat’s forest department, is attempting for the first time a process to restore coral reefs using biorock or mineral accretion technology in the Gulf of Kachchh.

Biorock is the name given to the substance formed by electro accumulation of minerals dissolved in seawater on steel structures that are lowered onto the sea bed and are connected to a power source, in this case solar panels that float on the surface.

“The technology works by passing a small amount of electrical current through electrodes in the water. “When a positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode are placed on the sea floor, with an electric current flowing between them, calcium ions combine with carbonate ions and adhere to the structure (cathode). This results in calcium carbonate formation. Coral larvae adhere to the CaCO3 and grow quickly.

Fragments of broken corals are tied to the biorock structure, where they are able to grow at least four to six times faster than their actual growth as they need not spend their energy in building their own calcium carbonate skeletons.

The location for installing the biorock had been chosen keeping in mind the high tidal amplitude in the Gulf of Kachchh. The low tide depth where the biorock has been installed is four metres, and at high tide it is about eight metres.

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Solution: b)

The office of the United States Trade Representatives (USTR) has updated its list of developing and least-developed countries, removing India from the list of countries that are designated as developing.

The USTR has also updated its list of countries that are least-developed under the US countervailing duty (CVD) laws. Countries under this list are eligible for preferential treatment when it comes to CVD investigations. Other countries that were removed from the list include Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Until February 10, 2020, India was on the USTR’s list of developing countries, making it eligible for preferential treatment against CVD investigations and de minimis thresholds. It will no longer get this benefit.

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Solution: c)

The Supreme Court judgment of February 7, declaring that there is no fundamental right of a member of the scheduled caste (SC) or scheduled tribe (ST) community to claim reservation benefits while being promoted in government service.

The apex court’s judgment is very simply a reiteration of the provision of the Constitution. According to Article 16(4A) of the Constitution, any reservation of seats for SC/ST persons in promotion will not violate the fundamental tenet of equality. This provision quite clearly does not actively require state governments or the central government to provide reservation. Instead, it declares that should a government choose to reserve seats in promotion, such reservation will not be a violation of equality. As a result of the immunity provided, no one, particularly upper castes, can claim that preferential treatment for SC/ST persons treats people unequally, and is violative of the Constitution.

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Solution: c)

The Government of India has extended the facility of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to help them meet their working capital needs. The KCC facility will help fisheries and animal husbandry farmers to meet their short-term credit requirements of rearing of animals, poultry birds, fish, shrimp, other aquatic organisms and capture of fish.

Under KCC facility, Interest subvention is available for farmers @ 2% per annum at the time of disbursal of loan and additional interest subvention @ 3 % per annum in case of prompt repayment as Prompt Repayment Incentive. One of the advantages of the KCC Scheme to the farmers is the Repayment only after harvest.

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