QUIZ – 2020: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 20 March 2020

Solution: d)

The European Commission (EC) has launched the ‘United for Biodiversity’ coalition.

It was launched on World Wildlife Day 2020- 3^rd March.

What is it?

The coalition is made up of zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, national parks, and natural history and science museums from around the world.

The coalition offers the opportunity for all such institutions to “join forces and boost public awareness about the nature crisis.

The coalition adopted a common pledge, citing the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment finding that one million species were already at risk of extinction, and appeals to visitors to each of their institutions to “raise their voice for nature.”

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Solution: c)

Article 80 of the Constitution states, “(1) The council of States shall consist of (a) twelve members to be nominated by the President in accordance with the provisions of clause (3)…” Clause (3) states, “The members to be nominated by the President under sub clause (a) of clause (1) shall consist of persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of such matters as the following, namely: Literature, science, art and social service”.

Since Rajya Sabha was constituted in 1952, 137 people have been nominated as its members. These include scholars, jurists, educationists, historians, scientists, litterateurs, journalists, engineers, economists, administrators, artistes, social workers and politicians usually with loyalty to the government of the day.

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Solution: d)

Government of India has launched the Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy under the Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN) Abhiyaan and the targets has been set to reduce anaemia by 3% per year.

The 6x6x6 strategy under AMB implies six age groups, six interventions and six institutional mechanisms. The strategy focuses on ensuring supply chain, demand generation and strong monitoring using for addressing anemia, both due to nutritional and non-nutritional causes.

The six population groups under AMB strategy are:

• Children (6-59 months)
• Children (5-9 years)
• Adolescents girls and boys (10-19 years)
• Pregnant women
• Lactating women
• Women of Reproductive Age (WRA) group (15-49 years)

The six interventions are:

• Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation
• Deworming
• Intensified year-round Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) Campaign and delayed cord clamping
• Testing of anaemia using digital methods and point of care treatment,
• Mandatory provision of Iron and Folic Acid fortified foods in Government funded health programmes
• Addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis and the six institutional mechanisms.

The six institutional mechanisms are:

• Inter-ministerial coordination
• National AnemiaMukt Bharat Unit
• National Centre of Excellence and Advanced research on Anemia Control
• Convergence with other ministries
• Strengthening supply chain and logistics
• AnemiaMukt Bharat Dashboard and Digital Portal- one-stop shop for Anemia.

This comprehensive strategy is expected to yield positive results in Anemia control.

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Solution: b)

What are small finance banks?

The small finance bank will primarily undertake basic banking activities of acceptance of deposits and lending to unserved and underserved sections including small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries and unorganised sector entities.

Existing non-banking financial companies (NBFC), microfinance institutions (MFI) and local area banks (LAB) can apply to become small finance banks.

They can be promoted either by individuals, corporate, trusts or societies.

They are established as public limited companies in the private sector under the Companies Act, 2013.

They are governed by the provisions of Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, Banking Regulation Act, 1949 and other relevant statutes.

What they can do?

Take small deposits and disburse loans.

Distribute mutual funds, insurance products and other simple third-party financial products.

Lend 75% of their total adjusted net bank credit to priority sector.

Maximum loan size would be 10% of capital funds to single borrower, 15% to a group.

Minimum 50% of loans should be up to 25 lakhs.

What they cannot do?

Lend to big corporates and groups.

Cannot open branches with prior RBI approval for first five years.

Other financial activities of the promoter must not mingle with the bank.

It cannot set up subsidiaries to undertake non-banking financial services activities.

Cannot be a business correspondent of any bank.

Solution: b)

The TRAI Act of 1997 was amended in the year 2000 and TDSAT was set up to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals with a view to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom sector.

The decision of TDSAT is appealed to Supreme Court of India.

The jurisdiction of TDSAT stands extended to matters that lay before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal and also the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal.

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