INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 30 April 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Global Report on Internal Displacement (GRID 2020) has been released by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). The centre is a part of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/the-global-report-on-internal-displacement-grid-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Stat1 and 2: This Commission is a quasi-judicial body and has been endowed with the powers of a Civil Court. It is to be headed by a Chairman who has been a Judge of the High Court and three members are to be nominated by Central Government.  The Commission has 3 roles namely adjudicatory function, advisory function and recommendatory powers.
• Stat3: The Commission can make recommendations to the Central Government and the State Governments regarding any matter which directly or indirectly deprives the minority community of their educational rights enshrined in Article 30.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/constitutional-provisions-regarding-minority-educational-institutions/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Kawasaki disease is an acute inflammatory disease of the blood vessels and usually occurs in children below the age of five.
• The inflammation caused by the disease affects many parts of the body but has a more serious effect on the heart since it causes inflammation in the coronary arteries that are responsible for supplying blood to the heart.
• This results in enlargement or in the formation of aneurysms that can lead to heart attacks. Symptoms include fever, changes in extremities, rashes, redness of the cornea, red and cracked lips, a red tongue and lymph node enlargement of the neck.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/what-is-a-multi-system-inflammatory-state/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Mekong River:
  • Longest river in Southeast Asia, the 7th longest in Asia, and the 12th longest in the world.
  • Rising in south-eastern Qinghai province, China, it flows through the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan province, after which it forms part of the international border between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, as well as between Laos and Thailand. The river then flows through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam before draining into the South China Sea south of Ho Chi Minh City.

• Brahmaputra River:
  • It is a trans-boundary river which flows through China, India and Bangladesh.
  • It is the ninth largest river in the world by discharge, and the 15th longest.
  • Origin in the Manasarovar Lake region, near the Mount Kailash, located on the northern side of the Himalayas
  • It flows along southern Tibet to break through the Himalayas in great gorges and into Arunachal Pradesh (India). It flows southwest through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra and south through Bangladesh as the Jamuna. In the vast Ganges Delta, it merges with the Padma before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

• The Ganges Delta:
  • It is a river delta in the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent, consisting of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal.
  • It is the world’s largest river delta and it empties into the Bay of Bengal with the combined waters of several river systems, mainly those of the Brahmaputra river and the Ganges river.
  • It is also one of the most fertile regions in the world, thus earning the nickname the Green Delta (Otherwise known as the blue lake).
  • The delta stretches from the Hooghly River east as far as the Meghna River.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/study-on-china-dams-brings-the-brahmaputra-into-focus/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has released its Annual Special 301 Report.
• What is Special 301 Report?
  • It is prepared annually by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) that identifies trade barriers to United States companies and products due to the intellectual property laws, such as copyright, patents and trademarks, in other countries.
  • It is published pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
  • The Report includes a list of “Priority Foreign Countries”, that are judged to have inadequate intellectual property laws; these countries may be subject to sanctions.
  • In addition, the report contains a “Priority Watch List” and a “Watch List”, containing countries whose intellectual property regimes are deemed of concern.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/annual-special-301-report/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989 to leverage the growing interdependence of the Asia-Pacific.
• Aim: to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by promoting balanced, inclusive, sustainable, innovative and secure growth and by accelerating regional economic integration.
• APEC’s 21 member economies are Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; People’s Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; The Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; United States of America; Viet Nam.
• Source: The ostensible reason for India’s non-inclusion in the APEC is its extra-regional status. APEC is essentially a group of ‘Pacific’ countries that came together in 1989 to form an economic community. Its guiding motive was to resist protectionist policies by individual member states, and the promotion of trade liberalisation and economic cooperation within the affiliated Asia-Pacific economies. By that description, India did not seem to fit in.
• India has requested membership in APEC, and received initial support from the United States, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea. Officials have decided not to allow India to join for various reasons, considering that India does not border the Pacific Ocean, which all current members do. However, India was invited to be an observer for the first time in November 2011.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/asia-pacific-economic-cooperation-apec/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Alzheimer’s Disease: It is a progressive brain disorder that typically affects people older than 65. When it affects younger individuals, it is considered early onset.
• The disease destroys brain cells and nerves, and disrupts the message-carrying neurotransmitters.
• Eventually, a person with Alzheimer’s loses the ability to perform day-to-day activities.
• There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, because its exact causes are not known. Most drugs being developed try to slow down or stop the progression of the disease.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/berberine-and-alzheimers/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• It is a robot to assist frontline COVID-19 healthcare warriors.
• It helps in maintaining physical distance from those infected by coronavirus.
• Developed by Durgapur-based CSIR lab, Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute.
• This robot can be controlled and monitored by a nursing booth with a control station having such features as navigation, drawer activation for providing medicines and food to patients, sample collection and audio-visual communication.
• HCARD stands for Hospital Care Assistive Robotic Device (HCARD)

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-april-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Estrogen and progesterone are the two main sex hormones that characterise a woman.
• Estrogen helps her develop female physical features and also maintains her reproductive system.
• Progesterone is secreted by a temporary endocrine gland that the body produces during the second half of the menstrual cycle, and helps prepare the body for possible pregnancy after ovulation.
• The male body too has estrogen and produces progesterone, both in smaller amounts.
• Flax seeds are small, golden or brown-colored seeds that have recently gained traction due to their potential health benefits. They’re incredibly rich in lignans, a group of chemical compounds that functions as phytoestrogens. In fact, flax seeds contain up to 800 times more lignans than other plant foods.
• Studies have shown that the phytoestrogens found in flax seeds may play an important role in decreasing the risk of breast cancer, especially in postmenopausal women.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-april-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Stat1: Article 123 of the Constitution empowers the President to promulgate ordinances during the recess of Parliament. These ordinances have the same force and effect as an act of Parliament, but are in the nature of temporary laws.
• Stat2: His ordinance-making power is coextensive as regards all matters except duration, with the law-making powers of the Parliament. This has two implications:
  • An ordinance can be issued only on those subjects on which the Parliament can make laws.
  • An ordinance is subject to the same constitutional limitation as an act of Parliament. Hence, an ordinance cannot abridge or take away any of the fundamental rights.

Refer: Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/04/30/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-30-april-2020/