INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 20 May 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Star Rating Of Garbage Free Cities , an initiative launched by the Ministry Of Housing And Urban Affairs
• The star rating conditions are based on 25 key parameters across the solid waste management spectrum and has been designed to both help cities assess their progress while encouraging them to move towards a better rating thereby improving their cities’ overall cleanliness and aesthetics.
• How cities are give ratings?
  • The Star Rating is supported by self-assessment and self-verification for achieving a certain star rating.
  • It also ensures the involvement of citizen groups for a transparent system of self-declaration.
  • The self-declaration is further verified through an independent third party agency appointed by MoHUA.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/garbage-free-star-rating-for-the-cities/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Factors responsible for the intensification of cyclones in BoB:
• Higher than normal temperatures in the Bay of Bengal (BoB) may be whetting ‘super cyclones’ and the lockdown, indirectly, may have played a role.
  • Cyclones gain their energy from the heat and moisture generated from warm ocean surfaces. This year, the BoB has posted record summer temperatures a fall-out, as researchers have warned, of global warming from fossil fuel emissions that has been heating up oceans.
  • Lockdown impact: Reduced particulate matter emissions during the lockdown meant fewer aerosols, such as black carbon, that are known to reflect sunlight and heat away from the surface.
• El Nino affects the flow of moisture-bearing winds from the cooler oceans towards India, negatively impact the summer monsoon, which accounts for over 70% of annual rainfall. It remains to be seen how it would actually evolve over the next few months, but if it does retain its strength after the summer, it could mar the prospects of a good monsoon in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/hotter-oceans-spawn-super-cyclones/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Arabian Sea is comparatively less prone to cyclonic storms than Bay of Bengal:

• Temperature: BOB is hotter than Arabian sea. Hot water temperature is the basic criteria for the development & intensification of cyclones.
• Salinity: Arabian sea has higher salinity than BOB. It’s easier to heat & simultaneously evaporate water having lower salinity.
• Location: The typhoons originating in the Pacific Ocean too influences the cyclones in BOB, not the case in Arabian Sea.
• Movement: According to IMD cyclones originating in Arabian Sea are believed to move northwest. So they actually move away from Indian mainland.
• The Bay receives higher rainfall and constant inflow of fresh water from the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers. This means that the Bay’s surface water keeps getting refreshed, making it impossible for the warm water to mix with the cooler water below, making it ideal for a depression.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/hotter-oceans-spawn-super-cyclones/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The VAP is an Indo-US bilateral program, which supports a broad spectrum of activities relating to new and improved vaccines. The programme was designed to encompass laboratory-based research, evaluation of candidate vaccines, testing for clinical development, vaccine quality control, delivery of vaccines and so on. All work is carried out within areas designated as VAP priorities by the VAP Joint Working Group (JWG) comprising of eminent scientists and policymakers from both countries.
• The programme resulted from the concerted efforts of Indian and U.S. scientists led by the Chief Science Advisors of Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi and US President Ronald Reagan. In 1983, the India-US Science and Technology Initiative (STI) was established with a commitment of both countries to give high priority and financial support to the STI programmes which will be of mutual benefit to both the countries.
• The programme is under implementation since July, 1987 under the Gandhi-Reagan Science & Technology Agreement. Its present tenure is upto August, 2017. VAP is being implemented to promote focused and applied research on new and improved vaccines and immuno-diagnostics by bringing together leading Indian and US scientists.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/indo-us-vaccine-action-programme-vap/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Rajiv Gandhi Nyay Yojana will be launched by Chhattisgarh government to ensure “minimum income availability” to farmers of the state through direct bank transfer.
• The scheme will formally be launched in the state on May 21, the death anniversary of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/rajiv-gandhi-nyay-yojana/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Solar minimum: Sun has a cycle that lasts on average 11 years, and right now we are at the peak of that cycle.
  • Every 11 years or so, sunspots fade away, bringing a period of relative calm. This is called the solar minimum. And it’s a regular part of the sunspot cycle.
• Implications:
  • While intense activity such as sunspots and solar flares subside during solar minimum, that doesn’t mean the sun becomes dull. Solar activity simply changes form. For instance, during solar minimum we can see the development of long-lived coronal holes.
  • But, this may cause health risks to astronauts travelling through space as “the sun’s magnetic field weakens and provides less shielding from these cosmic rays.”

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/what-is-solar-minimum-and-why-is-it-happening-now/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: About TATR:

• It is Maharashtra’s oldest and largest national park.
• Created in 1995, the Reserve includes the Tadoba National Park and the Andhari Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Tadoba” is taken from the name of the god “Tadoba” or “Taru”, worshipped by the tribes who live in the dense forests of the Tadoba and Andhari region, while “Andhari” refers to the Andhari river that meanders through the forest.
• Tadoba reserve covers the Chimur Hills, and the Andhari sanctuary covers the Moharli and Kolsa ranges.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/long-term-monitoring-of-tigers-co-predators-and-prey-species-in-tatr/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Here the directive word is not correct!!

• Days after changing the definition of MSMEs, the government has decided to further revise the criteria for medium units by enhancing the investment and turnover limits to up to Rs 50 crore and Rs 200 crore respectively.
• According to the revised definition:
• Any firm with investment up to Rs 1 crore and turnover under Rs 5 crore will be classified as “micro”.
• A company with investment up to Rs 10 crore and turnover up to Rs 50 crore will be classified as “small”.

Refer: facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-20-may-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The AI-powered mobile App has been developed by National Testing Agency (NTA) to enable candidates to take mock tests for upcoming exams such as JEE Main, NEET under the NTA’s purview.
• Launched by Human Resources Development Ministry recently.

Refer: facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/20/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-20-may-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Stat1: India decided to go to space when Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was set up by the Government of India in 1962. With the visionary Dr Vikram Sarabhai at its helm, INCOSPAR set up the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram for upper atmospheric research.
• Stat2: GSLV MkIII is a three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle developed by ISRO. The vehicle has two solid strap-ons, a core liquid booster and a cryogenic upper stage.
• GSLV Mk III is designed to carry 4 ton class of satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) or about 10 tons to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), which is about twice the capability of the GSLV Mk II.

Refer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Space_Research_Organisation