INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 22 May 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Here the directive word is not correct!!

• Stat1: LPG is composed mainly of propane and butane, while natural gas is composed of the lighter methane and ethane. Commercially available LPG is currently derived mainly from fossil fuels. Burning LPG releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. The reaction also produces some carbon monoxide. Also LPG burns more cleanly than higher molecular weight hydrocarbons because it releases fewer particulates.[24]
• Stat2: PMUY is a scheme of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas for providing LPG connections to women from Below Poverty Line (BPL) households.
• Key feature: deposit-free LPG connection is given to the eligible household with financial assistance of Rs 1,600 per connection by the Centre.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/pm-ujjwala-yojana-2/4

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• MGNREGA, which is the largest work guarantee programme in the world, was enacted in 2005 with the primary objective of guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households. Secondly, it aims at addressing causes of chronic poverty through the ‘works’ (projects) that are undertaken, and thus ensuring sustainable development.  Finally, there is an emphasis on strengthening the process of decentralisation through giving a significant role to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in planning and implementing these works.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/mahatma-gandhi-national-rural-employment-guarantee-act-mgnrega-2/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Project for ‘Livelihoods in Full Employment’ under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (Project LIFE-MGNREGA) is an initiative of Ministry of Rural Development
• The project aims at promoting self-reliance and improving the skill-base of the MGNREGA workers, and thereby improving livelihoods of MGNREGA workers, so that they can move from the current partial employment to full employment status and thereby reduce their dependence on MGNREGS.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/mahatma-gandhi-national-rural-employment-guarantee-act-mgnrega-2/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The government has notified amendments to General Financial Rules (GFR) to ensure that goods and services valued less than Rs 200 crore are being procured from domestic firms, a move which will benefit MSMEs.
• Implications:
• The amendments ensure that henceforth global tenders will be disallowed in government procurement up to Rs 200 crore, as announced in the Atma Nirbhar Bharat Package.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/general-financial-rules/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Ministry of Agriculture came out with a draft Model Contract Farming Act, 2018. The draft Model Act seeks to create a regulatory and policy framework for contract farming. Based on this draft Model Act, legislatures of states can enact a law on contract farming.
• Salient features :
  • The Act lays special emphasis on protecting the interests of the farmers, considering them as weaker of the two parties entering into a contract.
  • Contracted produce is to be covered under crop / livestock insurance in operation.
  • Contract framing to be outside the ambit of APMC Act.
  • No permanent structure can be developed on farmers’ land/premises
  • No right, title of interest of the land shall vest in the sponsor.
  • Promotion of Farmer Producer Organization (FPOs) / Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) to mobilize small and marginal farmers has been provided.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/odisha-adopts-contract-farming-system/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) has announced that coir geo textiles will be used for construction of rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III).
• What is Coir geotextile?
  • Coir is a 100% natural fiber, obtained from a renewable source – the coconut husk.
  • Coir Geo Textile is naturally resistant to rot, molds and moisture, and free from any microbial attack hence it needs no chemical treatment. It has a permeable, natural and strong fabric with high durability.
• Bristle coir is the longest variety of coir fibre. It is manufactured from retted coconut husks through a process called defibring. The coir fibre thus extracted is then combed using steel combs to make the fibre clean and to remove short fibres. Bristle coir fibre is used as bristles in brushes for domestic and industrial applications.
• Source: Sri Lanka is the largest exporter of coir fibre followed by Thailand and India. Despite the spread of coir industry in some of the major coconut producing countries, not more that 10%of the global output of husk is utilized for coir fibre extraction.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/what-are-geotextiles/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• What is Quantum entanglement?
  • It is a quantum mechanical phenomenon in which the quantum states of two or more objects have to be described with reference to each other, even though the individual objects may be spatially separated.
  • It is the physical phenomenon that occurs when a pair or group of particles is generated, interact, in a way such that the quantum state of each particle of the pair or group cannot be described independently of the state of the others.
• Significance:
  • Quantum entanglement is one of the peculiarities of quantum mechanics, which makes phenomena such as quantum teleportation and super-dense coding possible.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/what-is-quantum-entanglement/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Eco-Sensitive Zones or Ecologically Fragile Areas are areas within 10 kms around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
• ESAs are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under Environment Protection Act 1986.
• The basic aim is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected areas.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/preservation-of-eastern-western-ghats-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Here the directive word is not correct!!

• Stat1: The Eastern Ghats run from the northern Odisha through Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu in the south passing some parts of Karnataka.
• Stat2: The Eastern Ghats are older than the Western Ghats, and have a complex geologic history related to the assembly and breakup of the ancient supercontinent of Rodinia and the assembly of the Gondwana supercontinent.
• According to UNESCO, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/preservation-of-eastern-western-ghats-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Textiles Committee:

• It is a statutory body established in 1963.
• It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.
• It has been formed to ensure the quality of textiles and textile machinery both for internal consumption and export purpose.
• Important functions: establishing laboratories for the testing of textiles and textile machinery and providing for their inspection and examination.

Refer: facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/05/22/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-22-may-2020/