INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 18 June 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is a laboratory technique combining reverse transcription of RNA into DNA and amplification of specific DNA targets using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
• It is primarily used to measure the amount of a specific RNA.
• This is achieved by monitoring the amplification reaction using fluorescence, a technique called real-time PCR or quantitative PCR (qPCR).
• How RT-PCR is used for detecting Covid-19?
  • The causative agent for Covid19 is the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It is an RNA virus, that means it infiltrates a healthy cell to multiply and survive.
  • Thus, the RT-PCR test is for the identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. In this, the RNA is converted to DNA through a process called ‘reverse transcription’ for detecting viruses.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/18/150698/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has sold its entire stakes in the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) and National Housing Bank. The decision to divest its entire stake was taken based on the recommendations of the second Narasimham Committee.
• The government now holds a 100 per cent stake in both NHB and NABARD.
• About NHB:
  • NHB is an All India Financial Institution (AIFl), set up in 1988, under the National Housing Bank Act, 1987.
  • It is an apex agency established to operate as a principal agency to promote housing finance institutions both at local and regional levels and to provide financial and other support incidental to such institutions and for matters connected therewith.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/18/housing-finance-companies/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• What is NASA’s Gateway Lunar Orbit outpost?
  • The Gateway is a small spaceship that will orbit the Moon, meant for astronaut missions to the Moon and later, for expeditions to Mars.
  • It will act as a temporary office and living quarters for astronauts, distanced at about 250,000 miles from Earth.
  • The spaceship will have living quarters, laboratories for science and research and docking ports for visiting spacecraft.
  • Compared to the ISS, the Gateway is much smaller.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/18/nasas-gateway-lunar-orbit-outpost/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Option A: Gharials inhabit deep freshwater habitats, not both freshwater and saltwater habitats as inhabited by crocodile species. So, A is ruled out. Option A is the home of saltwater crocodile.
• Option B: Gharials can be naturally found in National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/18/world-crocodile-day/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Option A is the home of saltwater crocodile.
• The saltwater crocodile is found in the eastern states of Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The largest specimen was found in Odisha, and reached 7.0 m (23.0 ft). Its population numbers about 300. Saltwater crocodiles live in the mangroves of Bhittarkanika and Sunderbans, Mahanadi Delta, and in the swamplands in Odisha and West Bengal (including rivers).
• The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile.
• Option B: Gharials can be naturally found in National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/18/world-crocodile-day/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Pangolin is only scaly mammal on the planet.
• According to CITES, it is also the most illegally traded vertebrate within its class (Mammalia).
• Of the eight species of pangolin worldwide, two are found in India. They are Chinese pangolin, mostly found in northeast India and Indian pangolin.
• Protection Status:
  • Chinese pangolin has been listed as “critically endangered”.
  • Indian pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) has been listed as “endangered”.
• It is also a Schedule I category protected animal, under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
• The animal can be found in grasslands and secondary forests, and is well adapted to desert regions as it is believed to have a tolerance to dry areas, but prefers more barren, hilly regions. It prefers soft and semi-sandy soil conditions suitable for digging burrows.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/18/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-18-june-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) aims to connect all the 2,50,000 Gram panchayats in the country and provide 100 Mbps connectivity to all gram panchayats (GPs). To achieve this, the existing fibers of PSUs (BSNL, Railtel and Power Grid) were utilized and incremental fiber was laid to connect to Gram Panchayats wherever necessary.
• The entire project is being funded by Universal service Obligation Fund (USOF), which was set up for improving telecom services in rural and remote areas of the country. The objective is to facilitate the delivery of e-governance, e-health, e-education, e-banking, Internet and other services to the rural India.
• Bharat Broadband Network Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle set up under Companies Act by Government of India with an authorized capital of Rs. 1000 Cr. It has been mandated to create the National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) in India. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

Refer: http://www.bbnl.nic.in/index1.aspx?lsid=18&lev=1&lid=18&langid=1

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Maritime museum to be set up at Lothal- the Harrapan age maritime site near Ahmedabad, by Ministry of Shipping.
• Culture & Tourism sector.
  • Re-curation of the Indian Museum in Kolkata, announced by Prime Minister in January 2020.
  • Museum on Numismatics and Trade to be located in the historic Old Mint building in Kolkata.
  • 4 more museums from across the country to be taken up for renovation and re-curation.
  • Support for setting up of a Tribal Museum in Ranchi (Jharkhand).

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/06/11/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-11-june-2019/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• About The Index of economic freedom
• For much of human history, most individuals have lacked economic freedom and opportunity, condemning them to poverty and deprivation.
• Today, we live in the most prosperous time in human history. Poverty, sicknesses, and ignorance are receding throughout the world, due in large part to the advance of economic freedom. In 2019, the principles of economic freedom that have fueled this monumental progress are once again measured in the Index of Economic Freedom, an annual guide published by The Heritage Foundation, Washington’s No. 1 think tank.
• For twenty-five years the Index has delivered thoughtful analysis in a clear, friendly, and straight-forward format. With new resources for users and a website tailored for research and education, the Index of Economic Freedom is poised to help readers track over two decades of the advancement in economic freedom, prosperity, and opportunity and promote these ideas in their homes, schools, and communities.

Refer: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/doc/echapter.pdf

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Export of network products for job creation
• Exports of network products can contribute a quarter of the increase in value-added required for making India a $5 trillion economy by 2025. Network products refer to the products where production occurs across the global value chain operated by multi-national corporations. This can be achieved by integrating ‘Assemble in India for the world’ in the ‘Make in India’ initiative. This can create 4 crore well-paid jobs by 2025 and 8 crore jobs by 2030.

Refer: chapter-05: Creating Jobs and Growth by Specializing to Exports in Network Products: https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/economicsurvey/doc/echapter.pdf