DAY – 25 ( INSTA REVISION TEST)INSTA REVISION PLAN 2.0, 2020

Solution: C

Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the living rhinoceroses and the only Asian rhino with two horns.

The Sumatran rhino once roamed as far away as the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas in Bhutan and eastern India, through Myanmar, Thailand, possibly to Vietnam and China, and south through the Malay Peninsula. Today, the species only survives on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Experts believe the third subspecies is probably extinct.

It is listed as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Sumatran rhino is the smallest and last form of the Two-horned hairy rhinos that have lived on the planet for 20 million years.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/sumatran-rhino-is-now-extinct-in-malaysia-67892

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/sumatran-rhino

Solution: D

Coalbed Methane (CBM), an unconventional source of natural gas is now considered as an alternative source for augmenting India’s energy resource. India has the fifth largest proven coal reserves in the world and thus holds significant prospects for exploration and exploitation of CBM. The prognosticated CBM resources in the country are about 92 TCF (2600 BCM) in 12 states of India. In order to harness CBM potential in the country, the Government of India formulated CBM policy in 1997 wherein CBM being Natural Gas is explored and exploited under the provisions of OIL Fields (Regulation & Development) Act 1948 (ORD Act 1948) and Petroleum & Natural Gas Rules 1959 (P&NG Rules 1959) administered by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MOP&NG).

The Gondwana sediments of eastern India host the bulk of India’s coal reserves and all the current CBM producing blocks. The vast majority of the best prospective areas for CBM development are in eastern India, situated in Damodar Koel valley and Son valley. CBM projects exist in Raniganj South, Raniganj East and Raniganj North areas in the Raniganj coalfield, the Parbatpur block in Jharia coalfield and the East and west Bokaro coalfields. Son valley includes the Sonhat North and Sohagpur East and West blocks.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-the-methane-in-coalbeds-and-how-they-can-be-extracted-6136183/

http://www.dghindia.org/index.php/page?pageId=38

Solution: B

Kolleru, one of the largest freshwater lakes in India, (it was designated a sanctuary in October 1999) is situated between the Krishna and West Godavari districts of the state.

Kolleru is one of the most important wetlands of India. The lake supports 200 species of birds, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, (Kolleru committee report 2010).

Kolleru was accorded a sanctuary status under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Currently, it covers an area of 308 sq km. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2002. It was also identified as an “Important Bird Area” of India by the Bombay Natural History Society.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/environment/kolleru-wildlife-sanctuary-faces-threats-52211

http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/ramsar_wetland_sites_8224.aspx

Solution: C

ETFs are just what their name implies: baskets of securities that are traded, like individual stocks, on an exchange. Unlike regular open-end mutual funds, ETFs can be bought and sold throughout the trading day like any stock.

Most ETFs charge lower annual expenses than index mutual funds. However, as with stocks, one must pay a brokerage to buy and sell ETF units, which can be a significant drawback for those who trade frequently or invest regular sums of money.

Even though ETFs and Futures allow investors exposure to an index, they are different in many regards. While Futures is a derivative product and trades in the F&O segment of NSE, ETFs are a cash market product and trade in the Capital Market segment of NSE. The maximum tenure available for futures is 3 months while ETFs can be held for as long as the investor wants.

https://www1.nseindia.com/products/content/equities/etfs/about_etfs.htm

Solution: B

The Mahabodhi Temple or the Mahabodhi Mahavihar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient, but much rebuilt and restored, Buddhist temple in Bodh Gaya, marking the location where the Buddha is said to have attained enlightenment.

https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/bhutan-foreign-minister-visits-mahabodhi-temple20191120102045

Solution: A

The Ken River, is one of the major rivers of the Bundelkhand region of central India, and flows through two states, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is a tributary of the Yamuna. It passes through Panna tiger reserve.

The Betwa is a river in Northern India, and a tributary of the Yamuna. It rises in the Vindhya Range just north of Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh and flows north-east through Madhya Pradesh and Orchha to Uttar Pradesh. Nearly half of its course, which is not navigable, runs over the Malwa Plateau.

Solution: D

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is an Indian law aimed at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.

Following the 2004 amendment, terrorist act was added to the list of unlawful activities.

It extends to the whole of India.

Every person shall be liable to punishment under this Act for every act or omission contrary to the provisions thereof, of which he is held guilty in India.

Any person, who commits an offence beyond India, which is punishable under this Act, shall be dealt with according to the provisions of this Act in the same manner as if such act had been committed in India.

The provisions of this Act apply also to–

(a) citizens of India outside India;

(b) persons in the service of the Government, wherever they may be; and

(c) persons on ships and aircrafts, registered in India, wherever they may be.

https://indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1470?view_type=browse&sam_handle=123456789/1362

Solution: C

Context: Microsoft rolls out its K12 Education Transformation Framework more widely in India.

Key features of the framework:

1. The Framework provides a holistic framework to facilitate a comprehensive digital transformation of schools.
2. The framework is a flexible platform based on the latest research and input from hundreds of academics, experts, and policymakers.
3. It comprises four pillars — leadership and policy, modern teaching and learning, intelligent environments and technology blueprint.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/22/k12-education-transformation-framework/

https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/education/school-leaders/k-12-microsoft-education-transformation-framework

Solution: A

Chhath puja is an ancient festival, is meant to thank the Sun God for sustaining life. Chhath is an ancient Hindu Vedic festival historically native to the Indian subcontinent, more specifically, the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and the Madhesh region of Nepal

Solution: C

UN-Habitat is the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development .

It is established in 1978 as an outcome of the First UN Conference on Human Settlements and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat I) held in Vancouver, Canada in 1976.

The mandate is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. 

Solution: D

The Code on Wages, 2019 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Minister of Labour, Mr. Santosh Gangwar on July 23, 2019. It seeks to regulate wage and bonus payments in all employments where any industry, trade, business, or manufacture is carried out.  The Code replaces the following four laws: (i) the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, (ii) the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, (iii) the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and (iv) the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.

• Fixing the minimum wage: The Code prohibits employers from paying wages less than the minimum wages.  Minimum wages will be notified by the central or state governments.  This will be based on time, or number of pieces produced.  The minimum wages will be revised and reviewed by the central or state governments at an interval of not more than five years.  While fixing minimum wages, the central or state governments may take into account factors such as: (i) skill of workers, and (ii) difficulty of work.
• Overtime: The central or state government may fix the number of hours that constitute a normal working day.  In case employees work in excess of a normal working day, they will be entitled to overtime wage, which must be at least twice the normal rate of wages.

https://prsindia.org/billtrack/code-wages-2019

Solution: C

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded RNA molecule that is complementary to one of the DNA strands of a gene. The mRNA is an RNA version of the gene that leaves the cell nucleus and moves to the cytoplasm where proteins are made.

During protein synthesis, an organelle called a ribosome moves along the mRNA, reads its base sequence, and uses the genetic code to translate each three-base triplet, or codon, into its corresponding amino acid.

https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/messenger-rna

Solution: A

India and Russia are finalising a defence agreement that will simplify interoperability and enable military platforms to receive support and supplies across bases in both nations- Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS).

What is Agreement on Reciprocal Logistics Support (ARLS)?

It is an arrangement that will allow access to India and Russia, to each other’s military facilities for supplies and fuel, expanding the logistics support and operational turnaround of the Indian military.

Benefits and mutual significance:

1. This will be beneficial for the Indian Navy, which has a large number of Russian origin ships that will get access to Russian ports for supplies and refueling. It would be crucial for joint exercises.
2. The air force too will benefit by finding it easier to deploy aircraft for the same purpose.
3. This access will also be for ports in the Russian part of the Arctic, allowing access to energy resources there.
4. Russia, on the other hand, will be able to access Indian ports and air bases.
5. Russia has also assured India access to energy resources in the vast Arctic region.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/05/agreement-on-reciprocal-logistics-support-arls/

Solution: B

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 is an Act of the Parliament of India which prohibits the desecration of or insult to the country’s national symbols, including the National Flag, the constitution, the National Anthem and map of India including contempt of Indian constitution.

The disrespect to the Indian National flag means and includes —

(a) a gross affront or indignity offered to the Indian National Flag; or

(b) dipping the Indian National Flag in salute to any person or thing; or

(c) using the Indian National Flag:-

(i) as a portion of costume, uniform or accessory of any description which is worn below the waist of any person; or

(ii) by embroidering or printing it on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins,undergarments or any dress material; or

(f) putting any kind of inscription upon the Indian National Flag; or

(g) using the Indian National Flag as a receptacle for receiving, delivering or carrying anything except flower petals before the Indian National Flag is unfurled as part of celebrations on special occasions including the Republic Day or the Independence Day; or

(h) using the Indian National Flag as covering for a statue or a monument or a speaker’s desk or a speaker’s platform; or

(i) allowing the Indian National Flag to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water intentionally; or

(j) draping the Indian National Flag over the hood, top, and sides or back or on a vehicle, train, boat or an aircraft or any other similar object; or

(k) using the Indian National Flag as a covering for a building; or

(l) intentionally displaying the Indian National Flag with the “saffron” down.

As provided in Section 3 of the Act, whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Jana Gana Mana or causes disturbances to any assembly engaged in such singing shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevention_of_Insults_to_National_Honour_Act,_1971

Solution: C

Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) is an international treaty of the World Trade Organization.

It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and entered into force with the establishment of the WTO on January 1, 1995.

It is categorized subsidies into trade-distorting domestic subsidies (the “amber box”), which have to be reduced, and non-trade-distorting subsidies (blue and green boxes), which escape discipline and thus can be increased.