INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 31 July 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.
• The first systematic research into the subcontinent’s history was conducted by the Asiatic Society, which was founded by the British Indologist William Jones on 15 January 1784. Based in Calcutta, the society promoted the study of ancient Sanskrit and Persian texts and published an annual journal titled Asiatic Researches. Notable among its early members was Charles Wilkins who published the first English translation of the Bhagavad Gita in 1785 with the patronage of the then Governor-General of Bengal, Warren Hastings. However, the most important of the society’s achievements was the decipherment of the Brahmi script by James Prinsep in 1837.
• Source: 1851 Thomas Oldham arrived in Calcutta on 4th March and took charge of office on 5th March, 1851, which marks the establishment of the Geological Survey of India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/31/pratihara-style-of-architecture/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Pratihara Style

• Belongs to the Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty of Rajasthan.
• The Gurjara-Pratiharas, also known as the Pratihara Empire, ruled much of Northern India from the mid-7th to the 11th century.
• They were instrumental in containing Arab armies moving east of the Indus River.
• Nagabhata I defeated the Arab army under Junaid and Tamin during the Caliphate campaigns in India.
• Architecture:
  • Gurjara-Pratihara are known for their sculptures, carved panels and open pavilion style temples.
  • The greatest development of their style of temple building was at Khajuraho, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/31/pratihara-style-of-architecture/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Blue Heart Campaign of UN:

• It has been initiated by the UN  to raise global awareness to fight human trafficking and its impact on society. 
• It aims to encourage the involvement of the governments, civil society, the corporate sector and individuals to inspire action and help prevent this heinous crime.
• It allows people to show their solidarity with the victims of human trafficking and increasing their visibility by wearing the Blue Heart.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/31/world-day-against-trafficking-in-persons/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• A report on slavery was recently released by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and an international anti-slavery organisation Walk Free on the occasion of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
• It is published by the Australia-based human rights group Walk Free Foundation.
• It includes data on three key variables-
  • Prevalence of modern slavery in each country,
  • Vulnerability,
  • Government responses to modern slavery.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/31/commonwealth-human-rights-initiative-chri/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Stat2: the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is an international nuclear fusion research and engineering megaproject, which will be the world’s largest magnetic confinement plasma physics experiment. It is an experimental tokamak nuclear fusion reactor that is being built next to the Cadarache facility in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, in Provence, southern France.
  • The tokamak is an experimental machine designed to harness the energy of fusion.
  • Inside a tokamak, the energy produced through the fusion of atoms is absorbed as heat in the walls of the vessel.
  • Just like a conventional power plant, a fusion power plant will use this heat to produce steam and then electricity by way of turbines and generators.
• Stat1: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has launched its Mars 2020 Perseverance rover aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V. The launch took place from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
• Stat3: wormivet is an indigenous herbal medication (dewormer).
  • It was recently brought out by National Innovation Foundation India (NIF) in form of commercial product for livestock owners as an alternate to chemical method of treatment of worm.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/31/perseverance-nasas-mission-to-mars/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: advantages of aerial seeding technique?

• Areas that are inaccessible, have steep slopes, are fragmented or disconnected with no forest routes, making conventional plantation difficult, can be targeted with aerial seeding.
• The process of the seed’s germination and growth is such that it requires no attention after it is dispersed – the reason why seed pellets are known as the “fire and forget” way of plantation.
• They eliminate the need for ploughing and digging holes in the soil and the seeds do not need to be planted, since they are already surrounded by soil, nutrients, and microorganisms.
• The clay shell of these pellets along with the other items in the mixture also protects them from birds, ants and rats.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/31/what-is-aerial-seeding/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative set up by the NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of the country, based on a detailed study and deliberations on innovation and entrepreneurial needs of India in the years ahead.
• AIM-iCREST:
• It is an incubator capabilities enhancement programme for a robust ecosystem for creating high-performance start-ups.
• Atal Innovation Mission has launched the programme in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wadhwani Foundation.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/31/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-31-july-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The HMS was founded in Howrah in 1948 by socialists Forward Bloc followers and independent unionists which included Basawon Singh (Sinha), Ashok Mehta, R.S. Ruikar, Maniben Kara, Shibnath Banerjee, R.A. Khedgikar, T.S. Ramanujam, V.S. Mathur, G.G. Mehta. R.S. Ruikar was elected president and Ashok Mehta general secretary.
• HMS absorbed the Royist Indian Federation of Labour and the Hind Mazdoor Panchayat, which was formed in 1948 by socialists leaving the increasingly communist dominated AITUC.
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hind_Mazdoor_Sabha

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Maitreya is regarded as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he is referred to as Ajita.
• According to Buddhist tradition, Maitreya is a bodhisattva who will appear on Earth in the future, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma.
• According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor to the present Buddha, Gautama Buddha (also known as Śākyamuni Buddha).
• The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya refers to a time in the future when the dharma will have been forgotten by most on the terrestrial world Maitreya has also been adopted for his millenarian role by many non-Buddhist religions in the past, such as the White Lotus, as well as by modern new religious movements, such as Yiguandao
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maitreya

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• MDR is a fee charged from a merchant by a bank for accepting payments from customers through credit and debit cards in their establishments. MDR compensates the card issuing bank, the lender which puts the PoS terminal and payment gateways such as MasterCard or Visa for their services.
• MDR charges are usually shared in pre-agreed proportion between the bank and a merchant and is expressed in percentage of transaction amount.
• Why in News?
  • From January onwards, all companies with a turnover of Rs 50 crore or more need to provide the facility of payment through RuPay Debit card and UPI QR code to their customers, under which no MDR fee will be charged from customers as well as merchants.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/01/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-01-january-2020/