INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 19 August 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Supreme Court has “refused” to order transfer of funds from the PM CARES Fund to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). They “are two entirely different funds with different object and purpose”.
• National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF
  • National Disaster Response Fund is defined in Section 46 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act) as a fund managed by the Central Government for meeting the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation due to any threatening disaster situation or disaster.
  • NDRF is located in the “Public Accounts” of Government of India under “Reserve Funds not bearing interest“
  • NDRF is constituted to supplement the funds of the State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) of the states to facilitate immediate relief in case of calamities of a severe nature.
  • Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) monitors relief activities for calamities associated with drought, hailstorms, pest attacks and cold wave /frost while rest of the natural calamities are monitored by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
  • Stat1: The financial assistance from SDRF/NDRF is for providing immediate relief and is not compensation for loss/damage to properties /crops. In other words, NDRF amount can be spent only towards meeting the expenses for emergency response, relief and rehabilitation. For projects exclusively for the purpose of mitigation, i.e, measures aimed at reducing the risk, impact or effect of a disaster or threatening disaster situation a separate fund called National Disaster Mitigation Fund has to be constituted.
  • Stat2: Like its predecessor, NCCF, the NDRF is financed through the levy of a cess on certain items, chargeable to excise and customs duty, and approved annually through the Finance Bill. The requirement for funds beyond what is available under the NDRF is met through general budgetary resources.
  • Stat3: Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) audits the accounts of NDRF

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/no-audit-of-pm-cares-fund-sc/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Stat1: Satluj rises from beyond Indian borders in the Southern slopes of the Kailash mountain near Mansarover lake from Rakas lake, as Longcchen Khabab river (in Tibet ).
• Stat2: The Sutlej River is also known as Satadree. It is the easternmost tributary of the Indus River.
• Stat3: The waters of the Sutlej are allocated to India under the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, and are mostly diverted to irrigation canals in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/sutlej-yamuna-link-syl-canal-3/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context:
• The Atal Rankings of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) 2020 has been released.
• What is it?
• Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA) is an initiative of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) (Now, it is the Ministry of Education), of India to systematically rank all major higher educational institutions and universities in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/atal-rankings-of-institutions-on-innovation-achievements-ariia-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Digital Quality of Life Index 2020:

• Context: The report was released recently.
• The index is prepared by Surfshark, a virtual private network (VPN) provider based in the British Virgin Islands.
• It seeks to rank countries on internet affordability and quality, and electronic infrastructure, security and government. All parameters have equal weightage.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/digital-quality-of-life-index-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• What are ‘No Go’ areas in coal mining?
  • In 2009, the environment and coal ministries had jointly placed the country’s forested areas under two categories – Go and No-Go – and imposed a ban on mining in the ‘No-Go’ zones on environmental grounds.
  • ‘No Go’ areas are those having either more than 10 per cent weighted forest cover (WFC) or more than 30 per cent gross forest cover (GFC).
• Is there a need for classifying ‘Go’ and ‘No Go’ areas?
  • The exercise is aimed at prioritising forest areas under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
  • Besides, Diversion of forest land for coal mining in these areas, which are rich in flora and fauna, will have “avoidable serious adverse impact on forests and wildlife”.
  • If mining were to continue, even with afforestation and reclamation, it would not be possible to restore the regions biodiversity.
• Criticisms of this policy:
  • The concept has no legal standing– They are mandated neither under Forest Conservation Rules, 2003 nor under any circular issued by the ministry of environment and forests.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/no-go-forests-cleared-for-coal-mining-says-report/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• In 2010, the central government set up an expert panel for reintroducing the cheetah in India. This panel recommended that the home of the fastest animal in the world could be Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh, Velavadar National Park in Gujarat and Tal Chapar sanctuary in Rajasthan.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-19-august-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Stat1: The Asiatic cheetah is classified as a “critically endangered” species by the IUCN Red List, and is believed to survive only in Iran.
• Stat2: Cheetahs are a keystone species in the savanna.
  • A keystone species is a species which has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance, a concept introduced in 1969 by the zoologist Robert T. Paine.
  • Such species are described as playing a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community, affecting many other organisms in an ecosystem and helping to determine the types and numbers of various other species in the community. Without keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. Some keystone species, such as the wolf, are also apex predators.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-19-august-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Stat1: Article 222 of the Constitution makes provision for the transfer of a Judge (including Chief Justice) from one High Court to any other High Court.
• Stat2: The initiation of the proposal for the transfer of a Judge should be made by the Chief Justice of India whose opinion in this regard is determinative.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-19-august-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:  Supreme Court collegium elevates 6 advocates as Delhi High Court judges.

• The criteria for appointment of a person as Judge of High Court are provided under Article 217 of Constitution, which are: – has for at least ten years held a judicial office in the territory of India; or has for at least ten years been an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession.
• Appointment:
  • On approval by the Supreme Court Collegium, the names of the proposed candidates will be sent to the Ministry of Law & Justice, which will send the names to the President of India.
  • The President under his sign and seal would issue the warrant of appointment.
• A person to be appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court should have the following qualifications:
  • He should be a citizen of India.
  • He should have been a judge of a High Court (or high courts in succession) for five years; or
  • He should have been an advocate of a High Court (or High Courts in succession) for ten years; or
  • He should be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the president.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/19/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-19-august-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Opportunity cost represents the benefits an individual, investor or business misses out on when choosing one alternative over another.
• When you have the opportunity to access public services for free, this would always come at a cost of somebody paying for it. In this case, the tax payer bears the opportunity cost.

Source: UPSC CSE 2017