INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 27 August 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• As per the NASA website, Scientists don’t know exactly why or how a hurricane forms. But they do know that two main ingredients are needed.
• One ingredient is warm water. Warm ocean waters provide the energy a storm needs to become a hurricane. Usually, the surface water temperature must be 26 degrees Celsius (79 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher for a hurricane to form.
• The other ingredient is winds that don’t change much in speed or direction as they go up in the sky. Winds that change a lot with height can rip storms apart.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/what-are-hurricanes/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Attorney General- Facts:

• The Attorney General for India is the central government’s chief legal advisor, and its primary lawyer in the Supreme Court of India.
• He is a part of the Union Executive. 
• Appointment and eligibility:
  • He is appointed by the President of India under Article 76(1) of the Constitution and holds office during the pleasure of the President.
    • The term of office of the AG is not fixed by the Constitution. Further, the Constitution does not contain the procedure and grounds for his removal.
    • He holds office during the pleasure of the president. This means that he may be removed by the president at any time.
    • He may also quit his office by submitting his resignation to the president.
    • Conventionally, he resigns when the government (council of ministers) resigns or is replaced, as he is appointed on its advice.
  • He must be a person qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court.
  • He should be an Indian Citizen.
  • He must have either completed 5 years in High Court of any Indian state as a judge or 10 years in High Court as an advocate.
  • He may be an eminent jurist too, in the eye of the President.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/attorney-general/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: About AFT:

• It is a military tribunal in India.
• It was established in 2009 under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
• The act was passed on the basis of recommendation of 169th Law Commission Report and various Supreme Court directives.
• Powers and functions:
  • To adjudicate Disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, The Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950.
  • Composition:
  • Each Bench comprises of a Judicial Member and an Administrative Member.
  • Judicial Members are retired High Court Judges.
  • Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held the rank of Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more or Judge Advocate General (JAG), who have held the appointment for at least one year.
• Who can be a chairperson?
  • The person holding the office of chairperson of AFT must have been either a retired judge of Supreme Court or a Retired chief justice of high court.
• Exceptions:
  • Paramilitary forces including the Assam Rifles and Coast Guard are outside the tribunal’s purview.
  • AFT is considered to be a criminal court with respect to Indian Penal Code, and Code of Criminal Procedure.
  • Appeals against the decision of the AFT can be taken only in Supreme Court. High Courts are not allowed to entertain such appeals.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/armed-forces-tribunal/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: The EOHO Scheme is an economic recovery measure by the UK government to support hospitality businesses as they reopen after the COVID-19 lockdown in the country.

• The scheme was announced on July 8 as part of the Plans for Jobs summer economic update.
• How it works?
  • Under the EOHO Scheme, the government would subsidise meals (food and non-alcoholic drinks only) at restaurants by 50 per cent, from Monday to Wednesday every week, all through August.
  • The discount is capped at GBP 10 per head and does not apply to take-away or event catering.
  • There is no minimum spend and no limit on the number of times customers can avail the offer, since the whole point of the scheme is to encourage a return to dining in restaurants.
  • EOHO scheme would cost GBP 500 million.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/uks-eat-out-to-help-out-scheme/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• As per Section 47 of the RBI Act, profits or surplus of the RBI are to be transferred to the government, after making various contingency provisions, public policy mandate of the RBI, including financial stability considerations.
• The RBI’s transfer this year is as per the economic capital framework (ECF) adopted by the RBI board last year.
  • Economic capital framework refers to the risk capital required by the central bank while taking into account different risks.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/contingency-fund-cf-of-the-central-bank/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• NITI Aayog in partnership with the Institute of Competitiveness has released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2020.
• EPI is the first report to examine export preparedness and performance of Indian states.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/export-preparedness-index-epi-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Nationally determined contributions (NDCs) are at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of these long-term goals. NDCs embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Paris Agreement (Article 4, paragraph 2) requires each Party to prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that it intends to achieve. Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures, with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions
• What does this mean?
  • The Paris Agreement requests each country to outline and communicate their post-2020 climate actions, known as their NDCs.
  • Together, these climate actions determine whether the world achieves the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible and to undertake rapid reductions thereafter in accordance with best available science, so as to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of GHGs in the second half of this century. It is understood that the peaking of emissions will take longer for developing country Parties, and that emission reductions are undertaken on the basis of equity, and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, which are critical development priorities for many developing countries.
  • Each climate plan reflects the country’s ambition for reducing emissions, taking into account its domestic circumstances and capabilities. Guidance on NDCs are currently being negotiated under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Paris Agreement (APA), agenda item 3.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/nationally-determined-contributions-ndc-transport-initiative-for-asia-tia/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• NITI Aayog has launched the India Component of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)–Transport Initiative for Asia (TIA).
• About NDC- TIA:
  • It is a joint programme, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
  • It aims to promote a comprehensive approach to decarbonize transport in India, Vietnam, and China.
  • It is implemented by a consortium of seven other organisations.
  • On behalf of the Government of India, NITI Aayog will be the implementing partner.
• Implementation:
  • The NDC-TIA programme has a duration of 4 years.
  • It will allow India and other partner countries to achieve accountable long-term targets by making a sectoral contribution through various interventions, coordinated with a large number of stakeholders in the domain.
  • This will contribute towards achieving their NDCs and increasing their ambition in the transport sector of 2025 NDCs.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/nationally-determined-contributions-ndc-transport-initiative-for-asia-tia/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Pampa river (Also known as Pamba river):

• Pampa is the third longest river in Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha.
• Sabarimala templededicated to Lord Ayyappa is located on the banks of the river.
• The river is also known as ‘Dakshina Bhageerathi’ and ‘River Baris’.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-27-august-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Pulikkali:

• It is a recreational folk art from the state of Kerala.
• It is performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of Onam, an annual harvest festival, celebrated mainly in Kerala.
• Literal meaning of Pulikkali is the ‘play of the tigers’.
• The origin of Pulikkali dates back to over 200 years, when the Maharaja Rama Varma Sakthan Thampuran, the then Maharaja of Cochin, is said to have introduced the folk art.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/27/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-27-august-2020/