INSIGHTS CURRENT Affairs RTM - 2020
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The following Quiz is based on the Hindu, PIB and other news sources. It is a current events based quiz. Solving these questions will help retain both concepts and facts relevant to UPSC IAS civil services exam.
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New Initiative: Revision Through MCQs (RTM) – Revision of Current Affairs Made Interesting
As revision is the key to success in this exam, we are starting a new initiative where you will revise current affairs effectively through MCQs (RTM) that are solely based on Insights Daily Current Affairs.
These questions will be different than our regular current affairs quiz. These questions are framed to TEST how well you have read and revised Insights Current Affairs on daily basis.
We will post nearly 10 MCQs every day which are based on previous day’s Insights current affairs. Tonight we will be posting RTM questions on the Insights current affairs of October 3, 2019.
The added advantage of this initiative is it will help you solve at least 20 MCQs daily (5 Static + 5 CA Quiz + 10 RTM) – thereby helping you improve your retention as well as elimination and guessing skills.
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Question 1 of 10
1. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements:
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- The ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’ (UDAN) scheme is jointly funded by the central government and state governments.
- The 4th round of UDAN was launched with a special focus on Union Territories (UT).
- Under UDAN 4, the operation of helicopter and seaplanes is also been incorporated.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation: About Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN:
- UDAN, which stands for ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’, aims to make air travel affordable and widespread.
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation had launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in October 10 2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses.
- The scheme will be jointly funded by the central government and state governments.
- The scheme will run for 10 years and can be extended thereafter.
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF):
- The scheme entails making the routes financially viable, without insisting on the financial viability of the regional airports, by lowering the cost of flight operations and through financial support in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF). VGF will be available to flight operators on specific routes for the first 3 years of operation.
- UDAN 4.0:
- The 4th round of UDAN was launched in December 2019 with a special focus on North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands.
- The airports that had already been developed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) are given higher priority for the award of VGF (Viability Gap Funding) under the Scheme.
- Under UDAN 4, the operation of helicopter and seaplanes is also been incorporated.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/regional-connectivity-scheme-udan/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation: About Regional Connectivity Scheme UDAN:
- UDAN, which stands for ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’, aims to make air travel affordable and widespread.
- The Ministry of Civil Aviation had launched Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) in October 10 2016 to stimulate regional air connectivity and making air travel affordable to the masses.
- The scheme will be jointly funded by the central government and state governments.
- The scheme will run for 10 years and can be extended thereafter.
- Viability Gap Funding (VGF):
- The scheme entails making the routes financially viable, without insisting on the financial viability of the regional airports, by lowering the cost of flight operations and through financial support in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF). VGF will be available to flight operators on specific routes for the first 3 years of operation.
- UDAN 4.0:
- The 4th round of UDAN was launched in December 2019 with a special focus on North-Eastern Regions, Hilly States, and Islands.
- The airports that had already been developed by Airports Authority of India (AAI) are given higher priority for the award of VGF (Viability Gap Funding) under the Scheme.
- Under UDAN 4, the operation of helicopter and seaplanes is also been incorporated.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/regional-connectivity-scheme-udan/
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Question 2 of 10
2. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements:
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- States can sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Central List to provide preferential treatment to the “weakest out of the weak”.
- Reservation in promotion in public posts can be claimed as a fundamental right.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- Stat1: A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has held that States can sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Central List to provide preferential treatment to the “weakest out of the weak”.
- Background:
- The judgment is based on a reference to the Constitution Bench the question of law involving Section 4(5) of the Punjab Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006.
- The legal provision allows 50% of the reserved Scheduled Castes seats in the State to be allotted to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs.
- Need for sub-classification- Observations made by the Supreme Court:
- Reservation has created inequalities within the reserved castes itself.
- There is a “caste struggle” within the reserved class as benefit of reservation are being usurped by a few.
- It is clear that caste, occupation, and poverty are interwoven.
- The State cannot be deprived of the power to take care of the qualitative and quantitative difference between different classes to take ameliorative measures.
- Stat2: The Supreme Court has recently ruled that the states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments and promotions and that there is no fundamental right to reservation in promotions.
- What has the court said?
- Reservation in promotion in public posts cannot be claimed as a fundamental right.
- Articles 16 (4) and 16 (4-A) of the Constitution does not confer individuals with a fundamental right to claim reservation in promotion. It only empowers the State to make a reservation in matters of appointment and promotion in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, only if in the opinion of the State they are not adequately represented in the services of the State.
- State governments are not bound to make a reservation and have discretion in providing reservations.
- The judgment also noted that even the courts could not issue a mandamus directing the States to provide reservation.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/states-can-have-sub-groups-among-scs-sts-supreme-court/
Incorrect
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- Stat1: A five-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has held that States can sub-classify Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Central List to provide preferential treatment to the “weakest out of the weak”.
- Background:
- The judgment is based on a reference to the Constitution Bench the question of law involving Section 4(5) of the Punjab Scheduled Caste and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006.
- The legal provision allows 50% of the reserved Scheduled Castes seats in the State to be allotted to Balmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs.
- Need for sub-classification- Observations made by the Supreme Court:
- Reservation has created inequalities within the reserved castes itself.
- There is a “caste struggle” within the reserved class as benefit of reservation are being usurped by a few.
- It is clear that caste, occupation, and poverty are interwoven.
- The State cannot be deprived of the power to take care of the qualitative and quantitative difference between different classes to take ameliorative measures.
- Stat2: The Supreme Court has recently ruled that the states are not bound to provide reservation in appointments and promotions and that there is no fundamental right to reservation in promotions.
- What has the court said?
- Reservation in promotion in public posts cannot be claimed as a fundamental right.
- Articles 16 (4) and 16 (4-A) of the Constitution does not confer individuals with a fundamental right to claim reservation in promotion. It only empowers the State to make a reservation in matters of appointment and promotion in favour of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, only if in the opinion of the State they are not adequately represented in the services of the State.
- State governments are not bound to make a reservation and have discretion in providing reservations.
- The judgment also noted that even the courts could not issue a mandamus directing the States to provide reservation.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/states-can-have-sub-groups-among-scs-sts-supreme-court/
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Question 3 of 10
3. Question
1 points‘Wolbachia method’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to:
Correct
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- A recent study suggests that the “Wolbachia method” could be used to significantly reduce the incidence of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, in populations where the illness is endemic.
- Where was this method tested?
- Scientists from the World Mosquito Program (WMP) of Monash University in Australia and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia tested this method in a 27-month trial in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
- They found that using the Wolbachia method reduced the occurrence of dengue in the treated population by 77%.
- How it works?
- This method involves introducing Wolbachia, a type of bacteria, into populations of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for spreading dengue.
- When the Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes breed with their wild counterparts, the percentage of mosquitoes carrying the bacterium grows.
- It is not fully understood why the Wolbachia bacterium interferes with the transmission of dengue. One theory is that the bacterium prevents dengue viruses from replicating in mosquito cells.
Incorrect
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- A recent study suggests that the “Wolbachia method” could be used to significantly reduce the incidence of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne disease, in populations where the illness is endemic.
- Where was this method tested?
- Scientists from the World Mosquito Program (WMP) of Monash University in Australia and Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia tested this method in a 27-month trial in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
- They found that using the Wolbachia method reduced the occurrence of dengue in the treated population by 77%.
- How it works?
- This method involves introducing Wolbachia, a type of bacteria, into populations of Aedes aegypti, the mosquito species responsible for spreading dengue.
- When the Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes breed with their wild counterparts, the percentage of mosquitoes carrying the bacterium grows.
- It is not fully understood why the Wolbachia bacterium interferes with the transmission of dengue. One theory is that the bacterium prevents dengue viruses from replicating in mosquito cells.
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Question 4 of 10
4. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements:
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- Dengue is fast emerging pandemic-prone viral disease.
- The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector that transmits the viruses that cause dengue.
- It is endemic to India.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- Dengue is a viral disease that is endemic in many countries, including India.
- It is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue.
- The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector that transmits the viruses that cause dengue.
- The viruses are passed on to humans through the bites of an infective female Aedes mosquito, which mainly acquires the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person.
- It flourishes in urban poor areas, suburbs and the countryside but also affects more affluent neighbourhoods in tropical and subtropical countries.
Incorrect
Ans: (d)
Explanation:
- Dengue is a viral disease that is endemic in many countries, including India.
- It is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue.
- The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the main vector that transmits the viruses that cause dengue.
- The viruses are passed on to humans through the bites of an infective female Aedes mosquito, which mainly acquires the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person.
- It flourishes in urban poor areas, suburbs and the countryside but also affects more affluent neighbourhoods in tropical and subtropical countries.
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Question 5 of 10
5. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements:
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- Cess goes to Consolidated Fund of India but can be spend only for the specific purposes.
- It can be levied on both indirect and direct taxes.
Which of the given above statements is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- What is a cess?
- A cess is levied on the tax payable and not on the taxable income. In a sense, for the taxpayer, it is equivalent to a surcharge on tax.
- A cess can be levied on both direct and indirect taxes. The revenue obtained from income tax, corporation tax, and indirect taxes can be allocated for various purposes.
- The proceeds of all taxes and cesses are credited in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI), an account of the Government of India.
- Difference between tax and cess?
- Unlike a tax, a cess is levied to meet a specific purpose; its proceeds cannot be spent on any kind of government expenditure. While the tax proceeds are shared with the States and Union Territories according to the guidelines by the Finance Commission, the cess proceeds need not be shared with them.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/gst-shortfall/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- What is a cess?
- A cess is levied on the tax payable and not on the taxable income. In a sense, for the taxpayer, it is equivalent to a surcharge on tax.
- A cess can be levied on both direct and indirect taxes. The revenue obtained from income tax, corporation tax, and indirect taxes can be allocated for various purposes.
- The proceeds of all taxes and cesses are credited in the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI), an account of the Government of India.
- Difference between tax and cess?
- Unlike a tax, a cess is levied to meet a specific purpose; its proceeds cannot be spent on any kind of government expenditure. While the tax proceeds are shared with the States and Union Territories according to the guidelines by the Finance Commission, the cess proceeds need not be shared with them.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/gst-shortfall/
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Question 6 of 10
6. Question
1 pointsConsider the following statements:
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- The Reserve Bank of India manages and services Government of India Securities but not any State Government Securities.
- Treasury bills are issued by the Government of India and there are no treasury bills issued by the State Governments.
- Treasury bills offer are issued at a discount from the par value.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments. It acknowledges the Government’s debt obligation. Such securities are short term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year) or long term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).
- Stat1: G-Secs are issued through auctions conducted by RBI.
- Floatation of State Government Loans (State Development Loans): As per the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the RBI may, by agreement with any State Government undertake the management of the public debt of that State.
- Accordingly, the RBI has entered into agreements with 29 State Governments and one Union Territory (UT of Puducherry) for management of their public debt.
- Stat2: In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs). Treasury Bills (T-bills) Treasury bills or T-bills, which are money market instruments, are short term debt instruments issued by the Government of India and are presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 3.64 day.
- Stat3: Treasury bills are zero coupon securities and pay no interest. They are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face value at maturity.
- For example, a 91 day Treasury bill of 100/- (face value) may be issued at say 98.20, that is, at a discount of say, 1.80 and would be redeemed at the face value of 100/-.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/gst-shortfall/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments. It acknowledges the Government’s debt obligation. Such securities are short term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year) or long term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).
- Stat1: G-Secs are issued through auctions conducted by RBI.
- Floatation of State Government Loans (State Development Loans): As per the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the RBI may, by agreement with any State Government undertake the management of the public debt of that State.
- Accordingly, the RBI has entered into agreements with 29 State Governments and one Union Territory (UT of Puducherry) for management of their public debt.
- Stat2: In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs). Treasury Bills (T-bills) Treasury bills or T-bills, which are money market instruments, are short term debt instruments issued by the Government of India and are presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 3.64 day.
- Stat3: Treasury bills are zero coupon securities and pay no interest. They are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face value at maturity.
- For example, a 91 day Treasury bill of 100/- (face value) may be issued at say 98.20, that is, at a discount of say, 1.80 and would be redeemed at the face value of 100/-.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/gst-shortfall/
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Question 7 of 10
7. Question
1 pointsWith reference to the Genetically Modified Brinjal (Bt Brinjal) developed in India, consider the following statements :
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- GM Brinjal has the genes that allow the plant cross-pollination and hybridization.
- GM Brinjal has the genes of a soil bacterium that give the plant the property of pest-resistance to a wide variety of pests.
- GM Brinjal has been developed jointly by the IARI and Punjab Agricultural University.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- The genetically modified brinjal is a suite of transgenic brinjals (also known as an eggplant or aubergine) created by inserting a crystal protein gene (Cry1Ac) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the genome of various brinjal cultivars.
- The insertion of the gene, along with other genetic elements such as promoters, terminators and an antibiotic resistance marker gene into the brinjal plant is accomplished using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation.
- The Bt brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteron insects, in particular the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis)(FSB).
- Mahyco, an Indian seed company based in Jalna, Maharashtra, has developed the Bt brinjal.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/bt-brinjal/
Incorrect
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- The genetically modified brinjal is a suite of transgenic brinjals (also known as an eggplant or aubergine) created by inserting a crystal protein gene (Cry1Ac) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the genome of various brinjal cultivars.
- The insertion of the gene, along with other genetic elements such as promoters, terminators and an antibiotic resistance marker gene into the brinjal plant is accomplished using Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation.
- The Bt brinjal has been developed to give resistance against lepidopteron insects, in particular the Brinjal Fruit and Shoot Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis)(FSB).
- Mahyco, an Indian seed company based in Jalna, Maharashtra, has developed the Bt brinjal.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/bt-brinjal/
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Question 8 of 10
8. Question
1 points‘Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee’ is constituted under which of the following?
Correct
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- India’s apex biotech regulatory committee, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) that functions as a statutory body under the Environment Protection Act 1986 of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), has been changed to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/bt-brinjal/
Incorrect
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
- India’s apex biotech regulatory committee, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) that functions as a statutory body under the Environment Protection Act 1986 of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), has been changed to Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee.
Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/bt-brinjal/
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Question 9 of 10
9. Question
1 pointsNational Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) is an autonomous body under the:
Correct
Ans: (d)
Explanation: World Urdu Conference:
- World Urdu Conference was recently organised by National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) in New Delhi.
- NCPUL is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) (The Ministry was renamed as Ministry of Education), Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Government of India.
- It was setup in 1996 as the National Nodal Agency for the promotion of the Urdu language.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-28-august-2020/
Incorrect
Ans: (d)
Explanation: World Urdu Conference:
- World Urdu Conference was recently organised by National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) in New Delhi.
- NCPUL is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) (The Ministry was renamed as Ministry of Education), Department of Secondary and Higher Education, Government of India.
- It was setup in 1996 as the National Nodal Agency for the promotion of the Urdu language.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-28-august-2020/
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Question 10 of 10
10. Question
1 pointsSleeping sickness disease is caused by:
Correct
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- Togo has become the first country in Africa to eliminate human African Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, a disease caused by parasites transmitted through infected tsetse flies.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) August 27, 2020 certified so, after the country applied for it in 2018.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-28-august-2020/
Incorrect
Ans: (c)
Explanation:
- Togo has become the first country in Africa to eliminate human African Trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, a disease caused by parasites transmitted through infected tsetse flies.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) August 27, 2020 certified so, after the country applied for it in 2018.
Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/08/28/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-28-august-2020/
