INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 16 September 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Stat1: The 69th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1991 provided a special status to the Union Territory of Delhi, and redesignated it the National Capital Territory of Delhi and designated the administrator of Delhi as the lieutenant (lt.) governor. It created a legislative assembly and a council of ministers for Delhi.
• Stat2: The strength of the assembly is fixed at 70 members, directly elected by the people. The elections are conducted by the election commission of India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/the-national-capital-territory-of-delhi-amendment-bill-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Stat1: Article 106 of the Constitution empowers MPs to determine their salaries by enacting laws. In 1985, Parliament enacted a law that delegated the power to set and revise certain allowances of MPs such as constituency allowance, office allowance, and housing allowance to the central government.
  • Till 2018, MPs periodically passed laws to revise their salaries.
  • The Finance Act, 2018 provided that the salary, daily allowance, and pension of MPs will be increased every five years, on the basis of the cost inflation index provided under the Income-tax Act, 1961.
• Stat2: In India, salaries of legislators increased every five years, on the basis of the cost of inflation index.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/salary-allowances-and-pension-of-members-of-parliament-amendment-bill-2020-passed-in-lok-sabah/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Stat1: The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 was promulgated on June 5, 2020. It amends the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.  The Act empowers the central government to control the production, supply, distribution, trade, and commerce in certain commodities.  The Ordinance seeks to increase competition in the agriculture sector and enhance farmers’ income.  It aims to liberalise the regulatory system while protecting the interests of consumers.
• Stat2: The Act empowers the central government to regulate the stock of an essential commodity that a person can hold. The Ordinance requires that imposition of any stock limit on certain specified items must be based on price rise.  A stock limit may be imposed only if there is: (i) 100% increase in retail price of horticultural produce; and (ii) 50% increase in the retail price of non-perishable agricultural food items.  The increase will be calculated over the price prevailing immediately preceding twelve months, or the average retail price of the last five years, whichever is lower.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/essential-commodities-bill-passed/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• At present, the “Schedule” contains 9 commodities — drugs; fertilisers, whether inorganic, organic or mixed; foodstuffs, including edible oils; hank yarn made wholly from cotton; petroleum and petroleum products; raw jute and jute textiles; seeds of food-crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables, seeds of cattle fodder, jute seed, cotton seed; face masks; and hand sanitisers.
• The latest items added to this schedule are face masks and hand sanitisers, which were declared essential commodities with effect from March 13, 2020 in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak.
• By declaring a commodity as essential, the government can control the production, supply, and distribution of that commodity, and impose a stock limit.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/essential-commodities-bill-passed/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Stat2: PMSSY was introduced in 2003 to correct imbalances in the availability of tertiary healthcare services and improve the quality of medical education. The scheme has two components: (i) setting up of new AIIMS, and (ii) upgradation of selected Government Medical College Institutions (GMCIs).
• Stat1: The PMSSY is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The National Health Authority or the NHA is the apex body responsible for implementing India’s flagship public health insurance/assurance scheme Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. NHA has been set-up to implement the PM-JAY at the national level.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/pradhan-mantri-swasthya-suraksha-yojana-pmssy/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• RBI has released the draft version of Rupee Interest Rate Derivatives (Reserve Bank) Directions, 2020.
• They are aimed at encouraging higher non-resident participation, enhance the role of domestic market makers in the offshore market, improve transparency, and achieve better regulatory oversight.
• Key directions:
  • It seeks to allow foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to undertake exchange-traded rupee interest rate derivatives transactions subject to an overall ceiling of Rs 5,000 crore.
  • Net short position of an FPI on exchange-traded IRDs should not exceed its long position in government securities and other rupee debt securities.
  • The purpose of offering Rupee IRD contracts to a user, the market-maker (entities which provide bid and offer prices to users in order to provide liquidity to the market) should classify the user either as a retail user or as a non-retail user.
  • Non-retail users, as per the draft, are entities regulated by RBI, SEBI, IRDAI or PFRDA; resident companies with a minimum net worth of Rs 500 crore; and non-residents, other than individuals.
• What are IRDs?
  • Interest Rate Derivatives (IRD) are contracts whose value is derived from one or more interest rates, prices of interest rate instruments, or interest rate indices.
  • These may include interest rate futures, options, swaps, swaptions, and FRA’s.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/rbi-issues-draft-on-rupee-ir-derivatives/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Stat1: Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted an Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile test ‘Mission Shakti’ from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on 27th March 2019.
  • A DRDO developed A-SAT Missile successfully engaged an Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in a ‘Hit to Kill’ mode.
• Stat2: The interceptor missile involved in the test had a hit-to-kill capable Kinetic kill vehicle. Thus the missile, by nature, was a direct-ascent anti-satellite weapon.
  • The interceptor missile was a three-stage missile with two solid rocket boosters.
• Stat3: As per DRDO, the missile was capable of shooting down targets moving at a speed of 10 km per second at an altitude as high as 1200 km. However, in order to minimize the threat of debris, the interception was performed against an object moving at 7.4 km per second at an altitude below 300 km.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/postage-stamp-released-on-a-sat/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Kerala becoming the first to institutionalise snake handling in the country, the Kerala Forest Department has framed guidelines for rescuing snakes from human dominated places and releasing them in uninhabited areas.
• Guidelines:
  • Mandatory certification: It is mandatory for snake handlers, aged between 21 and 65 years, to seek certification.
  • Selection process: The applications will be screened by the Assistant Conservators of Forest (ACF, Social Forestry) to prepare lists of snake handlers in each district. Various parameters, including experience, age, health as well as track record will be considered during the selection process.
  • Those short-listed will be required to undergo mandatory training on safe and scientific handling of snakes.
  • Validity of certificates: While the certification will be valid for five years, the respective ACFs can withdraw or cancel the same if the snake handler is found to be involved in any illegal or unethical practices.
  • Precautions: Certified snake handlers will be required to wear protective gear and equip themselves with safety equipment while on the task.
  • Rescued snakes will also have to be released in the presence of forest officials at the earliest. If found injured, the snake can be released only after ascertaining its fitness. Non-native species, however, cannot be released and have to be handed over to the Forest Department.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/kerala-to-have-certified-snake-handlers/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Also known as Swimming Camels.
• Found only in Gujarat’s Bhuj area.
• It has been recognized as a separate breed (one among nine such breeds found in India) of camel for better conservation.
• This camel is adapted to the extreme climate of Ran of Kachh where shallow seas and high salinity is prevalent.
• It can live in both coastal and dry ecosystems. It grazes on saline / mangrove trees and is tolerant to high saline water.
• It can swim up to three kilometers into the sea in search of mangroves, their primary food.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-16-september-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Engineer’s Day:

• India celebrates Engineer’s Day every year on September 15 as a tribute to the greatest Indian Engineer Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya on his birthday.
• He was the chief engineer responsible for the construction of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam in Mysore.
• He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the British Indian Empire by King George V for his contributions to the public good in 1915.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/16/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-16-september-2020/