INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 18 September 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Dhrupad is the most ancient style of Hindustani classical music that has survived until today in its original form.
• The nature of Dhrupad music is spiritual. It does not seek to entertain, but to induce feelings of peace and spirituality in the listener.
• Stat2: It is primarily a form of worship, in which offerings are made to the divine through sound or Nada.
• Dhrupad was initially sung only in the temples, the singer facing the Lord. From this early chanting, Dhrupad evolved into a sophisticated classical form of music.
• Characteristics:
  • It lays emphasis on maintaining purity of the Raga.
  • The language of Dhrupad changed from Sanskrit to Brij Bhasha sometime between the 12^th and the 16^th
• Stat1: Genesis:
  • It is a form of devotional music that traces its origin to the ancient text of SamVeda. The SAM VEDA was chanted with the help of melody and rhythm called Samgana. Gradually this developed into other vocal style called ‘Chhanda’ and ‘Prabandha’ with introduction of verse and meter. The fusion of these two elements led to the emergence of Dhrupad.
• Dhrupad during mediaeval times:
  • In medieval India, Dhrupad had mainly thrived under the patronage of Mughal and Rajput kings. Later it declined with the shift of interest in Khayal.
• Stat3: Performance:
  • Performance of Dhrupad is done in two parts viz. the Alap and Bandish. In the Alap, the singer uses syllables from Sanskrit Mantra which add texture to the notes. The Raga is slowly and methodically developed in a meditative mode.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/18/in-news-dhrupad/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: About National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):

• It is a statutory body established on 12th October, 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993.
• The Act also provides for the creation of the State Human Rights Commission as well.
• Composition:
  • The chairperson is a retired chief justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court.
  • They are appointed by the President on the recommendations of a six-member committee consisting of:
    • Prime Minister (head)
    • Speaker of the Lok Sabha
    • Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
    • Leaders of the Opposition in both the Houses of Parliament
    • Union Home Minister.
  • Term and removal:
    • They hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier.
    • The President can remove them from the office under specific circumstances.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/18/national-human-rights-commission-nhrc/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Where is Gilgit Baltistan located?

• It borders China in the North, Afghanistan in the west and Kashmir in the south east.
• It shares a geographical boundary with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and India considers it as part of the undivided Jammu and Kashmir, while Pakistan sees it as a separate from PoK.
• It has a regional Assembly and an elected Chief Minister.
• Key points:
  • China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) passes through this region.
  • The region is home to five of the “eight-thousanders” and to more than fifty peaks above 7,000 metres (23,000 ft).
  • Three of the world’s longest glaciers outside the polar regions are found in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/18/gilgit-baltistan-4/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: About ICJ:

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.
• The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of America).
• It has two primary functions: to settle legal disputes submitted by States in accordance with established international laws, and to act as an advisory board on issues submitted to it by authorized international organizations.
• Members:
  • The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council.
  • In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies.
  • In order to ensure a measure of continuity, one third of the Court is elected every three years. Judges are eligible for re-election.
• Qualifications of ICJ judges:
  • A judge should have a high moral character.
  • A judge should fit to the qualifications of appointment of highest judicial officers as prescribed by their respective states or.
  • A judge should be a juriconsult of recognized competence in international law.
• The 15 judges of the Court are distributed as per the regions:
  • Three from Africa.
  • Two from Latin America and Caribbean.
  • Three from Asia.
  • Five from Western Europe and other states.
  • Two from Eastern Europe.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/18/pak-told-to-allow-queens-counsel/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The U.S. is expecting India to sign the last foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA), at the next India-U.S. 2+2 ministerial dialogue likely to held in October end.
• Foundational agreements between India and the US:
• So far, India has signed three foundational agreements:
  • The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
  • The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA).
  • The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed a long time ago. An extension to the GSOMIA, the Industrial Security Annex (ISA), was signed at the last 2+2 dialogue.
• What is BECA?
  • This agreement would facilitate exchange of geospatial information between India and United States for both military and civilian use.
• Significance and benefits for India from BECA:
  • BECA will allow India to use US expertise on geospatial intelligence and to enhance military accuracy of automated hardware systems and weapons like cruise, ballistic missiles and drones.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/18/u-s-keen-on-finalising-beca-at-22-dialogue/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Astronomers study Blackholes by watching for their effects on nearby stars and gas. Stars are disrupted when the black hole’s tidal gravity exceeds the star’s self-gravity, and this phenomenon is called tidal disruption events (TDE).
• The tidal disruption events are crucial and useful phenomena to detect and predict the mass of supermassive black holes in quiescent galaxies.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/18/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-18-september-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• An air bubble is essentially a temporary arrangement between two countries to restart commercial flight services at a time when regular international flights are suspended due to COVID-19.
• Under the arrangement, airlines from both countries are allowed to operate, unlike Mission Vande Bharat where only Indian air carriers were allowed to operate flights.
• Why in News?
  • India has entered into Air Bubble agreements with 10 countries viz. USA, Canada, France, Germany, UK, Maldives, UAE, Qatar, Afghanistan and Bahrain, till 13.09.2020.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/18/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-18-september-2020/

Ans (b)

Explanation:

• Option A and C: Any increase in a reserve ratio prevents the banks from lending more money, and reduces the money multiplier.
• Option B: Promoting the use of credit cards, taking more loans etc. can lead to lending and re-lending of the same money supply several times increasing the money multiplier.
• Option D: Even if this increases, and the banks reduce their lending, there may be no increase in the money multiplier.

Source: UPSC CSE 2019

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• As per Article 142, “The Supreme Court in the exercise of its jurisdiction may pass such decree or make such order as is necessary for doing complete justice in any cause or matter pending before it, and any decree so passed or orders so made shall be enforceable throughout the territory of India in such manner as may be prescribed by or under any law made by Parliament and, until provision in that behalf is so made, in such manner as the President may by order prescribe”.

Source: UPSC CSE 2019

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Stat1 is a protocol under UNTOC, and S3 is wrong as UNCAC has that provision.
• The United Nations Convention against Corruption is the only legally binding international anti-corruption multilateral treaty
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its Member States to assist in the implementation of both Conventions, which along with the UN Drug Conventions of 1961, 1971 and 1988 underpin all the operational work of UNODC.
• See https://www.unodc.org/southasia/en/frontpage/2011/may/indian-govt-ratifies-two-un-conventions.html

Source: UPSC CSE 2019