QUIZ – 2020: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 15 October 2020

Solution: a)

AT-1 bonds are unsecured, perpetual, high-risk bonds that banks issue to shore up their core capital base to meet the Basel III norms. Banks can skip paying interest on these bonds if their capital ratios fall below certain threshold level.

Market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) tightened its regulations of additional tier-1 bonds or AT-1 bonds and ensured that these risky instruments are less accessible to retail investors.

As per latest norms, banks can issue these bonds only on electronic platform, only institutional investors could subscribe to them. Minimum allotment for these bonds is set at ₹1 cr

“These instruments have certain unique features which, inter-alia, grant the issuer (i.e. banks, in consultation with RBI) a discretion in terms of writing down the principal / interest, to skip interest payments, to make an early recall etc. without commensurate right for investors to legal recourse, even if such actions of the issuer might result in potential loss to investors,”

“The absolute right, given to the RBI, to direct a bank to write down the entire value of its outstanding AT1 instruments/bonds, if it thinks the bank has passed the Point of Non-Viability (PONV), or requires a public sector capital infusion to remain a going concern.

Source

Solution: d)

Yuddh Pradushan Ke Virudh:

• Launched by Delhi Government.
• It is an anti-pollution campaign.
• Seeks to reduce air pollution levels in Delhi during winter.
• The campaign will include release of a Green Delhi app, creation of a war room to monitor progress, processing liquid solution for farms in order to curb stubble burning, and hotspot-specific action plans.

Solution: a)

Who accords and regulates Geographical Indications?

At the International level: Geographical Indications are covered as a component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. GI is also governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 which came into force with effect from September 2003.

Solution: b)

The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth’s only continent without a native human population. The treaty entered into force in 1961 and currently has 54 parties.

The main objective of the ATS is to ensure in the interests of all humankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord. Pursuant to Article 1, the treaty forbids any measures of a military nature, but not the presence of military personnel or equipment for the purposes of scientific research.

Any nuclear explosions in Antarctica and the disposal there of radioactive waste material shall be prohibited.

Source

Solution: b)

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Headquartered in Singapore, the APEC is recognized as one of the highest-level multilateral blocs and oldest forums in the Asia-Pacific region, and exerts a significant global influence.

India has requested membership in APEC, and received initial support from the United States, Japan, Australia and Papua New Guinea.