INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 21 October 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and Vessels Traffic Monitoring Systems (VTMS):
• It is an indigenous software solutions Launched by Ministry of Shipping.
• It determines vessel positions, position of other traffic or meteorological hazard warnings and extensive management of traffic within a port or waterway.
• It contribute to the safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and protection of the marine environment, adjacent shore areas, worksites and offshore installations from possible adverse effects of maritime traffic.
• VTMS is mandatory under the IMO Convention SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea).

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-october-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate change, Government of India, was established in 1982.
• WII carries out wildlife research in areas of study like Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Wildlife Policy, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Forensics, Spatial Modeling, Ecodevelopment, Ecotoxicology, Habitat Ecology and Climate Change.
• WII has a research facility which includes Forensics, Remote Sensing and GIS, Laboratory, Herbarium, and an Electronic Library.
• The founder director was V. B. Saharia while the first Director was Hemendra Singh Panwar who remained the director from 1985 to 1994. Trained personnel from WII have contributed in studying and protecting wildlife in India.
• The national tiger census or the All India Tiger Estimation, is done by WII along with NTCA and state forest departments.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/finance-ministry-to-divest-wildlife-institute-of-india-wii/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• What is Quad grouping?
  • The quadrilateral security dialogue includes Japan, India, United States and Australia.
  • All four nations find a common ground of being the democratic nations and common interests of unhindered maritime trade and security.
• Genesis:
  • The grouping traces its genesis to 2004 when the four countries came together to coordinate relief operations in the aftermath of the tsunami.
  • It then met for the first time in 2007 on the sidelines of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
  • The intention was to enhance maritime cooperation between the four nations.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/what-is-quad-grouping/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Ayushman Sahakar is a scheme to assist cooperatives play an important role in creation of healthcare infrastructure in the country.
• Formulated by:
  • National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), an autonomous development finance institution under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Key features and implementation of the scheme:
  • NCDC will extend term loans to prospective cooperatives.
  • A fund will be created for the purpose.
  • Any Cooperative Society with suitable provision in its byelaws to undertake healthcare related activities would be able to access the NCDC fund.
  • NCDC assistance will flow either through the State Governments/ UT Administrations or directly to the eligible cooperatives.
  • The scheme also provides working capital and margin money to meet operational requirements.
  • The scheme provides interest subvention of one percent to women majority cooperatives.
  • Cooperatives in healthcare and why focus on them?
  • There are about 52 hospitals across the country run by cooperatives. They have cumulative bed strength of more than 5,000.
  • By virtue of their strong presence in rural areas, cooperatives utilizing the scheme would bring revolution in comprehensive health care services.
• Benefits of the scheme:
• COVID 19 pandemic has brought into focus the requirement of creation of more facilities.
  • Therefore, NCDC’s scheme will be a step towards strengthening farmers welfare activities by the Central Government.
  • With this scheme, villagers will get many facilities including hospitals, medical colleges.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/ayushman-sahakar/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects as per the Constitution of India. States/UTs are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of crimes through their law enforcement machinery.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/cyber-crime-and-cyber-security-in-india/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Mission Kakatiya is a programme for restoring all the minor irrigation tanks and lakes in Telangana State, India. The programme helps in rejuvenating 46,531 tanks and lakes, storing 265 TMC water across the state in five years, this is the first program to be taken up by the Government of Telangana after coming into power in June 2014.
• Mission Bhagiratha is a project for safe drinking water for every village and city household in Telangana State.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/kaleshwaram-eco-clearance-violates-law-ngt/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Ind Spring Board:
• It is an initiative of Indian Bank and IIT Madras Incubation Cell (IITMIC).
• It is an initiative for funding start-ups.
• IITMIC will refer start-ups with proven technology and established cash flows to the bank. The bank, in turn, will extend loans of up to ₹50 crore to these units.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-october-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs):
• It is a Collective Investment Scheme similar to a mutual fund, which enables direct investment of money from individual and institutional investors in infrastructure projects to earn a small portion of the income as return.
• The InvITs are regulated by the SEBI (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-october-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Demchok sector:
• It is a disputed region centered on the villages of Demchok, Ladakh and Dêmqog, Ngari Prefecture, situated near the confluence of the Charding Nullah and Indus River.
• It is part of the greater Sino-Indian border dispute between China and India. Both India and China claim the disputed region, with a Line of Actual Control between the two nations situated along the Charding Nullah.
• Why in News?
• Chinese soldier who strayed across LAC in Ladakh’s Demchok sector released.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-october-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges (variable distances) to the Earth. These light pulses—combined with other data recorded by the airborne system — generate precise, three-dimensional information about the shape of the Earth and its surface characteristics.
• A lidar instrument principally consists of a laser, a scanner, and a specialized GPS receiver. Airplanes and helicopters are the most commonly used platforms for acquiring lidar data over broad areas. Two types of lidar are topographic and bathymetric. Topographic lidar typically uses a near-infrared laser to map the land, while bathymetric lidar uses water-penetrating green light to also measure seafloor and riverbed elevations.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-october-2020/