INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 4 November 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (d)

Explanation: here the directive word is not correct!!

• S1: During El Nino, the surface winds across the entire tropical Pacific are weaker than usual. Ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are warmer than average, and rainfall is below average over Indonesia and above average over the central or eastern Pacific.
• S2: During La Nina, it’s the opposite. The surface winds across the entire tropical Pacific are stronger than usual, and most of the tropical Pacific Ocean is cooler than average. Rainfall increases over Indonesia (where waters remain warm) and decreases over the central tropical Pacific (which is cool). Over Indonesia, there is more rising air motion and lower surface pressure. There is more sinking air motion over the cooler waters of the central and eastern Pacific.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/what-is-la-nina/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About PMBJP:

• It is a campaign launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• It seeks to provide quality medicines at affordable prices to the masses through special kendra’s known as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
• Initially launched in 2008, the scheme was rechristened in 2015.
• Implementation:
  • Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI) is the implementing agency of PMBJP.
  • BPPI (Bureau of Pharma Public Sector Undertakings of India) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/pradhan-mantri-bhartiya-janaushdhi-pariyojana/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Vitamin A – Hyperkeratosis, night blindness, and keratomalacia
• Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) – Beriberi
• Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) – Slow growth, sore eyes
• Vitamin C – Scurvy
• Vitamin D – Rickets

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/scheme-on-fortification-of-rice/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Whales are the largest animals on Earth and they live in every ocean. Whales are warm-blooded creatures that nurse their young.
• Source: S2: Whales are at the top of the food chain and have an important role in the overall health of the marine environment. Whales play a significant role in capturing carbon from the atmosphere; each great whale sequesters an estimated 33 tons of CO2 on average, thus playing their part in the fight against climate change.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/more-than-100-beached-whales-saved-off-sri-lanka/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: here the directive word is not correct!!

• Six new sites apart from the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary were identified under Project Lion that was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020.
• The six new sites include:
  • Madhav National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
  • Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan.
  • Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh.
  • Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan.
  • Jessore-Balaram Ambaji WLS and adjoining landscape, Gujarat.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/project-lion-proposal-identifies-6-relocation-sites/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: Lions are the only cats that live in groups, called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young.
• S2: Only male lions boast manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their heads.
• S3: At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion. The last surviving population of the Asiatic lions is a compact tract of dry deciduous forest and open grassy scrublands in southwestern part of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/project-lion-proposal-identifies-6-relocation-sites/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• About WWF:
  • It is an international non-governmental organization
  • Founded in 1961
  • Headquarter — Gland (Switzerland).
• Aim : wilderness preservation & the reduction of human impact on the environment
  • It is the world’s largest conservation organization
• Objectives:
  • Conserving the world’s biological diversity
  • Ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
  • Promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption
• Reports & programmes:
  • Living Planet Report— published every two years by WWF since 1998; it is based on a Living Planet Index and ecological footprint calculation
  • Earth hour
  • Debt-for-nature swaps–financial transactions in which a portion of a developing nation’s foreign debt is forgiven in exchange for local investments in environmental conservation measures.
  • Marine Stewardship Council(MSC) — independent non-profit organization which sets a standard for sustainable fishing
  • Healthy GrownPotato — eco-brand that provides high-quality, sustainably grown, packaged, and shipped potatoes to consumers by leveraging integrated pest management(IPM) farming practices on large scale farms

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/wwf-identifies-100-cities-including-30-in-india-facing-severe-water-risk-by-2050/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Virtual Global Investor Roundtable (VGIR):

• PM to chair VGIR on 5th November, 2020.
• Organized by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and National Investment and Infrastructure Fund.
• It is an exclusive dialogue between leading global institutional investors, Indian business leaders and the highest decision makers from the Government of India and Financial Market Regulators.
• S1: NIIF, short for National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, is an Indian-government backed entity established to provide long-term capital to the country’s infrastructure sector.
• S2: Budget 2015 set the ball rolling for its creation and NIIF was set up as an alternative investment fund (AIF) in December 2016 with a planned corpus of ₹40,000 crore.
• S3: The Indian government has 49 per cent stake in NIIF with the rest held by marquee foreign and domestic investors such as Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Temasek and HDFC Group. With the Centre’s significant stake, NIIF is considered India’s quasi sovereign wealth fund.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/04/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-4-november-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Situated in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Indian state Rajasthan.
• S2: This is clearly incorrect. A national park can have human habitation.
• S3: Great Indian Bustards (GIB):
  • IUCN status:critically endangered.
  • Found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
  • Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972 and in the CMS Convention and in Appendix I of CITES.
  • Identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
  • Project Great Indian Bustard — state of Rajasthan — identifying and fencing off bustard breeding grounds in existing protected areas as well as provide secure breeding enclosures in areas outside protected areas.
  • Protected areas: Desert National Park Sanctuary — Rajasthan, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary – Andhra Pradesh and Karera Wildlife Sanctuary– Madhya Pradesh.

Source: UPSC CSE 2020

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: About 29% are such, not 26%. Out of the 5723 assessment units assessed jointly by State Ground Water Departments and CGWB in the country, 4078 are safe (71%), 550 are semi critical (10%), 226 are critical (4%) and 839 are over exploited (15%). See https://niti.gov.in/planningcommission.gov.in/docs/reports/genrep/rep_grndwat.pdf
• S2: Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) constituted under Section 3(3) of ‘The Environment (Protection) Act, (1986)’ regulates extraction of ground water through guidelines which are updated regularly.
• S3: At 39 million hectares (67% of its total irrigation), India has the world’s largest groundwater well equipped irrigation system (China with 19 mha is second, USA with 17 mha is third).

Source: UPSC CSE 2020