INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 21 November 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: As per latest publication from Election Commission of India, the total number of parties registered was 2598, with 8 national parties, 52 state parties and 2538 unrecognised parties. All registered parties contesting elections need to choose a symbol from a list of available symbols offered by the EC.
• S2: When a recognised political party splits, the Election Commission takes the decision on assigning the symbol. For example, when the Samajwadi Party split, the EC allotted the ‘bicycle’ to the Akhilesh Yadav faction.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/how-election-commission-decides-on-party-symbols-2/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has formulated the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) with the aim to provide the necessary support for integration of digital health infrastructure in the country. This visionary initiative, stemming from the National Health Policy, 2017 intends to digitize healthcare in India.
• S1: Under the Mission, every Indian will get a Health ID card that will store all medical details of the person including prescriptions, treatment, diagnostic reports and discharge summaries.
• S2: National Health Authority (NHA) has been entrusted with the role of designing strategy, building technological infrastructure and implementation of “National Digital Health Mission”

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/what-is-the-national-digital-health-mission-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had constituted an Internal Working Group (IWG) to review the extant ownership guidelines and corporate structure for private sector banks in India.
• It was headed by Prasanna Kumar Mohanty, Director, Central Board of RBI.
• The group’s terms of reference include reviewing eligibility criteria for applying for a banking licence and regulations relating to holding company structure. It will also suggest the manner of migrating all banks to a uniform regulation in the matter, including providing a transition path.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/private-sector-banks-reforms/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Deemed forests refer to land tracts that appear to be a “forest”, but have not been notified so by the government or in historical records.
• S1: the concept of deemed forests has not been clearly defined in any law including the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, the Supreme Court in the case of T N Godavarman Thirumalpad (1996) accepted a wide definition of forests under the Act.
  • It said, the word ‘forest’ must be understood according to its dictionary meaning.
  • It covers all statutorily recognised forests, whether designated as reserved, protected or otherwise for the purpose of Section 2 (1) of the Forest Conservation Act.
  • It also includes any areas recorded as forest in the government record irrespective of the ownership.
• Source: S2: The deemed forests comprise 1% of forest land in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/what-are-deemed-forests-and-why-karnataka-wants-to-declassify-some/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the concerned state government to allow inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected area for a limited period.
• The concept originates from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act (BEFR),
• Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram are protected by the Inner Line, and lately Manipur was added.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/inner-line-permit-ilp-3/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S2: Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of central Karnataka.
• S3: The Bhima River is a major river in Western India and South India. The river is also referred to as Chandrabhaga River, especially at Pandharpur, as it resembles the shape of the Moon.
• S1: Alampur is a popular Hindu pilgrimage site in Shaktism and is also home to the Navabrahma Temples, a group of nine temples dedicated to Shiva built in the seventh and eighth century CE.
  • It is the meeting point of the rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna and is referred to as Dakshina Kasi and is also considered the western gateway to Srisailam.
  • It is surrounded by the Nallamala hills and is situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra river
• Tungabhadra Pushkaralu commenced on November 20:
  • The Tungabhadra Pushkaralu is a 12-day festival held in honour of the Tungabhadra river.
  • It is celebrated when Jupiter enters Capricorn (Makar rashi).
  • Its significance is very high as the once in 12-year event is considered auspicious and a dip in the holy river is believed to get rid of one’s sins.
  • Pushkaralu or Pushkaram is a religious festival dedicated to the worship of 12 major rivers that flow across the country.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-november-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments.
• Genesis: Began in 1889 as a small group of parliamentarians, dedicated to promoting peace through parliamentary diplomacy and dialogue.
• S2: Initially, IPU membership was reserved for individual parliamentarians, but has since transformed to include the legislatures of sovereign states. As of 2020, the national parliaments of 179 countries are members of the IPU, while 13 regional parliamentary assemblies are associate members.
• Slogan is “For democracy. For everyone.”
• It seeks to promote democratic governance, institutions and values, working with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people.
• Financed primarily by Members out of public funds.
• Headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-november-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The space segment consists of the IRNSS constellation of eight satellites, NavIC. Three satellites are located in suitable orbital slots in the geostationary orbit and the remaining four are located in geosynchronous orbits with the required inclination and equatorial crossings in two different planes.
• S2: IRNSS could replace the US-owned Global Positioning System (GPS) in the Indian Ocean extending up to approximately 1500 km from the Indian boundary.
• Australia to temporarily host ISRO satellite tracking facilities:
  • The space agencies of India and Australia are working together to position temporarily Indian tracking facilities in Australia.
  • These include earth observation and data analytics, robotics, and space life sciences.
  • This would support India’s planned human space flight programme.
  • India, Australia space cooperation is underpinned by a formal Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two countries in 2012.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-november-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020”, China is the main exporter of fish and fish products.
  • Since 2002, China has been the world’s largest exporter of fish and fishery products. In 2008 its exports reached USD 10.3 billion.
• World Fisheries Day:
  • Celebrated on 21st November every year to demonstrate solidarity with all fisherfolk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders throughout the world.
  • It started in 1997 where the “World Forum of Fish Harvesters & Fish Workers” met at New Delhi leading to the formation of the World Fisheries Forum with representatives from 18 countries and signed a declaration advocating for a global mandate of sustainable fishing practices and policies.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-21-november-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: The Chapare hemorrhagic fever (CHHF) is caused by the same arenavirus family that is responsible for illnesses such as the Ebola virus disease (EVD).
  • The virus is named Chapare after the province (in Bolivia) in which it was first observed.
• S2: Scientists have pointed out that the Chapare virus is much more difficult to catch than the coronavirus as it is not transmissible via the respiratory route. Instead, Chapare spreads only through direct contact with bodily fluids.
  • The people who are particularly at risk of contracting the illness are healthcare workers and family members who come in close contact with infected people.
  • The disease is also known to be most commonly transmitted in more tropical regions, particularly in certain parts of South America where the small-eared pigmy rice rat is commonly found.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/11/21/what-is-the-chapare-virus/