INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 5 December 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The government has notified compulsory surgical procedures for PG students of Ayurveda.
• How far is surgery part of Ayurveda?
• There are two branches of surgery in Ayurveda:
  • Shalya Tantra, which refers to general surgery, and Shalakya Tantra which pertains to surgeries related to the eyes, ears, nose, throat and teeth.
  • All postgraduate students of Ayurveda have to study these courses, and some go on to specialise in these, and become Ayurveda surgeons.
• The 2016 regulations allow postgraduate students to specialise in Shalya Tantra, Shalakya Tantra, and Prasuti evam Stree Roga (Obstetrics and Gynecology), the three disciplines involving major surgical interventions.
• Students of these three disciplines are granted MS (Master in Surgery in Ayurveda) degrees.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/surgery-as-part-of-ayurveda/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative characteristics.
• Technical textiles include textiles for automotive applications, medical textiles, geotextiles, agrotextiles, and protective clothing.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the setting up of a National Technical Textiles Mission at an total outlay of ₹1,480 Crore.
• Aim: To position the country as a global leader in technical textiles and increase the use of technical textiles in the domestic market.
• Key facts: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/02/27/national-technical-textiles-mission/

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/ministry-seeks-proposals-for-technical-textiles-body/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) was established by Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)resolution 9(I) in 1946, to assist the ECOSOC in supervising the application of the international drug control treaties. In 1991, the General Assembly (GA) expanded the mandate of the CND to enable it to function as the governing body of the UNODC.
  • About ECOSOC: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/17/un-economic-and-social-council-ecosoc/
• S2: it is the central drug policy-making body within the United Nations system and has important functions under the international drug control conventions.
• Extra Reading:
  • The main organs of the UN are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice, and the UN Secretariat.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/un-removes-cannabis-from-most-dangerous-drug-category-what-this-means/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: Every solar panel which is made in India is assembled while all the material comes from China, Europe and some other countries. India is yet to develop semiconductor clusters.
  • Read more: https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/blue-wafer-solar-cells-not-to-qualify-under-domestically-made-product-to-get-govt-benefits-govt-clarifies-119102101265_1.html
• S2: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission determines solar power tariffs and regulates the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government.
• Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has a power-trading license, but it does not set solar power tariffs.
  • SECI is a company of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  • It is established to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
  • It is the only Central Public Sector Undertaking dedicated to the solar energy sector.
  • Refer: https://www.seci.co.in/

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/what-is-indias-sprawling-renewable-energy-park-coming-up-on-its-border-with-pakistan/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• What is Quantum Supremacy?
  • It is a term proposed in 2012 by John Preskill, professor of theoretical physics at the California Institute of Technology.
  • It describes the point where quantum computers can do things that classical computers cannot.
  • Superposition and entanglement are what give quantum computers the ability to process so much more information so much faster.
• Differences between a standard computer and a quantum computer:
  • A classical computer performs calculations using bits that is 0 representing off and 1 representing on. It uses transistors to process information in the form of sequences of zeros and ones called computer binary language. More transistors more processing ability.
  • A quantum computer uses the laws of quantum mechanics. Here, different states can be achieved in particles due to their internal angular momentum called spin. The two states 0 and 1 can be represented in the spin of the particle.
  • Thus, in a classical computer information is expressed through single number either 0 or 1.
  • A quantum computer uses qubits which is described as a 0 and 1 at the same time giving us more processing power.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/quantum-supremacy-3/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• In its June 2020 Food Outlook Report, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) stated that the world meat output was set to contract row to 333 million tonnes, 1.7% less than in 2019.
• 75th Anniversary of FAO: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/15/75th-anniversary-of-fao/
• About FAO:
  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
  • Headquarters: Rome, Italy
  • Founded: 16 October 1945
  • Goal of FAO: Their goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.
• Important reports and Programmes (Have a brief overview):
  • Global Report on Food Crises.
  • Every two years, FAO publishes the State of the World’s Forests.
  • FAO and the World Health Organization created the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1961 to develop food standards, guidelines and texts.
  • In 1996, FAO organized the World Food Summit. The Summit concluded with the signing of the Rome Declaration, which established the goal of halving the number of people who suffer from hunger by the year 2015.
  • In 2004 the Right to Food Guidelines were adopted, offering guidance to states on how to implement their obligations on the right to food.
  • FAO created the International Plant Protection Convention or IPPC in 1952.
  • FAO is depositary of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, also called Plant Treaty, Seed Treaty or ITPGRFA, entered into force on 29 June 2004.
  • Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) was started by the FAO to safeguard and support the world’s agricultural heritage systems
    • GIAHS Partnership Initiative was conceptualized in 2002 during World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/lab-grown-meat-cleared-in-singapore-emerging-alternative-worldwide/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: About Ken- Betwa project:

• Conceived as a two-part project, this is the country’s first river interlinking project.
• It is perceived as a model plan for similar interstate river transfer missions.
• The project aims to transfer surplus water from the Ken river in MP to Betwa in UP to irrigate the drought-prone Bundelkhand region spread across the districts of two states mainly Jhansi, Banda, Lalitpur and Mahoba districts of UP and Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur districts of MP.
• Key facts:
  • Ken and Betwa rivers originate in MP and are the tributaries of Yamuna.
  • Ken meets with Yamuna in Banda district of UP and with Betwa in Hamirpur district of UP.
  • Rajghat, Paricha and Matatila dams are over Betwa river.
  • Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/ken-betwa-interlinking-project-dam/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: Panna National Park is a national park located in Panna and Chhatarpur districts of Madhya Pradesh in India.
• S2: It is a UNESCO Designated Biosphere Reserve status of which was given in October 2020. Read: https://www.outlookindia.com/outlooktraveller/travelnews/story/70818/panna-tiger-reserve-gets-unescos-biosphere-reserve-status
• S3: Ken River passes through Panna tiger reserve.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/ken-betwa-interlinking-project-dam/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect because the concept of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) was originally developed by FAO and officially presented and at the Hague Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change in 2010, through the paper “Climate-Smart Agriculture: Policies, Practices and Financing for Food Security, Adaptation and Mitigation”. In 2014 an alliance was set up with this issue as its focal point: the GASCA (Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture).
• GACSA is an inclusive, voluntary and action-oriented multi-stakeholder platform on Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). Its vision is to improve food security, nutrition and resilience in the face of climate change. GACSA aims to catalyse and help create transformational partnerships to encourage actions that reflect an integrated approach to the three pillars of CSA.
• Statement 2 is correct because membership in the Alliance does not create any binding obligations and each member individually determines the nature of its participation.
• Statement 3 is incorrect because India is just a signatory.

Source: UPSC CSE 2018

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Definition of Money Bill
• (1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a Bill shall be deemed to be a Money Bill if it contains only provisions dealing with all or any of the following matters, namely
• (a) the imposition, abolition, remission, alteration or regulation of any tax;
• (b) the regulation of the borrowing of money or the giving of any guarantee by the Government of India, or the amendment of the law with respect to any financial obligations undertaken or to be undertaken by the Government of India;
• (c) the custody of the consolidated Fund or the Contingency Fund of India, the payment of moneys into or the withdrawal of moneys from any such Fund;
• (d) the appropriation of moneys out of the consolidated Fund of India (not Contingency Fund of India). So, C is incorrect.

Source: UPSC CSE 2018