INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 7 December 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• About Hampi:
  • It was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar.
  • S1: It was a part of the Mauryan Empire back in the third century BC.
  • It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • S2: Its name is derived from Pampa which is the old name of the Tungabhadra River on whose banks the city is built.
  • S3: The site used to be multi-religious and multi-ethnic; it included Hindu and Jain monuments next to each other.
• Architecture:
  • It has been described by UNESCO as an “austere, grandiose site” of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India.
  • The buildings here predominantly followed South Indian Hindu arts and architecture dating to the Aihole-Pattadakal styles, but the Hampi builders also used elements of Indo-Islamic architecture in the Lotus Mahal, the public bath and the elephant stables.
  • Hemkunta Hill, south of the Virupaksha temple contains early ruins, Jain temples and a monolithic sculpture of Lord Narasimha, a form of Lord Vishnu.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/hampi-chariot-cant-be-touched/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Siachen Glacier is a glacier located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas.
• It demarcates central Asia from the Indian subcontinent, and separates Pakistan from China in the region. The Saltoro Ridge of the Siachin glacier serves as a divide that prevents direct linking of PoK with China, stopping them to develop geographical military linkages in the area.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/jk-administration-seeks-review-of-order-on-roshni-act/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: In India, citizenship is regulated by the Citizenship Act, 1955.  The Act specifies that citizenship may be acquired in India through five methods – by birth in India, by descent, through registration, by naturalisation (extended residence in India), and by incorporation of territory into India.
• S2: What’s the concern wrt to CAA?
  • The CAA fast-tracks citizenship-by-naturalisation process for persons from six religious communities, other than Muslims, who have fled persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
  • The petitions against CAA have argued that a law that welcomes “illegal migrants” into India selectively on the basis of their religion, is against principles of secularism, right to equality and dignity of life enshrined in the Basic Structure of the Constitution.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/140-pleas-against-caa-hang-fire/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: Minimum Support Price is a safety net given to the farmers to ensure guaranteed prices and assured markets. The MSP-based procurement system is aimed to save the crops from price fluctuations due to various unwarranted factors such as the monsoon, lack of market integration, information asymmetry and other elements of market imperfection plaguing Indian agriculture. However, currently MSP does not have any legal backing. The three new farm laws also do not have any provision for MSP.
• S2: The MSP is fixed twice a year on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
• S3: The CACP, as its website states, is just “an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India”. It can recommend MSPs, but the decision on fixing (or even not fixing) and enforcement rests finally with the government.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/understanding-the-concept-of-trade-areas-in-farm-laws/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• What are Microwaves?
  • Microwaves are defined as electromagnetic radiations with a frequency ranging between 300 MHz to 300 GHz while the wavelength ranges from 1 mm to around 30 cm.
  • They fall between the infrared radiation and radio waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Properties of microwaves:
  • Metal surfaces reflect microwaves.
  • Microwaves of certain frequencies are absorbed by water.
  • Microwave transmission is affected by wave effects such as refraction, reflection, interference, and diffraction.
  • S3: Microwaves can pass through glass and plastic.
  • S2: Microwaves are not reflected by Ionosphere.
  • S1: Microwaves are the waves that radiate electromagnetic energy with shorter wavelength.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/microwave-energy-likely-made-u-s-officials-ill/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context:
  • The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) has notified a new tariff structure for 14 natural gas pipelines.
• What is the change?
  • Under the new unified tariff structure, buyers will be charged a fixed tariff for the transport of gas within 300 kms of a source and a fixed tariff for the transport of gas beyond 300 kms on a single pipeline network.
  • This, PNGRB says, would be significantly cheaper for buyers further away from the source of gas that were earlier charged on the basis of the number of pipelines used and the distance from the source of gas.
  • Therefore, a buyer using multiple pipelines in GAIL’s networks would likely benefit significantly from this change.
• S1: PGNRB was constituted in 2006, and therefore S1 cannot be correct. A number of regulatory bodies have existed before.
• S2: The board has several functions such as to provide, by regulations, and enforce, retail service obligations for retail outlets and marketing service obligations for entities; monitor transportation rates and take corrective action to prevent restrictive trade practice by the entities etc. This clearly indicates that is ensures a competitive market for gas. See http://www.pngrb.gov.in/Functions-of-Board.html
• S3: This is correct. The Appellate Tribunal established under section 110 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003) shall be the Appellate Tribunal for PGNRB. See http://www.pngrb.gov.in/the-act.html#bm9

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/petroleum-boards-new-unified-tariff-structure-its-impact-and-challenges-in-implementation/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Kameng Elephant Reserve – Arunachal Pradesh
• Intanki Elephant Reserve – Nagaland
• Nilambur Elephant Reserve – Kerala
• Periyar Elephant Reserve – Kerala
• Elephant reserves in India: https://vikaspedia.in/energy/environment/biodiversity-1/fauna-of-india/elephant-reserves-in-india

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/ngt-seeks-action-plan-on-elephant-corridors/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Here the directive word is not correct!!

• Himachal Pradesh wants GI status for five products:
  • These include- Karsog Kulth, Thangi of Pangi, Chamba Metal Crafts, Chamba Chukh, and Rajmah of Bharmour.
  • How many registered GIs do Himachal currently have?
  • There are eight GI tags, that include four handicrafts (Kullu Shawl, Chamba Rumal, Kinnauri Shawl and Kangra Paintings), three agricultural products (Kangra Tea, Basmati and Himachali Kala Zeera) and one manufactured product (Himachali Chulli Oil).
• Kandangi Saree: Tamil Nadu
• Kaji Nemu: Assam
• Idu Mishmi Textiles: Arunachal Pradesh

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-december-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: What is Mahaparinirvan Divas?

• On December 6, the country observed Mahaparinirvan Diwas, which marks the death anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
• What is Mahaparinirvan?
• Parinirvan is one of the major principles and goals of Buddhism. The Sanskrit term (written in Pali as parinibbana) means “nirvana after death”, which refers to the achievement of nirvana after the body dies. As per the Buddhist text, i.e. Mahaparinibbana Sutta, the death of Lord Buddha at the age of 80 is considered as the original Mahaparinirvan.
• Why is BR Ambedkar linked to it?
  • Dr Ambedkar passed away on December 6, 1956, just a few days after completing his last work, The Buddha and His Dhamma.
  • Because of his stature and contributions to the eradication of untouchability in India, he was considered to be a Buddhist guru.
  • His followers and supporters believe that Ambedkar was as influential, pure and blessed as Lord Buddha. And this is the reason Ambedkar’s death anniversary is referred to as Mahaparinirvan Divas.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-december-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• A tokamak is a device which uses a powerful magnetic field to confine hot plasma in the shape of a torus. The tokamak is one of several types of magnetic confinement devices being developed to produce controlled thermonuclear fusion power.
• HL-2M Tokamak:
  • China successfully powered up its “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor (HL-2M Tokamak reactor) for the first time marking a great advance in the country’s nuclear power research capabilities.
  • Key Points:
    • The HL-2M Tokamak reactor is China’s largest and most advanced nuclear fusion experimental research device.
    • The mission is named Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST).
    • Located in Sichuan province and completed late last year, the reactor is often called an “artificial sun” on account of the enormous heat and power it produces.
    • It uses a powerful magnetic field to fuse hot plasma and can reach temperatures of over 150 million degrees Celsius- approximately ten times hotter than the core of the sun.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-december-2020/