INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 11 December 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Link: An aurora is a natural light display that shimmers in the sky. Colorful blue, red, yellow, green, and orange lights shift gently and change shape like softly blowing curtains. Auroras are only visible at night, and usually only appear in lower polar regions.
• Auroras are visible almost every night near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, which are about 66.5 degrees north and south of the Equator. In the north, the display is called aurora borealis, or northern lights. In the south, it is called aurora australis, or southern lights.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/why-parts-of-the-us-may-be-able-to-see-the-northern-lights-today/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Anthrax is a disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a germ that lives in soil.
• It affects animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats more often than people.
• Anthrax does not spread directly from one infected animal or person to another; it is spread by spores. These spores can be transported by clothing or shoes.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/vaccination-drive-after-anthrax-kills-elephants/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The ADMM-Plus is a platform for ASEAN and its eight Dialogue Partners to strengthen security and defence cooperation for peace, stability, and development in the region.
• ADMM–Plus is the only official framework of Defense Minister’s meetings in the Asia-Pacific Region.
• In addition to the ten countries of ASEAN, eight countries such as Japan, the US and China participate in this framework to promote more practical defense cooperation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/asean-defence-ministers-meeting-plus-admm-plus-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• LINK: The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has given its approval for Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) to boost employment in formal sector and incentivize creation of new employment opportunities during the Covid recovery phase under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0.
• About the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY):
  • Under this, Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 and up to 30th June, 2021.
  • Government will pay both 12% employees’ contribution and 12% employers’ contribution i.e. 24% of wages towards EPF in respect of new employees in establishments employing upto 1000 employees for two years.
  • Government will pay only employees’ share of EPF contribution i.e. 12% of wages in respect of new employees in establishments employing more than 1000 employee for two years.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/atmanirbhar-bharat-rojgar-yojana-abry/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Quantum key distribution (QKD):

• The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully demonstrated communication between its two labs using Quantum Key Distribution technology.
• The Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and The Research Centre Imarat (RCI) were the two labs that participated in this demonstration.
• Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure communication method which implements a cryptographic protocol involving components of quantum It enables two parties to produce a shared random secret key known only to them, which can then be used to encrypt and decrypt messages.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/quantum-key-distribution-qkd/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The UN Population Award, established by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 1981, recognises contributions in the fields of population and reproductive health.
• HelpAge India has been presented the UN Population Award for 2020 (institutional category).

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-11-december-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Ischaemum janarthanamii:
  • It is a novel species of Muraingrass identified by scientists in the plateaus of Western Ghats of Goa.
  • The species was named Ischaemumjanarthanamiiin honour of Prof. M. K. Janarthanam, Professor of Botany, Goa University.
  • It grows on low altitude lateritic plateaus in the outskirts of Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, Goa.
  • The vegetation is exposed to extreme climatic conditions like desiccation in drier months and soils with low nutrient availability. However, withstanding these, the species has adapted to survive harsh conditions and blossom every monsoon.
• Background:
  • Muraingrasses are known for their ecological and economic importance, such as fodder.
  • Globally 85 species are known from Ischaemum, of which 61 species are exclusively found in India.
  • The Western Ghats have 40 species with the highest concentration of the genus.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-11-december-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Son River of central India is the second largest of the Ganges’ southern tributaries after Yamuna River.
• S2: it originates near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh near the source of Narmada River.
• Koilwar Bridge:
  • Koilwar Bridge constructed over Sone river in Bihar inaugurated.

Refer: : facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-11-december-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Worlds’ first, satellite-based narrowband-IoT network in India:
• BSNL, in partnership with Skylo, to introduce worlds’ first, satellite-based narrowband-IoT network in India.
• This new ‘Made in India’ Solution, which is indigenously developed by Skylo, will connect with BSNLs satellite- ground infrastructure and provide PAN-India coverage, including Indian seas.
• The coverage will be so vast that it will not leave any dark patch within the boundary of India, from Kashmir &Ladakh to Kanyakumari, and from Gujarat to the North East, including the Indian seas.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/11/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-11-december-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

Source: UPSC CSE 2018