INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 14 December 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• There are four types of solar eclipses. How much of the Sun’s disk is eclipsed – the eclipse magnitude – depends on which part of the Moon’s shadow falls on the Earth.
• A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon only partially obscures the Sun’s disk and casts only its penumbra on the Earth.
• An annular solar eclipse takes place when the Moon’s disk is not big enough to cover the entire disk of the Sun, and the Sun’s outer edges remain visible to form a ring of fire in the sky. An annular eclipse of the Sun takes place when the Moon is near apogee, and the Moon’s antumbra falls on the Earth.
• A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon completely covers the Sun. It can take place only when the Moon is near perigee, the point of the Moon’s orbit closest to the Earth. You can see a total solar eclipse only if you are in the path where the Moon casts its darkest shadow, the umbra.
• A hybrid solar eclipse, also known as an annular-total eclipse, is the rarest type. It occurs when the same eclipse changes from an annular to a total solar eclipse, and/or vice versa, along the eclipse’s path.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/what-is-a-solar-eclipse-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: here the directive word is incorrect!!

• Delimitation is the act of redrawing boundaries of Lok Sabha and state Assembly seats to represent changes in population.
• S1: In this process, the number of seats allocated to different states in Lok Sabha and the total number seats in a Legislative Assembly may also change.
• The main objective of delimitation is to provide equal representation to equal segments of a population.
• It also aims at a fair division of geographical areas so that one political party doesn’t have an advantage over others in an election.
  • Delimitation is carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission.
  • S2: The Constitution mandates that its orders are final and cannot be questioned before any court as it would hold up an election indefinitely.
  • Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
  • Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.
• The first delimitation exercise in 1950-51 was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission), as the Constitution at that time was silent on who should undertake the division of states into Lok Sabha seats.
• This delimitation was temporary as the Constitution mandated redrawing of boundaries after every Census. Hence, another delimitation was due after the 1951 Census. Subsequently, the Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.
• Delimitation Commissions have been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002. There was no delimitation after the 1981 and 1991 Censuses.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/delimitation-should-be-based-on-2031-census/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Krishna:
• It is an east-flowing river.
• Originates at Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and merges with the Bay of Bengal, flowing through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
• Basin: Together with its tributaries, it forms a vast basin that covers 33% of the total area of the four states.
• Major Tributaries of Krishna River are as follows:
  • Left: Bhima, Dindi, Peddavagu, Halia, Musi, Paleru, Munneru
  • Right: Venna, Koyna, Panchganga, Dudhganga, Ghataprabha, Malaprabha, Tungabhadra
• Vijayawada is the largest city on the Krishna.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/withdraw-plea-on-water-use-centre-tells-telangana/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: here the directive word is not correct!!

About Chang’e-5 probe:

• It is an unmanned spacecraft by China. The probe is named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess.
• The rocket comprises of four parts: an orbiter, a returner, an ascender and a lander.
• The Chang’e-5 mission is expected to realize four “firsts” in China’s space history:
  • The first time for a probe to take off from the surface of the Moon.
  • The first time to automatically sample the lunar surface.
  • The first time to conduct unmanned rendezvous and docking in lunar orbit.
  • The first time to return to Earth with lunar soil samples in escape velocity

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/change-5-probe-3/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) are (intended) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC):
  • In 2015, ahead of the United Nations’ significant climate conference in Paris, India announced three major voluntary commitments called the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC):
  • Improving the emissions intensity of its GDP by 33–35% by 2030 over 2005 levels.
  • Increasing the share of non-fossil fuels-based electricity to 40% by 2030.
  • Enhancing its forest cover, thereby absorbing 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• The Paris Agreement:
  • The Paris Agreement, adopted at COP 21 in Paris, on December 12, 2015, constitutes a landmark agreement on climate change that seeks to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and endeavour to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
  • The agreement, which came into force on November 4, 2016, currently has 188 parties.
  • All parties to it are expected to undertake ambitious efforts to support the agreement’s goals and communicate their related intentions every five years in the form of NDCs.
  • In the first round, 186 parties submitted their first NDC and two have since submitted a second one.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/india-is-on-track-to-reduce-emissions/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Myristica swamp treefrog:

• It is a rare arboreal species endemic to the Western Ghats.
• They are active only for a few weeks during their breeding season.
• Before the end of the breeding season, the female frogs along with their male counterparts descend on the forest floor.
• The female digs the mud and lays eggs in shallow burrows in mud. After breeding and egg-laying, they retreat back to the high canopies of the tree and remain elusive till next breeding season.
• Context:
• It has been recorded for the first time north of the Shencottah gap in the Vazhachal Reserve Forest in Kerala’s Thrissur district.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-december-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve:

• Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve can now be explored by boats while bicycle tracks are also being finalised. One can go trekking too. But the new activities are beyond the 1,302 sq km Kaziranga’s core area of 482 sq km.
• Key Facts:
  • It is a national park in
  • Formed in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots – Golaghat and Nagaon district.
  • It hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses.
  • It is a World Heritage Site.
  • It is also recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species.
  • Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga are focused on the ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.
  • Kaziranga is crisscrossed by four main rivers — Brahmaputra, Diphlu, Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-december-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: What is the diversity requirements that Indian companies need to meet?

• All public companies which are listed on stock exchanges and companies with either a paid-up capital of Rs 100 crore or annual turnover over Rs 300 crore are required to have at least one woman board member under the Companies Act.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) further requires, since April 1, 2020, that the top 1000 listed companies by market capitalisation have a woman board member who is also an independent director.
• About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)
  • S1: It is the regulator for the securities market in India. It was established in 1988 and given statutory powers on 30 January 1992 through the SEBI Act, 1992.
  • S2: If an entity wants to appeal against a Sebi order, it approaches Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT), which is a three-member bench.  A second appeal lies directly to the Supreme Court.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-december-2020/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate seamless sharing of data and information for carrying out scrutiny, inspection, investigation and prosecution.
• The Preamble of the Securities and Exchange Board of India describes the basic functions of the Securities and Exchange Board of India as “…to protect the interests of investors in securities and to promote the development of, and to regulate the securities market and for matters connected there with or incidental there to”.
• Statement 3 – prohibiting insider trading in securities.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/14/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-december-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• All of these are protected scheduled animals under the Wildlife Act.
• Refer: The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
  • https://www.indiacode.nic.in/handle/123456789/1726?locale=en
• Protected animals
  • http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/ScheduleSpeciesDatabase_7969.aspx

Source: UPSC CSE 2017