INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 23 December 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution deals with the administration of tribal areas in the four northeastern States of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram [Not Manipur].
• S2: According to fifth Schedule, Each  state  having  scheduled  areas  has  to establish  a  tribes  advisory  council  to  advise  on  welfare  and  advancement of  the  scheduled  tribes.  It  is  to  consist  of  20  members,  three-fourths  of whom  are  to  be  the  representatives  of  the  scheduled  tribes  in  the  state legislative  assembly.
• S3: Under fifth Schedule, The  president [Not the Governor] is empowered  to  declare an  area  to  be  a  scheduled  area.  He can  also  increase  or  decrease  its  area, alter  its  boundary  lines,  rescind  such  designation  or make  fresh  orders  for such  redesignation  on  an  area  in  consultation  with  the  governor  of  the state concerned.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/hc-orders-composite-floor-test-in-btc/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The  Governor  of  Assam may  likewise  direct  that  an  act  of  Parliament does  not  apply  to  a  tribal  area  (autonomours  district)  in  the  state  or  apply with  specified  modifications  and  exceptions. The  President  enjoys  the same  power  with  respect  to  tribal  areas  (autonomous  districts)  in Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/hc-orders-composite-floor-test-in-btc/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Tibet has been called the “Water Tower” of Asia.
• The Mekong, the Yellow river, the Yangthze, the Yarlung Tsampo (Brahmaputra), the Indus, Sutlej and the Karnali all originate on the Tibetan plateau and support hundreds of millions of people downstream.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/us-congress-passes-tibetan-policy-and-support-act/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Wages include salary, allowance, or any other component expressed in monetary terms. This does not include bonus payable to employees or any travelling allowance, among others.

About the Code on Wages Act:

• The code will amalgamate the Payment of Wages Act, 1936, the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965, and the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976.
• The wage code universalises the provisions of minimum wages and timely payment of wages to all employees, irrespective of the sector and wage ceiling.
• It ensures the “right to sustenance” for every worker and intends to increase the legislative protection of minimum wage from existing about 40% to 100% workforce.
• It also introduces the concept of statutory floor wage which will be computed based on minimum living conditions and extended qualitative living conditions across the country for all workers.
• While fixing the minimum rate of wages, the central government shall divide the concerned geographical area into three categories – metropolitan area, non-metropolitan area and the rural area.
• The minimum wages decided by the central or state governments must be higher than the floor wage.
• Payment of wages: Wages will be paid in (i) coins, (ii) currency notes, (iii) by cheque, (iv) by crediting to the bank account, or (v) through electronic mode.  The wage period will be fixed by the employer as either: (i) daily, (ii) weekly, (iii) fortnightly, or (iv) monthly.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/cii-ficci-to-seek-a-pause-on-wage-code/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) is a group of social and economic infrastructure projects in India over a period of five years with an initial sanctioned amount of ₹102 lakh crore.
• The centre (39 percent) and state (39 percent) are expected to have an almost equal share in implementing the projects, while the private sector has 22 percent share.
• The India Investment Grid is designed to give real-time updates on the implementation of the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/centre-to-set-up-development-finance-entity/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

• IUCN status: critically endangered.
• Found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and in the CMS Convention and in Appendix I of CITES.
• Identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
• Project Great Indian Bustard by the state of Rajasthan — identifying and fencing off bustard breeding grounds in existing protected areas as well as provide secure breeding enclosures in areas outside protected areas.
• Protected areas: Desert National Park Sanctuary — Rajasthan, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary – Andhra Pradesh and Karera Wildlife Sanctuary– Madhya Pradesh.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/pokhrans-firefly-bird-diverters-shine-to-save-the-great-indian-bustard/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Situated in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Indian state Rajasthan.
• S2: This is clearly incorrect. A national park can have human habitation.
• S3: This is common knowledge.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2020: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/pokhrans-firefly-bird-diverters-shine-to-save-the-great-indian-bustard/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: ‘FRUITS’ portal for land records launched:

• The ‘FRUITS’ (Farmer Registration and Unified Beneficiary Information System) portal, a project of e-governance by Karnataka Government.
• The portal was integrated to the Bhoomi portal of the State for fetching and validating land details.
• It will eliminate visit of farmers to sub-registrar offices.
• How it works?
  • In this portal, all the farmers will be registered and given a FID Number.
  • Using this number, the financial and lending institutions can access the land details of the farmers as well as their borrowings and take a quick decision on lending to the farmers depending on their requirements.
  • All financial institutions would be brought on to the portal so that at one place, all the data pertaining to the loans of the farmers would be available.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-december-2020/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Bor Tiger Reserve – Maharashtra
• Kalakkad Mundanthurai – Tamil Nadu

Refer: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mankidia-denied-habitat-in-simlipal/article22392195.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/fatal-crossings-tigers-in-26-reserves-under-threat/article22388295.ece

Ans: (c)

Explanation: here the directive word is incorrect!!

• Low earth orbit refers to an altitude up to 2,000 km or less. A satellite in the LEO can monitor activities on the ground and water surfaces.
• A low Earth orbit requires the lowest amount of energy for satellite placement. It provides high bandwidth and low communication latency. Satellites and space stations in LEO are more accessible for crew and servicing.
• Earth observation satellites and spy satellites use LEO as they are able to see the surface of the Earth clearly by being close to it.
• The International Space Station is in a LEO about 330 km to 420 km above Earth’s surface.

Refer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_Earth_orbit