INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 8 January 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, is being organized on 9th January 2021, despite the ongoing Covid pandemic.
• About PBD:
  • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9th January to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India.
  • PBD Convention is the flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs and provides an important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Indians.
  • PBD conventions were held every year since 2003.
  • S1: Since 2015, its format has been revised to celebrate the PBD once every two years.
  • The theme of 16th PBD Convention 2021: “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”.
  • S2: During the Convention, selected overseas Indians are also honored with the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award to recognize their contributions to various fields both in India and abroad.
  • S3: The 15th annual Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) is held in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The first chapter of Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held in 2003to recognise the contributions of NRIs in academic and professional fields across the world.
• Why PBD is celebrated on January 9?
  • January 9 was chosen as the day to celebrate this occasion since it was on this day in 1915 that Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa, led India’s freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.
  • Significance
  • These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities.
  • These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/08/pravasi-bharatiya-divas/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Findings of NFHS 5

• The survey provides data of States and UTs on over 130 parameters. On various parameters, major number of states have worsened over the last round of survey (NFHS 4 – 2015-16).
• The children born between 2014 and 2019 are more malnourished than the previous generation.
• Infant and child mortality declined in most of the Indian states.
• Sikkim, Assam, Goa and Jammu & Kashmir witnessed a steep decline in Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR).
• Meghalaya, Manipur and Andaman & Nicobar Island reported increase in all the three categories of child mortality – NMR, IMR and U5MR.
• Among all the surveyed states and UTs, Bihar displayed the highest prevalence in Infant and child mortality in all three categories, while the lowest death rate was reported in Kerala.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/08/panel-to-study-nfhs-5-findings/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• VoLTE is voice calls over a 4G LTE network, rather than the 2G or 3G connections. VolTE can transmit data too. VoLTE has up to three times more voice and data capacity than 3G UMTS and up to six times more than 2G GSM. So, both 1 and 2 are wrong.
• Context:
  • The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), recently said that auctions for 4G spectrum will begin from March 1.
• The main objectives of the sale were:
  • To obtain a market-determined price for the spectrum on offer,
  • Ensure efficient use of spectrum and avoid hoarding,
  • Stimulate competition in the sector and maximise revenue proceeds.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/08/what-are-the-spectrum-auctions/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• 5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.
• 5G wireless technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. Higher performance and improved efficiency empower new user experiences and connects new industries.
• Like its predecessors, 5G networks are cellular networks, in which the service area is divided into small geographical areas called cells. All 5G wireless devices in a cell are connected to the Internet and telephone network by radio waves through a local antenna in the cell. 
• First generation – 1G
  1980s: 1G delivered analog voice.
• Second generation – 2G
  Early 1990s: 2G introduced digital voice (e.g. CDMA- Code Division Multiple Access).
• Third generation – 3G
  Early 2000s: 3G brought mobile data (e.g. CDMA2000).
• Fourth generation – 4G LTE
  2010s: 4G LTE ushered in the era of mobile broadband.
• 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G all led to 5G, which is designed to provide more connectivity than was ever available before.
• 5G is already here today, and global operators started launching new 5G networks in early 2019. In 2020, many countries expect nationwide 5G mobile networks. Also, all major Android phone manufacturers are commercializing 5G phones. And soon, even more people may be able to access 5G.
• 5G has been deployed in 35+ countries and counting.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/08/what-are-the-spectrum-auctions/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Here Directive word is NOT CORRECT!!

• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is the national Standards Body of India working under the aegis of Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
• It is established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 which came into effect on 23 December 1986.
• The Minister in charge of the Ministry or Department having administrative control of the BIS is the ex-officio President of the BIS.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/08/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-8-january-2021/

Ans: (b)

• Stat1 and 2 not related to NIIO.
• The NIIO is a three-tiered organisation.
• Naval Technology Acceleration Council (N-TAC)will bring together the twin aspects of innovation and indigenisation and provide apex level directives.
  • A working group under the N-TAC will implement the projects.
  • A Technology Development Acceleration Cell (TDAC) has also been created for induction of emerging disruptive technology in an accelerated time frame.
• Functions of NIIO:
  • The NIIO puts in place dedicated structures for the end users to interact with academia and industry towards fostering innovation and indigenisation for self-reliance in defence in keeping with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/08/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-8-january-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• FM Sitharaman invoked the Escape Clause to relax the fiscal deficit target for FY 21.
• The clause allows the govt to relax the fiscal deficit target for up to 50 basis points or 0.5 percent.
• Under Section 4(2) of the Act, the Centre can exceed the annual fiscal deficit target citing certain grounds.
  • The grounds include
  • National security, war
  • National calamity
  • Collapse of agriculture
  • Structural reforms
  • Decline in real output growth of a quarter by at least three percentage points below the average of the previous four quarters.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/11/do-we-need-a-fiscal-council/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched ‘Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping’ (ASEEM) portal to help skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• The Artificial Intelligence-based ASEEM will provide employers a platform to assess the availability of skilled workforce and formulate their hiring plans.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/11/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-11-july-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Stat3: Source: Although progress has been made in the last 10 years toward developing malaria vaccines, there is currently no licensed malaria vaccine on the market.
  • The only approved vaccine as of 2015 is RTS,S, known by the trade name Mosquirix.
  • It requires four injections, and has a relatively low efficacy. Due to this low efficacy, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend the routine use of the RTS,S vaccine in babies between 6 and 12 weeks of age.
• Stat1 and 2: Malaria is a communicable disease caused by caused by single-celled microorganisms of the Plasmodium group.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/22/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-22-july-2020/

Ans : (b)

Explanation:

• Warren Hastings, himself an intellectual, set up the Calcutta Madrasa in 1781 for the study and learning of Persian and Arabic.
• In 1791 the efforts of Jonathan Duncan, the British Resident at Benares, bore fruit and a Sanskrit College was opened at Benares.
• Lord Richard Colley Wellesley (NOT ARTHUR WELLESLEY) took the first step for training of Civil Servants when he founded the fort William College, in Calcutta in November 1800 where the Civil Servants of the Company were to receive training in the literature, science and languages of India.

Refer: UPSC CSP-2018: Q59-Set D