INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 25 January 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• About the Bhima- Koregaon battle:
  • A battle was fought in Bhima Koregaon, a district in Pune with a strong historical Dalit connection, between the Peshwa forces and the British on January 1, 1818.
  • The British army, which comprised mainly of Dalit soldiers, fought the upper caste-dominated Peshwa army. The British troops defeated the Peshwa army.
• Outcomes of the battle:
  • The victory was seen as a win against caste-based discrimination and oppression. Peshwas were notorious for their oppression and persecution of Mahar dalits. The victory in the battle over Peshwas gave dalits a moral victory a victory against caste-based discrimination and oppression and sense of identity.
  • However, the divide and rule policy of the British created multiple fissures in Indian society which is even visible today in the way of excessive caste and religious discrimination which needs to be checked keeping in mind the tenets of the Constitution.
• S1: The battle was part of the Third Anglo Maratha war, a series of battles that culminated in the defeat of the Maratha empire and subsequent rule of the British East India Company in nearly all of Western, Central and Southern India
• S2: A 28,000-strong force led by Peshwa Baji Rao II whilst on their way to attack the company-held Pune, were unexpectedly met by an 800-strong Company force that was on its way to reinforce the British troops in Pune.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/bhima-koregaon-battle/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Mahad Satyagraha or Chavdar Tale Satyagraha was a satyagraha led by B. R. Ambedkar on 20 March 1927 to allow untouchables to use water in a public tank in Mahad (currently in Raigad district), Maharashtra, India. The day (20 March) is observed as Social Empowerment day in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/bhima-koregaon-battle/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: it is a campaign of the Government of India that aims to generate awareness and improve the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls in India.
• S2: The scheme was launched with an initial funding of ₹100 crore (US$14 million).
• S3: It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% financial assistance for District level component and the fund are directly released to the DC/DM’s account for smooth operation of the Scheme.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/national-girl-child-day/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Key Features of PM-JAY

• PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government.
• It provides a cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization across public and private empanelled hospitals in India.
• Over 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable entitled families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) are eligible for these benefits.
• PM-JAY provides cashless access to health care services for the beneficiary at the point of service, that is, the hospital.
• PM-JAY envisions to help mitigate catastrophic expenditure on medical treatment which pushes nearly 6 crore Indians into poverty each year.
• It covers up to 3 days of pre-hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses such as diagnostics and medicines.
• There is no restriction on the family size, age or gender.
• All pre–existing conditions are covered from day one.
• Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country i.e. a beneficiary can visit any empanelled public or private hospital in India to avail cashless treatment.
• Services include approximately 1,393 procedures covering all the costs related to treatment, including but not limited to drugs, supplies, diagnostic services, physician’s fees, room charges, surgeon charges, OT and ICU charges etc.
• Public hospitals are reimbursed for the healthcare services at par with the private hospitals.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/ayushman-bharat-health-scheme-for-central-armed-police-forces/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
• S2: The number of Royal Bengal Tigers in West Bengal’s Sundarbans has risen to 96, up by eight, according to the latest census.
• S3: Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz Sundarbans National Park, Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/birds-of-the-sundarban-biosphere-reserve-a-publication-by-zsi/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About ZSI:

• Established in 1961, it is a premier organisation in zoological research and studies. It was established to promote the survey, exploration and research of the fauna in the region.
• The activities of the ZSI are coordinated by the Conservation and Survey Division in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.
• Main objectives:
  • Exploration and Survey of Faunal Resources
  • Taxonomic Studies
  • Status Survey of Endangered Species
  • Publication of Results through Departmental Journals
  • Publication of Fauna of India
  • Maintenance and Development of National Zoological Collections
• Red Data Book:
  • Similar to the Red Data Book produced by IUCN, ZSI also releases a Red Data Book on Indian Animals. It was first published in 1983.
  • The ZSI also participates in the Indian Antarctic Program, since its inception in 1989.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/birds-of-the-sundarban-biosphere-reserve-a-publication-by-zsi/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: There is no such binding provision. Contracting Parties to the Ramsar convention make a commitment to:
  • designate at least one site that meets the Ramsar criteria for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance
  • promote the conservation and wise use of wetlands
  • include wetland conservation within their national land-use planning
  • establish nature reserves on wetlands and promote wetland training, and
  • consult with other Contracting Parties about the implementation of the Ramsar Convention.
• S3: As per the definitions stated under the rules, “wetland” means an area or of marsh, fen, peatland or water…..includes all inland waters such as lakes, reservoir, tanks, backwaters, lagoon, creeks, estuaries and manmade wetland and the zone of direct influence on wetlands that is to say the drainage area or catchment region of the wetlands as determined by the authority but does not include main river channels, paddy fields and the coastal wetland.
• S2: not based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.
  • The Ministry of Environment and Forests today notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010. These Rules have been drafted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to ensure better conservation and management and to prevent degradation of existing wetlands in India. https://www.indiawaterportal.org/articles/wetlands-conservation-and-management-rules-2010-notified-moef

Source: UPSC CSE 2019

Refer:  https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/birds-of-the-sundarban-biosphere-reserve-a-publication-by-zsi/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About Sunderbans:

• The Sundarbans is a natural region in West Bengal and Bangladesh. It is the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world.
• The Sundarbans covers approximately 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi) of which 60% is in Bangladesh with the remainder in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Four protected areas in the Sundarbans are enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, viz. Sundarbans National Park, Sundarbans West, Sundarbans South and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuaries.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/birds-of-the-sundarban-biosphere-reserve-a-publication-by-zsi/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Assam is celebrating the first anniversary of the historic Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) agreement.
• The BTAD district is currently spread over four districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalguri.
• Overview of the agreement signed:
  • As per the agreement, villages dominated by Bodos that were presently outside the BTAD would be included and those with non-Bodo population would be excluded.
  • The memorandum of settlement says that the criminal cases registered against members of the NDFB factions for “non-heinous” crimes shall be withdrawn by the Assam government and in cases of heinous crimes it will be reviewed.
  • The families of those killed during the Bodo movement would get Rs. 5 lakh each.
  • A Special Development Package of Rs. 1500 Crore would be given by the Centre to undertake specific projects for the development of Bodo areas.
  • A committee will decide the exclusion and inclusion of new areas in the BTAD. Subsequent to this alteration, the total number of Assembly seats will go up to 60, from the existing 40.

• Who are Bodos?
  • Bodos are the single largest tribal community in Assam, making up over 5-6 per cent of the state’s population. They have controlled large parts of Assam in the past.
  • The four districts in Assam — Kokrajhar, Baksa, Udalguri and Chirang — that constitute the Bodo Territorial Area District (BTAD), are home to several ethnic groups.
• The Bodoland dispute:
  • In 1966-67, the demand for a separate state called Bodoland was raised under the banner of the Plains Tribals Council of Assam (PTCA), a political outfit.
  • In 1987, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) renewed the demand. “Divide Assam fifty-fifty”, was a call given by the ABSU’s then leader, Upendra Nath Brahma.
  • The unrest was a fallout of the Assam Movement (1979-85), whose culmination — the Assam Accord — addressed the demands of protection and safeguards for the “Assamese people”, leading the Bodos to launch a movement to protect their own identity.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/bodoland-territorial-region-btr-agreement/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: The Election Commission is a permanent and an independent body established by the Constitution of India directly to ensure free and fair elections in the country.
• S2: The commission was established in 1950 and originally only had a Chief Election Commissioner. Two additional Commissioners were appointed to the commission for the first time on 16 October 1989 (on the eve of the 1989 General Election), but they had a very short tenure, ending on 1 January 1990. “The Election Commissioner Amendment Act, 1989” was adopted on 1 January 1990 which turned the commission into a multi-member body: a 3-member Commission has been in operation since then and the decisions by the commission are made by a majority vote.
• S3: It must be noted here that the election commission is not concerned with the elections to panchayats and muncipalities in the states. For this, the Constitution of India provides for a separate State Election Commission
• National Voters’ Day (NVD):
  • 11th National Voters’ Day (NVD) to be celebrated on 25th January 2021.
  • Theme for this year’s NVD is ‘Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed’.
  • The National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on January 25 every year since 2011, all across the country to mark the foundation day of Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January 1950.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/01/25/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-25-january-2021/