INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 1 February 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Highlights of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Amendment Bill, 2020:

• S2: Proposing requirement for opinion of one provider for termination of pregnancy, up to 20 weeks of gestation and introducing the requirement of opinion of two providers for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.
• S1: Enhancing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women which will be defined in the amendments to the MTP Rules and would include ‘vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, Minors) etc.
• Upper gestation limit not to apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of Medical Board to be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act.
• S3: Name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorised in any law for the time being in force.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/medical-termination-of-pregnancy-mtp-amendment-bill-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017 provides for 26 weeks paid maternity leave for women employees. The maternity leave can be availed 8 weeks before the expected date of delivery. So, S1 is wrong.
• S2: Every establishment with more than 50 employees to provide for crèche facilities for working mothers and such mothers will be permitted to make four visits during working hours to look after and feed the child in the crèche. So, S2 is wrong.
• S3: Women, who are expecting after having 2 children, get a reduced 12 weeks paid maternity leave. So, S3 is correct.
• See http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=159039

Source: UPSC CSE 2019

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/medical-termination-of-pregnancy-mtp-amendment-bill-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Historical Significance:
  • ‘Rig-Veda’ reveals that some kind of population count was maintained during 800-600 BC in India.
  • Arthashastr by ‘Kautilya’ written in the 3rd Century BC prescribed the collection of population statistics as a measure of state policy for taxation.
  • During the regime of the Mughal king Akbar, the administrative report ‘Ain-e-Akbari’ included comprehensive data pertaining to population, industry, wealth and many other characteristics.
• First Census in India under British rule: reference
  • First Census: The first complete census of India was conducted in 1830 by Henry Walter in Dacca (now Dhaka). In this census the statistics of the population with sex, broad age group, and the houses with their amenities were collected.
  • Second Census: Second Census was conducted in 1836-37 by Fort St.George according to the government website of Census India.
  • First synchronous Census
    • The first synchronous census was taken under British rule on February 17, 1881, by W.C. Plowden, Census Commissioner of India. Since then, censuses have been undertaken uninterruptedly once every ten years.
    • In this census, the main emphasis was not only laid on complete coverage but also on the classification of demographic, economic and social characteristic took in the entire continent of British India (except Kashmir).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/centre-likely-to-postpone-census-to-2022/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Minimum Support Price is a safety net given to the farmers to ensure guaranteed prices and assured markets. The MSP-based procurement system is aimed to save the crops from price fluctuations due to various unwarranted factors such as the monsoon, lack of market integration, information asymmetry and other elements of market imperfection plaguing Indian agriculture. However, currently MSP does not have any legal backing. The three new farm laws also do not have any provision for MSP.
• S2: The MSP is fixed twice a year on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)
• S3: The CACP, as its website states, is just “an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India”. It can recommend MSPs, but the decision on fixing (or even not fixing) and enforcement rests finally with the government.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/14-new-minor-forest-produce-items-included-under-msp-scheme/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Stat1: The Union Cabinet, in 2013, approved a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for marketing of non-nationalized / non monopolized Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and development of a value chain for MFP through Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• Stat2 and 3: The responsibility of purchasing MFP on MSP will be with State designated agencies.
  • To ascertain market price, services of market correspondents would be availed by the designated agencies particularly for major markets trading in MFP.
  • The scheme supports primary value addition as well as provides for supply chain infrastructure like cold storage, warehouses etc.
  • The Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be the nodal Ministry for implementation and monitoring of the scheme. The Minimum Support Price would be determined by the Ministry with technical help of TRIFED.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/14-new-minor-forest-produce-items-included-under-msp-scheme/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1 &S2: It is a statutory body and was established in August 1987. It has been registered as a National level Cooperative body by the Government of the country.
• S3: It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It mainly undertakes two functions viz. Minor Forest Produce (MFP) development and Retail Marketing and Development.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/14-new-minor-forest-produce-items-included-under-msp-scheme/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The port will make way for India to bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan using a sea-land route. At present, Pakistan does not allow India to transport through its territory to Afghanistan.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/chabahar-port-3/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Corruption Perception Index 2020 has been released.
  • It is prepared by Transparency International.
• What is Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)?
  • It is a composite index that draws from 12 surveys to rank nations around the globe.
  • It has become a benchmark gauge of perceptions of corruption and is used by analysts and investors.
  • The index is also based on expert opinions of public sector corruption and takes note of range of factors like whether governmental leaders are held to account or go unpunished for corruption, the perceived prevalence of bribery, and whether public institutions respond to citizens’ needs.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/corruption-perception-index-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB):

• It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established by the Government of India under the MoEFCC, to combat organized wildlife crime in the country.
• Under Section 38 (Z) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, it is mandated:
• To collect and collate intelligence related to organized wildlife crime activities.
• To disseminate the same to State and other enforcement agencies for immediate action so as to apprehend the criminals.
• To establish a centralized wildlife crime data bank.
• Assist foreign authorities and international organization concerned to facilitate co-ordination and universal action for wildlife crime control.
• Operation ‘Clean Art’: Conceived by WCCB.
  • It is first pan India operation to crackdown on the smuggling of mongoose hair.
  • Aim: To ensure that the mongoose hair brush trade should be closed down across the country.
  • Protection: Mongoose is listed in Schedule II Part 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Any smuggling or possession of its body part is a non-bailable offence.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-1-february-2021/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: National Polio Immunisation programme:

• The National Polio Immunisation programme in India began on Sunday, 31 January 2021.
• National Immunization Day (NID) commonly known as Pulse Polio Immunization programme was launched in India in 1995.
• Polio drops are given to children in the age group of 0 to 5 years.
• The polio vaccination programme is conducted twice in a year, usually in the early months.
• The pulse polio programme always begins on a Sunday, known as Polio Ravivar.
• In January 2014, India was declared polio-free after three years on zero cases, an achievement that is widely believed to have been spurred by the successful pulse polio campaign in which all children were administered polio drops.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/01/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-1-february-2021/