INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 4 February 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• To support the production of horticultural items under the “One District One Product (ODOP)” scheme and provide better nutrition to school children, the Uttar Pradesh government may introduce Sunahri Kand, also known as orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, in the hot-cooked food scheme of Anganwadis and the mid-day meal scheme in primary schools.
• Background:
  • Under the initial phase of the ODOP programme, 106 Products have been identified from 103 districts across 27 States.
  • State Export Promotion Committee (SPEC) and District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC) have been constituted in all states and districts of India, except districts of the state of West Bengal.
• About the Scheme:
  • First started by the Uttar Pradesh government.
  • ODOP is aimed at giving a major push to traditional industries synonymous with the respective districts of the state.
  • The objective of the ODOP is to optimise production, productivity and income, preservation and development of local crafts, promotion of art, improvement in product quality and skill development.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/one-district-one-product-scheme/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About the scheme:

• It is a welfare measure being implemented by the Employee’s State Insurance (ESI) Corporation.
• It offers cash compensation to insured persons when they are rendered unemployed.
• The Scheme was introduced in 2018.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/atal-beemit-vyakti-kalyan-yojana/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Four North-Eastern States Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram share international boundary with Myanmar.
• Assam and Tripura don’t share border with Myanmar.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/myanmar-vs-burma/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: About Lithium:

• It is a soft, silvery-white metal. Under standard conditions, it is the lightest metal and the lightest solid element.
• It is highly reactive and flammable, and must be stored in mineral oil. It is an alkali metal and a rare metal.
• Key Characteristics and Properties:
  • It has the highest specific heat capacity of any solid element.
  • Lithium’s single balance electron allows it to be a good conductor of electricity.
  • It is flammable and can even explode when exposed to air and water.
• Chile had the largest lithium reserves worldwide in 2019 by a large Chile had an estimated 8.6 million metric tons of lithium reserves. Australia came in second with reserves estimated at 2.8 million metric tons.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/lithium-deposits-in-mandya-district-of-karnataka/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Ethanol, an anhydrous ethyl alcohol having chemical formula of C₂H₅OH, can be produced from sugarcane, maize, wheat, etc which are having high starch content.
• In India, ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane molasses by fermentation process.
• Ethanol can be mixed with gasoline to form different blends.
• As the ethanol molecule contains oxygen, it allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel, resulting in fewer emissions and thereby reducing the occurrence of environmental pollution.
• Since ethanol is produced from plants that harness the power of the sun, ethanol is also considered as renewable fuel.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/ethanol-as-an-alternate-fuel/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• From the policy document: “The scope of the Policy encompasses following categories of fuels as “Biofuels” which can be used as transportation fuel or in stationery applications:—
• ‘bioethanol’: ethanol produced from biomass such as sugar containing materials, like sugar cane, sugar beet, sweet sorghum etc.; starch containing materials such as corn, cassava, rotten potatoes, algae etc.; and, cellulosic materials such as bagasse, wood waste, agricultural and forestry residues or other renewable resources like industrial waste;
• ‘biodiesel’: a methyl or ethyl ester of fatty acids produced from non-edible vegetable oils, acid oil, used cooking oil or animal fat and bio-oil.
• See http://petroleum.nic.in/sites/default/files/biofuelpolicy2018_1.pdf

Source: UPSC CSE 2020

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/ethanol-as-an-alternate-fuel/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is a statutory body set up by the Government of India under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997. It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.
• The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.
• The object of setting up the TDSAT was to adjudicate ―any dispute between a,
  • Licensor and licensee,
  • Two or more service providers,
  • Between a service provider and a group of consumers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/telecom-commercial-communications-customer-preferences-regulations/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: KRITAGYA:

• It is a national level hackathon being organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• It aims to promote innovation in agriculture and allied sectors in the country.
• It also provides an opportunity to the students along with faculties, innovators for showcasing their innovative approaches & technologies in agriculture and allied sectors.
• KRI-TA-GYA explains, KRI for Krishi (Agriculture), TA for Taknik (Technology) and GYA for Gyan (Knowledge).

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-4-february-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• All the above are the benefits of sea weeds. Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to several species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae. Seaweed species such as kelps provide essential nursery habitat for fisheries and other marine species and thus protect food sources; other species, such as planktonic algae, play a vital role in capturing carbon, producing up to 90% of Earth’s oxygen.
• Orobanche:
  • It is a hidden parasitic weed in mustard causing severe yield loss to the extent of up to 50%.
  • Also called broomrapes, they are aggressive root parasitic weeds which attack strategic food crops, such as legumes and vegetables, and threaten the livelihood of many nations.
  • There are no absolute control measures developed for it.
• Why in News?
  • Workshop held on ‘techno-management options to control Orobanche in mustard’.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/04/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-4-february-2021/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: It is developed by using three genes viz., barnase, barstar and bar from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens for hybrid seed production.
  • The barnase gene confers male sterility to a plant in which it is inserted and barstar gene restore the fertility to produce fertile hybrid plants and seeds.
  • The third gene bar synthesize an enzyme call PAT, which is responsible for tolerance to glufosinate in the plant. Glufosinate is a broad spectrum herbicide, which indiscriminately eliminates weeds and any plant that does not have the bar gene.
  • Glufosinate herbicides contain the active ingredient phosphinothricin, which kills plants by blocking the enzyme responsible for nitrogen metabolism and for detoxifying ammonia, a by-product of plant metabolism.
• S2: It has mainly two genes (‘barnase’ and ‘barstar’) that allow for cross-pollination and hybridisation in mustard, which is largely a self-pollinating plant because of its individual flowers containing both female and male reproductive organs. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• S3: GM mustard was developed by scientists at Delhi University and the project was part-funded by the Department of Biotechnology, a division of the Science Ministry.

Source: UPSC CSE 2018