INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 16 February 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Bhasan Char is an island in Bangladesh. It is located in the Bay of Bengal. The island was formed by Himalayan silt in 2006.
• Bangladesh authorities sent a fourth group of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar to Bhasan Char island in the Bay of Bengal despite calls by human rights groups for a halt to the process.
• Background:
  • Bhasan Char is an island specifically developed to accommodate 1,00,000 of the 1 million Rohingya who have fled from neighbouring Myanmar.
  • While human rights groups have criticised the move and some are being forced to go against their will, the government has insisted that refugees moving to the island have done so voluntarily.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/16/rohingya-crisis-2/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: The WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994.
• S2: The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who usually meet at least once every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva).
• Link: S3: The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/16/nigerias-okonjo-iweala-appointed-wto-head/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Giant Leatherback turtle:

• S1: The largest of the seven species of sea turtles on the planet and also the most long-ranging, Leatherbacks are found in all oceans except the Arctic and the Antarctic.
• S3: Within the Indian Ocean, they nest only in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• S2: They are also listed in Schedule I of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/16/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-16-february-2021/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: What is Sandes?

• The National Informatics Centre has launched an instant messaging platform called Sandes on the lines of WhatsApp.
• Like WhatsApp, the new NIC platform can be used for all kinds of communications by anyone with a mobile number or email id.
• The limitation, however, is that the app does not allow the user to change their email id or registered phone number. The user will have to re-register as a new user in case they wish to change their registered email id or phone number on the app.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/16/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-16-february-2021/

Ans: (b)
Explanation:  Maharaja Suheldev:

• S1: Suheldev was a legendary king of Shravasti (in present day north-eastern Uttar Pradesh) who is known to have defeated and killed the Ghaznavi general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud in Bahraich in the early 11th century.
• S2: Raja Suheldev finds mention in ‘Mirat-i-Masudi’, a 17th century Persian-language historical account.
• S3: ‘Mirat-i-Masudi’ is the biography of Salar Masud, written by Abd-ur-Rahman Chishti during the reign of the Mughal emperor Jahangir (1605–1627). According to the legend, Suhaldev was the eldest son of King Mordhwaj of Shravasti.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/16/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-16-february-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Odisha’s Karlapat Sanctuary:

• Six elephants die of haemorrhagic septicaemia in a fortnight in Odisha’s Karlapat Sanctuary.
• Haemorrhagic septicaemia is a contagious bacterial disease which infects animals that come in contact with contaminated water or soil.
• The respiratory tract and lungs of the animals are affected, leading to severe pneumonia.
• The disease generally spreads in the period right before and after the monsoons, said Nath. It can affect cattle, buffalo and other animals.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/16/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-16-february-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: About SVAMITVA scheme:

• Launched by PM Modi in April this year with the aim to update rural land records, providing record of rights to village households and issue property cards.
• It is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development.
• The scheme focuses on mapping rural-inhabited lands using drones as land records are inaccurate or do not exist for vast areas across India.
• Property cards:
  • Property card for every property in the village will be prepared by states using accurate measurements delivered by drone-mapping. These cards will be given to property owners and will be recognised by the land revenue records department.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/12/survey-of-villages-and-mapping-with-improvised-technology-in-village-areas-svamitva-scheme/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is a not-for-profit public limited company incorporated on July 31, 2008 under section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 (corresponding to section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013).
• NSDC was set up by Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• The Government of India through Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the share capital of NSDC, while the private sector has the balance 51% of the share capital.
• NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. Further, the organisation provides funding to build scalable and profitable vocational training initiatives.
• Its mandate is also to enable support system which focuses on quality assurance, information systems and train the trainer academies either directly or through partnerships.
• NSDC acts as a catalyst in skill development by providing funding to enterprises, companies and organizations that provide skill training. It also develops appropriate models to enhance, support and coordinate private sector initiatives.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/19/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-19-october-2020/

Ans:  (a)

Explanation:

• The Prime Minister constitutes Standing Committees of the Cabinet and sets out the specific functions assigned to them. He can add or reduce the number of committees.
• Parliamentary Affairs: The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs draws the schedule for Parliament sessions and monitors the progress of government business in Parliament. It scrutinises non-government business and decides which official Bills and resolutions are to be presented.
• Political Affairs: The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs addresses problems related to Centre-state relations. It also examines economic and political issues that require a wider perspective but have no internal or external security implications.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/25/parliament-panel-mulls-action-against-amazon/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Where is Kalapani located?
  • Located in the easternmost corner of Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.
  • Shares a border on the north with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and Nepal in the east and south.
  • It is wedged in between Limpiyadhura, Lipulekh and Kalapani.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/25/indo-nepal-border-issue/