INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 17 February 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Articles 239 to 241 in Part VIII of the Constitution deal with the union territories.
• S2: Every union territory is administered by the President acting through an administrator appointed by him. An administrator of a union territory is an agent of the President and not head of state like a governor.
• S3: The President can also appoint the governor of a state as the administrator of an adjoining union territory. In that capacity, the governor is to act independently of his council of ministers.
• S4: The Parliament can make laws on any subject of the three lists (including the State List) for the union territories. This power of Parliament also extends to Puducherry and Delhi, which have their own local legislatures. This means that, the legislative power of Parliament for the union territories on subjects of the State List remain unaffected even after establishing a local legislature for them. But, the legislative assembly of Puducherry can also make laws on any subject of the State List and the Concurrent List. Similarly, the legislative assembly of Delhi can make laws on any subject of the State List (except public order, police and land) and the Concurrent List.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/puducherry-l-g/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• RNA viruses generally have very high mutation rates compared to DNA viruses, because viral RNA polymerases lack the proofreading ability of DNA polymerases. This is one reason why it is difficult to make effective vaccines to prevent diseases caused by RNA viruses—diversity is their strength.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/what-is-the-south-african-covid-variant/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Statement 3 is absurd. Rest of them are correct.
• S1: RNA interference (RNAi) is a biological process in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression or translation.
• S2: Since the discovery of RNAi and its regulatory potentials, it has become evident that RNAi has immense potential in suppression of desired genes (gene silencing).
• Numerous studies have demonstrated that RNAi can provide a more specific approach to inhibit tumor growth by targeting cancer-related genes (i.e., oncogene).
• S4: RNAi has resulted in the invention of novel crops such as nicotine-free tobacco, decaffeinated coffee, nutrient fortified vegetation, and hypoallergenic crops. The genetically-engineered Arctic apples received FDA approval in 2015.
• While it was known that plants expressing virus-specific proteins showed enhanced tolerance or resistance to viral infection, it was not expected that plants carrying only short, non-coding regions of viral RNA sequences would show similar levels of protection. Researchers believed that viral RNA produced by transgenes could also inhibit viral replication.
• The reverse experiment, in which short sequences of plant genes were introduced into viruses, showed that the targeted gene was suppressed in an infected plant. This phenomenon was labeled “virus-induced gene silencing” (VIGS), and the set of such phenomena were collectively called post transcriptional gene silencing.
• See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RNA_interference

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/what-is-the-south-african-covid-variant/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in The Hague, is the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
• S2: The ICC is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression
• S3: Israel is not a member of the ICC. As a non-member, it cannot appeal the recent ruling but its attorney general has argued all along that only a sovereign state can delegate authority to the ICC and that the areas in question were not a Palestinian sovereign state.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/icc-ruling-says-it-has-jurisdiction-in-palestinian-territories/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S2: Its founding treaty, the Rome Statute,entered into force on July 1, 2002. India did not signed the Rome Statute, and thus, is not a member of ICC.
• S1: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/icc-ruling-says-it-has-jurisdiction-in-palestinian-territories/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• It is a drinking water survey launched in 10 cities under Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban).
• Launched by the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.
• As part of the survey, data will also be collected on wastewater management and condition of water bodies in the cities.
• The mission will be monitored through a technology-based platform on which beneficiary response will be monitored.
• Initially, the survey is being launched as a pilot in ten cities namely, Agra, Badlapur, Bhubaneswar, Churu, Kochi, Madurai, Patiala, Rohtak, Surat and Tumkur.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/pey-jal-survekshan/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Jal Jeevan Mission, a central government initiative under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, aims to ensure access of piped water for every household in India.
• The mission’s goal is to provide to all households in rural India safe and adequate water through individual household tap connections by 2024.
• The Jal Jeevan Mission will be based on a community approach to water. According to the government, the mission will include information, education and communication as key components. The mission is meant to create a people’s movement for water, making it everyone’s priority.
• Drinking water crisis in India
  • India is facing one of its most serious water crises. According to the NITI Aayog’s Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) 2018, 21 Indian cities could face Day Zero in the coming years. Day Zero refers to the day when a place is likely to have no drinking water of its own. Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi and Hyderabad are among the most susceptible.
  • The report also said that 75% of Indian households do not have drinking water on premise and about 84 per cent rural households do not have piped water access.
  • Water is not properly distributed where it is supplied through pipes. Mega cities like Delhi and Mumbai get more than the standard municipal water norm of 150 litres per capita per day (LPCD) while others get 40-50 LPCD.
  • The World Health Organization prescribes 25 litres of water for one person per day to meet all basic hygiene and food needs. Extra available water, according to WHO estimates, is used for non-potable purposes like mopping and cleaning.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/pey-jal-survekshan/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Indian government controls the prices by an indirect method of tinkering with excise duties, special duties and the educational cess on petroleum products. This is basically an exercise to generate revenues, to control the petroleum consumption and to control the fiscal deficit.
• How is the price of petrol and diesel fixed?
  • Historically, the price of petrol and diesel in India was regulated, i.e. the government was involved in the deciding the retail price. The government deregulated the pricing of petrol in 2010 and diesel in 2014.  This allowed oil marketing companies to determine the price of these products, and revise them every fortnight.
  • Starting June 16, 2017, prices for petrol and diesel are revised on a daily basis. This was done to with the idea that daily revision will reduce the volatility in retail prices, and protect the consumer against sharp fluctuations.
• Petroleum products: Petroleum Products such as petroleum crude, motor spirit (petrol), high speed diesel, natural gas and aviation turbine fuel are also kept outside the purview of GST in India. However, the taxes for these products will be charged as per the structure before introduction of GST.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/why-prices-of-petrol-and-diesel-are-rising/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: A cantonment board is a civic administration body in India under control of the Ministry of Defence.
• S2: The board comprises elected members besides ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006.
• S3: The term of office of a member of a board is five years.
• A cantonment board consists of eight elected members, three nominated military members, three ex-officio members (station commander, garrison engineer and senior executive medical officer), and one representative of the district magistrate.
• There are 64 Cantonment Boards in India.
• E-Chhawani portal launched:
  • The portal (https://echhawani.gov.in/) has been created to provide online civic services to over 20 lakh residents of 62 Cantonment Boards across the country.
  • Through the portal, the residents of cantonment areas will be able to avail basic services like renewal of leases, application for birth & death certificates, water & sewerage connections.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/02/17/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-17-february-2021/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• What is high security registration plate (HSRP)
  • High security registration plates are made up aluminium and are affixed using at least two non-reusable snap-on locks.
  • S1: The plate comprises hot-stamped chromium-based 20 mm X 20 mm hologram of Ashoka Chakra in blue colour on the top left corner.
  • S2: At the bottom left corner is a 10-digit permanent identification number (PIN) that is laser branded on the reflective sheeting.
  • HSRP also includes a hot stamped film applied on the numerals and letters bearing the inscription “INDIA” at a 45-degree angle.
  • S3: Once affixed, the unique high security registration plate is electronically linked to the vehicle.
• Benefits of high security registration plate (HSRP)
  • The conventional and old number plates are very easy to tamper with and can be changed quite easily. Usually, the first thing most thieves do after stealing a vehicle is to replace the registration plate, making it difficult for the police and authorities to track that stolen vehicle. But HSRP’s come with non-removable snap-on locks and are difficult to replace.
  • S4: HSRP’s are affixed by automobile dealers and private vendors approved by the state authorities. These plates are issued only after the vehicle owner provides with information like engine number, chassis number, etc. This is a crucial step in preventing counterfeiting of high security registration plates.
  • Another benefit of HSRP is that the details of a car, like engine number, chassis number, etc. are stored in a centralized database. This information, along with the 10-digit PIN, helps the authorities to identify a stolen vehicle.
  • Some vehicle owners use different font and styles for the registration plates, making it difficult for the traffic police to comprehend the registration number of a vehicle. However, the HSRPs have a uniform pattern of displaying motor vehicle registration number, therefore addressing the issue of ‘incomprehensible’ vehicle registration plates.
• Do I have to pay extra for HSRP?
  • Vehicles sold in India after April 2019 come with high security number plates from the dealer’s end and the cost of HSRP is included in the price of the vehicle. But for the vehicles sold before April 2019, vehicle owners will have to contact automobile dealership or government authorized HSRP vendors and pay a marginal amount to obtain a high security registration plate.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-october-2020/