INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 9 March 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Dholavira’s location is on the Tropic of Cancer. More>>>
• S2: The site was discovered in 1967-68 by P. Joshi, of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and is the fifth largest of eight major Harappan sites.
• S3: Dholavira: A Harappan City’ has been submitted for nomination of World Heritage Site in 2019-2020.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/09/declaration-of-world-heritage-sites-by-unesco/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• What is a World Heritage site?
  • A World Heritage site is classified as a natural or man-made area or a structure that is of international importance, and a space which requires special protection.
  • S1: These sites are officially recognised by the UN and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, also known as UNESCO.
  • UNESCO believes that the sites classified as World Heritage are important for humanity, and they hold cultural and physical significance.
• Key facts:
  • The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
  • S2: Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
  • To be selected, a World Heritage Site must be an already classified landmark, unique in some respect as a geographically and historically identifiable place having special cultural or physical significance.
• S3: At present, India has 38 World Heritage Properties. Besides, India has 42 sites listed under Tentative List which is a pre-requisite condition for inscription as World Heritage Site.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/09/declaration-of-world-heritage-sites-by-unesco/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• In its landmark 1992 decision in Indra Sawhney vs Union of India, the Supreme Court had held that reservations under Article 16(4) could only be provided at the time of entry into government service but not in matters of promotion.
• It added that the principle would operate only prospectively and not affect promotions already made and that reservation already provided in promotions shall continue in operation for a period of five years from the date of the judgment. It also ruled that the creamy layer can be and must be excluded.
• On June 17, 1995, Parliament, acting in its constituent capacity, adopted the seventy-seventh amendment by which clause (4A) was inserted into Article 16 to enable reservation to be made in promotion for SCs and STs. The validity of the seventy-seventh and eighty-fifth amendments to the Constitution and of the legislation enacted in pursuance of those amendments was challenged before the Supreme Court in the Nagaraj case.
• Upholding the validity of Article 16 (4A), the court then said that it is an enabling provision. “The State is not bound to make reservation for the SCs and STs in promotions. But, if it seeks to do so, it must collect quantifiable data on three facets — the backwardness of the class; the inadequacy of the representation of that class in public employment; and the general efficiency of service as mandated by Article 335 would not be affected”.
• The court ruled that the constitutional amendments do not abrogate the fundamentals of equality.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/09/sc-seeks-states-views-on-50-cap-on-quota/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: Once a law is enacted and included in the Ninth Schedule, it gets protection under Article 31-B (validation of certain Acts and Regulations) and is not subject to judicial scrutiny.
  The Ninth Schedule (Article 31-B) was introduced by the former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to keep certain laws particularly those on land reforms beyond the scope of judicial review.
• S2: The mandate of ninth schedule is to prevent judicial scrutiny but in a landmark ruling in IR Coelho versus State of Tamil Nadu, 2007, the Supreme Court of India ruled that all laws (including those in the Ninth Schedule) would be open to Judicial Review if they violated the basic structure of the constitution. The Supreme Court judgment laid that the laws placed under Ninth Schedule after April 24, 1973. Shall be open to challenge in court if they violated fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14, 19, 20 and 21 of the Constitution
• Context: Tamilnadu’s case:
  • The state’s Assembly passed the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions and Appointments or Posts in the Services under the State) Act, 1993 to keep its reservation limit intact at 69%.
  • The law was subsequently included into the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution through the 76th Constitution Amendment passed by Parliament in 1994.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/09/sc-seeks-states-views-on-50-cap-on-quota/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The first amendment to the Indian Constitution added the Ninth Schedule to it. It was introduced by the Nehru Government, on 10 May 1951 to address judicial decisions and pronouncements especially about the chapter on fundamental rights.
• See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_India

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/09/sc-seeks-states-views-on-50-cap-on-quota/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About BBB:

• It was set up in February 2016 as an autonomous body– based on the recommendations of the RBI-appointed Nayak Committee.
• It was part of the Indradhanush Plan.
• It will make recommendations for appointment of whole-time directors as well as non-executive chairpersons of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) and state-owned financial institutions.
• The Ministry of Finance takes the final decision on the appointments in consultation with the Prime Minister’s Office.
• Composition:
  • Banks Board Bureau comprises the Chairman, three ex-officio members i.e Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services and Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, and five expert members, two of which are from the private sector.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/09/banks-board-bureau-bbb/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The Van Dhan Scheme is an initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and TRIFED. It was launched on 14th April, 2018 and seeks to improve tribal incomes through value addition of tribal products.
• S2: Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED): 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.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/09/van-dhan-vikas-kendras-initiative/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• What are Microwaves?
  • Microwaves are defined as electromagnetic radiations with a frequency ranging between 300 MHz to 300 GHz while the wavelength ranges from 1 mm to around 30 cm.
  • They fall between the infrared radiation and radio waves in the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Properties of microwaves:
  • Metal surfaces reflect microwaves.
  • Microwaves of certain frequencies are absorbed by water.
  • Microwave transmission is affected by wave effects such as refraction, reflection, interference, and diffraction.
  • S3: Microwaves can pass through glass and plastic.
  • S2: Microwaves are not reflected by Ionosphere.
  • S1: Microwaves are the waves that radiate electromagnetic energy with shorter wavelength.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/07/microwave-energy-likely-made-u-s-officials-ill/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The government has notified compulsory surgical procedures for PG students of Ayurveda.
• How far is surgery part of Ayurveda?
• There are two branches of surgery in Ayurveda:
  • Shalya Tantra, which refers to general surgery, and Shalakya Tantra which pertains to surgeries related to the eyes, ears, nose, throat and teeth.
  • All postgraduate students of Ayurveda have to study these courses, and some go on to specialise in these, and become Ayurveda surgeons.
• The 2016 regulations allow postgraduate students to specialise in Shalya Tantra, Shalakya Tantra, and Prasuti evam Stree Roga (Obstetrics and Gynecology), the three disciplines involving major surgical interventions.
• Students of these three disciplines are granted MS (Master in Surgery in Ayurveda) degrees.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/surgery-as-part-of-ayurveda/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: Every solar panel which is made in India is assembled while all the material comes from China, Europe and some other countries. India is yet to develop semiconductor clusters.
  • Read more: https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/blue-wafer-solar-cells-not-to-qualify-under-domestically-made-product-to-get-govt-benefits-govt-clarifies-119102101265_1.html
• S2: Central Electricity Regulatory Commission determines solar power tariffs and regulates the tariff of generating companies owned or controlled by the Central Government.
• Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) has a power-trading license, but it does not set solar power tariffs.
  • SECI is a company of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
  • It is established to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
  • It is the only Central Public Sector Undertaking dedicated to the solar energy sector.
  • Refer: https://www.seci.co.in/

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/12/05/what-is-indias-sprawling-renewable-energy-park-coming-up-on-its-border-with-pakistan/