INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 19 March 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation: What are electoral bonds?

• S1 and S2: : Electoral Bond is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties. The bonds are available for purchase by any person (who is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India) for a period of ten days each in the months of January, April, July and October as may be specified by the Central Government.
• The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.
• State Bank of India is authorised to issue and encash these bonds, which are valid for fifteen days from the date of issuance.
• These bonds are redeemable in the designated account of a registered political party.
• A person being an individual can buy bonds, either singly or jointly with other individuals.
• S3: Donor’s name is not mentioned on the bond.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/sc-to-hear-plea-against-sale-of-electoral-bonds/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Restrictions that were done away with after the introduction of the electoral bond scheme:
  • Earlier, no foreign company could donate to any political party under the Companies Act
  • A firm could donate a maximum of 7.5 per cent of its average three year net profit as political donations according to Section 182 of the Companies Act
  • As per the same section of the Act, companies had to disclose details of their political donations in their annual statement of accounts.
• The government moved an amendment in the Finance Bill to ensure that this proviso would not be applicable to companies in case of electoral bonds.
• Thus, Indian, foreign and even shell companies can now donate to political parties without having to inform anyone of the contribution.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/sc-to-hear-plea-against-sale-of-electoral-bonds/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: As per provisions of the scheme, electoral bonds may be purchased by a person, who is a citizen of India or entities incorporated or established in India.
• S2: The electoral bonds will be valid for 15 calendar days from the date of issue and no payment will be made to any payee political party if the bond is deposited after expiry of the validity period.
• S3: The electoral bond deposited by an eligible political party in its account shall be credited on the same day.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/sc-to-hear-plea-against-sale-of-electoral-bonds/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: What are Ration Cards?

• Ration card is an official document issued by state governments in India to households. The Household should be eligible to purchase subsidized food grain under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). They also serve as a common form of identification for many Indians.
• Under the NFSA, all state governments have to identify eligible households under the Public Distribution System and provide them with ration cards.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/sc-sought-centres-response-in-ration-cards-cancellation-case/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Banas is a river which lies entirely within the state of Rajasthan in western India. It is a tributary of the Chambal River, itself a tributary of the Yamuna, which in turn merges into the Ganga.
• What is the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project (ERCP)?
  • The Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project aims to harvest surplus water available during the rainy season in rivers in southern Rajasthan such as Chambal and its tributaries including Kunnu, Parvati, Kalisindh.
  • Besides supplying drinking water in 13 districts, the mega project will also provide irrigation water to an additional 2 lakh hectares of land.
  • It will also supply water to the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and take care of the flood and drought situation in the area.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/eastern-rajasthan-canal-project-ercp/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Option A: Gharials inhabit deep freshwater habitats, not both freshwater and saltwater habitats as inhabited by crocodile species. So, A is ruled out. Option A is the home of saltwater crocodile.
• Option B: Gharials can be naturally found in National Chambal Gharial Wildlife Sanctuary.
• The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/eastern-rajasthan-canal-project-ercp/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• If photosynthesis came to an abrupt end, most plants would die within short order. Although they could hold out for a few days — or in some cases, a few weeks — how long they lived would largely be a factor of how much sugar they had stored within their cells.
• The only organisms able to exist under such conditions would be the chemosynthetic bacteria, which can utilize the chemical energy of certain inorganic compounds and thus are not dependent on the conversion of light energy.
• S2 and S3 are absurd statements.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/artificial-photosynthesis-to-provide-solutions-for-carbon-capture-and-conversion/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: What are technical textiles?

• Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products manufactured primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than aesthetic and decorative characteristics.
• Depending upon their application areas, Technical Textiles products are divided into 12 broad categories: Agrotech, Buildtech, Clothtech, Geotech, Hometech, Indutech, Mobiltech, Meditech, Protech, Sportstech, Oekotech, Packtech.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/national-technical-textiles-mission-2/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: What are HEMTs?

• High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) is a normally OFF device and can switch currents up to 4A and operates at 600 V.
• HEMTs are used in integrated circuits as digital on-off switches.
• HEMT transistors are able to operate at higher frequencies than ordinary transistors, up to millimeter wave frequencies, and are used in high-frequency products such as cell phones, satellite television receivers, voltage converters, and radar equipment.
• They are widely used in satellite receivers, in low power amplifiers and in the defense industry.
• S3: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12633-020-00937-w

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/high-electron-mobility-transistors-hemts/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Go Electric Campaign:

• Campaign launched by the Ministry of Power.
• Objective: Creating awareness among masses on benefits of adopting Electric Vehicles and Electric Cooking appliances such as Induction cook hobs, Electric pressure cooker etc.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/19/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-19-march-2021/