INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 23 March 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Vishaka guidelines were a set of guidelines that were intended to protect women at the workplace. These were instituted by the Supreme Court of India in the year 1997. These are procedural in nature and state the method that is to be followed while dealing with cases related to the sexual harassment of women.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/corrective-voice-from-top-court-against-stereotyping-women/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S2 & S3: Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail is an independent system attached with the Electronic Voting Machines that allows the voters to verify that their votes are cast as intended. When a vote is cast, a slip is printed on the VVPAT printer containing the serial number, name and symbol of the candidate and remains exposed through a transparent window for 7 seconds. Thereafter, this printed slip automatically gets cut and falls in sealed drop box of the VVPAT.
  • The slips can be counted to verify the electronic result stored in the control unit of the EVM. This can be done under certain circumstances only. If a candidate or their agent requests for recount under section 56 D (4) (b) of the Conduct of Election Rules. The election commission has mandated one compulsory verification of slip count with the electronic count for one polling station for every constituency.
• S1: First time use of EVMs occurred in the general election in Kerala in May, 1982; however, the absence of a specific law prescribing its use led to the Supreme Court striking down that election. Subsequently, in 1989, the Parliament amended the Representation of the People Act, 1951 to create a provision for the use of EVMs in the elections (chapter 3).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/voter-verifiable-paper-audit-trail-vvpat/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The world faces one of the largest food crises in 70 years with 20 million people I four countries namely: Yemen, Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia according to FAO.
• How bad is Yemen’s humanitarian situation?
  • Since the Saudi intervention in 2015, at least 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen, according to the WHO. The widespread damage caused to infrastructure by the coalition airstrikes and lack of supplies of food and medicines due to the blockade have pushed Yemen into a humanitarian catastrophe.
  • About 12 million people are at the risk of starvation if aid doesn’t reach them fast. The country has also seen a massive cholera outbreak. A child dies every 10 minutes in Yemen from preventable causes, says UNICEF.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/riyadh-presents-ceasefire-plan-to-yemens-houthis/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• What are small finance banks?
  • The small finance bank will primarily undertake basic banking activities of acceptance of deposits and lending to unserved and underserved sections including small business units, small and marginal farmers, micro and small industries and unorganised sector entities.
• What they can do?
  • Take small deposits and disburse loans.
  • Distribute mutual funds, insurance products and other simple third-party financial products.
  • Lend 75% of their total adjusted net bank credit to priority sector.
  • Maximum loan size would be 10% of capital funds to single borrower, 15% to a group.
  • Minimum 50% of loans should be up to 25 lakhs.
• What they cannot do?
  • Lend to big corporates and groups.
  • Cannot open branches with prior RBI approval for first five years.
  • Other financial activities of the promoter must not mingle with the bank.
  • It cannot set up subsidiaries to undertake non-banking financial services activities.
  • Cannot be a business correspondent of any bank.
• The guidelines they need to follow:
  • Promoter must contribute minimum 40% equity capital and should be brought down to 30% in 10 years.
  • Minimum paid-up capital would be Rs 100 cr.
  • Capital adequacy ratio should be 15% of risk weighted assets, Tier-I should be 7.5%.
  • Foreign shareholding capped at 74% of paid capital, FPIs cannot hold more than 24%.
  • Priority sector lending requirement of 75% of total adjusted net bank credit.
  • 50% of loans must be up to Rs 25 lakh.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/panel-to-evaluate-applications-for-universal-banks-small-finance-banks/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds/debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business but does not include any institution whose principal business is that of agriculture activity, industrial activity, purchase or sale of any goods (other than securities) or providing any services and sale/purchase/construction of immovable property. A non-banking institution which is a company and has principal business of receiving deposits under any scheme or arrangement in one lump sum or in installments by way of contributions or in any other manner, is also a non-banking financial company (Residuary non-banking company).
• NBFCs lend and make investments and hence their activities are akin to that of banks; however there are a few differences as given below:
  • NBFC cannot accept demand deposits;
  • NBFCs do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself;
  • deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs, unlike in case of banks.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/panel-to-evaluate-applications-for-universal-banks-small-finance-banks/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The International Space Station (ISS) is a modular space station (habitable artificial satellite) in low Earth orbit. It is a multinational collaborative project involving five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada).
• The station serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which scientific research is conducted in astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and other fields.
• The ISS is suited for testing the spacecraft systems and equipment required for possible future long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
• Bacteria found on International Space Station named after Indian scientist:
  • Four species of bacteria have been discovered onboard the International Space Station (ISS), one of which has been named after Indian biodiversity scientist Seyed Ajmal Khan (Methylobacterium ajmalii).
  • Four strains of bacteria belong to the family
  • While one strain was identified as Methylorubrum rhodesianum bacteria, the other three strains were previously undiscovered.
  • These bacteria aid in plant growth.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-march-2021/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Gandhi Peace Prize:

• The father of the nation of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the former Sultan of Oman, the late Qaboos bin Said Al Said, will be awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2020 and 2019, respectively.
• They were selected by the jury, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising the Chief Justice of India, the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, Lok Sabha Speaker and founder of Sulabh International.
• About the Gandhi Peace Prize:
  • Instituted in the year 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
  • This annual award is given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods.
  • The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 crore, a citation and a Plaque as well as an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.
  • It is open to all persons regardless of nationality, creed, race or sex.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-march-2021/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was established to standardize and regulate international radio and telecommunications. It was founded as the International Telegraph Union in Paris on 17 May 1865. Its main tasks include standardization, allocation of the radio spectrum, and organizing interconnection arrangements between different countries to allow international phone calls — in which regard it performs for telecommunications a similar function to what the UPU performs for postal services. It has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, next to the main United Nations campus.
• World Summit on Information Society Forum 2021:
  • It represents one of the world’s largest annual gatherings of the ‘ICT for development’ community.
  • It is co-organized by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), UNESCO, UNDP and UNCTAD.
  • The Forum has proven to be an efficient mechanism for coordination of multi- stakeholder implementation activities, information exchange, creation of knowledge, sharing of best practices.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-23-march-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Ranthambore National Park was established initially as Sawai Madhopur Game Sanctuary in 1955 by the Government of India. In 1973, it was declared as one of the Project Tiger reserves in India. It was on 1st November, 1980 that Ranthambore was declared a national park, while the forests located beside it were named Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary & Keladevi Sanctuary.
• Located at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges.
• It is bounded to the north by the Banas River and to the south by the Chambal River. It is named after the historic Ranthambore Fort, which lies within the park.
• Ranthambore National Park harbours dry deciduous forests and open grassy meadow. The flora of the park includes 539 species of flowering plants.

Refer: https://www.ranthamborenationalpark.com/ranthambore-national-park-detail.html

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: Namdapha National Park is a large protected area in Arunachal Pradesh of Northeast India. It is a biodiversity hotspot in the Eastern Himalayas.
• S2: The national park harbours the northernmost lowland evergreen rainforests in the world at 27°N latitude. It also harbours extensive dipterocarp forests, comprising the northwestern parts of the Mizoram-Manipur-Kachin rain forests ecoregion. It is the fourth largest national park in India.
• S3: The Namdapha flying squirrel was first collected in the park and described. It is endemic to the park and critically endangered. It was last recorded in 1981 in a single valley within the park.

Refer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namdapha_National_Park