INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 9 April 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Ad hoc Judge: When there is a lack of quorum of the permanent judges to hold or continue any session of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of India can appoint a judge of a High Court as an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court for a temporary period. He can do so only after consultation with the chief justice of the High Court concerned and with the previous consent of the president. The judge so appointed should be qualified for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court. It is the duty of the judge so appointed to attend the sittings of the Supreme Court, in priority to other duties of his office. While so attending, he enjoys all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges (and discharges the duties) of a judge of the Supreme Court.
• Retired Judge: At any time, the chief justice of India can request a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a retired judge of a high court (who is duly qualified for appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court) to act as a judge of the Supreme Court for a temporary period. He can do so only with the previous consent of the president and also of the person to be so appointed. Such a judge is entitled to such allowances as the president may determine. He will also enjoy all the jurisdiction, powers and privileges of a judge of Supreme Court. But he will not otherwise be deemed to be a judge of the Supreme Court.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/09/appointment-of-ad-hoc-judges/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Who appoints judges to the SC?
  • In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the appointments are made by the President of India.
• The names are recommended by the Collegium.
• Eligibility to become a Supreme Court judge:
  • The norms relating to the eligibility has been envisaged in the Article 124 of the Indian Constitution.
  • To become a judge of the Supreme court, an individual should be an Indian citizen.
  • In terms of age, a person should not exceed 65 years of age.
  • The person should serve as a judge of one high court or more (continuously), for at least five years or the person should be an advocate in the High court for at least 10 years or a distinguished jurist.
• Is the collegium’s recommendation final and binding?
  • The collegium sends its final recommendation to the President of India for approval. The President can either accept it or reject it. In the case it is rejected, the recommendation comes back to the collegium. If the collegium reiterates its recommendation to the President, then he/she is bound by that recommendation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/09/appointment-of-ad-hoc-judges/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Recently, the education minister released an indicative and suggestive implementation plan for school education called
• What is ‘Students’ and Teachers’ Holistic Advancement through Quality Education or SARTHAQ?
  • Launched in pursuance of the goals of NEP2020 and to assist States/UTs in this task.
  • The programme aims at providing an all-around development for the students at the primary and secondary level.
  • It will also establish a safe, secure, inclusive and conducive learning environment for students as well as teachers.
  • The major focus is to define activities in such a manner which clearly delineate goals, outcomes and timeframe i.e., it links recommendation of NEP with 297 Tasks along with responsible agencies, timelines and 304 outputs of these tasks.”

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/09/sarthaq/

Ans: (a)

Exlanation:

• S3: The existence of mRNA was first suggested by Jacques Monod and François Jacob, and was subsequently discovered by Jacob, Sydney Brenner and Matthew Meselson at the California Institute of Technology in 1961.
• S2: mRNA is created during the process of transcription, where an enzyme converts the gene into primary transcript mRNA (also known as pre-mRNA).
  • Transcription is the process of copying a gene from the DNA into mRNA.
• S1: In molecular biology, messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded molecule of RNA that corresponds to the genetic sequence of a gene, and is read by a ribosome in the process of synthesizing a protein.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/09/double-mutant-strain-named-b-1-617/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• African swine fever is a highly contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and feral swine of all ages.
• ASF is not a threat to human health and cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans.
• ASF is found in countries around the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/09/african-swine-fever/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: List of AIFIs:
  • Export – Import Bank of India (Exim Bank)
  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
  • Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI)
  • National Housing Bank (NHB)
• S2: It is one of the premier agencies providing developmental credit in rural areas. NABARD is India’s specialised bank for Agriculture and Rural Development in India.
• S3: SIDBI has launched the ‘Udyami Mitra’ Portal to improve accessibility of credit and handholding services to MSMEs.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/09/rbi-extends-fresh-support-of-%e2%82%b950000-cr-to-nabard/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: ASI was founded in 1861 by Alexander Cunningham who also became its first Director-General.
• S2 & S3: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI. Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.
• Gyanvapi Mosque:
  • A local court in Varanasi has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a survey of the Gyanvapi Mosque, adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, to find out whether it was a “superimposition, alteration or addition or if there is structural overlapping of any kind, with any other religious structure”.
• What’s the issue?
  • The order came on a petition demanding restoration of the land on which the Gyanvapi Mosque stands to the Hindus, claiming that Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb had pulled down parts of the old Kashi Vishwanath Temple to build the mosque.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/09/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-9-april-2021/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Kolleru, one of the largest freshwater lakes in India, (it was designated a sanctuary in October 1999) is situated between the Krishna and West Godavari districts of the state.
• Kolleru is one of the most important wetlands of India. The lake supports 200 species of birds, including the critically endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper, (Kolleru committee report 2010).
• Kolleru was accorded a sanctuary status under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Currently, it covers an area of 308 sq km. It was designated a Ramsar site in 2002. It was also identified as an “Important Bird Area” of India by the Bombay Natural History Society.

Refer: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/environment/kolleru-wildlife-sanctuary-faces-threats-52211

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Ken River, is one of the major rivers of the Bundelkhand region of central India, and flows through two states, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. It is a tributary of the Yamuna. It passes through Panna tiger reserve.
• The Betwa is a river in Northern India, and a tributary of the Yamuna. It rises in the Vindhya Range just north of Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh and flows north-east through Madhya Pradesh and Orchha to Uttar Pradesh. Nearly half of its course, which is not navigable, runs over the Malwa Plateau.

Refer: https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/ken-betwa-link-project-indias-first-river-interlinking-project-to-quench-the-thirst-of-parched-bundelkhand/2225288/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is a specialised agency within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organisation of industrialised countries, based in Paris, France.
• India is a not member state of Nuclear Energy Agency
• India has around 22 nuclear reactors in operation in 7 nuclear power plants, having a total installed capacity of around 7000 MW.

Refer: https://www.oecd-nea.org/ https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/india.aspx