INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 17 April 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Article 142 “provide(s) a unique power to the Supreme Court, to do “complete justice” between the parties, i.e., where at times law or statute may not provide a remedy, the Court can extend itself to put a quietus to a dispute in a manner which would befit the facts of the case.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/17/plenary-jurisdiction-of-supreme-court/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the creation of a Standing External Advisory Committee under the chairmanship of Shyamala Gopinath for evaluating applications for Universal Banks and Small Finance Banks.
• Read more: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/03/23/panel-to-evaluate-applications-for-universal-banks-small-finance-banks/

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/17/rbi-gets-applications-for-on-tap-licences/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S3: The IAEA has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
• S2: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons.
• S1: The IAEA was created in 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology. The Agency’s genesis was U.S. President Eisenhower’s “Atoms for Peace” address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on 8 December 1953.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/17/iran-says-it-has-started-enriching-uranium-to-60/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• US engineers have created what they are calling the whitest paint yet.
• How was it created?
  • The ultra-white paint is made up of barium sulphate, which makes it more white.
  • The paint can keep surfaces 19 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than their ambient surroundings at night. It can also cool surfaces 8 degrees Fahrenheit below their surroundings under strong sunlight during noon hours.
  • This paint may be the closest equivalent to the blackest black paint called “Vantablack” that is able to absorb up to 99.9 per cent of visible light.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/17/whitest-ever-paint-that-can-reflect-99-per-cent-of-sunlight/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Definition- Fugitive Economic Offender:
  • A person can be named an offender under the law if there is an arrest warrant against him or her for involvement in economic offences involving at least Rs. 100 crore or more and has fled from India to escape legal action.
• The procedure:
  • The investigating agencies have to file an application in a Special Court under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act containing details of the properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person’s whereabouts.
  • The Special Court will issue a notice for the person to appear at a specified place and date at least six weeks from the issue of notice.
  • Proceedings will be terminated if the person appears. If not the person would be declared as a Fugitive Economic Offender based on the evidence filed by the investigating agencies.
  • The person who is declared as a Fugitive Economic Offender can challenge the proclamation in the High Court within 30 days of such declaration according to the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/17/u-k-nod-for-extradition-of-nirav-modi/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• EatSmart Cities Challenge:
  • Launched by the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry.
  • The Challenge is envisioned as a competition among cities to recognize their efforts in adopting and scaling up various initiatives under Eat Right India.
  • This unique challenge, in partnership with Smart Cities Mission will create an environment of right food practices and habits, strengthen the food safety and regulatory environment, build awareness among the consumers and urge them to make better food choices in India’s major cities.
  • The challenge is open to all Smart Cities, capital cities of States/UTs, and cities with a population of more than 5 lakh.
• Transport 4 All (T4All) Challenge:
  • Launched by the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry in collaboration with Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP).
  • The Challenge aims to bring together cities, citizen groups, and start-ups to develop solutions that improve public transport to better serve the needs of all citizens.
  • All the Smart Cities Mission cities, capitals of states and union territories (UTs), and all cities with a population of over 5 lakhs are eligible for the Challenge.
• San-Sadhan’ Hackathon:
  • ‘San-Sadhan’ Hackathon is an initiative to ease lives of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) by making toilets smarter, more accessible, and easier to use. In this hackathon, the government is looking for smart, scalable and innovative solutions for economical toilets for individual and community use in rural and urban contexts.
  • The initiative is being organized jointly by the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, in collaboration with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and 91springboard.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/08/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-23-august-2019/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: Gender Samvaad:

• Gender Samvaad event, a joint attempt between DAY-NRLM and the Initiative for What Works to Advance Women and Girls in the Economy (IWWAGE) to create a common platform to share experiences emerging from this effort, was organised by the Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India.
• The attempt is to generate greater awareness on gender related interventions under DAY-NRLM across the country and best practices, with a focus on hearing voices from the states and the field.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/08/23/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-23-august-2019/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Bioluminescence is the property of a living organism to produce and emit light.
• “Animals, plants, fungi and bacteria show bioluminescence,” said Samantha Karunarathna, mycologist from the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who was part of the team that discovered the mushroom.
• “Bioluminescent organisms are usually found in the ocean environments, but they are also found on terrestrial environments. The colour of the light emitted by the organism depends on their chemical properties.”
• Why in news?
  • The new species — named Roridomyces phyllostachydis a bioluminescent — or light emitting — variety of mushroom— was first sighted on a wet August night near a stream in Meghalaya’s Mawlynnong in East Khasi Hills district and later at Krang Shuri in West Jaintia Hills district.

Refer: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/mystery-of-meghalayas-glowing-green-mushrooms-7059942/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S3: It is ‘Endangered’ in the Himalayas and Critically Endangered in the Hindu Kush.
• S1 and 2: The Himalayan brown bear is one of the largest carnivores in the highlands of Himalayas. It occupies the higher reaches of the Himalayas in remote, mountainous areas of Pakistan and India, in small and isolated populations, and is extremely rare in many of its ranges.

Refer: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/study-predicts-massive-habitat-decline-for-the-himalayan-brown-bear-by-2050-due-to-climate-change/article32935974.ece

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Butterflies belong to the phylum Arthropoda and belong to the class Insecta.
• Arthropods are a motley crew: cockroaches, crabs, butterflies, beetles, centipedes, scorpions, shrimp, spiders, lobsters, lice, ticks, termites, potato bugs, and sea monkeys (a.k.a., brine shrimp) — they’re all examples of arthropods.
• Why in news?
  • A citizen poll to identify the national butterfly concluded with three species garnering the highest number of votes.
• Krishna Peacock (Papilio krishna), Indian Jezebel (Delias eucharis), and Orange Oakleaf (Kallima inachus), the frontrunners, have unique features such as ability to camouflage as a dead leaf, exhibit iridescence to stave off predators, and aid farmers in getting rid of pests.

Refer: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/3-contenders-for-national-butterfly-status/article32816575.ece