INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 20 April 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• There are many temples at Khajuraho, most of them devoted to Hindu gods. There are some Jain temples as well as a Chausanth Yogini temple, which is of interest. Predating the tenth century, this is a temple of small, square shrines of roughly-hewn granite blocks, each dedicated to esoteric devis or goddesses associated with the rise of Tantric worship after the seventh century.  Several such temples were dedicated to the cult of the yoginis across Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and even as far south as Tamil Nadu. They were built between the seventh and tenth centuries, but few have survived.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/khajuraho-temples/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• In the central India, the Chandela rulers developed a distinct style of temple making of their own – known as Khajuraho school or Chandel school.
• In these temples, both the interior and exterior walls were lavishly decorated with carvings.
• The temples were made of sandstone.
• Panchayatan style of temple making was followed. The temples were built on relatively high platform and belong to Hindu as well as Jain religion.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/khajuraho-temples/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The RBI has set up a committee headed by Sudarshan Sen to undertake a comprehensive review of the working of asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) in the financial sector ecosystem and recommend suitable measures for enabling them to meet the growing requirements.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/rbi-sets-up-committee-to-review-working-of-arcs/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: About the Startup seed fund:

• The Fund aims to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization.
• 945 Crore corpus will be divided over the next 4 years for providing seed funding to eligible startups through eligible incubators across India.
• The scheme is expected to support an estimated 3,600 startups through 300 incubators.
• Nodal Department: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/startup-india-seed-fund-scheme/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Havana: read here>> Cuba after the Castros
• Hanoi: read here>> India offers help to Vietnam in warship- building & maintenance
• Xinjiang: Human Rights Watch has appealed to the United Nations to investigate allegations China’s government is committing crimes against Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/probe-china-over-xinjiang-crimes-hrw/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• There are currently 10 spacecraft from five different space agencies — the United States, European Union, India, China, and the United Arab Emirates — either orbiting or on the ground on Mars. Two more rovers — NASA’s Perseverance and China’s Tianwen-1
• NASA has a lander (Mars Insight), a rover (Curiosity), and three orbiters (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, MAVEN); India has an orbiter (Mangalyaan-1); the EU has 2 orbiters (Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter); and China and UAE will have an orbiter each (Hope and Tianwen-1 respectively).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/nasa-mars-helicopter-makes-first-flight-on-another-planet/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Countries Bordering Germany.

• Denmark to the north
• Netherlands to the northwest
• Belgium to the west
• Luxemburg to the west-southwest
• France to the southwest
• Switzerland to the south
• Austria to the south southeast
• Czechia to the southeast
• Poland to the east

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/india-and-germany-sign-agreement-on-cities-combating-plastic-entering-the-marine-environment/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: here the directive word is incorrect!!

• Vandhe Bharat mission is the massive repatriation operation planned by the Indian government to bring back stranded Indians in different parts of the world in the wake of the coronavirus crisis.
• India had dispatched four Naval ships as part of the first phase of Vande Bharat mission.
• The Navy has named its evacuation effort ‘Operation Samudra Setu’.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/20/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-20-april-2021/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s North and South poles. The term vortex refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air close to the poles.
• The polar vortex spins in the stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere 10-48 km above the ground and above the troposphere, where most familiar weather patterns develop.
• Often during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the polar vortex will become less stable and expand, sending cold Arctic air southward over the United States.

Refer: https://www.noaa.gov/multimedia/infographic/science-behind-polar-vortex

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Assessment found that nitrates not only affected surface water but also polluted groundwater sources.
• Nitrous oxide (N₂O) gas should not be confused with nitric oxide (NO) or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂). Neither nitric oxide nor nitrogen dioxide are greenhouse gases. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas.
• Sewage and organic solid wastes form the second largest source of N pollution in India.
• Nitrous oxide (N2O) is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide but isn’t as prevalent in the atmosphere.

Refer: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/when-n-means-noxious-59279