INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 24 April 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The  duties  and  functions  of  the  CAG  as  laid  down  by  the  Parliament  and the Constitution
• He audits  the  receipts  and  expenditure  of  the  Centre  and  each  state to satisfy himself  that  the  rules and procedures  in  that behalf are designed  to secure  an  effective  check  on  the  assessment,  collection  and  proper allocation of revenue
• He audits  the  accounts  of  any  other  authority  when  requested  by  the President or Governor. For example, the audit of local bodies
• He used to [before 1976 i.e. NOT CURRENTLY] compile and maintain the accounts of state governments. In 1976, he was relieved  of  his  responsibilities  with  regard  to  the  compilation  and maintenance  of  accounts  of  the  Central  Government due  to  the  separation of accounts from audit, that is, departmentalisation of accounts.
• He ascertains  and  certifies  the  net  proceeds  of  any  tax  or  duty  (Article 279).  His  certificate  is    The  ‘net  proceeds’  means  the  proceeds  of  a tax or a duty minus the cost of collection.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/external-auditor-for-hague-based-opcw/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The OPCW is an independent, autonomous international organisation with a working relationship with the United Nations.
• The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force in 1997.
• The organisation was awarded the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons”.
• The OPCW Member States share the collective goal of preventing chemistry from ever again being used for warfare, thereby strengthening international security. To this end, the Convention contains four key provisions:
  • Destroying all existing chemical weapons under international verification by the OPCW.
  • Monitoring chemical industry to prevent new weapons from re-emerging.
  • Providing assistance and protection to States Parties against chemical threats.
  • Fostering international cooperation to strengthen implementation of the Convention and promote the peaceful use of chemistry.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/external-auditor-for-hague-based-opcw/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Overview and key features of the ‘Swamitva Yojana’:

• Launched on Panchayati Raj Diwas (April 24th, 2020).
• The scheme seeks to map residential land ownership in the rural sector using modern technology like the use of drones.
• The scheme aims to revolutionise property record maintenance in India.
• The scheme is piloted by the Panchayati Raj ministry.
• Under the scheme, residential land in villages will be measured using drones to create a non-disputable record.
• Property card for every property in the village will be prepared by states using accurate measurements delivered by drone-mapping. These cards will be given to property owners and will be recognised by the land revenue records department.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/swamitva-scheme/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: What are Ways and Means Advances?

• They are temporary loan facilities provided by RBI to the government to enable it to meet temporary mismatches between revenue and expenditure.
• The government makes an interest payment to the central bank when it borrows money.
• The rate of interest is the same as the repo rate, while the tenure is three months.
• The limits for WMA are mutually decided by the RBI and the Government of India.
• States are allowed an overdraft facility (to borrow in excess of WMA limit) of 21 days.
• Background:
  • The WMA scheme for the Central Government was introduced on April 1, 1997, after putting an end to the four-decade old system of adhoc (temporary) Treasury Bills to finance the Central Government deficit.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/ways-and-means-credit/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: What is the Commercial Crew Program?

• The main objective of this program is to make access to space easier in terms of its cost, so that cargo and crew can be easily transported to and from the ISS, enabling greater scientific research.
• Through this program, NASA plans to lower its costs by sharing them with commercial partners such as Boeing and SpaceX, and also give the companies incentive to design and build the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS).
• Background:
  • Boeing and SpaceX were selected by NASA in September 2014 to develop transportation systems meant to transfer crew from the US to the ISS.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/crew-2-mission/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: Border Road Organisation (BRO):

• Functioning under the control of the Ministry of Defence since 2015, the BRO is engaged in road construction to provide connectivity to difficult and inaccessible regions in the border areas of the country.
• It is staffed by officers and troops drawn from the Indian Army’s Corps of Engineers, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Army Service Corps, Military Police and army personnel on extra regimental employment.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-24-april-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The UNFCCC was adopted in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, which marked the beginning of the international community’s first concerted effort to confront the problem of climate change. Known also as the Rio Convention, the UNFCCC established a framework for action to stabilise concentrations of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. The UNFCCC entered into force in 1994, and nearly all of the world’s nations—a total of 197—have ratified. The framework sets non-binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions for individual countries and contains no enforcement mechanisms.
• The first UN Climate Change Conference was held in 1995 in Berlin

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-24-april-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Option B: Decentralization and grass roots empowerment are the core guiding principles of local self-government as under 73rd and 74th constitutional amendment. For e.g. Gram Panchayats can sanction sanitation and welfare projects on their own.
• Option A: Local bodies are not federal entities as is the position of states in India.
• Option C: This isn’t administrative delegation because local self-government bodies are political entities that are elected directly (or indirectly) by people and managed by their representatives.
• Option D: Since it involves election and indirect decision making by people’s representatives, there can be no direct democracy (where all decisions are made directly by the people).
• National Panchayati Raj Day:
  • The Constitution (73rd Amendment) Act came into effect on 24 April 1993 marking the formalisation of the Panchayati Raj system in India.
  • Hence, the day is commemorated as the National Panchayati Raj Day annually in the country.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/04/24/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-24-april-2021/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)is one of the “Three Sisters” recognized by the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement, along with the Codex Alimentarius Commission for food safety standards and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for animal health standards.

Refer: https://www.ippc.int/en/about/overview/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Shahi Litchi – Bihar
• Kadaknath chicken meat – Madhya Pradesh
• Etikoppaka toys – Andhra Pradesh
• Adilabad dokra – Telangana

Refer: https://www.ipindia.gov.in/registered-gls.htm