INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 20 May 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation: here the directive word is not correct!!

• Six sites have been added to India’s tentative list of UNESCO world heritage sites.
• These include:
  • Maratha military architecture in Maharashtra.
  • Hire Benkal megalithic site in Karnataka.
  • Bhedaghat-Lametaghat of Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Ganga ghats in Varanasi.
  • temples of Kancheepuram.
  • Satpura Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/20/unesco-world-heritage-sites-3/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• What is a recusal?
• Judicial disqualification, referred to as recusal, is the act of abstaining from participation in an official action such as a legal proceeding due to a conflict of interest of the presiding court official or administrative officer.
• General Grounds for Recusal:
• Motions to recuse or disqualify judges and other adjudicators have been made for all sorts of reasons.
• Most commonly such motions are predicated upon a claim that the judge is biased in favour of one party, or against another, or that a reasonable objective observer would think he might be.
• But such motions are also made on many other grounds, including the challenged judge’s:
  • Interest in the subject matter, or relationship with someone who is interested in it.
  • Background or experience, such as the judge’s prior work as a lawyer.
  • Personal knowledge about the parties or the facts of the case.
  • Ex parte communications with lawyers or non-lawyers.
  • Rulings, comments or conduct.
• Are there any laws in this regard?
  • There are no definite rules on recusals by Judges.
  • Justice J. Chelameswar in his opinion in Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v. Union of India (2015) held that “Where a judge has a pecuniary interest, no further inquiry as to whether there was a ‘real danger’ or ‘reasonable suspicion’ of bias is required to be undertaken”.
  • Besides, In taking oath of office, judges, both of the Supreme Court and of the high courts, promise to perform their duties, to deliver justice, “without fear or favour, affection or ill-will”.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/20/recusal-of-judges-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• PMSSY was announced in 2003 with objectives of correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable/ reliable tertiary healthcare services and also to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country.
• The PMSSY is implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/20/pm-swasthya-suraksha-yojana/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: About NASA-ESA Solar Orbiter Spacecraft:

• Solar Orbiter is a space mission of international collaboration between ESA (European Space Agency) and NASA.
• The spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket in February 2020.
• It was selected as the first medium-class mission of ESA’s Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 Programme.
• This is the first mission that will provide images of the sun’s north and south poles using a suite of six instruments on board that will capture the spacecraft’s view.
• It is a seven-year mission and will come within 26 million miles of the sun.
• It will be able to brave the heat of the sun because it has a custom titanium heat shield coated in calcium phosphate so that it can endure temperatures up to 970 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Solar Orbiter follows the Ulysses spacecraft, another collaboration between ESA and NASA that launched in 1990.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/20/nasa-esa-solar-orbiter-spacecraft/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• What are Cryptocurrencies?
• Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies in which encryption techniques are used to regulate the generation of units of currency and verify the transfer of funds, operating independently of a central bank.
• Examples: Bitcoin, Ethereum etc.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/20/what-beijings-new-crackdown-means-for-cryptocurrencies-in-china/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Khola Chilli::: Goa
• Pawndum::: Mizoram
• GI-certified Gholvad Chikoo:
  • GI-certified Dahanu Gholvad Chikoo from Maharashtra begins UK journey.
  • GI certification of Gholvad Sapota is held by Maharashtra Rajya Chikoo Utpadak Sangh and the fruit is known for its sweet and unique taste. It is believed that the unique taste is derived from calcium-rich soil of Gholvad village.
  • Sapota is grown in many states- Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka is known to be the highest grower of the fruit, followed by Maharashtra.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/20/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-20-may-2021/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Taiwan Strait, also known as the Formosa Strait, is a 180 km wide strait separating Taiwan and mainland China.
• The strait is currently part of the South China Sea and connects to the East China Sea to the north. The narrowest part is 130 km wide.
• The entire strait is on Asia’s continental shelf.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/20/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-20-may-2021/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Lingaraja Temple at Bhubaneswar was created in 11th AD. Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram are 7th century AD creation. At Udayagiri, it is 5th century AD creation.
• Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli was created during Ashoka’s reign (272-231 BC). This is the oldest among the four.
• Sources: http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/s/019pho000001003u0330b000.html

Refer: UPSC CSE 2015

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The government of India launched Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Program (AIBP) in 1996-97. This program was launched to give loan assistance to the states to help them a few major irrigation projects which were in advanced stage of completion.
• The Command Area Development Programme was launched as a Centrally-sponsored scheme in 1974-75 with the main objectives of improving utilization of irrigation potential and optimizing agricultural productivity and production from the irrigated areas by integrating all functions related with irrigated agriculture.
• Source:http://www.archive.india.gov.in/sectors/water_resources/index.php?id=10
• http://www.archive.india.gov.in/sectors/water_resources/index.php?id=8

Refer: UPSC CSE 2015

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Mekong–Ganga Cooperation (MGC) was established on November 10, 2000 at Vientiane at the First MGC Ministerial Meeting. It comprises six member countries, namely India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They emphasised four areas of cooperation, which are tourism, culture, education, and transportation linkage in order to be solid foundation for future trade and investment cooperation in the region.
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mekong%E2%80%93Ganga_Cooperation

Refer: UPSC CSE 2015