DAY – 9 ( INSTA REVISION TEST – 9)INSTA REVISION PLAN 2.0, 2021

Solution: C

Aflatoxins are toxins produced by certain fungi which are generally found in agricultural crops like maize, peanuts, cotton seed and others. They are carcinogenic in nature, which means they can cause cancer.

The carcinogen was found to be more prevalent in processed rather than raw milk. Consumption of food containing aflatoxin concentrations of one milligram/kilogram or higher has been suspected to cause aflatoxicosis, the prognosis of which consists of acute liver failure, jaundice, lethargy and nausea, eventually leading to death, according to a World Health Organization (WHO).

https://www.icrisat.org/ctl-stories/aflatoxin/

Solution: B

Maldives and Sri Lanka were today verified for having eliminated rubella, making them the first two countries in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve measles and rubella elimination ahead of the 2023 target.

https://www.who.int/southeastasia/news/detail/08-07-2020-maldives-sri-lanka-eliminate-measles-and-rubella-ahead-of-2023-target

Solution: A

The Tangams are a little-known community within the larger Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh and reside in the hamlet of Kugging in Upper Siang district’s Paindem circle.

As per the UNESCO World Atlas of Endangered Languages (2009), Tangam — an oral language that belongs to the Tani group, under the greater Tibeto-Burman language family — is marked ‘critically endangered’.

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/the-language-of-the-tangams-with-just-253-speakers-6503165/

Solution: A

Hagia Sophia is part of the Historic Areas of Istanbul, a property inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. “Hagia Sophia is an architectural masterpiece and a unique testimony to interactions between Europe and Asia over the centuries. Its status as a museum reflects the universal nature of its heritage, and makes it a powerful symbol for dialogue,”

https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-statement-hagia-sophia-istanbul

Solution: B

About SATAT initiative:

The initiative is aimed at providing a Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental effort that would benefit both vehicle-users as well as farmers and entrepreneurs.

Compressed Bio-Gas plants are proposed to be set up mainly through independent entrepreneurs.

How it works?

1. CBG produced at these plants will be transported through cascades of cylinders to the fuel station networks of OMCs for marketing as a green transport fuel alternative.
2. The entrepreneurs would be able to separately market the other by-products from these plants, including bio-manure, carbon-dioxide, etc., to enhance returns on investment.
3. This initiative is expected to generate direct employment for 75,000 people and produce 50 million tonnes of bio-manure for crops.

There are multiple benefits from converting municipal solid waste into CBG on a commercial scale:

1. Responsible waste management, reduction in carbon emissions and pollution.
2. Additional revenue source for farmers.
3. Boost to entrepreneurship, rural economy and employment.
4. Support to national commitments in achieving climate change goals.
5. Reduction in import of natural gas and crude oil.
6. Buffer against crude oil/gas price fluctuations.

What is Bio- Gas?

Bio-gas is produced naturally through a process of anaerobic decomposition from waste / bio-mass sources like agriculture residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, sewage treatment plant waste, etc. After purification, it is compressed and called CBG, which has pure methane content of over 95%.

What is CBG?

Compressed Bio-Gas is exactly similar to the commercially available natural gas in its composition and energy potential. With calorific value (~52,000 KJ/kg) and other properties similar to CNG, Compressed Bio-Gas can be used as an alternative, renewable automotive fuel.

Way ahead:

The potential for Compressed Bio-Gas production from various sources in India is estimated at about 62 million tonnes per annum.

Going forward, Compressed Bio-Gas networks can be integrated with city gas distribution (CGD) networks to boost supplies to domestic and retail users in existing and upcoming markets.

Besides retailing from OMC fuel stations, Compressed Bio-Gas can at a later date be injected into CGD pipelines too for efficient distribution and optimised access of a cleaner and more affordable fuel.

Solution: A

Globba andersonii:

1. It is a rare and critically endangered plant species.
2. It is commonly as ‘dancing ladies’ or ‘swan flowers’.
3. They are characterised by white flowers, non-appendaged anthers (the part of a stamen that contains the pollen) and a “yellowish lip”. 
4. The species is restricted mainly to Teesta River Valley region which includes the Sikkim Himalays and Darjeeling hill ranges.
5. The plant usually grows in a dense colony as a lithophyte (plant growing on a bare rock or stone).

Why in News?

Researchers have “rediscovered” this plant species from the Sikkim Himalayas near the Teesta river valley region after a gap of nearly 136 years.

It was thought to have been extinct until its “re-collection”, for the first time since 1875.

Solution: C

Locusts are a group of short-horned grasshoppers that multiply in numbers as they migrate long distances in destructive swarms (up to 150km in one day). During the past few weeks, major locust attacks have been observed in several countries in western and southern Asia and in eastern Africa
Locusts differ from grasshoppers in that they have the ability to change their behaviour and habits and can migrate over large distances.

Locusts do not attack people or animals. There is no evidence that suggests that locusts carry diseases that could harm humans.
Weather satellites and other satellites used to monitor the environment cannot detect locust individuals or swarms. However, the highly sophisticated satellites used by the military can indeed detect locusts but these images are not available.

http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/info/info/faq/index.html

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-july-2020/

Solution: B

What is Compulsory Licensing?

A compulsory licence is a licence or authorisation issued by the government to an applicant for making, using and selling a patented product or employing a patented process without the consent of the patentee.

Chapter XVI of the Indian Patents Act 1970 and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights discuss compulsory licensing.

1. The application for compulsory license can be made any time after 3 years from date of sealing of a patent.

The following conditions should be fulfilled by the applicant:

1. Reasonable requirements of the public with respect to the patented invention have not been satisfied;
2. Patented invention is not available to the public at a reasonably affordable price.
3. Patented invention is not used in India.

Additionally, according to Section 92 of the Act, compulsory licenses can also be issued suo motu by the Controller of Patents pursuant to a notification issued by the Central Government if there is either a “national emergency” or “extreme urgency” or in cases of “public non-commercial use”.

When was the first license issued?

India’s first ever compulsory license was granted by the Patent Office on March 9, 2012, to Hyderabad-based Natco Pharma for the production of generic version of Bayer’s Nexavar, an anti-cancer agent used in the treatment of liver and kidney cancer.

Global Perspective on Compulsory Licensing:

This phenomenon of compulsory licensing is a hugely debated issue. Many developing countries are giving importance to the compulsory licensing because of the unavailability and unaffordability of the medicines, and they are continuously granting more and more compulsory licenses. The developed countries of Europe, USA are opposing this view as it would make innovation difficult for the pharmaceutical companies.

Why compulsory licensing is in News?

Issue compulsory licences for manufacture of an affordable generic version of Remdesivir, CPI(M) tells govt.

1. It said the government should invoke Clause 92 of the Patent Act that allows it to issue compulsory licences so that Indian manufacturers can produce a more affordable generic version.

Need for:

Gilead Sciences’ anti-viral drug Remdesivir has shown efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients.

1. Media reports indicate that the U.S., which is hoarding all drugs found to be useful in combating the pandemic, has bought the entire stock of Remdesivir from Gilead for the next three months.
2. It will therefore not be available for the rest of the world.

Besides, while the cost of manufacturing Remdesivir for a full course — as worked out by experts — is less than $10 or ₹750 in the U.S. And about ₹100 in India. Gilead, by virtue of its patent monopoly, is holding the world to ransom by asking a price that is hundreds of times its cost.

Present scenario:

Given the uncertainty over access to treatments for COVID-19, several countries have been laying the legislative groundwork to issue compulsory licenses for products that patent holders refuse to make accessible.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-july-2020/

Solution: B

Zardozi art:

Zari work or Zardozi, an art which is considered quite popular amongst embroiders and designers, survives in the narrow alleys of the Old Town of Bhopal.

Zardozi prospered in India during the 17th century during the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar. It came to India from Persia.

Its literal translation, ‘Zar’ means gold and ‘dozi’ meaning embroidery. Thus, Zardozi come from the Persian term meaning ’embroidering with gold threads.’

1. In this embroidery, gold coils and beads are tucked onto fabric using a needle and thread.
2. Metals like gold and silver are transformed into a zari (thin thread) that is used to adorn motifs onto rich fabrics like silk, velvet, organza, chiffon, etc.

In 2013 the Geographical Indication Registry (GIR) accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) registration to the Lucknow Zardozi.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-july-2020/

Solution: C

National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation (NATMO):

Context: NATMO publishes 4th updated version of its COVID-19 Dashboard.

About NATMO:

1. Established in 1956 as the National Atlas Organisation.
2. Professor S.P. Chatterjee, the doyen of Indian Geography was the Founder-Director of this institute.
3. It was renamed in 1978 to give it a broad-based responsibility in the field of thematic cartography and geographical research.
4. It is under the administrative control of the Department of Science &Technology of the Government of India.
5. It is headquartered in Kolkata.

Important functions:

1. Compilation of the National Atlas of India.
2. Preparation of the National Atlas maps in regional languages.
3. Preparation of thematic maps based on research studies on environmental and associated aspects and their impact on social and economic development.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/07/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-7-july-2020/

Solution: D

Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)

The US has urged all its allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that risk triggering sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

1. This indicates that despite a change in the ground realities following the deadly clash between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) last month, the U.S’s message to countries, including India, on sanctions for the purchase of Russian arms has not changed.

What is CAATSA?

Enacted in 2017, it is a US federal law that imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia.

Includes sanctions against countries that engage in significant transactions with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors.

The Act empowers the US President to impose at least five of the 12 listed sanctions on persons engaged in a “significant transaction” with Russian defence and intelligence sectors.

What sanctions will be imposed?

1. prohibition on loans to the sanctioned person.
2. prohibition of Export-Import bank assistance for exports to sanctioned persons.
3. prohibition on procurement by United States Government to procure goods or services from the sanctioned person.
4. denial of visas to persons closely associated with the sanctioned person.

Implications on India:

Although the sanctions are not directly imposed on India, it affects India nevertheless. The major reason for this is the nature of relationship India has with Iran and Russia. India happens to have strong trade ties with both these nation states.

No, as per the provisions of the bill, US imposes sanctions on all its adversaries, as well as all countries and firms dealing with this adversaries.

1. So, if India does not remove ties with Russia and Iran, the US may invoke sanctions against India. India cannot afford to lose the growing diplomatic relations with the US, but neither can it afford to forego supplies of defence and oil from Russia and Iran.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/08/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-8-july-2020/

Solution: C

Krishi Vigyan Kendra:

The name means “farm science Centre”.

The Centre serves as the ultimate link between the Indian Council of agricultural research and farmers.

The Centre is usually associated with a local agricultural University. It aims to apply agricultural research and practical localised setting. As of January 2020, there were approximately 716 KVKs throughout India.

Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)  are agricultural extension centres created by ICAR(Indian Council for Agricultural Research) and its affiliated institutions at district level to provide various types of farm support to the agricultural sector.

The first KVK was established during 1974 (Pondicherry). The mandate of KVK is Technology Assessment and Demonstration for its Application and Capacity

Development

All KVKs fall under the jurisdiction of one of the 11 Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs) throughout India. As of January 2020, there were approximately 716 KVKs throughout India

There is no funding from local farmers to facilitate the day to day administration of KVK

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/06/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-6-july-2020/

Solution: B

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is a NASA robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the Moon in an eccentric polar mapping orbit. Data collected by LRO have been described as essential for planning NASA’s future human and robotic missions to the Moon.

Solution: C

Securities and Exchange Board of India is a government established in 1988 authority which controls the securities market in India.

Indian Parliament passed SEBI Act 1992 in 1992 India which made SEBI a statutory body.

SEBI functions to fulfill the requirements of the following three categories.

• Issuers –It provides a marketplace in which the issuers can increase finance properly.
• Investors –It ensure safety and supply of precise and accurate information
• Intermediaries –It enables a competitive professional market for intermediaries.

Securities and Exchange Board of India is administered by its board of members.

The board of SEBI consist of:

• The Chairman by nominated by Government of India
• Two members from finance ministry
• One member from Reserve Bank of India
• Five members nominated by Union Government of India.

https://www.sebi.gov.in/about-sebi.html

Solution: A

Sidhu Murmu and Kanhu Murmu were the leaders of the Santhal rebellion, the rebellion in present-day Jharkhand and Bengal in eastern India against both the British colonial authority and the corrupt zamindari system.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/coronavirus-lockdown-hul-divas-celebrations-off-for-covid-19/cid/1784875