DAY – 11 ( INSTA REVISION TEST – 11)INSTA REVISION PLAN 2.0, 2021

Solution: B

The Senkaku Islands dispute, or Diaoyu Islands dispute, concerns a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, the Diaoyu Islands in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Tiaoyutai Islands in the Republic of China (ROC or Taiwan).

They are located in the East China Sea.

Source: RSTV: The Big Picture : Senkaku-Diaoyu Islands Dispute

Solution: B

A rare-earth mineral contains one or more rare-earth elements as major metal constituents.

Most of these reserves are located within China, and are estimated at some 44 million metric tons. The United States also has significant reserves, estimated to amount to 1.5 million metric tons. After China, the major rare earth countries based on reserve volume are Vietnam, Brazil, and Russia

Cerium oxide is an extensively used industrial catalyst with applications as diverse as catalysts for automobile exhaust, petroleum cracking and organic chemicals synthesis.

Source: Science Reporter, July 2020

Solution: D

Source: Science Reporter, July 2020

Solution: C

The Government of India and the World Bank today signed a $500 million Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States Program (STARS) to improve the quality and governance of school education in six Indian states – Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Rajasthan. Some 250 million students (between the age of 6 and 17) in 1.5 million schools, and over 10 million teachers will benefit from the program.

The STARS program builds on the long partnership between India and the World Bank (since 1994), for strengthening public school education and to support the country’s goal of providing ‘Education for All’.

Source: Science Reporter, July 2020

Solution: B

DHARMA GUARDIAN Exercise:

It is a Joint Military Exercise between India and Japan.

Exercise DHARMA GUARDIAN is an annual training event which is being conducted in India since 2018.

Source: RSTV: The Big Picture: India – Japan Cooperation

Solution: D

The Blue Heart Campaign is an international anti-trafficking program started by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-human-trafficking-day

Solution: A

The Mars Colour Camera (MCC) onboard ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission has captured the image of Phobos, the closest and biggest moon of Mars. The image was taken on  1^st July, 2020 when MOM was about 7,200 km from Mars and 4,200 km from Phobos.

Stickney is the largest crater on Phobos, which is a satellite of Mars.

https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/isros-mangalyaan-mission-captures-image-of-mars-largest-moon-phobos-8562321.html

Solution: A

In an endeavour to improve the information flow and bridge the demand-supply gap in the skilled workforce market, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has launched ‘Aatamanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM)’ portal to help skilled people find sustainable livelihood opportunities.

ASEEM is developed and managed by National Skill Development Corporation in collaboration with Bengaluru-based company Betterplace specialising in blue collar employee management.

https://vikaspedia.in/social-welfare/skill-development/aatamanirbhar-skilled-employee-employer-mapping-aseem-portal

Solution: D

Reviving SAARC to deal with China

Context:

Amid India- China border tensions, as part of its global expansionism, China is chipping away at India’s interests in South Asia.

1. China’s proximity to Pakistan is well known.
2. Nepal is moving closer to China for ideational and material reasons.
3. China is wooing Bangladesh by offering tariff exemption to 97% of Bangladeshi products.
4. It has also intensified its ties with Sri Lanka through massive investments.

So, most South Asian nations are now largely dependent on China for imports despite geographical proximity to India.

This should be a major cause for concern for New Delhi.

Why SAARC is relevant now?

Several foreign policy experts argue that India’s strategic dealing with China has to begin with South Asia.

In this regard, it is important to reinvigorate SAARC, which has been in the doldrums since 2014.

1. In the last few years, due to increasing animosity with Pakistan, India’s political interest in SAARC dipped significantly.

India started investing in other regional instruments, such as BIMSTEC, as an alternative to SAARC.

1. However, BIMSTEC cannot replace SAARC for reasons such as lack of a common identity and history among all BIMSTEC members. Moreover, BIMSTEC’s focus is on the Bay of Bengal region, thus making it an inappropriate forum to engage all South Asian nations.

Observer countries of SAARC

• Australia
• China
• European Union
• Iran
• Japan
• Mauritius
• Myanmar
• South Korea
• United States

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/01/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-1-july-2020/

Solution: C

Iran drops India from Chabahar rail project

Where is Chabahar Port?

Located on the Gulf of Oman and is the only oceanic port of the country. 

Why Chabahar port is important for India?

1. With this, India can bypass Pakistan in transporting goods to Afghanistan.
2. It will also boost India’s access to Iran, the key gateway to the International North-South Transport Corridor that has sea, rail and road routes between India, Russia, Iran, Europe and Central Asia.
3. It also helps India counter Chinese presence in the Arabian Sea which China is trying to ensure by helping Pakistan develop the Gwadar port. Gwadar port is less than 400 km from Chabahar by road and 100 km by sea.
4. From a diplomatic perspective, Chabahar port could be used as a point from where humanitarian operations could be coordinated.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/14/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-july-2020/

Solution: B

Tatya Tope

Maharashtra government recently informed the Bombay High Court that more than ₹2.5 crore had already been spent on the construction of a national monument of the general Tatya Tope at Yeola in Nashik district.

1. The Central government has sanctioned funds to the extent of 75% of the estimated cost while the rest will be borne by the State.

Background:

A PIL was filed in the court seeking a direction to authorities to change the place sanctioned for the monument from Yeola taluka to a plot in Angangaon village in Yevla tehsil of the same district, which belongs to the Irrigation department.

However, the Court has declined to provide an interim relief on the belated approach and said 50% of the construction work of the monument had already been completed. 

About Tatya Tope:

Also known as Ramachandra Pandurang Tope, he was one of the most notable Indian freedom fighters and a general in the Rebellion of 1857.

1. Born in 1814 in Nashik, Maharashtra, Tatya Tope was the only son of Pandurang Rao Tope and his wife Rukhmabai
2. Tatya Tope was an intimate friend and the right hand of Nana Sahib, the adopted son of Peshwa
3. In May 1857, Tatya Tope won the battle over the Indian troops of the East India Company at Kanpur
4. He forced General Windham to retreat from the city of Gwalior.
5. He collaborated with Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansito seize Gwalior.

Tatya Tope was defeated by Sir Colin Campbell (later Baron Clyde) on December 6, 1857. He was hanged on April 18, 1859, in General Meade’s camp at Shivpuri.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/15/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-15-july-2020/

Solution: A

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019

After facing flak from the transgender community, the Centre has done away with the requirement of a medical examination for trans persons applying for a certificate of identity in its latest draft rules framed under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.

Overview of the draft ‘Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020’:

1. All educational institutions are to have a committee which transgender persons can approach in case of any harassment or discrimination.
2. The “appropriate government” is also required to take adequate steps to “prohibit discrimination in any government or private organisation or establishment.”
3. States will be responsible for “timely prosecution of individuals” charged under Section 18 of the Act which proscribes offences against the transgender community and penalties therein.
4. The offences would be punishable with imprisonment for six months upto two years, with a fine.
5. State governments will have to set up a Transgender Protection Cell under the District Magistrate and DGP to monitor cases of offences against transgender persons and implement Section 18.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019:

Definition of a transgender person:

1. It defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It includes trans-men and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
2. Intersex variationsis defined to mean a person who at birth shows variation in his or her primary sexual characteristics, external genitalia, chromosomes, or hormones from the normative standard of male or female body.

Prohibition against discrimination: Any person who is found to be compelling a transgender person into bonded labour denying right of public passage to a transgender person, evicting a transgender from his/her place of residence, causing physical, sexual, verbal, economic and emotional abuse, can be penalised with imprisonment of not less than six months, that can extend up to two years.

The bill has a provision that provides transgender the right of residence with parents and immediate family members.

Background:

The law was a consequence of the directions of the Supreme Court of India in the National Legal Services Authority vs. Union of India case judgment, mandating the Central and State governments to ensure legal recognition of all transgender persons and proactive measures instituted for their welfare.

It calls for establishing a National Council for Transgender persons (NCT).

The NCT will consist of:

1. Union Minister for Social Justice (Chairperson)
2. Minister of State for Social Justice (Vice-Chairperson)
3. Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice
4. One representative from ministries including Health, Home Affairs, and Human Resources Development.
5. Other members include representatives of the NITI Aayog and the National Human Rights Commission.  State governments will also be represented. The Council will also consist of five members from the transgender community and five experts from non-governmental organizations.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/15/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-15-july-2020/

Solution: B

Nagorno-Karabakh region:

Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Artsakh, is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, within the mountainous range of Karabakh.

It is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan.
What is the dispute?

The landlocked mountainous region of Nagorno-Karabakh is the subject of an unresolved dispute between Azerbaijan, in which it lies, and its ethnic Armenian majority, backed by neighbouring Armenia.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/15/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-15-july-2020/

Solution: C

Places in News- Kaziranga National Park:

Located in the State of Assam.

It is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.

1. It was declared as a National Park in 1974.It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007.
2. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
3. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga are focused on the ‘big four’ species— rhino, elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.

1. Kaziranga is also home to 9 of the 14 species of primates found in the Indian subcontinent.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/15/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-15-july-2020/

Solution: C

NEOWISE- a comet

Context:

The recently discovered comet called C/2020 F3, also known as NEOWISE after the NASA telescope that discovered it, will make its closest approach to the Earth on July 22.

1. On the day, the comet, which takes 6,800 years to complete one lap around its orbit,will be at a distance of 64 million miles or 103 million kilometers while crossing Earth’s outside orbit.

What is Coma?

On July 3, the comet was closest to the sun at 43 million km. On this day, the comet cruised inside Mercury’s orbit and, due to its proximity to the sun, its outer layer was released creating an atmosphere – referred to as coma – of gas and dust from its icy surface.

1. This atmosphere sometimes leads to formation of a bright tail of debris that can extend for thousands or millions of kilometres.

What Are The Differences Between An Asteroid, Comet, Meteoroid, Meteor and Meteorite?

1. Asteroid: A relatively small, inactive, rocky body orbiting the Sun.
2. Comet: A relatively small, at times active, object whose ices can vaporize in sunlight forming an atmosphere (coma) of dust and gas and, sometimes, a tail of dust and/or gas.
3. Meteoroid: A small particle from a comet or asteroid orbiting the Sun.
4. Meteor: The light phenomena which results when a meteoroid enters the Earth’s atmosphere and vaporizes; a shooting star.
5. Meteorite: A meteoroid that survives its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere and lands upon the Earth’s surface.

https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/07/13/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-13-july-2020/