[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 8 September 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: The air-sea interaction that occur during an El Niño event feed off of each other. As the pressure falls in the east and rises in the west, the surface pressure gradient is reduced and the trade winds weaken.
• S2: The transition zone between warm surface water and cold deep water deepens. Trade winds are also weak during El Niño. The combination of weak winds and deeper water limits upwelling. The reduction in nutrient-rich water leads to a lower fish population in the area, and therefore to a smaller fish crop.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/09/08/impact-of-climate-change-on-el-nino-southern-oscillation/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: It is a specialized United Nations agency created in 1977 engaged in providing grants and loans with low interest for allied projects.
• S2: It is the only multilateral development organization that focuses solely on rural economies and food security.
• S3: It has 177 member countries.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/09/08/international-fund-for-agricultural-development-ifad-2/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• An Account Aggregator is a non-banking financial company engaged in the business of providing, under a contract, the service of retrieving or collecting financial information pertaining to its customer.
• They are entities licensed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to collect and share financial information. When you apply for a bank loan, you can ask an account aggregator to collect information about all your bank accounts or other assets and submit it to the lender. This can establish your eligibility for the loan. Since the account aggregator sources information directly from a financial institution, it will be considered authentic and the lender does not need to worry about fake documents. All of this is done electronically, reducing cost and time taken for physical paperwork.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/09/08/what-are-account-aggregators/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• IUCN is a voluntary organization, not an agency of United Nations.
• Some facts about IUCN:
  • Founded in 1948 as the world’s first global environmental organisation
  • Today the largest professional global conservation network
  • A leading authority on the environment and sustainable development
  • More than 1,200 member organizations including 200+ government and 900+ non-government organizations
  • A neutral forum for governments, NGOs, scientists, business and local communities to find practical solutions to conservation and development challenges
  • It runs thousands of field projects around the world to better manage natural environments.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/09/08/iucn-red-list-of-threatened-species-4/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) moved from endangered to least concern while the Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) moved from critically endangered to endangered.
• The world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), has been moved from vulnerable to endangered. The species is endemic to Indonesia and occurs only in the World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park and neighbouring Flores.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/09/08/iucn-red-list-of-threatened-species-4/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The GST Appellate Tribunal (GSTAT) is the second appeal forum under GST for any dissatisfactory order passed by the First Appellate Authorities.
• The National Appellate Tribunal is also the first common forum to resolve disputes between the centre and the states.
• It holds the same powers as the court and is deemed Civil Court for trying a case.
• Section 109 of the GST Act mandates the constitution of the Tribunal.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/09/08/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-8-september-2021-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions. Adult males weigh 160 to 190 kg, while females weigh 110 to 120 kg.
  • Protection Status:
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I
• S2: The African lion is classified as Vulnerable in the IUCN Red List. In South Africa the lion is listed as Least Concern but as Critically Endangered in West Africa.
• S3: Asiatic lions were once distributed upto the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, in central India. At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion. The last surviving population of the Asiatic lions is a compact tract of dry deciduous forest and open grassy scrublands in southwestern part of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/06/12/census-of-asiatic-lion/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 does not define the term ‘vermin’. However, its Schedule V contains a list of animals designated ‘vermin’, including rats, crows and foxes.
  • Section 62 of the Act empowers the Centre to declare wild animals of any species as ‘vermin’ in any area and for a specified period of time. These animals are deemed to be included in Schedule V, opening them up to be hunted.
• S2: Ownership (Section 40 & 42) of WPA 1972:
  • Ownership will be not transferred to another party also regarding issues to trade licence. The certificate of ownership will be provided by the chief wild life warden.
  • At present, persons having ownership certificate in respect of Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II animals, can sell or gift such articles. This has been amended with a view to curb illegal trade, and thus no person can now acquire Schedule I or Part II of Schedule II animals, articles or trophies except by way of inheritance (except live elephants).

Refer: http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/Database/ScheduleSpeciesDatabase_7969.aspx

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) recently published the Global Forest Goals Report 2021.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/05/01/the-global-forest-goals-report-2021-un-report/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: GIBs are the largest among the four bustard species found in India, the other three being MacQueen’s bustard, lesser florican and the Bengal florican.
• S2: Among the heaviest birds with flight, GIBs prefer grasslands as their habitats.
  • GIBs are considered the flagship bird species of grassland and hence barometers of the health of grassland ecosystems.
• S3: The GIB is a critically endangered bird with its last viable breeding population in India

Refer: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-great-indian-bustards-of-kutch-their-habitats-existential-threat-7417139/