[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 4 November 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Covaxin is a whole virion-inactivated vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, India’s indigenous COVID-19 vaccine by Bharat Biotech is developed in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – National Institute of Virology (NIV).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/11/04/covaxin-gets-who-nod-for-emergency-use/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: Israel- Palestine conflict– Historical Background:

• The conflict has been ongoing for more than 100 years between Jews and Arabs over a piece of land between Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
• It was between 1882 to 1948 , when the Jews from around the world gathered in Palestine. This movement came to be known as
• Then in 1917, Ottoman Empirefell after World War 1 and the UK got control over Palestine.
• The land was inhabited by a Jewish minority and Arab majority.
• The Balfour Declarationwas issued after Britain gained control with the aim of establishing a home for the Jews in Palestine. However during that period the Arabs were in majority in Palestine.
• Jews favored the idea while the Palestinians rejected it. Almost 6 million Jews lost their lives in the Holocaust which also ignited further demand of a separate Jewish state.
• Jews claimed Palestine to be their natural home while the Arabs too did not leave the land and claimed it.
• The international community supported the Jews.
• In 1947, the UN voted for Palestine to be split into separate Jewish and Arab states, with Jerusalem becoming an international city.
• That plan was accepted by Jewish leaders but rejected by the Arab side and never implemented.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/11/04/palestinian-pm-calls-for-indian-support/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: What are Infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs)?

• They are institutions similar to mutual funds, which pool investment from various categories of investors and invest them into completed and revenue-generating infrastructure projects, thereby creating returns for the investor.
• They are regulated under the Sebi (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014 and the Indian Trust Act, 1882.
• Structure of InvITs:
  • They have a trustee, sponsor(s), investment manager and project manager.
  • Trustee (certified by Sebi) has the responsibility of inspecting the performance of an InvIT.
  • Sponsor(s) are promoters of the company that set up the InvIT.
  • Investment manager is entrusted with the task of supervising the assets and investments of the InvIT.
  • Project manager is responsible for the execution of the project.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/11/04/what-are-infrastructure-investment-trusts-invits/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• It was established in 1899 and is headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands.
• It is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to serve the international community in the field of dispute resolution and to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between States.
• All decisions, called “awards” are binding on all the parties in the dispute and have to be carried out without delay.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/11/04/cairn-to-begin-process-to-end-tax-dispute/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Prakash Singh, who served as DGP of UP Police and Assam Police besides other postings, filed a PIL in the Supreme Court post retirement, in 1996, seeking police reforms.
• In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court in September 2006 had directed all states and Union Territories to bring in police reforms.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/11/04/the-2006-supreme-court-ruling-on-police-reforms-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The Earthshot Prize is awarded by the Royal Foundation to five winners each year for their contributions to environmentalism. It was first awarded in 2021 and is planned to run annually until 2030. Each winner receives a grant of £1 million to continue their environmental work.
• India’s Vidyut Mohan’s technology that recycles agricultural waste to create fuel was named among the winners of the coveted prize.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/11/04/at-cop26-t-n-teenager-tells-leaders-that-youth-are-angry/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: The Kameng River:

• It is the right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra river.
• It rises in the Tawang district in the eastern Himalayas.
• It forms the border between the East Kameng district and the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
• In Assam, it flows through the Sonitpur district before joining the Brahmaputra at Tezpur.
• The Kameng River consists of two sections- the west consisting of the Akka hills and resided by the Akka tribes and the east consisting of the Dafla hills resided by the Daphla tribe.
• The Kaziranga National Park and the Pakkhui Wildlife Sanctuary are located near the Kameng river.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/11/04/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-4-november-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The inter-creditor agreement is aimed at the resolution of loan accounts with a size of ₹50 crore and above that are under the control of a group of lenders. It is part of the “Sashakt” plan approved by the government to address the problem of resolving bad loans.
• See https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/cosmetic-repair/article24506004.ece and https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/banking/finance/banking/56-lenders-to-sign-inter-creditor-agreement-in-a-few-days/articleshow/64940424.cms

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The word ‘selection’ is a bit ambiguous since it can be interpreted as either appointment or recommendation for appointment.
• The BBB’s current mandate is to recommend the selection and appointment of wholetime Directors(WTDs) and non-executive Chairmen(NEC);
• We can get a clarity on the word selection through the Union Finance Ministers’ Budget Speech of February 2015 (Para 81),
• “In order to improve the Governance of Public Sector banks, the Government intends to set up an autonomous Bank Board Bureau. The Bureau will search and select heads of Public Sector banks and help them in developing differentiated strategies”, see http://banksboardbureau.org.in/upload/PDF/Chapter1_190318.pdf , the very first page in the PDF.
• Once recommended, the government, i.e. the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) (not the RBI or a single ministry like the Ministry of Finance) has the final say in the appointment. So, B and C cannot be the answer. A is the answer. See https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/sunil-mehta-appointed-nonexecutive-chairman-of-pnb/article9548646.ece

Refer: UPSC CSE 2019

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: PGNRB was constituted in 2006, and therefore S1 cannot be correct. A number of regulatory bodies have existed before.
• S2: The board has several functions such as to provide, by regulations, and enforce, retail service obligations for retail outlets and marketing service obligations for entities; monitor transportation rates and take corrective action to prevent restrictive trade practice by the entities etc. This clearly indicates that is ensures a competitive market for gas. See http://www.pngrb.gov.in/Functions-of-Board.html
• S3: This is correct. The Appellate Tribunal established under section 110 of the Electricity Act, 2003 (36 of 2003) shall be the Appellate Tribunal for PGNRB. See http://www.pngrb.gov.in/the-act.html#bm9

Refer: UPSC CSE 2019