[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 16 March 2022 ) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the Founding Fathers of ASEAN, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Brunei Darussalam then joined on 7 January 1984, Viet Nam on 28 July 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999, making up what is today the ten Member States of ASEAN.
• S2: India became a sectoral dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992. Mutual interest led ASEAN to invite India to become its full dialogue partner during the fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in 1995. India also became a member of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in 1996.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/16/act-east-policy/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables and other areas.
• Under MIDH, Government of India contributes 60% of the total outlay for developmental programmes in all the states (except North Eastern and Himalayan states where GOI contributes 90%) & 40% is contributed by State governments.
• Nodal Ministry:The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is implementing MIDH with effect from 2014-15.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/16/horticulture/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: RBI has released new microfinance lending norms. As per these norms:

• All entities, banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), and microfinance institutions (MFIs) are subject to the same regulations.
• A microfinance loan is defined by the RBI as a ‘collateral-free’ loan granted to a household with an annual household income of up to Rs 3 lakh.
• All collateral-free loans offered to low-income households, regardless of the end-use and mode of application/processing/disbursal, are considered microfinance loans.
• The financial entities should have a board-approved policy to provide the flexibility of repayment periodicity on microfinance loans as per borrowers’ requirements. They should also have a board-approved policy for the assessment of household income.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/16/microfinance-regulations/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• According to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the National Statistical Office (NSO):
  • India’s urban unemployment rate jumped to 12.6 per cent in the April-June quarter of 2021, compared to 9.3 per cent in the January-March quarter.
  • It, however, eased from the 20.8 per cent level seen during the first wave of the Covid pandemic.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/16/unemployment-in-india/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: REC Limited (formerly Rural Electrification Corporation Limited) is a Navratna company under the administrative control of the Ministry of Power
• S2: The company is primarily engaged in providing finance for rural electrification projects across India and provides loans to Central/ State Sector Power Utilities, State Electricity Boards, Rural Electric Cooperatives, NGOs and Private Power Developers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/16/reforms-based-and-results-linked-revamped-distribution-sector-scheme/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S3: The guidelines for notification of CWLHs apply only to the National Parks and Sanctuaries and not to other forest areas.
• S1 and S2: “Section 38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (as amended in 2006) explains the core or critical tiger habitat as well as the buffer or peripheral area of a tiger reserve.
  • A tiger reserve includes two parts:
    • Core or critical tiger habitat (National Park or Sanctuary status).
    • Buffer or peripheral area.
  • The phrase ‘core or critical tiger habitat’is mentioned only in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, as a sequel to amendment made to the said Act in 2006.  It is NOT defined in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
  • The phrase ‘critical wildlife habitat’is defined only in the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, and NOT in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • ‘Core or critical tiger habitat’ is different from the ‘critical wildlife habitat’.  Since tigers are territorial big cats, hence considering their social land tenure dynamics, the ‘core / critical tiger habitat’ has been viewed separately from the ‘critical wildlife habitat’, which is applicable to other wild animal species.

Refer: https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=69806

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Union Ministry of Tribal Affairsis the nodal ministry and officially decides and declares Habitat Rights for Primitive and Vulnerable Tribal Groups in any part of India.

Refer: link

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Reference: Cases related to sand mining in NGT in 2021

• S1: Ajay is a river which flows through the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
• S2: The Kharasrota is a river that flows in Odisha state of India. It is a tributary of the Brahmani River.

Refer: LINK

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Improvisation of 2017 UPSC Q30

• Rangeet (also known as the Great Rangeet) originates from a glacier of Mount Kabru at the lower Kanchenjunga region. It is a tributary of River Teesta, the largest river at Sikkim.

Refer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangeet_River

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The carbon fertilization effect suggests that the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases the rate of photosynthesis in plants. The effect varies depending on the plant species, the temperature, and the availability of water and nutrients.
• From a quarter to half of Earth’s vegetated lands has shown significant greening over the last 35 years largely due to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Refer: UPSC CSE 2018