[Mission 2022] Insta– QUED ( Questions from Editorials ) 19 March 2022

Solution: a)

A zero-coupon bond is a debt security that does not pay interest but instead trades at a deep discount, rendering a profit at maturity, when the bond is redeemed for its full-face value.

It does not make periodic interest payments or have so-called coupons, hence the term zero coupon bond. When the bond reaches maturity, its investor receives its par (or face) value. 

Zero coupon bonds by private companies are normally issued at discount.

Solution: b)

Dormant “zombie fires” are scattered across the Arctic region. A zombie fire is a fire that continues to burn underground and then reignites on the surface after a period of time. Embers deep in organic soils such as peat lands can spark into flames weeks, months and even years later.

Solution: c)

National Education Commission (1964-1966), popularly known as Kothari Commission, was an ad hoc commission set up by the Government of India to examine all aspects of the educational sector in India, to evolve a general pattern of education and to advise guidelines and policies for the development of education in India.

Kothari commission report said, there is a need and demand of spending at least 6 per cent of GDP on education.

Solution: c)

For those on Earth, Venus is the second-brightest object in the sky after the moon. It appears bright because of its thick cloud cover that reflects and scatters light. But while Venus, which is the second closest planet to the Sun, is called the Earth’s twin because of their similar sizes, the two planets have significant differences between them.

For one, the planet’s thick atmosphere traps heat and is the reason that it is the hottest planet in the solar system, despite coming after Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun. Surface temperatures on Venus can go up to 471 degrees Celsius, which is hot enough to melt lead, NASA notes.

Further, Venus moves forward on its orbit around the Sun but spins backwards around its axis slowly. This means on Venus the Sun rises in the west and sets in the East. One day on Venus is equivalent to 243 Earth days because of its backward spinning, opposite to that of the Earth’s and most other planets. Venus also does not have a moon and no rings.

Solution: c)

About FATF: 

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7. 

• It is a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in various areas. 
• The FATF Secretariat is housed at the OECD headquarters in Paris. 

Roles and functions: 

1. Initially it was established to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering. 
2. In October 2001, the FATF expanded its mandate to incorporate efforts to combat terrorist financing, in addition to money laundering. 
3. In April 2012, it added efforts to counter the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.