[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 28 March 2022 ) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Article 30(1) says that all minorities, whether based on religion or language, shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice. Article 30(1A) deals with the fixation of the amount for acquisition of property of any educational institution established by minority groups.
• S2: Section 2(f) of NCMEI Act empowers the Centre to identify and notify minority communities in India. The Ministry of Minority Affairs in its response said: “It is submitted that the State governments can also declare a religious or linguistic community as a minority community within the said state.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/hindus-can-get-minority-status-in-some-states-centre-to-supreme-court/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• NPPA was constituted by the Government of India in 1997 as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers as an independent Regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
• It was made to fix/revise prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce price and availability of the medicines in the country, under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995-2013 (DPCO).
• The organization is also entrusted with the task of recovering amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs from the consumers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/nppa-hikes-prices-of-800-essential-drugs-from-1-april/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• PMGKAY is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19.
• Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/pradhan-mantri-garib-kalyan-ann-yojana/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The “Bucharest Nine” is a group of nine NATO countries in Eastern Europe that became part of the US-led military alliance after the end of the Cold War.
• The B9 was founded on November 4, 2015, and takes its name from Bucharest, the capital of Romania.
• The group was created on the initiative of Klaus Iohannis, who has been President of Romania since 2014, and Andrzej Duda, who became President of Poland in August 2015.
• Members:
  • Romania, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
  • All members of the B9 are part of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
  • All nine countries were once closely associated with the now dissolved Soviet Union, but later chose the path of democracy.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/bucharest-nine/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• In an effort to integrate the region, the grouping was formed in 1997, originally with Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and Thailand, and later included Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan. BIMSTEC, which now includes five countries from South Asia and two from ASEAN, is a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia.
• It includes all the major countries of South Asia, except Maldives, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The permanent secretariat is in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/bimstec-4/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Polar Science and Cryosphere (PACER) scheme has been approved for continuation during 2021-2026.
• The PACER scheme:
  • Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER) scheme comprises the Antarctic program, Indian Arctic program, Southern Ocean program and Cryosphere and Climate program.
  • It is being implemented successfully through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/polar-science-and-cryosphere-pacer-scheme/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Every year, Earth Hour is observed on the last Saturday of March at 8:30 pm. And while previously it brought the public out onto the roads to mark the hour, this year the famous environmental initiative went digital as many countries are in lockdown.
• Dating back to 2007, Earth Hour is an annual event organized by the World Wildlife Fund that promotes conservation and sustainable energy. During this time, civilians are encouraged to switch off their lights for one hour to help reduce the effect of global warming and raise awareness for climate change and wildlife conservation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/what-is-earth-hour-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Olive ridley turtles are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles found in the world.
• They inhabit warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• These turtles, along with their cousin the Kemps ridley turtle, are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• Rushikulya rookery coast in the Ganjam district of Odisha, Gahirmatha beach and the mouth of the Debi River, are the major nesting sites in Odisha.
• IUCN status:
  • Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early 1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-28-march-2022/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Pensilungpa Glacier is located in Zanskar, Ladakh.
• It is retreating due to an increase in the temperature and decrease in precipitation during winters.
• The Zanskar Range is a mountain range in the union territory of Ladakh that separates Zanskar from Ladakh.
• Geologically, the Zanskar Range is part of the Tethys Himalaya.
• Marbal Pass and many other passes which connect Ladakh with Kashmir are in this area.
• 13000 feet high Zojila Pass is in the extreme northwest of Zanskar range.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-28-march-2022/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Zanskar River is the first major tributary of the Indus River, equal or greater in volume than the main river, which flows entirely with Ladakh, India. 
• It originates northeast of the Great Himalayan range and drains both the Himalayas and the Zanskar Range within the region of Zanskar. 
• It flows northeast to join the Indus River near Nimo.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/03/28/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-28-march-2022/