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

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The CBI is the designated nodal body for the Interpol in India. It works in close coordination with the Interpol and other member countries for the sharing of inputs related to trans-national crimes and persons wanted by enforcement agencies across the world.
• India has been a member since 1956.
• Like any member nation, India maintains a National Central Bureau, which serves as the national platform for cooperation between domestic law enforcement units and the international police community.
• The NCB is the designated contact point for the Interpol.
• India has collaborated with the Interpol, in tackling a myriad of organised crimes such as poaching, wildlife trafficking, spurious drugs, and fake medicine rackets, among others.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/interpol-6/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Ethanol is basically alcohol of 99%-plus purity, which can be used for blending with petrol.
• Ethanol, an anhydrous ethyl alcohol having chemical formula of C2H5OH, can be produced from sugarcane, maize, wheat, etcwhich are having high starch content.
• In India, ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane molassesby fermentation process.
• It allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel, resulting in fewer emissions and thereby reducing the occurrence of environmental pollution.
• Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme Implemented by the Ministry or Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).
• Benefits of ethanol blending:
  • Reduction in import dependency.
  • Support to agricultural sector.
  • Environmental friendly fuel.
  • Additional income to farmers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/ethanol-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The concept of eVTOL aircraft emerged in 2009 when a video of the NASA Puffin eVTOL concept went viral on November 11th 2009 showcasing a single person concept rendering of the technology, and concept in flight.
• An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is a variety of VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) aircraft that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/evtol/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The Coal Controller’s Organisation (CCO) is a subordinate office of the ministry of coal, having its headquarters at Kolkata and field offices at Dhanbad, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Nagpur, Sambalpur, Kothagudem and Asansol.
• It collects and maintains coal production data of all private and public sector coal mines in the country. The information is collected on a monthly basis.
• When was the CCO set up?
  • Office of Coal Controller (earlier Coal Commissioner), established in 1916, is one of the oldest offices in the Indian coal sector.
  • The main aim behind setting up this office was to have government control to adequately meet the coal requirement during World War I.
  • Acute scarcity of coal necessitated promulgation of Colliery Control Order, 1944 for effective control on production, distribution and pricing of coal.
  • Subsequently, it was revised by a more comprehensive order in 1945. Later in 1996, distribution and pricing of coal was deregulated.
  • Thereafter, Colliery Control Order, 2000 superseded the previous order. Finally, the Colliery Control Rules, 2004, was published by the government in August 2004.
• Functions and responsibilities of CCO:
  • Inspection of collieries so as to ensure the correctness of the class, grade or size of coal.
  • To issue directives for the purpose of declaration and maintenance of grades of coal of a seam mined in a colliery.
  • To act as the appellate authority in case of dispute between consumers and owner arising out of declaration of grade and size of coal.
  • To regulate disposal of stock of coal or the expected output of coal in the colliery.
  • Quality surveillance with respect to maintenance of grade, loading of coal in wagons/ trucks according to laid down procedures regarding grades and sizes.
  • To grant opening / re-opening permission of coal mine, seam or a section of seam or to sub-divide a mine.
  • Assessment and collection of excise duty levied on all raw coal raised and dispatched.
  • Submission of monthly coal data to different ministries of central and state governments, national and international organisations.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/never-again-will-there-be-a-coal-shortage/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• India’s coal industry was predominantly driven by the private sector after Independence until the Indira Gandhi government decided to transfer all coal holdings to Coal India through the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973. See https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/canary-in-coal-mine/article22838759.ece
• S2 is done on an auction basis. See http://www.pib.nic.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1566734
• India is still import-dependent for coal supply.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/never-again-will-there-be-a-coal-shortage/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• All three statements are correct

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/never-again-will-there-be-a-coal-shortage/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The ISS programme is a joint project between five participating space agencies: NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada)
• ISS is now the largest human-made body in low Earth orbit. The Chinese station will be smaller and similar in design, meaning it will have limited capacity for astronauts (three versus six on ISS).
• The completed station will be similar to the Soviet Mir station that orbited Earth from the 1980s until 2001.
• But the ISS is scheduled to be decommissioned after 2024 to leave place for the Lunar Gateway, a small outpost that will orbit the Moon. This is an international initiative part of the US-led Artemis Programme that again sees China excluded.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/tiangong-space-station-china-marks-new-space-milestone/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that is also sometimes referred to as the ‘stomach flu’ or the ‘winter vomiting bug’. It can be transmitted through contaminated food, water, and surfaces. The primary route is oral-fecal.
• It is similar to diarrhoea-inducing rotavirus and infects people across age groups. Disease outbreaks typically occur aboard cruise ships, in nursing homes, dormitories, and other closed spaces.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-04-june-2022-3/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The fishing cat is nocturnal (active at night).
• State animal of West Bengal.
• Habitats: In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys and in the Western Ghats.
• Protection:
  • Vulnerable— IUCN Red List.
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
  • Fishing Cat Project, launched in 2010 started raising awareness about the Cat in West Bengal.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2022/06/06/mission-2022-insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-04-june-2022-3/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Known popularly as the Samata judgment, it nullified all mining leases granted by the State government in the Scheduled areas and asked it to stop all mining operations. Only the State Mineral Development Corporation or a cooperative of the tribal people, it ruled, could take up mining activity and that too in compliance with the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Protection Act. It also recognised the Constitution (73rd) Amendment and the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, under which gram sabhas are competent to preserve and safeguard community resources, and reiterated the right of self-governance of Adivasis. Where similar Acts in other States do not prohibit the grant of mining leases in the Scheduled areas, a committee of Secretaries and State Cabinet sub-committees should be constituted and a decision taken, the judgment said. Before granting leases, it is obligatory for the State government to obtain the concurrence of the Centre, which would, for this purpose, constitute a sub-committee consisting of the Prime Minister and the Union Ministers for Welfare and Environment so that the State’s policy is consistent with that of the nation, it said. The judgment also noted that at least 20 per cent of the net profits should be set apart as a permanent fund for the establishment and provision of basic facilities in the areas of health, education, roads and other public amenities. Read more>>

Refer: UPSC CSE 2019