UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 20 August 2024

Solution: b)

India’s schoolgirls are quietly leading a cycling revolution, driven by state-run free bicycle schemes. In rural areas, cycling among girls has more than doubled over a decade, boosting school attendance and reducing dropout rates. This movement, though underreported, is transforming lives, especially in states like Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Chhattisgarh, where bicycles are empowering girls with mobility and education.

Impact of the Cycling Revolution:

1. Increased School Attendance: More girls are attending school regularly.
2. Reduced Dropout Rates: Fewer girls are dropping out of school.
3. Empowerment: Enhanced confidence and mobility for girls.
4. Gender Gap Reduction: A rise in cycling in India had occurred among rural girls – increasing more than two times from 4.5% in 2007 to 11% in 2017 – narrowing the gender gap in education and transportation.
5. Educational Access: Improved access to education in rural areas.
6. Economic Mobility: Potential for better employment opportunities in the future.
7. Social Change: Challenging traditional gender roles and promoting self-reliance.

Solution: d)

The North Eastern Handicrafts and Handlooms Development Corporation (NEHHDC) has achieved the Oeko-Tex certification for Eri Silk, the world’s only vegan silk.

• This certification, awarded directly from Germany, highlights Eri Silk’s ethical and eco-friendly production process, where the moth naturally exits the cocoon, unlike other silk types where the moth is killed.
• The Oeko-Tex certification confirms that Eri Silk is free from harmful substances and produced under environmentally friendly conditions.

This accomplishment enhances the global recognition of Eri Silk, a Geographical Indication (GI) product of Assam, and paves the way for its expansion into international markets.

• Solution: c)
• The directive issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) mandates that heads of government hospitals are responsible for filing a First Information Report (FIR) within six hours of any violence against healthcare workers on duty.
• This policy places the onus on hospital leadership to take immediate action in cases of violence, reflecting a systemic approach to addressing the issue.

By designating hospital heads as the responsible parties for initiating legal proceedings, the directive aims to ensure a swift and standardized response to incidents of violence against healthcare workers, potentially deterring such acts and providing better protection for medical staff.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is correct as an FIR is a written document prepared by the police upon receiving information about a cognizable offense.

Statement 3 is correct as per the directive from the Union Health Ministry, which requires FIRs to be filed within six hours of any violence against healthcare workers on duty.

Statement 2 is incorrect because public health is a State subject, and there is no specific Central law for preventing violence against healthcare workers.

Solution: d)

The Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DOPPW) introduced “Bhavishya,” a centralized pension processing software, to address delays, errors, and financial losses in pension processing for central government employees.

• The software integrates 99 Ministries/Departments, 1020 Offices, and 8320 Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs), with over 2,50,845 Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) issued by August 2024.

“Bhavishya” streamlines the pension process by auto-registering retirees, enforcing strict timelines, and providing transparency and accountability.

The system automates pension calculations, offers real-time updates via email/SMS, and enables paperless processing through e-PPOs, which are integrated with the Public Financial Management System (PFMS) and banks.

The software also supports Digilocker for easy access to pension documents and issues pensioner identity cards.

Solution: c)

The Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP), is a significant initiative aimed at replacing diesel-powered harbor tugs in India with zero-emission, environmentally friendly alternatives.

• A tug is a particular class of boat which helps mega-ships enter or leave a port.
• Major ports will procure or charter green tugs powered by emerging technologies such as battery-electric, hybrid, methanol, and green hydrogen.
• The program aligns with India’s broader goals for sustainability and innovation in the maritime sector, as outlined in the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
• These visions aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of renewable energy in ports, and promote domestic manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

By 2040, all tugs operating in Indian Major Ports are expected to transition to green technologies, marking a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable maritime future for India.

Solution: a)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

Increased prokaryote dominance in warming oceans could reduce fish populations, which are crucial for global food supply. However, this dominance is likely to reduce, not enhance, the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon emissions, making statement 2 incorrect.

Solution: a)

Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary is located on the Coromandel Coast in Tamil Nadu, connected to the Bay of Bengal via Uppukalli Creek and Yedayanthittu estuary. It plays a significant ecological role but is not part of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.

Solution: c)

The 90 MW Omkareshwar Floating Solar Project, commissioned by SJVN Green Energy Limited, is located in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the largest floating solar initiatives in Central and North India.

Solution: a)

Statements 2 and 3 are correct. DNA profiling is increasingly accurate but can be affected by issues like sample contamination, making it unreliable as the sole basis for establishing guilt or innocence. Statement 1 is incorrect because DNA profiling involves analyzing specific locations in the 0.1% of human DNA that varies between individuals, not the entire genome.