Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 02-06-19 | PDF Downloads

MCQ 1
Flagship program of health ministry, Ayushman Bharat, choose correct

1. It’s the game changing scheme by govt for Secondary and tertiary healthcare sector in the country.
2. PRCs are established by the ministry recently which can provide critical research based inputs to strengthen these initiatives further.

Choose correct
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None
 

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

• Health Ministry organises national workshop for Population Research Centres (PRCs)
• PRCs need to reinvent themselves to become more relevant: Health Secretary
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is organizing a two-day orientation workshop for Population Research Centres (PRCs) to highlight the various features of the flagship schemes of the Health Ministry for concurrent monitoring. Inaugurating the national workshop today at New Delhi, Ms. Preeti Sudan, Secretary (HFW) stated there is an urgent need for PRCs to reinvent themselves to become more relevant. She further stated that PRCs should integrate with the institute they are anchored in for more thoughtful insights of local and current issues to enrich their research. At the event, Ms. Preeti Sudan also released the Rural Health Statistics (2017-18) and a Compendium of Studies Conducted by the PRCS (2017-18).
• Secretary (Health) further stated that Ayushman Bharat is a flagship program of the government and has two components – Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) for Comprehensive Primary Health Care and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) for secondary and tertiary care. These components are linked to address the major challenges of ensuring continuum of care, twoway referral system and gatekeeping.
• The PRCs were established to undertake research projects relating to family planning, demographic research and biological studies & qualitative aspect of population control, with a view to gainfully utilize the feedback from these research studies for plan formulation, strategies and policy interventions of ongoing schemes.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has established the network of 18 Population Research Centres (PRCs) spread over 17 major States/UTs, with the mandate to provide, inter alia, critical research based inputs related to the Health and Family Welfare programs and policies at the national and state levels. The PRCs are autonomous in nature and administratively under the control of their host University/Institutions. The scheme started with establishment of 2 PRCs at Delhi and Kerala in 1958 and expanded to 18 PRCs with latest inclusion of PRC, Sagar during 1999. Of these, 12 are attached to various Universities and 6 are in research institutions of national repute.
• They are also involved in other studies given by Ministry such as Concurrent Evaluation of NRHM conducted by the Ministry throughout the country during 2008-09, large scale sample surveys of the Ministry like District Level Household survey (DLHS), National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), All India study on “Rapid Appraisal of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Implementation in 36 Districts of 20 States of India” in the recent past. In addition, they also monitor important components of NHM Programme Implementation Plans. Till now, the PRCs have completed more than 3600 research studies since inception. They have more than 110 research papers published in prestigious international journals.
• Ayushman Bharat for a new India -2022, announced
• Two major initiatives in health sector announced
• Rs. 1200 Crore allocated for 1.5 Lakh health and wellness Centres
• National health protection Scheme to provide Hospitalisation cover to over 10 Crore poor and vulnerable families
• The Government today announced two major initiatives in health sector , as part of Ayushman Bharat programme. The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Shri Arun Jaitely while presenting the General Budget 2018-19 in Parliament here today said that this was aimed at making path breaking interventions to address health holistically, in primary, secondary and tertiary care systems, covering both prevention and health promotion.
• The initiatives are as follows:-
• (i) Health and Wellness Centre:- The National Health Policy, 2017 has envisioned Health and Wellness Centres as the foundation of India’s health system. Under this 1.5 lakh centres will bring health care system closer to the homes of people. These centres will provide comprehensive health care, including for non-communicable diseases and maternal and child health services. These centres will also provide free essential drugs and diagnostic services. The Budget has allocated Rs.1200 crore for this flagship programme. Contribution of private sector through CSR and philanthropic institutions in adopting these centres is also envisaged.
• (ii) National Health Protection Scheme:- The second flagship programme under Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage upto 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. This will be the world’s largest government funded health care programme. Adequate funds will be provided for smooth implementation of this programme.
• The Finance Minister further said, that these two health sector initiatives under Ayushman Bharat Programme will build a New India 2022 and ensure enhanced productivity, well being and avert wage loss and impoverishment. These Schemes will also generate lakhs of jobs, particularly for women.
• The Finance Minister said, that in order to further enhance accessibility of quality medical education and health care, 24 new Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals will be set up, by up-grading existing district hospitals in the country. This would ensure that there is at least 1 Medical College for every 3 Parliamentary Constituencies and at least 1 Government Medical College in each State of the country.

MCQ 2
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Rs.3000 monthly pension scheme for small retail traders and shopkeepers after they attain the age of 60 years. Choose correct regarding that

1. It can be joined by all small traders after age of 18 years
2. Single window enrollment portal is launched for that by the govt.
3. 100% contribution will be done by the Central govt. in their pension account.

(A) 1 & 2
(B) 2 only
(C) 2 & 3
(D) None

• Eligibility: All small shopkeepers, self-employed persons and retail traders aged between 18-40 years and with Goods and Service Tax (GST) turnover below Rs.1.5 crore can enroll for pension scheme.
• The scheme would benefit more than 3 crore small shopkeepers and traders.
• The scheme is based on self-declaration as no documents are required except Aadhaar and bank account. Interested persons can enroll themselves through more than 3,25,000 Common Service Centres spread across the country.
• The Government of India will make matching contribution in the subscribers’ account. For example if a person with age of 29 years contributes Rs. 100/- month, then the Central Government also contributes the equal amount as subsidy into subscriber’s pension account every month.

Common Service Centres and Digital India

• Digital India is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
• CSCs enable the three vision areas of the Digital India programme:

1. Digital infrastructure as Utility to Every Citizen
2. Governance and services on demand
3. Digital empowerment of citizens

• Introduction
• Common Services Centre (CSC) programme is an initiative of the Ministry of Electronics & IT (MeitY), Government of India. CSCs are the access points for delivery of various electronic services to villages in India, thereby contributing to a digitally and financially inclusive society.
• CSCs are more than service delivery points in rural India. They are positioned as change agents, promoting rural entrepreneurship and building rural capacities and livelihoods. They are enablers of community participation and collective action for engendering social change through a bottom-up approach with key focus on the rural citizen.
• CSC e-Governance Services India Limited is a Special Purpose Vehicle (CSC SPV) incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956 by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, to monitor the implementation of the Common Services Centers Scheme. It provides a centralized collaborative framework for delivery of services to citizens through CSCs, besides ensuring systemic viability and sustainability of the scheme.
• Partners
• Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) to provide service to the rural consumer in villages.
• The agency designated by the State – State Designated Agency (SDA)—to facilitate implementation of the Scheme within the State.
• Others include central ministries, their departments and other central agencies to offer various services to the citizens and partner banks (public and private sector) and regional rural banks to enable CSCs to become Banking Correspondent Agents / Customer Service Points to deliver various banking and financial services.
• Services offered
• The CSCs would provide high quality and cost-effective video, voice and data content and services, in the areas of e-governance, education, health, telemedicine, entertainment as well as other private services. A highlight of the CSCs is that it will offer web-enabled e-governance services in rural areas, including application forms, certificates, and utility payments such as electricity, telephone and water bills. In addition to the universe of G2C services, a wide variety of content and services that are offered are:
• Agriculture Services (Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Veterinary)
• Education & Training Services (School, College, Vocational Education, Employment, etc.)
• Health Services (Telemedicine, Health Check-ups, Medicines)
• Rural Banking & Insurance Services (Micro-credit, Loans, Insurance)
• Entertainment Services (Movies, Television) • Utility Services (Bill Payments, Online bookings)
• Commercial Services (DTP, Printing, Internet Browsing, Village level BPO).
• Participating in CSC scheme
• Eligibility :Applicant should be a village youth above 18 years of age
• Applicant must have passed the 10th level examination from a recognized board as minimum level of educational qualification.
• Applicant should be fluent in reading and writing the local dialect and should also have basic knowledge of English language
• Prior Knowledge in basic computer skills would be advantage
• Applicant should be motivated enough to be the prime driver of social change and disperse his or her duties with utmost dedication
• Should have a valid Aadhaar number.

MCQ 3

1. ENDS is a recently found chemical in cigarettes, that is carcinogenic
2. For checking the menace health ministry has put a complete ban on the E-Cigarettes.

Choose correct
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommended ‘complete’ ban on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), including e-cigarettes. The recommendation is based on currently available scientific evidence. On occasion of World Tobacco Day which was observed on 31 May, ICMR released a white paper (an authoritative report or guide that informs readers about an issue) about harmful effects of ENDS and e-cigarettes.
• Background: In 2018 Centre government issued an advisory recommending a ban on sale of e-cigarettes in India. Later a committee headed by K Srinath Reddy of Public Health Foundation of India (PHAI) was constituted which included experts from ICMR, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, AII India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. The committee was tasked to analyse more than 300 research articles from all over the world and prepared the white paper.
• Effect on Health: Prolonged use of ENDS or e-cigarettes has documented adverse impact on humans which includes DNA damage, respiratory/cardiovascular / neurological Disorders, carcinogenic/cellular/molecular/immunological Toxicity and even have adverse effects on fetal development and pregnancy.

MCQ 4

1. The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a non binding treaty adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland on 21 May 2003
2. The World Health Organisation (WHO) awarded Indian government’s Medical & Health Department its Tobacco Control Award for year 2019.

Choose correct
(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a treaty adopted by the 56th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland on 21 May 2003.
• It became the first World Health Organization treaty adopted under article 19 of the WHO constitution.
• The treaty came into force on 27 February 2005.
• It had been signed by 168 countries and is legally binding in 181 ratifying countries.
• There are currently 15 United Nations member states that are non-parties to the treaty (nine which have not signed and six of which have signed but not ratified)
• The FCTC, one of the most quickly ratified treaties in United Nations history, is a supranational agreement that seeks “to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke” by enacting a set of universal standards stating the dangers of tobacco and limiting its use in all forms worldwide.
• To this end, the treaty’s provisions include rules that govern the production, sale, distribution, advertisement, and taxation of tobacco. FCTC standards are, however, minimum requirements, and signatories are encouraged to be even more stringent in regulating tobacco than the treaty requires them to be.
• The FCTC represents a watershed moment for international public health; not only was the treaty the first to be adopted under WHO’s Article 19, but it also marks one of the first multilateral, binding agreements regarding a chronic, non-communicable disease.

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) awarded Rajasthan government’s Medical & Health Department its Tobacco Control Award for year 2019 in recognition of Rajasthan’s achievements in the field of tobacco control.
• The Award was conferred by WHO on occasion of World No Tobacco Day (celebrated on 31 May 2019) at a function in New Delhi.
• Background: Every year WHO recognizes various individuals and institutions worldwide and in each of six WHO regions for their accomplishments in area of tobacco control. For this year’s prestigious award WHO selected total 33 institutions and individuals across world including five organisations from the South-East Asian (SEA) region viz. India, Thailand and Indonesia. The two institutes selected from India (in SEA region) includes Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (in New Delhi) and Rajasthan’s Health Department.
• Rajathan’s Medical and Health Department was the only government body in country body in country which was awarded for its tobacco-free initiatives.

Rajasthan’s Tobacco Campaigns.

• Pledge Initiative
• Tobacco Free Premises Initiative
• Way Ahead

MCQ 5
On the world map Drake passage will be nearest to

1. Cape Town
2. Ushuaia
3. Puerto Williams
4. Falkland Islands

• It is the main settlement, port and naval base on Navarino Island in Chile. It faces the Beagle Channel, which is a strait in Tierra del Fuego Archipelago (shared by Chile and Argentina) on South America’s extreme southern tip.

MCQ 6
Consider the following statements about Aldabra Giant Tortoise, which is/are correct

• It is endemic to Aldabra Atoll in Bay of Bengal.
• It is said to be one of the largest species of tortoises

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. None of the above

• Aldabra Giant Tortoise
• Aldabra Giant Tortoise is endemic to Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles.
• It is said to be one of the largest species of tortoises on planet and also one of the world’s longest living animals (can live above 200 years).
• Aldabra Atoll has been protected from human influence and is home to around 100,000 giant tortoises, the world’s largest population of the animal.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified this species of tortoises as Vulnerable in its Red List of Threatened Species.
• Why in news? 2 giant tortoise gifted by Seychelles to India.

MCQ 7
Phenomena related with Volcanoes

1. Converging boundry
2. Diverging boundry
3. Trenches
4. Hydrothermal vent

(A) 1 & 3
(B) 1,3 & 4
(C) All
(D) 1,2,3




 
 

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