Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 30-07-19

Table of Contents

MCQ 1

Union government is planning to develop 17 “Iconic Tourist Sites” in the country into world-class tourist destinations and to serve as a model for other tourism sites. Which ones are among them

Nahargarh fort, Jaipur
Hampi, Karnataka
Mahabodhi Temple, Uttar Pradesh
Kaziranga (Assam)

(A) 1,2,3

(B) 2,3,4

(C) 2 & 4

(D) All

Iconic Tourist Sites
Union government is planning to develop 17 “Iconic Tourist Sites” in the country into world-class tourist destinations and to serve as a model for other tourism sites.
The initiative is aimed at enhancing India’s soft power.
The Sites which are planned to be developed under this plan are
Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri (Uttar Pradesh),
Ajanta & Ellora (Maharashtra),
Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and Qutub Minar (Delhi),
Colva (Goa),
Amer Fort (Rajasthan),
Somnath and Dholavira (Gujarat),
Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh),
Hampi (Karnataka),
Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu),
Kaziranga (Assam),
Kumarakom (Kerala)
Mahabodhi Temple (Bihar).
Under this plan government is looking at overall development from the tourism point of view in and around these sites which includes roads and infrastructure, hotels and lodges, connectivity and access.
As such, several ministries, from Railways to Civil Aviation, will be involved, while the Tourism Ministry will be the nodal agency.

MCQ 2

Adopt a Heritage Scheme (Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan) was recently announced in budget 2019-20
its a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and State/UTs Governments.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B)Only 2

(D) None

Adopt a Heritage Scheme (Apni Dharohar, Apni Pehchaan)
In 2017, Ministry of Tourism launched the “Adopt a Heritage:” a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and State/UTs Governments.
The Project aims to develop synergy among all partners to effectively promote “responsible tourism”.
It aims to involve public sector companies, private sector companies and corporate citizens/individuals to take up the responsibility for making our heritage and tourism more sustainable through development, operation and maintenance of world-class tourist infrastructure and amenities at ASI/ State heritage sites and other important tourist sites in India.
They would become ‘Monument Mitras’ through the innovative concept of “Vision Bidding” , where the agency with the best vision for the heritage site will be given an opportunity to associate pride with their CSR activities.
They would also get limited visibility on the premises and the Incredible India website.
The project envisages limited ‘access’ to non-core areas and ‘no handing over of monuments’ are involved.
So far the Red Fort and Gandikota Fort in Andhra Pradesh was adopted by the Dalmia Group, while the Qutub Minar and the Ajanta Caves were adopted by Yatra Online.

MCQ 3

Distributed Ledger Technologies are related mainly with

GST network
National accounting System
Virtual currencies
Artificial neural network

Distributed Ledger Technologies
Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) refers to technologies that involve the use of independent computers (also referred to as nodes) to record, share, and synchronize transactions in their respective electronic ledgers.
Keeping such distributed ledgers obviates the need for keeping the data centralized, as is done in a traditional ledger and all virtual currencies use DLT.
A transaction under DLT essentially refers to the transfer of “value” from one to another.
This “value” could be any record of ownership of assets money, security, land titles or the record of specific information such as information about one’s identity or health information, etc. That is why DLT has applications in several fields.
Blockchain is a specific kind of DLT that came to prominence after Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that used it, became popular.
Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin use codes to encrypt transactions and stack them up in blocks, creating Block chains.
It is the use of codes that differentiates cryptocurrencies from other virtual currencies.
RBI Act has the enabling provisions to permit the central government to approve a “Central Bank Digital Currency” (CBDC) as legal tender in India.

MCQ 4

Deepfakes are a recent phenomenon, they are based on

Distributed Ledger Technologies
Fake currency softwares
Artificial Intelligence
None

Deepfakes

Deepfake is a combination of “deep learning” and “fake”.
It is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) software that superimposes a digital composite on to an existing video (or audio).
Deep fake seemingly creates real fakes and deceptive videos, which makes differentiating fake from real even more cumbersome and complex.
Fake celebrity footages, propaganda videos or revenge porn are all outcomes of the deep fake technology.

MCQ 5

Schemes where Nirbhaya funds are proposed

Proposal for Design, Development and Implementation of “Single Security Help App” for security of women passengers (Ministry of Railways)
Proposal for setting up Fast Track Special Courts to dispose-off cases pending trial under Rape & POCSO Act(Department of Justice)
Emergency Response Support system(Ministry of WCD)
One Stop Centre (OSC) {MHA}

(A) 1,2,3

(B) 3 & 4

(C) 1 & 2

(D) All

Government of India has set up a dedicated fund called Nirbhaya Fund for implementation of initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of women in the country. As per the guidelines of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal authority for appraisal of the schemes/proposals received under Nirbhaya Fund.
Also, Ministry of Finance has set up an Empowered Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development for appraising and approving various schemes/project proposals proposed to be funded from the Nirbhaya Fund. The concerned Ministries take up the sanction and implementation of the schemes/proposals so appraised as they do for their other schemes/projects.
Nirbhaya Fund was set up with a corpus of Rs. 1000 Cr. during 2013-14. Further, an amount of Rs 1000 Cr. was provided in 2014-15 and for the financial years 2016-17 and 2017-18, an amount of Rs. 550 cr. (each financial year) was provided under the Nirbhaya Fund. The corpus transferred to the Public Account for the Nirbhaya fund upto 2017-18 is Rs. 3100 Cr.
A total of 59 proposals/schemes have been received from various Ministries and State Governments and UT Administrations under Nirbhaya Fund during the last three years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 onwards.
Till date, 30 projects/ schemes have been appraised and recommended by the Empowered Committee of officers for funding under Nirbhaya Fund.
About Nirbhaya fund:
The Rs 1,000 crore Nirbhaya Fund was announced in Union Budget 2013.
The corpus was to be utilised for upholding safety and dignity of women.
Ministry of Women and Child Development apart from several other concerned ministries were authorized to work out details of structure, scope and application of this fund.
The Fund is administered by Department of Economic Affairs of the finance ministry.

MCQ 6

National Crèche Scheme is being implemented as a Central Sector Scheme through States/UTs with effect from 01.01.2017.
It is an intervention towards protection and development of children in the age group of 6 months to 14 years.

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B) Only 2

(D)None

National Creche Scheme

Context: National Crèche Scheme is being implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme through States/UTs with effect from 01.01.2017.

About National Creche Scheme:

The Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
It aims at providing a safe place for mothers to leave their children while they are at work, and thus, is a measure for empowering women as it enables them to take up employment.
Coverage: It is an intervention towards protection and development of children in the age group of 6 months to 6 years.

Features:

Provides for day care facilities to the children of working mothers.
Provides supplementary nutrition, health care inputs like immunization, polio drops, basic health monitoring, sleeping facilities, early stimulation (for children below 3 years), pre-school education for children aged between 3-6 yrs.

Significance:

This scheme facility enables the parents to leave their children while they are at work and where the children are provided with a stimulating environment for their holistic development.
This scheme ensures to improve the health and nutrition status of the children.
It promotes physical, social, cognitive and emotional/holistic development of the children.
It also educates and empowers parents/caretakers for the better childcare.
The scheme is being structurally revised with the enhanced financial norms, stringent monitoring and sharing pattern between the Government of India and the implementing agencies and NGOs.

Eligibility Criteria:

The State Government, Voluntary Institutions, Mahila Mandals with the know report of service in the field of child welfare department and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 or registered as a Public Trust at least for the period for last 2 years are eligible for applying for the financial assistance from the fund.

MCQ 7

It is largest consumer and the largest producer of silk in the world.
India is the only country in the world that produces all 5 varieties of silk on a commercial scale– Mulberry, Oak Tasar & Tropical Tasar, Muga and Erie

Choose correct

(A) Only 1

(B)Only 2

(D) None

India is the 2nd largest producer of silk in the world after China.
It is largest consumer of silk in the world.
It is the only country in the world that produces all 5 varieties of silk on a commercial scale– Mulberry, Oak Tasar & Tropical Tasar, Muga and Erie.
Holds the global monopoly for production of the famed golden ‘Muga’ silk.

Under the Central Sector Scheme Silk Samagra an Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) implemented by Government of India through Central Silk Board (CSB) with a total outlay of Rs. 2161.68 crore for three years (2017-18 to 2019-20) for the overall development of silk industry in the Country with an objective to scale up production by improving the quality and productivity. The scheme comprises four major components viz. (i) Research & Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and Information Technology Initiatives, (ii) Seed Organizations, (iii) Coordination and Market Development and (iv) Quality Certification Systems (QCS) / Export Brand Promotion and Technology Up-gradation.

Features of the Scheme

All the four major components of Silk Samagra are interlinked with each other and aimed at a common goal. The main objective of the scheme is to maintain Breeders stock, Breed improvement through R&D Projects, Development of mechanized practices, Technology translation through Sericulture Information Linkages and Knowledge System (SILKS) Portal, Mobile Application for Stakeholders and for seed quality monitoring, develop technology packages, impart training on improved technology programmes to Stakeholders, and transfer technology to the field through front line demonstration, produce Basic & Commercial Seed of the improved Silkworm breeds developed by the Research Institutes, encourage Private Partnership in Seed sector, and Maintain & Certify the quality standards set by the R&D units for Silkworm Seed, Cocoon, Raw Silk and Silk products covering the entire Silk value chain.
Tamil Nadu, which has been ranked among the leading silk producing States in the country, will receive about Rs 6.22 crore under the Silk Samagra — an Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI).

About Silk Samagra:

It is initiated by the Central Silk Board.
Sericulture is an agro-based cottage industry having huge employment and income generating potential in rural and semi-urban areas. It is estimated that sericulture industry provides employment to approximately 91.20 lakh persons (including 3.40 lakh persons in the State of Tamil Nadu) in rural and semi-urban areas in the country as of March2019. Of these, a sizeable number of workers belong to the economically weaker sections of society, including women. This is mainly due to implementation of Government schemes and efforts made by State/ Central Government.
The main aim of “Silk Samagra” Scheme is to empower downtrodden, poor & backward tribal families through various activities of sericulture in the country including women. Women constitute over 60% of those employed in down-stream activities of sericulture like mulberry garden management, leaf harvesting and silkworm rearing etc. Even silk reeling industry including weaving is largely supported by them. An average of 30% women beneficiaries are being covered under the “Silk Samagra”. Women SHGs are involved in implementation of various beneficiary oriented components under “Silk Samagra” specially group activities.
Through beneficiary oriented components of the scheme, support has been extended under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) to take up sericulture activities by tribal for their livelihood. The scheme as employment provider tool improved the living standards and economic conditions of the downtrodden, poor, backward & tribal families by supporting to take up various sericulture activities for their livelihood.

MCQ 8

Boko Haram group is active in

Jordan
Syria
Sudan
Nigeria

The Islamic State in West Africa or the Islamic State’s West Africa Province (abbreviated as ISWA or ISWAP), formerly known as Jamā’at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da’wah wa’l-Jihād (“Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad”) and commonly known as Boko Haram until March 2015, is a jihadist terrorist organization based in northeastern Nigeria, also active in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon.
Founded by Mohammed Yusuf in 2002, the group has been led by Abubakar Shekau since 2009. When Boko Haram first formed, their actions were nonviolent. Their main goal was to “purify Islam in northern Nigeria”. Since March 2015, the group has been aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Since the current insurgency started in 2009, Boko Haram has killed tens of thousands and displaced 2.3 million from their homes and was ranked as the world’s deadliest terror group by the Global Terrorism Index in 2015
The group’s name has always been Jamā’atu Ahli is-Sunnah lid-Da’wati walJihād, meaning “Group of the People of Sunnah for Dawa and Jihad”. It is also known as Wilayat Garb Ifrqiya, meaning “West African Province”, since March 2015 after becoming part of the Islamic State.
The name “Boko Haram” is usually translated as “Western education is forbidden”. Haram is from the Arabic ام ) ر َح َḥarām, “forbidden”); and the Hausa word boko (the first vowel is long, the second pronounced in a low tone), meaning “fake”, which is used to refer to secular Western education. Boko Haram has also been translated as “Western influence is a sin” and “Westernization is sacrilege”. Until the death of its founder Mohammed Yusuf, the group was also reportedly known as Yusifiyya. Northern Nigerians have commonly dismissed Western education as ilimin boko (“fake education”) and secular schools as makaranta boko

MCQ 9

Aral sea is located between