Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC 2020 / IAS / 13-12-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) is a flagship initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
2. The vision for IOD originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995

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

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organization which was established on 7 March 1997.
• The vision for IORA originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995

Indian Ocean Rim Association

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an international organization consisting of 22 coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean.
• It is formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).
• The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them.
• It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.
• The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene, Mauritius.

Indian Ocean Dialogue

• The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) is a flagship initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
• It is originated in the 13th Council of Ministers meeting, held in 2013 in Perth, Australia.
• The first IOD was held in Kerala, India in 2014,
• Areas of discussion includes economic cooperation, maritime safety and security, blue economy, human assistance and disaster relief, etc.
• The 6th Indian Ocean Dialogue will be held in New Delhi on 13th and 14th December 2019. Delhi Dialogue
• Delhi Dialogue is a premier annual track 1.5 event between India and ASEAN.
• Track 1.5 diplomacy involves both officials and non officials such as business leaders, business organisations and all possible non diplomats of two states.
• Delhi dialogue discusses politico-security, frameworks on economic and socio-cultural engagements.
• Delhi Dialogue XI (2019) will be held along with Indian Ocean dialogue VI in New Delhi.

MCQ 2
Trakea Software is related to

1. Trafficked children tracking
2. Treatment system for pneumonia
3. Tracking system for forensic reports
4. NOTA

Trakea Software

• Trakea is an unique barcoding software, adopted by Haryana police department, aimed at ensuring security and a tamperproof tracking system for forensic reports.
• It is a forensic evidence management system that helps in automation of the entire procedure, right from the stage when forensic experts collect vital samples from the scene of crime to conducting analysis of the samples, followed by tracking case wise forensic reports electronically through barcodes.
• Even the selection of forensic teams is done randomly through this software.
• Due to the unique barcoding, only the authorized investigating officers and forensic science experts shall be able to track the crime exhibits and scientific examination reports, reducing the chances of tampering/leakage of the report at any stage.
• Also, there will be no case details mentioned on the crime exhibits/samples/parcels except the unique bar code, that can only be read through the biometric system.
• Using this software, the judiciary too will be able to track the forensic examination report during the trial, significantly cutting down on delays.
• Haryana Police claims it is the country’s first police force to have introduced this unique barcoding for forensic reports.

MCQ 3

1. Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) is piloted by Ministry of earth sciences
2. The objective of scheme is to recharge ground water exclusively and create sufficient water storage for agricultural purposes.
3. Half of the cost of the scheme will be borne by the Government, while the other half will be funded by the ADB in the form of a loan.

Choose correct
(A) 1 and 2
(B) 1,2 and 3
(C) 2 only
(D) none

• The Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) is a centrally sponsored scheme worth Rs.6,000 crore for sustainable management of groundwater with community participation.
• It envisages people’s participation through the formation of ‘Water User Associations’, water budgeting, preparation & implementation of Gram-panchayat-wise water security plans, etc.
• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti (earlier known as Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation).
• The scheme is being funded by the Government of India and the World Bank on 50:50 basis.
• The identified over-exploited and water-stressed areas for the implementation of the scheme are Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• The States have been selected according to the degree of groundwater exploitation and degradation, established legal and regulatory instruments, institutional readiness, and experience in implementing initiatives related to groundwater management.

MCQ 4

1. Nuad Thai massage is 2,000-year-old, it is believed to have originated in Japan, and has been practiced in Thailand for centuries now.
2. Recently it has been added to the UNESCO’s list of “intangible cultural heritage” practices.

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

Nuad Thai Massage

• Nuad Thai massage is 2,000-year-old, it is believed to have originated in India, and has been practiced in Thailand for centuries now.
• Recently it has been added to the UNESCO’s list of “intangible cultural heritage” practices. .
• The massage follows a traditional healing mechanism that folds the body and uses sharp elbow techniques, combining acupressure and Indian Ayurvedic principles.
• Unlike many other massage techniques, it uses no oils or lotions.
• The receiver remains clothed, and is in contact with the masseur throughout, and instead of rubbing the muscles, the masseur stretches and twists the body using thumbs, hands, elbows, knees and feet.
• The massage targets and relieves the various acupressure points in the body, thereby improving blood circulation.

From India the Intangible Cultural Heritages added into this list include:

• Tradition of Vedic chanting
• Ramlila, the traditional performance of the Ramayana
• Kutiyattam, Sanskrit theatre
• Ramman, religious festival and ritual theatre of the Garhwal Himalayas.
• Mudiyettu, ritual theatre and dance drama of Kerala
• Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan
• Chhau dance
• Buddhist chanting of Ladakh: recitation of sacred Buddhist texts in the transHimalayan Ladakh region, Jammu and Kashmir.
• Sankirtana, ritual singing, drumming and dancing of Manipur
• Traditional brass and copper craft of utensil making among the Thatheras of Jandiala Guru, Punjab
• Yoga
• Nawrouz
• Kumbh Mela

MCQ 5
Which of the following is correct with regard to NPPA – National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority ?

1. For the purpose of implementing provisions of Drugs Prices Control Order (DPCO), powers of Govt. have not been vested in NPPA
2. The organization is NOT entrusted with the task of recovering amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs from the consumers.
3. 1 only
4. 2 only
5. Both
6. None

What is the “Drugs (Prices Control) Order (DPCO)” ?

• The Drugs Prices Control Order is an order issued by the Government of India under Sec. 3 of Essential Commodities Act, 1955 to regulate the prices of drugs.
• The Order inter alia provides the list of price controlled drugs, procedures for fixation of prices of drugs, method of implementation of prices fixed by Govt., penalties for contravention of provisions etc.
• For the purpose of implementing provisions of DPCO, powers of Govt. have been vested in NPPA.
• The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) is a government regulatory agency that controls the prices of pharmaceutical drugs
• It was formed on 29 August 1997.
• NPPA is an independent body under Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
• Its functions are to: – fix/revise the controlled bulk drugs prices and formulations, – enforce prices and availability of the medicines under the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 1995/2013, – recover amounts overcharged by manufacturers for the controlled drugs from the consumers – monitor the prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.
• On December 13, 2019, the Government of India for the first-time invoked Drug Price Control Order, 2013 in order to increase the prices of 21 medicines to ensure their availability.
• The prices were increased by 50%. These medicines were under price regulation as majority of their ingredients were imported from China.
• In the past two years, pharma industry was complaining over the price rise of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API).
• These ingredients constitute 40% to 80% of formulation cost.
• However, due to price ceiling of GoI, the sales of these products in the country got affected greatly as the pharmaceuticals hesitated to sell or manufacture these products.
• The price rise has been done on 21 key formulations namely BCG vaccines, malaria, penicillin, leprosy medicine, common antibiotics, anti-allergy medicines, life saving drugs like Furosemide.
• In January 2019, NPPA received 49 application for 72 drugs.
• It was referred to Standing Committee on Affordable Medicines and Health Products (SCAMHP), NITI Aayog.
• The SCAMPH recommended that there is a need for one-time hike in prices in these formulations by 50%. Are all the drugs marketed in the country under price control ? No. The National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) 2011 is adopted as the primary basis for determining essentiality, which constitutes the list of scheduled medicines for the purpose of price control. The DPCO 2013 contains more than 600 scheduled drug formulations spread across 27 therapeutic groups. However, the prices of other drugs can be regulated, if warranted in public interest.
• NPPA fixes ceiling price of essential medicines that are listed in Schedule I of DPCO, 2013.
• Medicines that are not under price control, manufacturers are allowed to increase the maximum retail price by 10% annually.

MCQ 6

1. The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) (also known as the Global Network of National Geoparks) is a UNESCO assisted network established in 1998.
2. No site has been selected from India

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

Global Geoparks Network The world distribution of geoparks.

• The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) (also known as the Global Network of National Geoparks) is a UNESCO assisted network established in 1998.
• Managed under the body’s Ecological and Earth Sciences Division, the GGN seeks the promotion and conservation of the planet’s geological heritage, as well as encourages the sustainable research and development by the concerned communities
• The international network seeks the membership geoparks —geographical areas where geological heritage is the focus of local protection, education and development.
•  At present, there are 147 UNESCO Global Geoparks in 41 countries.
•  39 in China
• GSI’s candidates for UNESCO Global Geopark Network status
•  Lonar lake is an ancient circular lake created by a meteorite strike in Maharashtra.
• It is the only known meteorite crater in basaltic rock.
• Lonar crater became a national geo-heritage site in 1979.
• It is relatively young geologically, at just 50,000 years old.
•  St. Mary’s Island, Karnataka declared a national geo-heritage site in 1975, is estimated to be an 88-million-year-old formation that goes back to a time when Greater India broke away from Madagascar.
• The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology
• IUGS is a joint partner with UNESCO for the International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) and they also participate in the Global Geoparks Network (GGN).
• The International Union of Geological Sciences is the main scientific sponsor of the International Geological Congress
• India is gearing up to host the 36th International Geological Congress (IGC) in March, 2020.
• Geological Survey of India is the nodal agency for organizing the event.
• The GGN works closely with another project under UNESCO’s Ecological and Earth Sciences Division—the Man and Biosphere (MAB) World Network of Biosphere Reserves—to come up with and establish different means of sustainable development in promoting the local communities’ relationship with the natural environment.

 Difference between UNESCO Global Geoparks, Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites

• UNESCO Global Geoparks, together with the other two UNESCO site designations Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites, give a complete picture of celebrating our heritage while at the same time conserving the world’s cultural, biological and geological diversity, and promoting sustainable economic development.
• Biosphere Reserves focus on the harmonized management of biological and cultural diversity
• World Heritage Sites promote the conservation of natural and cultural sites of outstanding universal value
• UNESCO Global Geoparks give international recognition for sites that promote the importance and significance of protecting the Earth’s geodiversity through actively engaging with the local communities.
• In case an aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark includes a World Heritage Site or Biosphere Reserve, a clear justification and evidence has to be provided on how UNESCO Global Geopark status will add value by being both independently branded and in synergy with the other designations.

 
MCQ 7
 Choose incorrect regarding Indian councils act 1861 :

1. The Charter act of 1833 had decentralized the legislative procedures so this act centralized them again.
2. The most significant feature of this Act was the association of Indians with the executive work. 3. Introduction of Portfolio System

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

• The Indian Councils Act 1861 was passed by British Parliament on 1st August 1861 to make substantial changes in the composition of the Governor General’s council for executive & legislative purposes.
• The most significant feature of this Act was the association of Indians with the legislation work.

Reasons for Enactment of Indian Councils Act

•  Centralized law making was defective
• The Charter act of 1833 had centralized the legislative procedures and deprived the governments of Madras and Bombay of their power of legislation.
• The idea behind centralizing the law making was secure uniformity of laws in the whole territory of East India Company but this system proved to be defective.
• It had only one representative each of the four provinces and it failed to make laws suiting to local conditions.
• Thus, there was need to allow the provinces to make laws for themselves.

Introduction of Portfolio System

• The 1861 Act empowered the Governor-General to delegate special task to individual members of the Executive council and hence all members have their own portfolio and dealt with their own initiative with all but the most important matters.
•  This was the first beginning of Portfolio system in India.

 MCQ 8
About Climate Clean Air Coalition, which is correct ?

1. The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is a partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, to protect the climate and improving air quality through actions to reduce Long-lived climate pollutants
2. Ministry of Earth Science is representing India since 2012 in this coalition
3. Both
4. None

• The Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and six countries — Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States — on 16 February 2012
• India is not a member
• The Climate and Clean Air Coalition is a voluntary partnership of governments, intergovernmental organizations, businesses, scientific institutions and civil society organizations committed to protecting the climate and improving air quality through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.
• The CCAC aims to catalyze rapid reductions in shortlived climate pollutants to protect human health, agriculture and the environment.
• To date, more than $47 million has been pledged to the Climate and Clean Air Coalition from Canada, Denmark, the European Commission, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States.
• The program is managed out of the United Nations Environmental Programme through a Secretariat in Paris, France.

Short-lived climate pollutants

• Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) – Lifespan – a few days to a few decades a warming influence on climate. The main short-lived climate pollutants are black carbon, methane and tropospheric ozone, which are the most important contributors to the human enhancement of the global greenhouse effect after CO2.
• These short-lived climate pollutants are also dangerous air pollutants, with various detrimental impacts on human health, agriculture and ecosystems.
• Other short-lived climate pollutants include some hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
• While HFCs are currently present in small quantity in the atmosphere, their contribution to climate forcing is projected to climb to as much as 19% of global CO2 emissions by 2050.

 These 4 are short lived SLCPs
1.Black carbon
2.Methane
3.HFCs
4.Tropospheric or ground-level ozone

The Coalition’s objectives are to address short-lived climate pollutants by:

• Raising awareness of short-lived climate pollutant impacts and mitigation strategies;
• Enhancing and developing new national and regional actions, including by identifying and overcoming barriers, enhancing capacity, and mobilizing support;
• Promoting best practices and showcasing successful efforts; and
• Improving scientific understanding of short-lived climate pollutant impacts and mitigation strategies

MCQ 9
 A _________based airline is one step closer to launching the world’s first all-electric commercial aircraft.

1. France
2. China
3. USA
4. Canada

E-Plane

• Recently “world’s first all-electric commercial aircraft” has completed a short flight.
• The ePlane covered a distance of 100 miles (160 km) over 15 minutes.
• The plane, operated by Harbour Air and MagniX, is a yellowand-black six-seater de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver with a 750- horsepower (560 kW) Magni500 propulsion system.
• The e-plane claims it is low-cost, and environmentally friendly.

MCQ 10
Choose correct regarding Disha bill(recently in news)

1. The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019).
2. It prescribes capital punishment for other sexual offences against children and includes Section 354 F and 354 G in IPC

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

• The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly has passed the Andhra Pradesh Disha Bill, 2019 (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019).
• Disha is the name given to a veterinarian who was raped and murdered in Hyderabad on November 27.

 Key features of the Bill:

• It envisages the completion of investigation in seven days and trial in 14 working days, where there is adequate conclusive evidence, and reducing the total judgment time to 21 days from the existing four months.
• It prescribes life imprisonment for other sexual offences against children and includes Section 354 F and 354 G in IPC.
• In cases of harassment of women through social or digital media, the Act states two years imprisonment for the first conviction and four years for second and subsequent convictions. For this, a new Section 354 E will be added in IPC, 1860.
• As per the Bill, the Andhra Pradesh government will establish, operate and maintain a register in electronic form, to be called the ‘Women & Children Offenders Registry’.
• This registry will be made public and will be available to law enforcement agencies.
• The government will establish exclusive special courts in each district to ensure speedy trial. These courts will exclusively deal with cases of offences against women and children including rape, acid attacks, stalking, voyeurism, social media harassment of women, sexual harassment and all cases under the POCSO Act.
• The government will constitute special police teams at the district level to be called District Special Police Team to be headed by DSP for investigation of offences related to women and children.
• The government will also appoint a special public prosecutor for each exclusive special court.

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