Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 18-10-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. The 20th livestock census has been released by the Ministry of Agriculture & FW
2. A decline has been observed in the annual census of livestock

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

Livestock Census

• The 20th livestock census has been released by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
• The Livestock Census has been conducted in the country periodically since 1919-20.
• It covers all domesticated animals and its headcounts in both rural and urban areas.
• It has been conducted in participation with State Governments and UT Administrations.
• It considers the following animals/poultry birds possessed by the households, household enterprises/nonhousehold enterprises and institutions,
• Animals – Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun, Yak, Sheep, Goat, Pig, Horse, Pony, Mule, Donkey Camel, Dog, Rabbit and Elephant
• Poultry birds – Fowl, Duck, Emu, Turkeys, Quail and other poultry birds
• The three key highlights of the 2019 census are,
• The total Livestock population is 535.78 million, an increase of 4.6% over the previous census 2012,
• Total Bovine population (Cattle, Buffalo, Mithun and Yak) is 302.79 Million, an increase of about 1% over the previous census,
• The total number of cattle is 192.49 million, an increase of 0.8 % over previous Census.
• The major thrust given to 20th Livestock Census is the collection of data through tablets computers, coordinated by National Informatics Centre.

MCQ 2

1. Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution launched Food Safety Mitra Scheme on the occasion of World Food Day,2019.
2. The Food Safety Mitras would undergo training and certification by FSSAI and get paid by food businesses for their services.

 Choose correct

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

Food Safety Mitra

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched Food Safety Mitra Scheme on the occasion of World Food Day,2019.
• It is to strengthen food safety administration and scale up the ‘Eat Right India’ movement.
• The scheme will support small and medium scale food businesses to comply with the food safety laws and facilitate licensing and registration, hygiene ratings and training.
• The Food Safety Mitras would undergo training and certification by FSSAI and get paid by food businesses for their services.
• It would also create new employment opportunities for youth, particularly with food and nutrition background.
• On the occasion of World Food Day, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan launched Food Safety Mitra Scheme, Eat Right Jacket and Eat Right Jhola.
• Addressing a gathering in New Delhi today, he said, Eat Right India and Fit India Campaign can prove to be a big success with the right strategy and implementation. The Minister urged people to reduce ghee, salt and ghee in food.
• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced scheme of Food Safety Mitra (FSM) through which it plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level.
• A FSM is an individual professional certified by FSSAI who assists in compliances related to FSS Act, Rules & Regulations with three avatars- Digital Mitra, Trainer Mitra and Hygiene Mitra depending upon their respective roles and responsibilities. During the event, the Minister also launched Eat Right Jhola which is a reusable, washable and bio-degradable bag.
• Eat Right Smart Jacket has been introduced to giving an identity to FSSAI staff to ensure transparent inspection. It’s embedded with an RFID tag and QR code. It is linked to software to capture entry of inspection staff into premise for monitoring.
• Speaking at a separate event in New Delhi, Chief Economic Advisor Dr Krishnamurthy Subramanian called upon people to avoid wastage of food and feed the poor and hungry instead. He said, behavioral economics is very important for Eat Right India campaign.

MCQ 3

1. GOAL program was launched by ministry of Women & Child development
2. Its regarding awareness among girls for their online safety

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

• Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda announced the second phase of programme GOAL (Going Online as Leaders) for tribal women. The programme GOAL aims at encouraging, inspiring and guiding tribal women from across India to become local level digitally literate leaders.
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs partners with NITI Aayog and Facebook are running GOAL for tribal women. The objective of this program is to digitally mentor 5000 young women in India’s tribal-dominated districts. The GOAL program will give technical support to the socially and economically marginalized women for their needs to succeed, using the technology they may otherwise have not had access to.

 About GOAL program

• The GOAL program will include one-to-one weekly mentoring sessions. These sessions will focus on various types of programs like entrepreneurship, online safety and digital literacy.
• Facebook and the Tribal Affairs Ministry will ensure that beneficiaries should get around 2,00,000 hours of guidance.
• Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp will be part of the training. District administration will support the central government’s initiative.
• As per the government’s data, more than 125 tribal women have already enrolled in the program.

Objective

• Facebook and Tribal Affairs Ministry are jointly working on this project with an aim to close the digital gender gap. Facebook is committed to providing access to the internet to more women to enable them to reach worldwide resources. This program actively supports these young tribal women to build leadership qualities and helps them to be champions and share their learnings with others.
• The joint venture between the private and government sector will illustrate the power of partnership. All those women who have a keen desire to upgrade their skills and uplift their livelihood through modern technologies can take benefits of this initiative.
• Tribal Population in India
• As per the data of 2011 census about 104 million tribal people are living in India. Most of the tribal people are living in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andaman Nicobar Islands and some north-eastern states.
• It connects tribal women with senior expert mentors in the areas of business, fashion and arts to learn digital and life skills.
• Ministry of Tribal Affairs associated with Facebook have recently launched the 2nd phase of this program.
• In the second phase of the program, will digitally mentor 5000 young women in India’s tribal dominated districts.
• It will give provide the tools and guidance they need to succeed, using technology they may otherwise have not had access to.

MCQ 4

1. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions
2. Microbial fuel cells are devices that use bacteria as the catalysts to oxidize organic and inorganic matter and generate current.

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

• A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel (often hydrogen) and an oxidizing agent (often oxygen) into electricity through a pair of redox reactions.
• Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen (usually from air) to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from metals and their ions or oxides that are commonly already present in the battery, except in flow batteries.
• Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied. Microbial Fuel Cells
• Microbial fuel cells are devices that use bacteria as the catalysts to oxidise organic and inorganic matter and generate current.
• The electrons produced by the bacteria are transferred to the negative terminal and flow to the positive terminal.
• Plants naturally deposit biomatter as they grow, which in turn feeds the natural bacteria present in the soil, creating energy that can be harnessed by fuel cells.
• It is used to power a wide range of vital conservation tools remotely, including sensors, monitoring platforms and camera traps. • Among conventional power sources, batteries must be replaced while solar panels rely on a source of sunlight.
• On the other hand, plants can survive in the shade, naturally moving into position to maximize the potential of absorbing sunlight.
• Zoological Survey of London has deployed microbial fuel cells in fern to power camera traps and sensors in the wild.

MCQ 5

1. Skandagupta established the Gupta dynasty in 450 AD
2. He was the founder of Nalanda University which on 15 July 2016 was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site

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

• Union home minister Amit Shah recently inaugurated an international seminar on the role of Gupta dynasty emperor Skandagupta at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi. Extolling the greatness of Skandagupta, Shah said history has been unfair to Gupta period rulers.
• The Gupta period is known as the golden period of ancient Indian history and Skandagupta Vikramaditya is known as the Saviour of India as he successfully fought the battle against the invading Huns.
• Who is Skandagupta?
• He ascended the throne in 455 AD and ruled till 467 AD.
• During the 12 year rule, he not only defended the great culture of India but also from external aggression and defeated the Huns (Bhitari pillar inscription), who had invaded India from the north west.

• By defeating Pushyamitras during his initial years of ascendancy, Skandagupta proved his ability to rule and took upon himself the title of Vikramaditya.
• The Junagadh rock, which contains inscription of the earlier rulers Ashoka and Rudradaman, has an inscription engraved on the orders of Skandagupta’s governor Parnadatta. The inscription states that Skandagupta appointed governors of all provinces, including Parnadatta as the governor of Surashtra.
• Skandagupta issued five types of gold coins: Archer type, King and queen type, Chhatra type, Lion-slayer type and Horseman type.
• His silver coins are of four types: Garuda type, Bull type, Altar type and Madhyadesha type.
• Skandagupta, son and successor of Kumaragupta I is generally considered to be the last of the great Gupta rulers. He assumed the titles of Vikramaditya and Kramaditya.
• He defeated the Pushyamitra threat, but then was faced with invading Kidarites (sometimes described as the Hephthalites or “White Huns”, known in India as the Sweta Huna), from the northwest.
• He repelled a Huna attack around 455 CE, but the expense of the wars drained the empire’s resources and contributed to its decline. The Bhitari Pillar inscription of Skandagupta, the successor of Chandragupta, recalls the near-annihilation of the Gupta Empire following the attacks of the Kidarites.
• The Kidarites seem to have retained the western part of the Gupta Empire.
• Skandagupta died in 467 and was succeeded by his agnate brother Purugupta

MCQ 6

1. Under Article 169 of the constitution, State Govt may by law create or abolish the second chamber in a state if the Legislative Assembly of that state passes a resolution to that effect by a special majority.
2. As per article 171 clause (1) of the Indian Constitution, the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall not exceed one third of the total number of the members in the legislative Assembly of that state

 Choose correct

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

• Power of abolition or creation of Legislative council lies with parliament
• If legislative assembly of state passes a resolution by a majority of total membership & not less than 2/3rd of the members of the assembly present & voting, Parliament may or may not approve the resolution with simple majority
• A resolution passed by legislative assembly of state for creation or abolition of its council is not binding on parliament
• Under Article 169 of the constitution, Parliament may by law create or abolish the second chamber in a state if the Legislative Assembly of that state passes a resolution to that effect by a special majority.

Strength of the house:

• As per article 171 clause (1) of the Indian Constitution, the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall not exceed one third of the total number of the members in the legislative Assembly of that state and the total number of members in the legislative council of a state shall in no case be less than 40.

How are members of the Council elected?

• 1/3rd of members are elected by members of the Assembly.
• 1/3rd by electorates consisting of members of municipalities, district boards and other local authorities in the state.
• 1/12th by an electorate consisting of teachers.
• 1/12th by registered graduates.
• The remaining members are nominated by the Governor from among those who have distinguished themselves in literature, science, art, the cooperative movement, and social service.

Arguments against having a second house:

• Rather than fulfilling the lofty objective of getting intellectuals into the legislature, the forum is likely to be used to accommodate party functionaries who fail to get elected.
• It is also an unnecessary drain on the exchequer.
• Unlike Rajya Sabha which has substantial powers to shape non-financial legislation, Legislative Councils lack the constitutional mandate to do so. Legislative Assemblies have the power to override suggestions/amendments made to a legislation by the Council.
• While Rajya Sabha MPs can vote in the election of the President and VicePresident, members of Legislative Councils can’t. MLCs also can’t vote in the elections of Rajya Sabha members.
• As regards Money bills, only fourteen days’ delay can be caused by the Council, which is more or less a formality rather than a barrier in the way of Money Bill passed by the Assembly.

MCQ 7

Countries under the Ancient Bactria region would be

1. Afghanistan & Pakistan
2. Kashmir & northern Pakistan
3. Uzbekistan, Afghanistan & Tajikistan
4. Iran & Iraq

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