Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC 2020 / IAS / 07-12-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. Exercise INDRA is an exclusive air exercise between India & Russia
2. It Is to be held in Pune, Goa & Babina

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

• India-Russia Joint Tri-Services Exercise ‘Indra 2019’ to begin next week in Pune, Goa & Babina
• The Indra series of exercise began in 2003 and the 1st joint tri-services exercise was conducted in 2017.

MCQ 2

1. BGR-34 is an antibiotic for resistant bacteria
2. CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CSIRCIMAP), Lucknow; and CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIR-NBRI), Lucknow developed it

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

 AYUSH

 CSIR Developed Anti-Diabetes Medicine

• The diabetic population in the country is close to hitting the alarming mark of 69.9 million by 2025, which denotes that the country is expected to witness an increase of 266%. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), through its constituent laboratories namely CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow; and CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute (CSIRNBRI), Lucknow developed scientifically validated herbal product NBRMAPDB as anti-diabetic formulation and the knowhow for the product was licensed to M/s AIMIL Pharma Ltd., Delhi who are manufacturing and marketing it as BGR-34, across the country.
• M/s AIMIL Pharmaceuticals, the licensee carried out the clinical study of BGR-34
• the formulation has shown therapeutic efficacy for treating newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes
• The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, (CCRAS), an autonomous body under Ministry of AYUSH has been engaged in extending research oriented based on integrative health care services for the management Diabetes Mellitus.
• The following are the core activities
• CCRAS had developed the AYUSH82 formulation for diabetes through scientific process of drug development and commercialized through National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) for wider public utility.

MCQ 3

1. Under UDAN 4.0 MoCA to bear 90% of VGF and remaining 10% by North East state governments
2. Umrangso Reservoir is going to be the 1 st Water Aerodrome on brahmputra river

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

PIB

 Ministry of Civil Aviation

• 30 Airports/Airstrips & 1 Water Aerodrome in North-Eastern Region up for Bidding under UDAN 4.0
• Additional VGF offered for Priority Sectors Under UDAN 4.0
•  With focus on connectivity of North eastern region, UDAN 4.0 scheme under the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has invited bids for 6 underserved and 24 unserved airports/airstrips in the North-East states of India. The ministry has also recognized 1 Water Aerodrome location that is up for bidding in the region. The efforts are constantly being undertaken to provide aerial connectivity to the region.The move will not only boost tourism but will also transform economic situation of the region. Under the UDAN 4.0 scheme, MoCA is also providing additional Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of around 25% to the airlines.
• Airports available for bidding under UDAN 4.0 in North-Eastern Region:
• List of Unserved Airports / Airstrips up for bidding:
• Arunachal Pradesh – Alinya, Along, Daparizo, Mechuka, Tuting, Vijaynagar, Walong, Yinghiong, Ziro
• Assam –Chabua, Darrang, Dinjan, Ledo, Misa Mari, Nazira, Sadiya, Sorbhog, Sukerating (Dum Duma)
• Meghalaya –Dwara, Shella, Tura
• Tripura -Kailashahar, Kamalpur, Khowai

List of Underserved Airports / Airstrips up for bidding:

• Arunachal Pradesh –Passighat&Tezu
• Assam – Jorhat, Rupsi, Tezpur
• Meghalaya –Shillong

List of Water Aerodrome up for bidding:

• Assam -Umrangso Reservoir

 Other incentives to the airlines:

• MoCA to bear 90% of VGF and remaining 10% by North East state governments
• Excise Duty at the rate of 2% only shall be levied on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), drawn by Selected Airline Operators at RCS Airport(s) for RCS Flights, for three (3) years from the date of notification.
• Reduction of VAT to 1% or less on ATF at RCS Concession Airports located within the State for a period of ten (10) years from the date of notification.
• Provision of minimum land, if required, free of cost and free from all encumbrances for development of RCS Concession Airports and also provide multi-modal hinterland connectivity (road, rail, metro, waterways, etc.) as required.
• Provision of security and fire services free of cost at RCS Concession Airports
• Provision of, directly or through appropriate means, electricity, water and other utility services at substantially concessional rates at RCS Concession Airports.
• (Viability Gap Funding) VGF cap has been enhanced in Udan 4.0 for operations of RCS flights in Priority Area(s) (Union Territories [UT] of Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir; the States of Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, North Eastern State; UT of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar). The VGF cap applicable for various stage lengths for operation has been enhanced (below 20 seater) small aircraft under the Scheme.
• VGF will be provided for RCS Flights for a period of three (3) years from the date of commencement of RCS Flight operations
• State Governments, at their discretion, may consider extending any additional support (such as marketing support) for promotion of RCS Flights.

Khandong and Kopili Power Station

• The first stage of Kopili Hydro Electric Plant has two dam and dyke systems which created two reservoirs,

1. One on the kopili river and the other
2. On the umrong stream, a tributary of the kopili.

MCQ 4
In order to simplify documentation for exports and imports through digitization, Department of Revenue, CBIC have taken several initiatives.
Choose correct

1. SWIFT
2. E-Sanchit
3. ICEDASH
4. ATITHI (A)

(A.) 3 &4
(B) 2,3,4
(C) All
(D) None

 PIB

• Finance Minister Launched two new IT Initiatives –ICEDASH & ATITHI for improved monitoring and pace of Customs clearance of imported goods and facilitating arriving international passengers
• ICEDASH : Ease of Doing Business monitoring dashboard of the Indian Customs helping public see the daily Customs clearance times of import cargo
• ATITHI : Easy to use mobile app for international travelers to file the Customs declaration in advance E-sanchit and why it is important?
• In the official website of Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), it had announced the Pilot implementation for paperless processing, uploading of supporting documents, e-SANCHIT, from 20th Oct 2017.
• enabling the ICEGATE registered persons to file documents online. The ‘India Customs Single Window’ allows importers & exporters, to lodge their clearance documents online without approaching other regulatory agencies for requisite permissions if any.
• The idea is to reduce physical interface between customs/regulatory agencies and the trade and to increase the speed of clearance.

 Ministry of Commerce & Industry

• Draft National Logistic Policy
• The vision of the proposed policy is to drive economic growth and business competitiveness of the country through an integrated, seamless, efficient, reliable, green, sustainable and cost effective logistics network leveraging the best in technology, processes and skilled manpower.
• While, there is no official estimation of logistics cost for India, some private institutions have estimated the logistics cost to be 13 to 14 percent of the GDP.
•  The proposed policy aims to reduce this to 9 -10 percent of the GDP.
• In order to simplify documentation for exports and imports through digitization, Department of Revenue, CBIC have taken several initiatives like

1. SWIFT ( Single Window Interface For Trade )
2. Adoption of Digital Signature
3.  24×7 Customs Clearance – for ‘facilitated’ Bills of Entry and factory stuffed containers and goods exported under free Shipping Bills at select ports
4.   Import Data Processing and Management System (IDPMS) – jointly launched with RBI to facilitate efficient data processing for payment of imports and effective monitoring
5.   E-Sanchit
6. Two new IT Modules ICEDASH i.e (Ease of doing business monitoring dashboard) and ATITHI app for electronic filing by passengers for baggage
7.  PCS 1X which is a platform for port related processes developed by Indian Ports Association.

MCQ 5

1. Payments banks are required to invest minimum 75% of its “demand deposit balances” in Statutory Liquidity Ratio(SLR).
2. They don’t have to maintain Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) with RBI.

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

Payments Banks

• The objectives of setting up of payments banks will be to further financial inclusion by providing Small savings accounts and Payments /remittance services to migrant labour workforce, low income households, small businesses, other unorganized sector entities and other users.
• They can Accept of demand deposits and initially restricted to hold a maximum balance of Rs. 100,000 per individual customer.
• They cannot undertake lending activities.
• They should maintain Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) with RBI.
• It is required to invest minimum 75% of its “demand deposit balances” in Statutory Liquidity Ratio(SLR).
• It should maintain maximum 25 per cent in current and time/fixed deposits with other scheduled commercial banks for operational purposes and liquidity management.
• They can issue ATM/Debit cards however cannot issue credit cards.
• The minimum paid-up equity capital for payments banks shall be Rs. 100 crore.

MCQ 6

1. National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is India’s first sovereign wealth fund 2. It is registered with RBI as Category II Alternative Investment Fund

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

News

• Canada’s largest pension fund Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has agreed to invest about $600 million in National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) through the NIIF Master Fund.
• With CPPIB’s investment, NIIF Master Fund now has $2.1 billion in commitments and has achieved its initially targeted fund size.
• National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) is India’s first sovereign wealth fund that was set up by the Government of India in February 2015.
• The NIIF is a trust that raises debt to invest in the equity of infrastructure finance companies.
• It acts like a bankers‘ bank in infrastructure financing. Government owns 49% of NIIF.
• It provides equity support to NBFCs/ Financial Institutions (FIs) engaged in infrastructure financing.
• The objective behind creating this fund was to maximize economic impact mainly through infrastructure investment in commercially viable projects, both Greenfield and Brownfield
• It is being considered as an Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) under SEBI regulation.
• A typical sovereign wealth fund (SWF) will be a state-owned investment company owned by governments and invests their own money in foreign countries.
• Though the NIIF acts like an SWF, it does not invest in assets such as stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities etc like an SMF do and therefore cannot be called so.
• NIIF manages three funds: Master Fund, Fund of Funds and Strategic Fund

1. Master Fund The Master Fund is an infrastructure fund with the objective of primarily investing in operating assets in the core infrastructure sectors such as roads, ports, airports, power etc.
2. Fund of Funds The Fund of Funds anchor and/or invest in funds managed by fund managers who have good track records in infrastructure and associated sectors in India. Some of the sectors of focus include Green Infrastructure, Mid-Income & Affordable Housing, Infrastructure services and allied sectors.
3. Strategic Investment Fund Strategic Investment Fund is registered as an Alternative Investment Fund II under SEBI in India. The objective of National Investment and Infrastructure Fund II (“Strategic Fund”) is to invest largely in equity and equity-linked instruments. The Strategic Fund will focus on green field and brown field investments in the core infrastructure sectors.

MCQ 7

1. Most committees are ‘standing’ as their existence is uninterrupted and usually reconstituted on an annual basis.
2. Select committees are formed for a specific purpose for one year.

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

• NEWS Persistent absenteeism from meetings of department-related standing committees should cost MPs their spot on these parliamentary panels was a strong view that emerged during a meeting of chairpersons of the committees with Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu recently.
• Committees are platforms for threadbare discussion on a proposed law.
• The smaller cohort of lawmakers, assembled on the basis of the proportional strength of individual parties and interests and expertise of individual lawmakers, could have more open, intensive and betterinformed discussions.
• Committee meetings are ‘closed door’ and members are not bound by party whips, which for a more meaningful exchange of views.
• Members of Parliament may have great acumen but they would require the assistance of experts in dealing with such situations. It is through committees that such expertise is drawn into lawmaking. They allow for more detailed discussions.
• This mechanism also enables parliamentarians to understand the executive processes closely.
• Most committees are ‘standing’ as their existence is uninterrupted and usually reconstituted on an annual basis.
• Some are ‘select’ committees formed for a specific purpose, for instance, to deliberate on a particular bill.
• Once the Bill is disposed of, that select committee ceases to exist.
• Some standing committees are departmentally related.
• The three financial committees are the Public Accounts Committee, the Estimates Committee and the Committee on Public Undertakings.
• Parliamentary committees draw their authority from Article 105 (on privileges of Parliament members) and Article 118 (on Parliament’s authority to make rules for regulating its procedure and conduct of business).

MCQ 8
A person can be named an offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, if there is an arrest warrant against him or her for involvement in economic offences involving at least Rs. ______crore or more and has fled from India to escape legal action.

1. 100
2. 500
3. 1000
4. 10

• Nirav Modi is the second businessman, after liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, to be declared a fugitive economic offender under provisions of the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, which came into existence in August last year.
• The investigative agency can now confiscate properties of Nirav Modi which are not directly related to the cases against him.
• As per ED, Nirav Modi and his uncle Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated the PNB to the tune of ₹14,000 crore through issuance of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs).
• These LoUs were allegedly issued in a fraudulent manner by a Mumbai branch of the PNB to the group of companies belonging to Nirav Modi since March 2011, till the case came to light.
• The investigating agencies have to file an application in a Special Court under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act containing details of the properties to be confiscated, and any information about the person’s whereabouts.

MCQ 9
Recently in news, what is HERA

1. An act for protection of women
2. Act for foreign funds regulation
3. An asteroid
4. NOTA

The European Space Agency (ESA) has approved the budget of Hera, the European component of the mission to slam a spacecraft into an asteroid.
 What is Hera?

1.  Hera is the European contribution to an international double-spacecraft collaboration. Hera is named after the Greek goddess of marriage.

• Due to launch in 2024, Hera would travel to a binary asteroid system – the Didymos pair of near-Earth asteroids.
• NASA will first perform a kinetic impact on the smaller of the two bodies, then Hera will follow-up with a detailed post-impact survey that will turn this grand-scale experiment into a well-understood and repeatable planetary defence technique.
• Didymos is a binary asteroid;

What is DART mission?

• Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) will target Didymos as part of its planetary defence programme.
• DART will deliberately crash itself into the moonlet at a speed of approximately 6 km per second, using an onboard camera and autonomous navigation software.
• The collision will change the speed of the moonlet in its orbit around the main body. Why we need a planetary defence mechanism?
• There are around 25,000 near-Earth objects (NEOs) that orbit the Sun on a trajectory that brings them close to our planet’s orbit.
• Certain near-Earth objects have been classified as “potentially hazardous” which are 140 metres or more in size and come within 0.05 AU (astronomical unit) to Earth.
• As of now, there are about 900 near-Earth objects measuring more than 1 km.
• An impact from one of these NEOs can bring devastating effects to Earth.
• That is why scientists are working on a number of planetary protection initiatives to deflect asteroids if they threaten to impact the Earth.

MCQ 10
Locate on the world map from south to north

1. Malacca
2. Dar es Salaam
3. Socotra
4. Reunion Island

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

Download Free PDF

Sharing is caring!