Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 11-11-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. Shilpostav- 2019 is the annual festival for potters in India
2. It is organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Choose correct

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

•  Shilpostav- 2019
• It is the annual fair of artisans belonging to the weaker sections of the society from across the country.
• It is organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Artisans are assisted by the apex corporations of the ministry such as

• National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation,
• National Scheduled Caste Finance & Development Corporation,
• National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation and
• National Safai Karamchari Finance & Development Corporation

 MCQ 2

1. SDG target of MMR globally is 100/1Lakh deaths
2. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 30 days of termination of pregnancy.

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

 Maternal deaths on the decline: report

• Survey from 2015 to 2017 also reveals highest casualties in the age group of 20-29
• MUMBAIA special bulletin on maternal mortality has revealed that Indian women in their 20s make up for the biggest chunk of maternal deaths. The report by the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) from 2015 to 2017 shows 68% of deaths were among women in the age group of 20-29. The three-year data also reveals a positive development of reduction in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) as compared to 2014-2016.
• “It is heartening that the MMR of India has declined from 130 in 2014-2016 to 122 in 2015-17. The drop has been most significant in empowered action group (EAG) States from 188 to 175,” the report said.
• The SRS had categorized the States into three groups — the EAG States comprise Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Assam; southern States consist of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu; and Other States cover the remaining States and Union Territories. “Among the southern States, the decline has been from 77 to 72 and in the Other States from 93 to 90,” the report said.
• As per the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal death is the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy. The WHO says the MMR dropped by 38% worldwide between 2000 and 2017. However, an estimated 810 women died every day in 2017 from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
• According to gynaecologist Dr. Ashok Anand, who is attached to State-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai, women have to prepare their bodies and be fit for pregnancy. “Unfortunately, the aspect of fitness is simply ignored.”
• JJ Hospital carries out 8,500 deliveries annually. Dr. Anand said bleeding, hypertension, and infections are among the leading causes of maternal deaths. He said the highest number of deaths are seen in the age group of 20-29 because most women get married and get pregnant in this age group. “This is also the most fertile age group.”
• Nearly 4% of deaths were in the age group of 15 to 19 which highlights the problem of early marriages and teenage pregnancies in the country. The sustainable development goals set by the United Nations target reducing the global MMR to less than 70 per one lakh live births by 2030.
• Maternal Mortality Ratio
• According to the recent special bulletin on MMR released by the Registrar General of India, MMR of India has declined by 8 points in one year.
• MMR has declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 122 per lakh live births in 2015-17 (6.2% decline).
• Under the National Health Policy 2017, India has set the ambitious target of MMR of 100/one lakh live births by 2020.
• Currently, 11 states in India have achieved the target – Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Karnataka and Haryana.
• Four states namely Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are behind in containing MMR.
• India is on the track of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for reducing MMR by 2025, five years ahead of timeline of 2030.
• Initiatives such as LaQshya, POSHAN Abhiyan and SUMAN (Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan Initiative) are launched for reducing MMR.

MCQ 3

1. Argon is 4 th most abundant gas in the Earth’s Atmosphere.
2. According to ISRO, Argon-40 originates from the radioactive disintegration of Potassium-40.

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

Lunar Exosphere

• The thin gaseous layer encompassing the Moon is the ‘Lunar exosphere’, due to the gas atoms present in it very rarely collide with each other, thus making up a very tenuous structure.
• Chandrayaan-2 currently orbiting the Moon has detected Argon-40 from an altitude of about 100 km in the lunar exosphere.
• It has been able to do that with the help of its Chandra’s Atmospheric Composition Explorer-2 (CHACE-2) payload.
• Argon-40 also known as 40Ar is an isotope of the noble gas Argon.
• Argon is third most abundant gas in the Earth’s Atmosphere.
• According to ISRO, Argon-40 originates from the radioactive disintegration of Potassium-40.

MCQ 4

1. First Bamboo Industrial Park is being set up in ladakh
2. The Government will set up a Films and Training Institute of India (FTII) in Arunachal Pradesh

 Choose correct

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

• Dr Jitendra Singh said that for ease of doing business, there are three essentials, which are: i). Connectivity, ii). Communication and iii). Ease of regulations.
• Giving the example of North East, the Minister said that connectivity in NE has been the main focus of the current Government, with Sikkim getting its first airport last year. He said that that Itanagar will also soon get an airport. He also mentioned about train connectivity in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. He further said that we are in the process of flagging off first train to Bangladesh from Agartala. The Minister also mentioned the Inland waterways developed by the government down the Brahamputra river, which is one of the largest rivers of the world. While quoting the importance of waterways in the economy, the Minister said that the cost of cargo transportation by waterways is one fourth of the cost by train.
• The Minister said that some of the breakthroughs made under PM Shri Narendra Modi were never expected earlier. He added that the Prime Minister has been reiterating the emphasis on closer and progressive collaboration with ASEAN countries and also focus on development of North eastern region of India. This is important for business and trade development, the Minister added. Dr Jitendra Singh said that North east has unexplored potential which needs to be tapped. He added that the new engine of the ASEAN collaboration has been spearheaded by the north eastern region.
• He spoke about other initiatives in NE such as Brahamputra Study Centre, affiliation of Barooah Cancer Institute with Tata Memorial Centre, setting up of APJ Abdul Kalam Study Centre at IIM Shillong, etc.
• He also mentioned about the Government’s decision to amend the age old “Indian Forest Act of 1927” and the amendment has exempted the bamboo grown in the non-forest land from the Forest Act.
• He said that first Bamboo Industrial Park is being set up in Dima Hasao district of Assam. The Minister added that similar parks can be set up in J&K.
• He said a possibility of opening Apple food park, Strawberry food park can be explored.
• He added that first ever citrus fruit park has been developed in Mizoram with Israeli collaboration. We need to have a vision and futuristic approach, the Minister emphasized.
• Speaking about the tourism potential of North East, the Minister said that tourism has grown manifold in the recent years, specially with Home stay tourism in the region.
• The Government will set up a Films and Training Institute of India (FTII) in Arunachal Pradesh, the Minister added.
• He added that many initiatives have been taken to promote start-ups in North east, such as tax holiday, provision of exit period and ‘Venture fund’ which is being offered by the DoNER Ministry.
• These initiatives have helped in curbing the youth exodus from the region, the Minister said.

MCQ 5

“Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan” is being run by ministry of

1. Rural development
2. Urban affairs
3. Environment
4. Jal Shakti

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

•  “Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan”
•  Week-long intensive Beach Cleaning Drive in 50 identified beaches of India begins today
• To strive to make our beaches clean and create awareness amongst citizens about the importance of coastal ecosystems, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) are undertaking a mass cleanliness-cum-awareness drive in 50 identified beaches under the “Swachh – Nirmal Tat Abhiyaan”, from 11th -17thNovember, 2019. The identified beaches are in 10 coastal States/Union Territories (UTs) namely Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha. The beaches have been identified after the consultation with the States/UTs.
• The cleaning drives in all beaches are being undertaken, involving school/college students of Eco-clubs, district administration, institutions, volunteers, local communities and other stakeholders. State Nodal Agencies for the Eco-clubs will be facilitating the week long intensive cleanliness drive in all 10 States/UTs. Nodal teachers from the Eco-clubs will be present at the sites during the entire cleanliness drive. MoEF&CC officials have also been deputed to monitor the implementation of the drive.
•  For beach cleaning activities which will be a duration of two hours on daily basis, a minimum of one Kilometre stretch of the beach shall be identified. Beach sand cleaning machines shall also be deployed at about identified 15 beaches. Thereafter collected waste will be processed as per extant Waste Management Rules, 2016. Environment Education Division of the Ministry and Society of Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) under the aegis of this Ministry will be responsible for the overall coordination for the drive in 50 beaches. Respective State Governments and Central Ministries will also be actively participating in the beach cleaning drives.
• The Ministry has also decided that on completion of the drive, best three beaches will be suitably awarded along with a Certificate of Appreciation for all the participating Eco-clubs.

MCQ 6

1. Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry has created a dedicated platform, the Global Exhibition on Services (GES) which is an annual event.
2. The 1 st edition of GES 2019 is being held from 26-28 November 2019 in Bengaluru, Karnataka

 Choose correct

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

 Ministry of Commerce & Industry

• India’s service excellence to be showcased in GES 2019
•  Delegates from 100 countries to participate
• With an aim to engage industry and Governments across the world and to promote greater exchange of trade in services between India and rest of the world, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry in association with Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has created a dedicated platform, the Global Exhibition on Services (GES) which is an annual event.
• The 5th edition of GES 2019 is being held from 26-28 November 2019 in Bengaluru, Karnataka. It is an attempt towards escalating the Indian services bar in the global arena by exploring 12 Champion Services Sectors, encompassing participation from 100 countries and hosting sector specific knowledge sessions. India is looking to attract investments and partnerships in strategic areas like aviation and space programme, infrastructure, telecom projects, financial management and accounting, content, design, media distribution and outsourcing publishing work, Intellectual Property management services and environmental/ social impact assessment.
• Through GES the Government of India seeks to enhance strategic cooperation and develop synergies to strengthen multilateral relationships between all stake holders, tap the potential for services exports and increase FDI inflow.
• GES 2019 will host focussed knowledge sessions on key Champion Services Sectors and will cater to many B2B, B2G and B2C meetings.

MCQ 7

 iDEX initiative is related to

1. Port development
2. Defence procurement
3. Space manufacturing
4. None

 Ministry of Defence Defence

•  innovations conference showcasing accomplishments of iDEX to be held tomorrow
• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to be the Chief Guest
• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is organising ‘Def-Connect’ here tomorrow to showcase the accomplishments of the Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and construct a strong outreach towards the potential future entrepreneurs of the defence sector. Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will be the Chief Guest of the event.
• The conference aims to bring together all stakeholders of the iDEX ecosystem i.e. MoD, iDEX selected startups, Partner Incubators, Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO), Nodal agencies (Indian Army, Navy, Airforce), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), Indian Ordnance Factories (IOFs), MSMEs and Industry associations to showcase the growth of the defence ecosystem in the country and recognise the infinite potential of the MSMEs/startups for future growth of the defence sector in the country.
• Launch of iDEX Portal, launch of Defence India Startup Challenge (DISC)-III are some of the major activities planned during this day-long event. Panel discussions with eminent personalities in the field of innovation in defence sector will also be held. MoUs between the new incubators and private industry will be exchanged in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Shripad Naik.
• More than 350 startups & innovators working on various defence technologies are expected to participate in the event. The event would lead to better interaction & bridging the gap between the stakeholders and will be a precursor for Startup showcase during the forthcoming DefExpo 2020, to be held in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow from February 5-8, 2020.

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