Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | 10th May 19

Table of Contents

MCQ 1

Country which was not the part of Group Sail exercise

A. USA
B. India
C. China
D. Japan

Ministry of Defence

IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti undertake Group Sail with Naval Ships of Japan, Philippines and the USA IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti carried out Group Sail with naval ships of Japan, Philippines and the United States of America in the South China Sea from 03 May to 09 May 19. The sixday long Group Sail had participation of six combatants from the four participating countries and included the Guided Missile Destroyer INS Kolkata and Fleet Support Ship INS Shakti of India, Helicopter Carrier JMSDF Izumo and Guided Missile Destroyer JMSDF Murasame of Japan; Frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio of Philippines and Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer USS Williams P Lawrence of USA. The Group Sail was aimed to deepen the existing partnership and foster mutual understanding among participating navies.
The ships undertook various exercises en route which included formation manoeuvering, underway replenishment runs, crossdeck flying and exchange of Sea Riders. The Group Sail exercise with naval ships of Japan, Philippines and United States showcased India’s commitment to operating with likeminded nations to ensure safe maritime environment through enhanced interoperability.
IN Ships are on return passage from their successful deployment to South and East China Seas as part of the annual Eastern Fleet Over Seas Deployment during which they visited Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, Qingdao, China and Busan, South Korea.
Whilst at Qingdao, both the ships had participated in the International Fleet Review (IFR) as part of the 70th Anniversary Celebration of PLA (Navy). During the ships’ stay in Busan, the IN Ships took part in the Opening Ceremony of Maritime Security (MS) Field Training Exercise (FTX) under the aegis of ADMMPLUS.

On departing Busan, both the ships participated in ADMM-PLUS MS FTX Phase I
exercises from 01 May to 03 May 19 off South Korea with Navies of Brunei, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and the USA.
Group Sail progressed from 03 May to 09 May. The Phase II of ADMM-PLUS MS FTX is scheduled from 09 May to 12 May 19 in the South China Sea.
On completion of Phase II, all participating ships including IN Ships Kolkata and Shakti are scheduled to attend the closing ceremony of ADMM-PLUS MS and participate in the International Maritime Defence Expo (IMDEX) 2019 in Singapore.

MCQ 2

Protocols signed between India and China on which Agricultural Commodities

1. Mango
2. Basmati Rice
3. Chilli
(A) 1 & 3
(B) 2 & 3
(C) 3 only
(D)2 only

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

India and China sign protocol for Export of Indian Chilli Meal Commerce Secretary, Anup Wadhawan and Vice Minister, General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), Li Guo, held a meeting in New Delhi today to discuss trade related issues of pending Indian request for clearance of agricultural products.
Both sides appreciated each other’s concerns and agreed to resolve market access issues expeditiously in order to achieve the vision of the leaders of both India and China by promoting a more balanced trade.
At the end of the meeting a protocol was signed for export of chilli meal from India to China. Protocols signed between India and China on Agricultural Commodities

MCQ 3

Recently __________ passed law which criminalises publication of fake news in country and allows government to block and order removal of such content. It comes into existence after passing of controversial bill ‘The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Bill’

A. Malaysia
B. Vietnam
C. India
D. Singapore

Singapore has passed a controversial anti-fake news law that gives authorities sweeping powers to police online platforms and even private chat groups.
The government can now order platforms to remove what it deems to be false statements that are “against the public interest”, and to post corrections.
Authorities say the bill protects citizens from fake news.
But critics say it poses a serious threat to civil liberties.
It is also unclear how it could be enforced in some instances, such as policing content in
encrypted apps.
Concern over Singapore’s anti-fake news law
The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation bill was passed by lawmakers on Wednesday and will come into force in the next few weeks.
The government has emphasised that the law would not be used to target opinions, but only falsehoods that could prove damaging.
“Free speech should not be affected by this bill,” Law Minister K Shanmugam told parliament, adding that the law is aimed at tackling “falsehoods, bots, trolls, and fake accounts”

MCQ 4
1. As Bengal tiger species is the most numerous of all tiger subspecies.
2. IUCN Red List Status is critically endangered.
3. It is national animal of India and Bangladesh….

Choose correct

(A) 1 & 2
(B) 2 & 3
(C) 1 & 3
(D) All

It found predominantly in India with some populations in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China and Myanmar.
The Project Tiger launched in 1973 was India’s first-ever tiger conservation programme.
IUCN Red List Status is endangered.

MCQ 5
1. WCO It was established in 1952 as Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) and in 1994 it adopted its current name World Customs Organisation (WCO).
2. It is headquartered in prague
3. It is only intergovernmental organization which exclusively focuses on Customs matters.

Choose correct

(A) 1 & 2
(B) 1 & 3
(C) 2 & 3
(D) All

MCQ 6
1. International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) implements UN’s international drug control conventions.
2. It is one of the 15 specialized agencies

Choose correct

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

India’s Jagjit Pavadia was re-elected to International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) for another five-year term beginning 2nd March, 2020. This victory has added to India’s successful record of winning crucial elections at United Nation (UN) and to UN’s subsidiary bodies.
About INCB
It is an independent and quasi-judicial monitoring body. Members: It has 13 members (they may be re-elected). Each member is elected by Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for a period of five years. The 10 members out of 13 are elected from list of persons nominated by Governments and remaining 3 are elected from persons nominated by World Health Organization (WHO) for their medical, pharmacological or pharmaceutical experience.

MCQ 7

Which of the following statements are correct about temperate cyclones?

1) They have a low pressure gradient than tropical cyclones
2) They travel from east to west
3) They are generally produced in summers

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Only 1 and 3
(d) All of these

Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are low-pressure areas which, along with the anticyclones of high-pressure areas, drive the
weather over much of the Earth.
Extratropical cyclones are capable of producing anything from cloudiness and mild showers to heavy gales, thunderstorms, blizzards, and tornadoes. These types of cyclones are defined as large scale (synoptic) low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth. In contrast with tropical cyclones, extratropical cyclones produce rapid changes in temperature and dew point along broad lines, called weather fronts, about the center of the cyclone
The term “cyclone” applies to numerous types of low pressure areas, one of which is the extratropical cyclone. The descriptor extratropical signifies that this type of cyclone generally occurs outside the tropics and in the middle latitudes of Earth between 30° and 60° latitude. They are termed mid-latitude cyclones if they form within those latitudes, or post-tropical cyclones if a tropical cyclone has intruded into the mid latitudes.
Weather forecasters and the general public often describe them simply as “depressions” or “lows”. Terms like frontal cyclone, frontal depression, frontal low, extratropical low, non-tropical low and hybrid low are often used as well.

MCQ 8

Which of the following conditions is/are conducive for the formation of tropical cyclones?

1. large and continuous supply of warm and moist air.
2. large value of Coriolis force.
3. inflow of air at upper level of atmosphere.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
MCQ 9
1. Parker Solar Probe is a NASA robotic spacecraft launched in 2018
2. It will go farthest from Sun towards empty space crossing solar system

Choose correct

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

Parker Solar Probe (previously Solar Probe, Solar Probe Plus, or Solar Probe+, abbreviated PSP) is a NASA robotic spacecraft launched in 2018, with the mission of repeatedly probing and making observations of the outer corona of the Sun.
It will approach to within 9.86 solar radii (6.9 million kilometers or 4.3 million miles)from the center of the Sun and by 2025 will travel, at closest approach, as fast as 690,000 km/h (430,000 mph), or 0.064% the speed of light.
The U.S. space agency announced NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, mankind’s first mission
to ‘touch’ the sun, has set a new record for closest approach to the sun by a humanmade object, Parker Solar Probe. The probe launched on August 12, is on an
unprecedented seven-year-long journey to unlock the mysteries of the sun’s fiery outer
atmosphere and its effects on space weather.
The spacecraft passed the current record of 42.73 million km from the sun’s surface
on October 29 as calculated by the Parker Solar Probe team.

MCQ 10

________launches world’s first sovereign blue bond

A. Indonesia
B. Italy
C. Seychelles
D. Fiji

Seychelles launches world’s first sovereign blue bond

Proceeds from the bond will include support for the expansion of marine protected areas, improved governance of priority fisheries and the development of the Seychelles’ blue economy
The Republic of Seychelles, an archipelagic nation consisting of 115 granite and coral islands, has launched the world’s first sovereign blue bond—a pioneering financial instrument designed to support sustainable marine and fisheries projects.
The bond was announced by the country’s Vice-President at the Our Ocean Conference in Bali on October 29. The business case for a sovereign blue bond was initially identified through support to Seychelles from the International Sustainability Unit of the UK’s Prince Charles.
“As one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, Seychelles is balancing the need to both develop economically and protect its natural endowment. Marine resources are critical to the country’s economic growth. After tourism, the fisheries sector is its most important industry, contributing significantly to annual GDP and employing 17 per cent of the population. Fish products make up around 95 per cent of the total value of domestic exports,”