Daily PIB Analysis For UPSC/IAS | 21st May 19

Table of Contents

MCQ

Consider the following statements about BEE Star Ratings.

The Ministry of Power recently announced that microwave ovens and Induction Cook-top will now be assigned star ratings.
BEE Star Rating is solely based on the appliance’s power consumption.
Appliances with the highest energy consumption are given more star rating.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a) 1, 2
b) 2, 3
c) 1, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

The Ministry of Power has announced that two more electrical appliances microwave ovens and washing machines will now be assigned star ratings based on their energy efficiency metrics.
Star ratings are provided to all the major kind of appliances in the form of labels.
These star ratings are given out of 5 and they provide a basic sense of how energy efficient each product is, just in a single glance.
The manufacturers are officially required to put these labels as per the Standards and Labelling Program introduced in 2006.
One of the most common myths about the BEE Star Rating is that it is solely based on the appliance’s power consumption.
A lot of factors contribute into formulating the final star rating on the product.
The appliances with the lowest energy consumption in a product category are given the most stars and those with the highest energy consumption are given the least.

MCQ

Consider the following statements about Agriculture Export Policy, 2018

It aims to double agricultural exports by 2022.
Establishment of Monitoring Framework at Centre with Department of Agriculture as the nodal Department.
Promote indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 2, 3
c) 1, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

The Cabinet has approved the proposal for establishment of Monitoring Framework at Centre with Commerce as the nodal Department with representation from various line Ministries/Departments and Agencies and representatives of concerned State Governments, to oversee the implementation of Agriculture Export Policy.

Objectives of the Agriculture Export Policy

To double agricultural exports from present ~US$ 30+ Billion to ~US$ 60+ Billion by 2022 and reach US$ 100 Billion in the next few years thereafter, with a stable trade policy regime.
To diversify our export basket, destinations and boost high value and value added agricultural exports including focus on perishables.
To promote novel, indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports.
To provide an institutional mechanism for pursuing market access, tackling barriers and deal with sanitary and phytosanitary issues.
To strive to double India’s share in world agri exports by integrating with global value chain at the earliest.
Enable farmers to get benefit of export opportunities in overseas market.

MCQ

Consider the following statements about programme ‘PARIVESH’.

It is a web-based single-window system for environmental clearances from Central and State level authorities only.
It seeks to get Environment, Forests, Wildlife clearances and not CRZ clearances.
It is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

a) 1 only
b) 1, 2, 3
c) 3 only
d) 1, 2

PARIVESH is a web based, role based application developed for online submission and monitoring of the proposals submitted by the proponents for seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and CRZ Clearances from Central, State and district level authorities.
It automates the entire tracking of proposals which includes online submission of a new proposal, editing/updating the details of proposals and displays status of the proposals at each stage of the workflow.

MCQ

Consider the following statements about World Air Quality Report 2018.

It was released by World Health Organisation (WHO).
The main objective behind the report was to measure the presence of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5.
India has progressed in controlling air pollution and of the 10 cities with highest pollution only 2 are in India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 2 only
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 3

IQAir AirVisual and Greenpeace have released World Air Quality Report 2018.
The main objective behind the report was to measure the presence of fine particulate matter known as Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5, which has been recorded in real-time in 2018.
Of the 10 cities with highest pollution, seven are in India, while one is in China and two are in Pakistan.
India’s Gurugram led the list of most polluted cities in the world in 2018, followed by Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida, and Bhiwadi in the top six worst-affected cities.

MCQ

Consider the following statements about POSHAN Abhiyaan.

POSHAN Abhiyaan is a multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to ensure attainment of malnutrition free India by 2022.
It aims to improve nutritional outcomes for children and pregnant women only.
Incentivizes Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using IT based tools.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1 only
b) 1, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

POSHAN Abhiyaan is a multi-ministerial convergence mission with the vision to ensure attainment of malnutrition free India by 2022.
The objective of POSHAN Abhiyaan to reduce stunting in identified Districts of India with the highest malnutrition burden by improving utilization of key Anganwadi Services and improving the quality of Anganwadi Services delivery.
The Mission is aimed at improving the nutritional status of Children from 0-6 years, Adolescent Girls, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers in a time bound manner during the next three years.

MCQ

FSSAI has been mandated by the FSS Act, 2006 for performing which of the following functions?

To provide scientific advice to both Central and State Governments in the matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a direct bearing of food safety and nutrition.
Provide training programmes for persons who are involved in food businesses.
Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and Phyto-sanitary standards.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 2, 3
c) 1, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which consolidates various acts & orders that have hitherto handled food related issues in various Ministries and Departments.
FSSAI has been created for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.
FSSAI has been mandated by the FSS Act, 2006 for performing the following functions:
Framing of Regulations to lay down the Standards and guidelines in relation to articles of food and specifying appropriate system of enforcing various standards thus notified.
Laying down mechanisms and guidelines for accreditation of certification bodies engaged in certification of food safety management system for food businesses.
Laying down procedure and guidelines for accreditation of laboratories and notification of the accredited laboratories. To provide scientific advice and technical support to Central Government and State Governments in the matters of framing the policy and rules in areas which have a direct or indirect bearing of food safety and nutrition.
Collect and collate data regarding food consumption, incidence and prevalence of biological risk, contaminants in food, residues of various, contaminants in foods products, identification of emerging risks and introduction of rapid alert system.
Creating an information network across the country so that the public, consumers, Panchayats etc receive rapid, reliable and objective information about food safety and issues of concern.
Provide training programmes for persons who are involved or intend to get involved in food businesses.
Contribute to the development of international technical standards for food, sanitary and phytosanitary standards.
Promote general awareness about food safety and food standards.

MCQ

The joint exercise ‘Sary-Arka-Antiterror 2019’ to be held this year is by which of the following grouping.

a) BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)
b) ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
c) BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation)
d) Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) member states will hold a joint anti-terrorism exercise “Sary-ArkaAntiterror 2019.”
The decision to hold a joint exercise was announced during the 34th meeting of the RATS council held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

MCQ

Consider the following statements about SDG India Index

The index looks into social, economic and environmental status of the country.
The Index has been constructed spanning across 17 SDGs.
The SDG India Index was developed by Niti Ayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Global Green Growth Institute and United Nations in India.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 2
b) 1, 3
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

The NITI Aayog released the Baseline Report of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index, which comprehensively documents the progress made by India’s States and Union Territories towards implementing the 2030 SDG targets.
The SDG India Index, was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Global Green Growth Institute and United Nations in India.
The Index spans 13 out of 17 SDGs. Progress on SDGs 12, 13 & 14 could not be measured as relevant State/UT level data were not available and SDG 17 was left out as it focuses on international partnerships.

MCQ

Astana Declaration, recently seen in news is related to

a) Intellectual Property Rights
b) Rights of Indigenous Peoples
c) Combat Trafficking in Persons
d) Primary Health Care

The Global Conference on Primary Health Care in Astana, Kazakhstan in October 2018 endorsed a new declaration emphasizing the critical role of primary health care around the world.
The declaration aims to refocus efforts on primary health care to ensure that everyone everywhere is able to enjoy the highest possible attainable standard of health.

MCQ

Consider the following statements about Angel Tax.

The tax was introduced in the 2017 Union Budget to arrest laundering of funds.
It is the indirect income tax payable on capital raised by unlisted companies via issue of shares where the share price is seen in excess of the fair market value of the shares sold.
It is called angel tax since it largely impacts angel investments in startups.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a) 1, 3
b) 3 only
c) 2, 3
d) 1, 2, 3

The government has notified changes to section 56 of the income tax act, in a move that brings
Relief to start-up founders and investors dealing with the issue of “angel tax”. (It is a direct tax).
Angel tax is a 30% tax that is levied on the funding received by startups from an external investor.
However, this 30% tax is levied when startups receive angel funding at a valuation higher than its ‘fair market value’. It is counted as income to the company and is taxed.
The tax, under section 56(2)(viib), was introduced by in 2012 to fight money laundering.
The stated rationale was that bribes and commissions could be disguised as angel investments to escape taxes. But given the possibility of this section being used to harass genuine startups, it was rarely invoked.