11 FEB CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Public Sector
Banks in India

1. These banks are under dual control, with the RBI supervising the banking operations and the Finance Ministry handling ownership issues.
2. PJ Nayak committee had proposed bringing down the government stake in public banks below 50%.
   Which of the above statement/s is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
About Public Sector Banks:
• Currently, there are ten nationalised banks in addition to IDBI Bank and SBI.
• PSU banks are under dual control, with the RBI supervising the banking operations and the Finance Ministry handling ownership issues.
• Committee recommendations: Many committees had proposed bringing down the government stake in public banks below 51% – the Narasimham Committee proposed 33% and the P J Nayak Committee suggested below 50%.
o An RBI Working Group recently suggested the entry of business houses into the banking sector.

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the National Monsoon Mission

1. It was launched by the Ministry of Science and Technology, government of India.
2. It is a dynamic monsoon prediction system for short range only. Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
The National Monsoon Mission: It was launched by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in 2012 with an aim to develop a state-of-the-art, dynamic monsoon prediction system for short, medium, and long-range forecasts. Both statements are incorrect.

Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to the Ambedkar Social
Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM)

1. The initiative was launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, government of India.
2. It aims to promote entrepreneurship among the Schedule Caste (SC) Youth with special preference to Divyangs.
   Which of the above statement/s is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
About the ASIIM:
• Launched in 2020: By the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under Venture Capital Fund for SCs with a view to promoting innovation and enterprise among SC students studying in higher educational institutions.
• Objectives:
o To promote entrepreneurship among the SC Youth with special preference to Divyangs.
o To support innovative ideas till 2024 through synergetic work with the Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) set up by the Department of Science and Technology. o To support, promote, hand-hold the start-up ideas till they reach commercial stage by providing liberal equity support.
o To incentivise students with an innovative mind-set to take to entrepreneurship with confidence.

Q4. Consider the following statements about Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act:

1. It allows an unwanted pregnancy to be terminated up to 20 weeks of pregnancy.
2. It requires no approval if the pregnancy is beyond 12 weeks.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP): The MTP Act of 1971 was framed in the context of reducing the maternal mortality ratio due to unsafe abortions.
• It allows an unwanted pregnancy to be terminated up to 20 weeks of pregnancy and requires a second doctor’s approval if the pregnancy is beyond 12 weeks.
• Further, it only allows termination when there is a grave risk to the physical or mental health of the woman or if the pregnancy results from a sex crime such as rape or intercourse with a mentally challenged woman.

Q5. Consider the following statements:

1. Article 105 of the Constitution expressly mentions three parliamentary privileges.
2. The Lok Sabha Speaker nominates a committee of privileges consisting of 15 members.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
What is parliamentary privilege?
• Parliamentary privilege refers to rights and immunities enjoyed by Parliament as an institution and MPs in their individual capacity, without which they cannot discharge their functions as entrusted upon them by the Constitution.
• Article 105 of the Constitution expressly mentions two privileges, that is, freedom of speech in Parliament and right of publication of its proceedings. Statement 1 is incorrect.
Breach of privilege
• When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Parliament.
• A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege.
• Each House also claims the right to punish as contempt actions which, while not breach of any specific privilege, are offences against its authority and dignity.
Rules governing privilege
• Rule No 222 in Chapter 20 of the Lok Sabha Rule Book and correspondingly Rule 187 in Chapter 16 of the Rajya Sabha rulebook governs privilege.
• It says that a member may, with the consent of the Speaker or the Chairperson, raise a question involving a breach of privilege either of a member or of the House or of a committee thereof.
• The rules however mandate that any notice should be relating to an incident of recent occurrence and should need the intervention of the House.
Role of the Speaker/Rajya Sabha Chair
• The Speaker/RS chairperson is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.
• The Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.
• If the Speaker/Chair gives consent under Rule 222, the member concerned is given an opportunity to make a short statement.
• A large number of notices are rejected, with penal action recommended in only a few.
Privileges committee
• In the Lok Sabha, the Speaker nominates a committee of privileges consisting of 15 members as per respective party strengths.
• A report is then presented to the House for its consideration.

Q6. Consider the following statements in context of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967:

1. The Act assigns absolute power to the central government and the state governments in designation any activity as unlawful.
2. “Unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory only.
   Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
Both statements are incorrect.
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967
• UAPA is India’s principal federal counterterrorism law.
• The UAPA – an upgrade on the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities
(Prevention) Act TADA, which was allowed to lapse in 1995 and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) was repealed in 2004 — was originally passed in 1967 under the then Congress government led by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
• The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.
• Till 2004, “unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory. Following the 2004 amendment, “terrorist act” was added to the list of offences.
• The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment (UAPA), also passed in 2019, allows an National Investigation Agency
(NIA) officer to conduct raids, and seize properties that are suspected to be linked to terrorist activities without taking prior permission of the Director General of Police of a state.
o The investigating officer only requires sanction from the Director General of NIA.

Q7. Koch Rajbongshis is a community mainly located in:
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Gujarat
c) Karnataka
d) None of the above

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Assam and West Bengal, where he will address a community vital to upcoming Assembly elections in both states — the Koch Rajbongshis.
• They are a community that traces its roots to the Kamata kingdom, which comprised parts of Assam, West Bengal and adjoining territories.
• In the medieval period, the community was dominant and ruled their territory of Kamatapur, which comprised a large part of Bangladesh, West Bengal, Bihar and India’s north-east.
• After Independence, the princely state of Cooch Behar became part of West Bengal.
• Today, Koch Rajbongshis are found in Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Bihar, and in Bangladesh, Nepal and some parts of Bhutan.
• They are estimated to number over 33 lakh in West Bengal, mostly the northern districts, and have a large presence in Assam.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q8. With reference to the Koo App, consider the following statements: 1. It won government’s Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge

2. It was launched in 2016.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Days AFTER the Centre asked Twitter to “suspend or block” nearly 1,200 accounts, citing “misinformation and provocative content” on the farmers’ protest, several ministers and departments of the Union government have started flocking on Koo App — a homemade version of the social networking platform.
• The microblogging site was co-founded by entrepreneurs Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidwatka. Radhakrishna had founded online cab booking service TaxiForSure, which was subsequently sold to Ola Cabs.
• While the app was launched in early 2020, its participation and the subsequent winning of the government’s Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge brought it under the limelight.
• The app, along with other India-made apps like Zoho and Chingari — the local version of TikTok, won the challenge, which was launched by the Centre close on the heels of banning scores of apps with Chinese links citing national security concerns.
• Following the outcome of the Atmanirbhar App Innovation Challenge, the app was also mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat address.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q9. With reference to the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL), consider the following statements:

1. It is a Public Sector Undertaking formed as per Companies Act, under the administrative control of the Department of Fertilizers (DoF), Government of India.
2. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs recently accorded approval to the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Namrup (Assam).
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs accorded approval to the proposal of the Department of Fertilizers for Grant-in-aid of Rs.100 crore to Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizers Corporation Limited (BVFCL), Namrup (Assam) to sustain operations of it’s urea manufacturing units.
• BVFCL, Namrup is a Public Sector Undertaking formed as per Companies Act, under the administrative control of the Department of Fertilizers (DoF), Government of India.
• At present, the Company is operating its two vintage plants viz. Namrup-ll and Namrup-lll in the premises of BVFCL in Namrup, Assam.
• The grant in aid of Rs. 100 crore to BVFCL will restore the urea production capacity of 3.90 Lac MT per annum and ensure timely availability of Urea to Tea Industry & Farming Sector in the entire North Eastern region specially Assam.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Q10. With reference to the World Pulses Day, consider the following statements:

1. The World Pulses Day falls on February 18 every year and recognised Pulses as a global food.
2. World Pulses Day 2021 theme is #LovePulses. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? a) 1 Only
   b) 2 Only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
Union Agriculture Minister graces the occasion as chief guest on World Pulses Day.
• The UN General Assembly in 2019 decided to dedicate a day to Pulses to increase awareness and access to pulses globally known as World Pulses Day.
• The World Pulses Day falls on February 10 every year and recognised Pulses as a global food.
• On World Pulses Day, people make efforts in creating awareness about the importance of Pulses in sustainable food production.
• The UN General Assembly after recognizing the value of pulses in 2013, adopted 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (IYP).
• World Pulses Day 2021 theme is #LovePulses.
• Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.