12 DEC CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Ross by waves naturally occur in rotating fluids.
2. Ross by waves help transfer heat from the tropics toward the poles and cold air toward the tropics.
   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 : c)
Explanation :-
Rossby waves naturally occur in rotating fluids. Within the Earth’s ocean and atmosphere, these planetary waves play a significant role in shaping weather.
Atmospheric Rossby waves form primarily as a result of the Earth’s geography. Rossby waves help transfer heat from the tropics toward the poles and cold air toward the tropics in an attempt to return the atmosphere to balance. They also help locate the jet stream and mark out the track of surface low pressure systems. The slow motion of these waves often results in fairly long, persistent weather patterns. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. The Paris Agreement is a non-legally binding international treaty on climate change.
2. It seeks to limit global average temperature rise to well below 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.
   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 Paris Agreement
• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
• It was adopted by 196 countries in Paris on December 12, 2015 and entered into force on November 4, 2016.
• It seeks to limit global average temperature rise to well below 2°C above preindustrial levels and endeavour to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
• The agreement, which entered into force on 4 November 2016, currently has 188 parties.
• All parties to it are expected to undertake ambitious efforts to support the agreement’s goals and communicate their related intentions every five years in the form of NDCs.
• As per the Agreement, each successive NDC must represent a progression beyond the country’s previous NDC and reflect its highest possible ambition. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q3. What is HGCO19, recently seen in news?
a) India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine candidate
b) Newly found galaxy
c) A viral respiratory disease
d) None of the above

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
India’s first indigenous mRNA vaccine candidate has received approval from Indian Drug regulators to initiate Phase one and two human clinical trials.
• The novel mRNA vaccine candidate, HGCO19 has been developed by Gennova, Pune and supported with seed grant under the Ind-CEPI mission of the Department of Biotechnology.
• The mRNA vaccines do not use the conventional model to produce immune response. Instead, they carry the molecular instructions to make the protein in the body through a synthetic RNA of the virus.
• mRNA-based vaccines are scientifically the ideal choice to address a pandemic because of their rapid developmental timeline. The mRNA vaccine is considered safe as is non-infectious, non-integrating in nature, and degraded by standard cellular mechanisms. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q4. Who among the following is known as ‘Bharathiyar’ and ‘Mahakavi Bharati’?
a) Subramania Bharati
b) Gopalakrishna Adiga
c) O. N. V. Kurup
d) Akkitham Achuthan Namboothiri

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed International Bharathi Festival 2020 and paid tributes to the Bharathiyar on his Jayanti. The festival is being organised by Vanavil Cultural Centre to celebrate the 138th birth anniversary of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi.
• Subramania Bharati (1882 – 1921) was a Tamil poet, Indian independence activist and a social reformer from Tamil Nadu.
• He is also known as ‘Bharathiyar’ and ‘Mahakavi Bharati’.
• He is considered as one of the pioneers of modern Tamil literature. He used Nondi Chindu in most of his works.
• His poetry covered political (related to Indian Independence movement), social (women and Dalit empowerment) and spiritual themes.
• The word ‘Chindu’ refers to a couplet or poem in Tamil set to a particular meter.
• There are various types of Chindus. Nondi Chindus were meant for by ‘Nondis’, the narrators or announcers in folk dramas and event.
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q5. With reference to the draft of Indian Ports Bill 2020, consider the following statements:

1. It will repeal and replace the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
2. It seeks to establish Maritime Port Regulatory Authority.
   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 :-
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has circulated draft of Indian Ports Bill 2020 for public consultation which will repeal and replace the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
• The Bill also seeks to create an enabling environment for the growth and sustained development of the ports sector in India through the following broad methods:
o Constitution of Maritime Port Regulatory Authority o Formulation of the National Port policy and National Port plan in consultation with Coastal State Governments, State Maritime Boards and other stakeholders. o Formulation of specialised Adjudicatory Tribunals namely Maritime Ports Tribunal and Maritime Ports Appellate Tribunal to curb any anti-competitive practises in the port sector and act as a speedy and affordable grievance redressal mechanism. Hence both statements are correct.

Q6. With reference to the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), consider the following statements:

1. It will not be available for round the clock transactions from December 14.
2. RTGS uses ISO 20022 format which is the best-in-class messaging standard for financial transactions.
   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 :-
Just within a year of operationalising NEFT 24×7, the Reserve Bank has announced that the Real Time Gross Settlement System or the RTGS facility will now be available for round the clock transactions, with effect from December 14.
• Round the clock availability of RTGS will provide extended flexibility to businesses for effecting payments. The system can also be leveraged to enhance operations of Indian financial markets and cross-border payments.
• RTGS, which began its operations on 26th March, 2004 with a soft launch involving four banks, presently handles 6.35 lakh transactions daily for a value of 4.17 lakh crore rupees across 237 participant banks.
• RBI has informed that RTGS uses ISO 20022 format which is the best-in-class messaging standard for financial transactions.
• The term real-time gross settlement (RTGS) refers to a funds transfer system that allows for the instantaneous transfer of money and/or securities.
• RGTS is the continuous process of settling payments on an individual order basis without netting debits with credits across the books of a central bank.
Once completed, real-time gross settlement payments are final and irrevocable Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Q7. With reference to the PM SVANidhi Scheme, consider the following statements:

1. Under this, a complete profile of each PM SVANidhi beneficiary and their family members will be prepared.
2. It was launched by the Union Ministry of Finance.
   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 :-
Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary launched a programme of Socio-Economic Profiling of PM SVANidhi beneficiaries and their families, as an additional component of PM SVANidhi Scheme.
• Under this, a complete profile of each PM SVANidhi beneficiary and their family members will be prepared. Based on the profiled data, benefits of the various eligible Central Schemes would be extended to them for their holistic socio-economic upliftment.
• The launch has been in the context that PM SVANidhi scheme should not be seen merely from the perspective of extending loans to street vendors but should also be seen as an instrument for outreach to street vendors and their families for their holistic development and socioeconomic upliftment.
• In the first phase, 125 cities have been selected for the programme. The profile will identify potential eligibility of beneficiaries and their family members for select Central Government schemes and facilitate linkages.
• The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is implementing Prime Minister Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi, PM SVANidhi Scheme since 1st June this year with an objective to provide affordable working capital loan up to 10 thousand rupees to Street Vendors for facilitating resumption of their livelihoods adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q8. With reference to the Fitness Ka Dose Aadha Ghanta Roz campaign, consider the following statements:

1. The campaign was launched as part of the nation-wide Fit India Movement.
2. Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of National Sports day in 2019.
   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 :-
World Health Organisation applauds India for Fitness Ka Dose Aadha Ghanta Roz campaign.
• The campaign was launched as part of the nation-wide Fit India Movement by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju on December 1.
• The campaign has gained the support of celebrities from different fields – Bollywood, sportspersons, writers, doctors, fitness influencers, among others, who have enthusiastically urged Indians to follow the basic mantra of 30 minutes of fitness every day.
Fit India Movement was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of National Sports day in 2019.
Hence both statements are correct.

Q9. With reference to the Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS), consider the following statements: 1. It is organized by DRDO.

2. The theme for this year is Emerging Pathways for Building a Resilient Post COVID-19 Mountain Economy, Adaptation, Innovation and Acceleration.
   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 :-
The ninth edition of the Sustainable Mountain Development Summit (SMDS) in Dehradun has begun.
• Organised by Indian Mountain Initiative (IMI), the four-day-long summit seeks to deliberate on issues such as migration, water security, climate resilience and innovative solutions for the farm sector, and disaster risk reduction in the Indian Himalayas.
• Every year 3-5 salient themes engaging the immediate attention of and relevant to the mountains and hills are taken up for threadbare discussion and debate. Conclusions and recommendations emerging from this exercise are pursued by IMI subsequently for actionable output.
• The theme for this year is Emerging Pathways for Building a Resilient Post COVID-19 Mountain Economy, Adaptation, Innovation and Acceleration.
• The first edition was organized in 2011 in Nainital.
Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Q10. Consider the following statements:

1. Article 282 deals with the 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution that mentions three lists named as Union List, State List and Concurrent List which specify the divisions of power between Union and States.
2. Article 246 of the constitution says “The Union or a State may make any grants for any public purpose, notwithstanding that the purpose is not one with respect to which Parliament or the Legislature of the State, as the case may be, may make laws.”
   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 : d)
Explanation :-
• The Seventh Schedule of the Constitution divides the subjects on which the Centre and states can make laws under the Union, State and Concurrent lists.
• Article 246 deals with the 7th Schedule of the Indian Constitution that mentions three lists named as Union List, State List and Concurrent List which specify the divisions of power between Union and States.
• Article 282 of the constitution says “The Union or a State may make any grants for any public purpose, notwithstanding that the purpose is not one with respect to which Parliament or the Legislature of the State, as the case may be, may make laws.” Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

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