24 MARCH CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

1. Which Government reserved 15% of seats in medical and technical education courses for students passing out from government high schools? [Page 7]

1. Tamil Nadu
2. Karnataka
3. Odisha
4. None

Answer: d)

Odisha Government moved to reserve 15% of seats in medical and technical education courses for students passing out from government high schools.

2. OSOWOG initiative comes under which ministry? [Page 8]

1. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
2. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
3. Ministry of Science & Technology
4. Ministry of Education

Answer: b)

OSOWOG initiative was proposed by India to set up a framework for facilitating global cooperation which aims at building a global ecosystem of interconnected renewable energy resources that can be easily shared.

Details of the initiative:

Parent Body: The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Objective: To build global consensus about sharing solar resources among more than 140 countries of West Asia and South-East Asia.

The vision is ‘The Sun Never Sets’ and is a constant at some geographical location, globally, at any given point of time.

This grid shall be interconnected with the African power pools also at the later stage.

It has been taken up under the technical assistance program of the World Bank.

3. Which of the following are Rare diseases? [Page 12]

1. Haemophilia
2. Sickle-cell anaemia
3. Pompe disease

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. All the above

Answer: d)

Rare disease

● A rare disease, also referred to as an orphan disease, is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population.

● Most rare diseases are genetic, and are present throughout a person’s entire life, even if symptoms do not immediately appear.

● The most common rare diseases recorded in India are Haemophilia, Thalassemia, sickle-cell anaemia and primary immuno deficiency in children, auto-immune diseases, Lysosomal storage disorders such as Pompe disease, Hirschsprung disease, Gaucher’s disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Hemangiomas and certain forms of muscular dystrophies.

4. Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project is built on which river? [Page 12]

1. Beas
2. Sutlej
3. Indus
4. Chenab

Answer: d)

Key Focus of the 116th Permanent Indus Commission(PIC) meeting

● India’s Projects on Indus River: The PIC will discuss Pakistan’s objections about two Indian projects:

● Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project(1,000 MW): India is building the project on river Marusudar, a tributary of the Chenab. The project is located in Kishtwar district of J&K.

● Lower Kalnai Hydro Electric Project: India is developing it on the River Chenab.

● Further, routine issues such as flood data exchange mechanisms are also expected to be discussed during the meeting.

5. Consider the following statements [Page 16]

1. State Development Loans (SDLs) are dated securities issued by states for meeting their market borrowings requirements.
2. The rate of interest or yield of SDL securities are determined through auction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c)

State Development Loans (SDLs)

● State Development Loans (SDLs) are dated securities issued by states for meeting their market borrowings requirements.

● Purpose of issuing State Development Loans is to meet the budgetary needs of state governments. Each state can borrow upto a set limit through State Development Loans.

● The SDL securities issued by states are credible collateral for meeting the SLR requirements of banks as well as a collateral for availing liquidity under the RBI’s LAF including the repo.

● One remarkable feature of SDL is that it is a market oriented instrument for states to mobilise funds from the open market.

● Higher the fiscal strength of a state, lower will be the interest rate (yield) it has to pay for the SDL borrowings.

● SDLs are basically securities and they are auctioned by the RBI through the e-Kuber which is dedicated electronic auction system for government securities and other instruments. RBI holds SDL auctions once in a fortnight.

● The rate of interest or yield of SDL securities are determined through auction. Still the interest rate will be slightly higher than that of Central Government securities (G-secs) of matching tenure.

● The investors in SDL are basically commercial banks, mutual funds, insurance companies who are attracted by the slightly higher interest rate of SDL (compared to central government securities).

6. Consider the following statements [Page 2]

1. The Chairperson of this body is the Prime Minister.
2. The Commission will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: b)

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)

● Nearly five months after its setup, the central government’s “Commission for Air Quality Management” or CAQM in National Capital Region and its Adjoining Areas has been shut down due to lapsing of the ordinance.

● The Centre dissolved it after five months as the ordinance lapsed after failing to become an act.

● The erstwhile Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, or EPCA had been dissolved to make way for the Commission.

● The Commission for Air Quality Management was formed by an ordinance in October 2020, the “Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance 2020”.

Composition

● Chairperson: To be chaired by a government official of the rank of Secretary or Chief Secretary.

● The Commission will be a statutory authority.

● The Commission will supersede bodies such as the central and state pollution control boards of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan.

● It will have the powers to issue directions to these state governments on issues pertaining to air pollution.

Jurisdiction

● Exclusive jurisdiction over the NCR, including areas in Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, in matters of air pollution, and will be working along with CPCB and ISRO, apart from the respective state governments.

7. Which of the following new initiatives has been launched under National Health Mission (NHM)? [Page 12]

1. Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) initiative

2. Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) initiative

3. School Health and Wellness Ambassadors Initiative

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 2 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d)

The Union Cabinet was apprised on the progress under National Health Mission (NHM) during FY 2019-20.

The Cabinet noted that NHM has envisaged new Initiatives in 2019-20 as:

• Social Awareness and Actions to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully (SAANS) initiative was launched to accelerate action to reduce deaths due to childhood pneumonia.
• Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) initiative was launched to provide assured, dignified, respectful and quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services and all existing Schemes for maternal and neonatal health have been brought under one umbrella.
• Midwifery Services Initiative aims to create a cadre of Nurse Practitioners in Midwifery who are skilled in accordance to competencies prescribed by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and are knowledgeable and capable of providing compassionate women-centered, reproductive, maternal and new-born health care services.
• School Health and Wellness Ambassadors Initiative has been launched under the AB-HWCs Programme in partnership with Ministry of Education to promote health and well-being through an active lifestyle amongst school children.

Targets under it:

• Reduce MMR to 1/1000 live births
• Reduce IMR to 25/1000 live births
• Reduce TFR to 2.1
• Reduce prevalence of Leprosy to < 1 /10000 population and incidence to zero in all districts
• Annual Malaria Incidence to be <I/1000
• Ending the TB epidemic by 2025 from the country.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

8. With reference to the UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNHRC), consider the following statements: [Page 1]

1. The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.

2. It was founded in 1964.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: a)

India abstained from a crucial vote on Sri Lanka’s rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

• The resolution on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability and human rights in Sri Lanka’ was, however, adopted after 22 states of the 47-member Council voted in its favour.
• Sri Lanka, which had earlier deemed the resolution “politically motivated”, was quick to reject the UN move to collect and preserve evidence of war crimes in the country, committed by the armed forces and the LTTE.
• The Sri Lanka resolution was the first to be voted on using the extraordinary e-voting procedures established for the UNHRC 46th Session, which has been held virtually.
• The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations system.
• It meets at the UN Office at Geneva.
• It was founded in 2006. It replaced the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) that had been strongly criticised for allowing countries with poor human rights records to be members.
• It investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states.
• Membership:
  • The Council is made of 47 Member States, which are elected by the UN General Assembly. The Council’s Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution.
  • Members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
  • India has been elected to the UNHRC for a period of three years beginning January 1, 2019. India had previously been elected to the UNHRC for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 terms.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

9. With reference to the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, consider the following statements: [Page 11]

1. It protects tribal populations and provides autonomy to the communities through creation of autonomous development councils that can frame laws on land, public health, agriculture and others.

2. As of now, 10 autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c)

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) informed the Lok Sabha that “presently, there is no proposal to implement panchayat system in Sixth Schedule areas of Assam”.

• The Sixth Schedule of the Constitution protects tribal populations and provides autonomy to the communities through creation of autonomous development councils that can frame laws on land, public health, agriculture and others.
• As of now, 10 autonomous councils exist in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
• The specified tribal areas are the North Cachar Hills, Karbi Anglong and the Bodoland Territorial Area in Assam, Khasi Hills, Jaintiya Hills and Garo Hills in Meghalaya, Tribal Areas in Tripura, and Chakma, Mara and Lai districts in Mizoram.
• On January 23, 2019, the Union Cabinet approved amendments to increase the financial and executive powers of the autonomous councils.
• The Constitution (125th Amendment) Bill, 2019, was subsequently introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 6, 2019, that provides for elected village municipal councils.
• The Bill that is still active proposes that the State Election Commissions would hold elections to the autonomous councils, village and municipal councils.
• The Bill was introduced in the Upper House so that the legislation remains active even as the House was adjourned sine die before the 2019 general election.
• Hence both statements are correct.

10. With reference to the Permanent Indus Commission, consider the following statements: [Page 12]

1. The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) is a bilateral commission consisting of officials from India and Pakistan.

2. It was created to implement and manage the goals and objectives and outlines of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) which was signed in September 1960 with United Nations standing guarantee for any dispute resolution.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: a)

After a gap of more than two and half years Indian and Pakistani delegations began the 116th Meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission.

• The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) is a bilateral commission consisting of officials from India and Pakistan.
• It was created to implement and manage the goals and objectives and outlines of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) which was signed in September 1960 with World Bank standing guarantee for any dispute resolution.
• The last meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission was held on August 29, 2018.
• The meeting which coincided with the National Day of Pakistan is being viewed as part of the broader process of normalisation of bilateral ties between the two neighbours.
• The two-day meeting of the Commission is being led on the Indian side by Indus Water Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena. The Pakistani delegation is led by Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Mohammad Mehr Ali Shah.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.