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30 DEC CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

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30 DEC CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Anaemia Mukt Bharat initiative

  1. The Anemia Mukt Bharat strategy has been designed to comply with the targets of POSHAN Abhiyaan and National Nutrition Strategy set by NITI Aayog.
  2. Its objective is to reduce the prevalence of anemia by 3 percentage points per year only among adolescents and women in the reproductive age group between the year 2018 and 2022.
    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 : a)
Explanation :-
• Anaemia Mukt Bharat(AMB): It has been launched in 2018 as part of Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI) Program for accelerating the annual rate of decline of anaemia from one to three percentage points.
o Target groups: Children – 6-59 months, 5-9 years, Adolescent Girls & Boys – 1019 years, Women of Reproductive Age – 15-49 years, Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers.
• The reduction of anemia is one of the important objectives of the POSHAN Abhiyaan launched in 2018. Complying with the targets of POSHAN Abhiyaan and National Nutrition Strategy set by NITI Aayog, the Anemia Mukt Bharat strategy has been designed.
• Its objective is to reduce prevalence of anemia by 3 percentage points per year among children, adolescents and women in the reproductive age group (15–49 years), between the year 2018 and 2022.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) project

  1. The project involves the construction of five freight corridors traversing the entire country to reduce congestion at various terminals and junctions.
  2. The majority of the Eastern DFC is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, while the Western DFC is being funded by the World Bank. 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 : d)
Explanation :-
Dedicated freight corridor (DFC) project:
• Background:
o The DFC project was first proposed in April 2005 to address the needs of the rapidly developing Indian economy.
o The existing quadrilateral railway network, also known as the golden quadrilateral, which links the major metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, is unable to support the growing demand due to capacity constraints.
o A dedicated freight corridor was required to address these concerns.
• The Ministry of Railways, under the direction of the Indian Government, had taken up the dedicated freight corridor (DFC) project.
• The project involves the construction of six freight corridors traversing the entire country.
o The Indian Railways (Amendment) Act gives the project power to acquire land as it is of national importance.
• The purpose of the project:
o The DFC project is expected to reduce congestion at various terminals and junctions.
o It will allow for efficient, safe and fast movement of freight along the corridor.
• Initially, the construction of two freight corridors, the Western DFC connecting the states of Haryana and Maharashtra and the Eastern DFC connecting the states Punjab and West Bengal, is being undertaken.
o The combined length of the Western and Eastern DFCs is approximately 2,843 km. o International funding: Built at a cost of Rs 5,750 crore through a loan from the World Bank, which is funding a majority of the EDFC. The WDFC is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
• The other four corridors include North-South (Delhi-Tamil Nadu), East-West (West Bengal-Maharashtra), East-South (West Bengal-Andhra Pradesh) and South-South (Tamil Nadu-Goa).
o These four corridors are still in the planning stage.
• In 2006, the Government of India established a dedicated body to implement the project, called the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL). o The DFCCIL began building the eastern and western corridors simultaneously, in three phases.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q3. Web-based application “Digital Ocean” has been developed by
a) National Institute of oceanography
b) Indian Navy
c) DRDO
d) Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services

Solution : d)
Explanation :- Digital ocean
• Digital Ocean platform is a first of its kind platform for ocean data management.
• It is developed by Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) of Ministry of Earth sciences.
• It includes a set of applications developed to organize and present heterogeneous oceanographic data by adopting rapid advancements in geospatial technology.
• It facilitates an online interactive web-based environment for data integration, 3D and 4D (3D inspace with time animation) data visualization, data analysis to assess the evolution of oceanographic features.
• Also data fusion and multi-format download of disparate data from multiple sources viz., in-situ, remote sensing and model data, will be available.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q4. Consider the following statements about Electoral Bonds:

  1. The electoral bonds do not bear the name of the donor.
  2. The range of a bond is between Rs. 1,000 to Rs.1 crore 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 :-
Electoral Bonds
• An electoral bond is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India from select branches of State Bank of India.
• The citizen or corporate can then donate the same to any eligible political party of his/her choice.
• The bonds are issued in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 100,000 and Rs 1 crore (the range of a bond is between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1 crore).
• These will be available at some branches of SBI.
• A donor with a KYC-compliant account can purchase the bonds and can then donate them to the party or individual of their choice.
• Now, the receiver can encash the bonds through the party’s verified account. • The electoral bond will be valid only for fifteen days.
Electoral bonds: Conditions
• Any party that is registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 (43 of 1951) and has secured at least one per cent of the votes polled in the most recent General elections or Assembly elections is eligible to receive electoral bonds.
• The party will be allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the electoral bond transactions can be made only through this account.
• The electoral bonds will not bear the name of the donor. Thus, the political party might not be aware of the donor’s identity.
• Hence, option © is the correct answer.

Q5. With reference to the “Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction” act (Turkey), consider the following statements:

  1. The Bill has come following the 2019 report on Turkey prepared by the intergovernmental body Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meant to fight money laundering and terror financing.
  2. The Bill gives the Turkish government the power to appoint trustees to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to suspend their activities, seize their assets and monitor their sources of funding.
    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 Turkish parliament passed a bill that would increase the monitoring of civil society groups. The act is called “Preventing Financing of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”.
• The Bill has come following the 2019 report on Turkey prepared by the intergovernmental body Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meant to fight money laundering and terror financing. • The bill consists of 43 articles and has made changes to seven laws on Turkey’s Law of Associations and is meant to keep Turkey from being blacklisted by the Paris-based watchdog of terror financing.
• The Bill gives the Turkish government the power to appoint trustees to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to suspend their activities, seize their assets and monitor their sources of funding.
• Critics are seeing certain provisions of the bill as arbitrary and believe that it violates the provisions under the Turkish constitution since it interferes with the right to freedom of association.
• They are seeing this move as a way to crackdown on dissidents in a country where civil society is already not very free.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Q6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the ambitious New BhaupurNew Khurja section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in:
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Bihar
c) Punjab
d) Rajasthan

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the ambitious New Bhaupur-New Khurja section of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in Uttar Pradesh.
• The 351-kilometre New Bhaupur- New Khurja section of EDFC is built at a cost of Rs. 5,750 crore and most of its part passes through Uttar Pradesh.
• The section will decongest the existing Kanpur-Delhi main line and will enable Indian Railways to run faster trains.
• The agro products of Uttar Pradesh will now reach at a faster speed to other parts of the country and it will increase the export capacity of the state which is a landlocked area and doesn’t have any port to send the items abroad.
• The Prime Minister also inaugurated Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor’s Operation Control Centre at Prayagraj. This will act as the command centre for the entire route length of the EDFC.
• Talking about the Operation Control Centre at Prayagraj Prime Minister said that it is equipped with state of the art facilities which are indigenously designed.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q7. Madhya Pradesh Government is organizing ‘Raag-Bhopali’ exhibition to promote
a) Chanderi fabric
b) Bagh Paints
c) Maheshwari fabric
d) Zari-Zardozi crafts

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
Madhya Pradesh Government is organizing ‘Raag-Bhopali’ exhibition to promote Zari-Zardozi crafts of Bhopal.
• Embroidery done with metallic threads is called kalabattu and forms the zari.
• The main zari production centres are Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Process:
• Here the metal ingots are melted into metal bars called pasa from which lengths are got by beating it after treatment.
• This is then pulled through perforated steel plates to make it into wires, followed by the tarkashi process to make it thin with rubber and diamond dies.
• The last stage is called badla where the wire is flattened and twisted with silk or cotton thread to become kasab or kalabattu.
Listed below are different kinds of zari work:
• Zardozi: This is a heavy and more elaborate embroidery work which uses varieties of gold threads, spangles, beads and gota. It is used to embellish wedding outfits, heavy coats, cushions, curtains etc.
• Kamdani : This is a lighter needlework which is done on lighter material like scarves, veils, and caps.
• Mina Work : This is thus called owing to its resemblance with enamel work. The embroidery is done in gold.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q8. With reference to the Proxima Centauri, consider the following statements:

  1. It is one of whose planets is believed to revolve in the star’s habitable zone, giving rise to the possibility that it could have, or does, sustain life.
  2. Proxima Centauri is 4.2 light-years away from the Sun – considered a close distance in cosmic terms.
    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 :-
Astronomers at the $100 million Breakthrough Listen project, started by the legendary physicist Stephen Hawking, have recently picked up an “intriguing” radio wave emission from the direction of Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our Sun.
• The news has sparked renewed interest in Proxima Centauri, one of whose planets is believed to revolve in the star’s habitable zone, giving rise to the possibility that it could have, or does, sustain life.
• Proxima Centauri is 4.2 light-years away from the Sun – considered a close distance in cosmic terms.
• Its mass is about an eighth of the Sun’s, and it is too dim to be seen with the naked eye from Earth.
Proxima b:
• Proxima b, one of the two planets that revolve around the star, is the subject of significant curiosity.
• Sized 1.2 times larger than Earth, and orbiting its star every 11 days, Proxima b lies in Proxima Centauri’s “Goldilocks zone” i.e. the area around a star where it is not too hot and not too cold for liquid water to exist on the surface of surrounding planets (e.g. Earth is in the Sun’s Goldilocks zone).
• However, this does not mean for sure that water is present on Proxima b. It could also be hostile to life, if its atmosphere has been stripped away by solar flares from Proxima Centauri.
• Hence, option © is the correct answer.

Q9. With reference to the Ruthenium-106, consider the following statements:

  1. It is a radioactive form of the rare heavy metal ruthenium, which is a “platinum group” metal similar to platinum.
  2. Ruthenium-106 is produced from the fission or splitting of uranium-235. 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 :-
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai has developed Eye Cancer therapy in the form of the first indigenous Ruthenium 106 Plaque for treatment of Ocular Tumours.
• The handling of plaque is very convenient for the Surgeon and it has been acknowledged to be at par with the international standards.
• So far the BARC plaques made in India through the Department of Atomic Energy have been used for seven cases for Ocular Cancer.
• Ocular tumours are tumours inside the eye. They are collections of cells that grow and multiply abnormally and form masses.
• Ruthenium-106 is a radioactive form of the rare heavy metal ruthenium, which is a “platinum group” metal similar to platinum.
• Ruthenium-106 is produced from the fission or splitting of uranium-235, the type of uranium used in nuclear fission reactors, so it’s found in spent nuclear fuel.
• It’s used in medicine for cancer radiation therapy, especially for eye and skin tumours. It’s also used in radioisotope thermoelectric generators that power satellites.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Q10. With reference to the Digital Ocean, consider the following statements:

  1. Digital Ocean is a first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data Management.
  2. It is an initiative of Union Ministry of Shipping.
    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 :-
Union Minister of Earth Sciences inaugurated the web-based application “Digital Ocean (www.do.incois.gov.in)” developed by INCOIS of M/o Earth sciences.
• Digital Ocean is a first of its kind digital platform for Ocean Data Management.
• It includes a set of applications developed to organize and present heterogeneous oceanographic data by adopting rapid advancements in geospatial technology.
• It facilitates an online interactive web-based environment for data integration, 3D and 4D data visualization, data analysis to assess the evolution of oceanographic features, data fusion and multi-format download of disparate data from multiple sources
• ‘Digital Ocean’ will help to share knowledge about the ocean with a wide range of users including research institutions, operational agencies, strategic users, academic community, maritime industry and policy makers. Digital Ocean also provides free access to information to the general public and the common man.
• It will play a central role in sustainable management of our oceans and expanding our ‘Blue Economy’ initiatives.
• Further, the Digital Ocean will be promoted as a platform for capacity building on Ocean Data Management for all Indian Ocean Rim countries.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.