Consider the following statements regarding Operation Muskaa
- It is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs
- It aims to rescue/rehabilitate missing children.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
In NEWS: 485 children rescued in ‘Operation Muskaan’ in Vizag
- A total of 485 children, including child labourers, abandoned ones and runaway kids, were rescued by the city and the district police, during the two-day ‘Operation Muskaan’.
About Operation Muskaan
- Operation Smile also called as Operation MUSKAAN is an initiative of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Hence statement 1 is correct
- Its objective is to rescue/rehabilitate missing children. Hence statement 2 is correct
- It is a dedicated campaign for a month where several activities are taken up by the State Police personnel to trace and rescue the missing children and reunite them with their families.
- The “Operation MUSKAAN-III” was taken up during July, 2017 throughout the country as a follow up of the earlier campaigns to rescue/rehabilitate the missing children.
The objectives of the ‘Operation Muskaan’ are:
- Rescue and Rehabilitation of the missing children;
- Integrating the activities with Child protection activities in the state;
- Capacity building of district level SJPU to tackle the issue of missing children; and
- Develop greater co-ordination of Social Welfare department functionaries, CWCs, SJPUs, NGOs and community organizations at district level as part of the Integrated Child Protection Scheme operational throughout the country.
Consider the following statements regarding Public Affairs Index-2020
- It is released by the NITI Aayog
- It is analyzed in the context of sustainable development defined by three pillars of equity, growth and sustainability.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa best governed States: report
- Kerala was adjudged the best governed state in the country while Uttar Pradesh ended at the bottom in the large states category, according to the Public Affairs Index-2020 released by the Public Affairs Centre
- The index is released by the Public Affairs Centre. Public Affairs Centre is a not-for-profit organisation, headed by former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Kasturirangan. Hence statement 1 is incorrect
- According to the PAC, the governance performance is analysed in the context of sustainable developmentdefined by three pillars of equity, growth and sustainability. Hence statement 2 is correct
- It is a data driven platform to rank the30 States of India from the lens of governance.
Key Highlights of Public Affairs Index-2020
- Kerala was adjudged the best-governed statein the country while Uttar Pradesh ended at the bottom in the large states category.
- The four southern states, namely, Kerala(1.388), Tamil Nadu (0.912), Andhra Pradesh (0.531) and Karnataka (0.468) stood in the first four ranks in the large state category in terms of governance.
- Uttar Pradesh, Odishaand Bihar were at the bottom of the ranking, scoring negative points in the category i.e. -1.461, -1.201 and -1.158 points respectively.
- In thesmall state category, Goa ranked first with 1.745 points, followed by Meghalaya (0.797) and Himachal Pradesh (0.725).
- The worst performerswho scored negative points are Manipur (-0.363), Delhi (-0.289) and Uttarakhand (-0.277).
- Chandigarh emerged the best governed union territory in the category of UTs with 1.05 PAI points, followed by Puducherry(0.52) and Lakshadweep (0.003).
- Dadar and Nagar Haveli(-0.69), Andaman, Jammu and Kashmir (-0.50) and Nicobar (-0.30) were the least performers.
Consider the following statements regarding Corals
- They exhibit characteristics of plants, but are marine animals
- In India, they are protected in the same way as the tiger or elephant under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: For Mumbai coastal road project, a tense two-day mission — moving corals
- Mumbai civic body received the green signal from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Nagpur, for translocating the corals off the coast of Mumbaifor Mumbai Coastal Road Project.
- The colonies at Haji Ali will betranslocated to Marine Lines and those at Worli to some distance away from the construction site.
- The translocation of coralsis at a nascent stage along the Indian coastline.
- The pilot projects at the Lakshadweep islands, and off the coast of Kutch and Tamil Naduhave been undertaken to study the survival rate, method and site of translocation, and creation of high heat-resistant coral colonies, etc.
- In a project at the Andaman Islands,ReefWatch Marine Conservation has transplanted coral fragments on to nine artificial structures, totalling a 20-square-metre area.
About Corals
- Corals exhibit characteristics of plants, but are marine animals that are related to jellyfish and anemones. Hence statement 1 is correct
- Coral polyps are tiny and soft-bodied organisms.
- The base of coral reef is a hard, protective limestone skeleton called a calicle, which forms the structure of coral reefs.
- Reefs begin when a polyp attaches itself to a rock on the seafloor, then divides, or buds, into thousands of clones.
- The polyp caliclesconnect to one another, creating a colony that acts as a single organism.
- Coral reefs are likeunderwater cities that support marine life.
- According to the UN Environment programme, they provide at least half a billion peoplearound the world with food security and livelihoods.
- Coral reefs also act as ‘wave breaks’ between the sea and the coastline and minimise the impact of sea erosion.
- In India, they are protected in the same way as the tiger or elephant, under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972. Hence statement 2 is correct
4.Consider the following statements regarding Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014
- Any person above 14 years of age, who is a street vendor has to register him/herself with the Town Vending Committee
- It shall not apply to Railways land, premises and trains.
- There is no provision for dispute redressal of grievances or resolution of disputes of street vendors
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
Answer: (d) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Explained: Who is a ‘street vendor’ in India, and what is the Street Vendors Act?
- There are an estimated 50-60 lakh street vendors in India, with the largest concentrations in the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad. Most of them are migrants who typically work for 10–12 hours every day on average.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through video conferencing, distributed loans to nearly 300,000 street vendors under the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors’ Atmanirbhar Nidhi Yojana, and also interacted with its beneficiaries.
- The National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), which pushed to get the landmark Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act of 2014 through Parliament, is working to provide hygiene and social distancing training to cooked food vendors in the wake of the pandemic.
About Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014:
- Street Vendors have been defined to include ‘any person engaged in vending of articles, goods, food etc or offering services to the general public in a street lane, sidewalk, footpath, pavement, public park, or any other public or private area. It includes hawkers, peddlers, and squatters.
- Any person above 14 years of age, who is a street vendor has to register him/herself with the Town Vending Committee (TVC). Hence statement 1 is correct
- The TVC shall have a 40% representation from street vendors and another 10% from civil society. The remaining would be represented by local authorities, residential associations etc,.
- Every street vendor has to obtain a certificate of vending from TVC, for which he/she will be issued with an identity card.
- The TVC comprises of the Municipal Commissioner, representatives of street vendors, local authority, planning authority, local police, resident welfare association and other traders associations.
- The local authorities shall frame a street vending plan, which shall be revised every 5 years. The plan should contain free vending zones, restricted vending zones, and no-vending zones.
- The local authorities can relocate the street vendors in case of causing a public nuisance. The relocated street vendor shall be provided a new site for vending.
- The provisions of this Act shall not apply to any land, premises and trains owned and controlled by the Railways under the Railway Act, 1989. Hence statement 2 is correct
- There is a provision for independent Grievance Redressal Mechanism composing a retired judicial officer. Hence statement 3 is incorrect
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/street-vendor-act-pm-svanidhi-scheme-explained-6911120/
- 5.End of Life Choice Act 2019, recently seen in news, which is passed in:
- a) NewZealand
- b) Australia
- c) France
- d) Germany
Answer: (a) New Zealand
In NEWS: What is Newzealand’s ethunasia or assisted dying act?
As per preliminary referendum results, a majority of voters in New Zealand have voted in favour of the End of Life Choice Act 2019. The final results will be declared on November 6.
- The End of Life Choice Act 2019 is meant to give certain terminally ill people the option of requesting medical assistance to end their lives and to establish a lawful process for assisting eligible persons who are able to exercise that option. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.
Source: Express Explained
6.Consider the following statements
- Domiasiat and Wahkyn Uranium mines are located in Meghalaya.
- The Thummalapalle uranium deposit is located in Karnataka
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: How Kong Spelity became the face of Meghalaya’s anti-uranium movement
Spelity Lyngdoh Langrin — the face of the decades-long anti-uranium mining movement in Meghalaya — had passed away at her home in Domiasiat area of South West Khasi Hills district.
- She was considered an icon in Meghalaya for turning down a multi-crore offer from the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Public Sector enterprise that wanted to mine her land.
- “Money cannot buy me freedom,” Langrin had famously said, rejecting the offer.
- Over the years, Langrin’s name has become synonymous to the anti-uranium mining movement — her face often plastered over banners during anti-uranium protests in the state.
- India’s largest and richest uranium deposits are located in Domiasiat and Wahkyn areas of Meghalaya. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The Domiasiat uranium deposit, also known as “Kyelleng-Pyndengsohiong-Mawtahbah” region, was discovered in 1984 and has approximately 9.22 million tonnes of high-grade uranium ore deposits.
- The Tummalapalle Mine is a uranium mine in Tumalapalli village located in Kadapa of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Results from research conducted by the Atomic Energy Commission of India in 2011 made the analysts conclude that this mine might have one of the largest reserves of uranium in the world. Hence statement 2 is incorrect
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/who-was-kong-spelity-lyngdoh-langrin-meghalaya-anti-uranium-mining-movement-6910901/
7.Consider the following statements regarding Muslin
- It is a cotton fabric of plain weave.
- It is made in a wide range of weights from delicate sheers to coarse sheeting.
- It gets its name from the city of Mosul, Iraq
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS: KVIC Launches high quality Muslin fabric Masks for Diwali
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has launched two-layered “Happy Diwali” printed face masks made of pure Muslin fabric, a high quality and ultra-fine cotton fabric handmade by traditional Khadi artisans of West Bengal.
- Muslin is a cotton fabric of plain weave.hence statement 1 is correct.
- It is made in a wide range of weights from delicate sheers to coarse sheeting.
- It gets its name from the city of Mosul, Iraq which the Europeans believed to be its place of origin; however, its origins have now proved to have been farther east — in particular Dhaka in Bangladesh.Hence statement 2 and statement 3 is correct.
- In 2013, the traditional art of weaving Jamdani muslin in Bangladesh was included in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1668852
- 8.The Jungle Safari is in the state of the art zoological park spread over an area of 375 acres at seven different levels ranging from 29 to 180 meters. It has more than 1100 Birds & Animals and 5 lakh plants. It is the fastest ever built Jungle Safari. The zoological park has two aviaries – one for domestic birds and another for exotic birds. It is the world’s largest geodesic dome for aviary. Which of the following zoological parks is described in the statement?
- a) Aringar anna zoological park
- b) Sardar Patel zoological park
- c) Indra gandhi zoological park
- d) Nehru zoological park
Answer: (b) Sardar patel zoological park
Explanation:
In NEWS: Modi begins gujarat visit by paying homage to keshubhai patel
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Sardar Patel Zoological Park and Geodesic Aviary Dome in Kevadia, Gujarat.
- The Jungle Safari is in the state of the art zoological park spread over an area of 375 acres at seven different levels ranging from 29 to 180 meters. It has more than 1100 Birds & Animals and 5 lakh plants. It is the fastest ever built Jungle Safari.
- The zoological park has two aviaries – one for domestic birds and another for exotic birds. It is the world’s largest geodesic dome for aviary. Hence option (b) is the correct answer.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/pm-modi-arrives-on-two-day-gujarat-visit/article32979314.ece
- 9.Recently, the super typhoon ‘Goni’ slammed into which of the following country?
- a) Japan
- b) Indonesia
- c) Philippines
- d) Korean Peninsula
Answer: (c) Philippines
Explanation:
- Super Typhoon Goni slammed into the Philippines with authorities warning of “catastrophic” conditions in the region expected to receive the hardest hit, where nearly a million people have been evacuated. Hence option (c) is the correct answer.
- The strongest typhoon of the year so far made landfall on Catanduanes Island with maximum sustained wind speeds of 225 kilometres (140 miles) per hour.
- Goni — which intensified into a “super” typhoon as it neared the Philippines — comes a week after Typhoon Molave hit the same region of the natural disaster-prone archipelago.
- 10.In the context of recent advances in human reproductive technology. “Pronuclear Transfer” is used for
- a) fertilization of egg in vitro by the donor sperm
- b) genetic modification of sperm producing cells
- c) development of stem cells into functional embryos
- d) prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring
Answer: (d) prevention of mitochondrial diseases in offspring
Explanation:
A pronucleus is the nucleus of a sperm or an egg cell during the process of fertilization. Pronuclear Transfer is used in mitochondrial transfer techniques. Pronuclear transfer is the transfer of pronuclei from one zygote to another. This technique first requires fertilisation of healthy donated egg (provided by the mitochondrial donor) with the intending male parent sperm. Simultaneously, the intending mother’s affected oocytes (an immature egg cell) are fertilised with the intending father’s sperm
Therapeutic pronuclear transfer involves the movement of two pronuclei from the affected zygotes (also in the form of a karyoplast), into the enucleated (without a nucleus) healthy zygotes. The resulting zygotes contain nuclear DNA from each of the intending parents and a donor’s mtDNA. Hence option (d) is correct
