Consider the following statements regarding AGRIOTA
- It is a new technology driven agricultural commodity trading platform that will bridge the rural farmers from India and the gulf food industry.
- It has launched by the UAE government.
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:’Agriota’ e-market platform launched to bridge gap between Indian farmers, UAE food industry
- The UAE has launched Agriota, a new technology-driven agri-commodity trading and sourcing e-market platform that will bridge the gap between millions of rural farmers in India and the Gulf nation’s food industry.Hence statement 1 is correctand Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Under the initiative, launched earlier this week by the Dubai’s free-zone Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and the government of Dubai’s authority on commodities trade and enterprise, millions of Indian farmers will get an opportunity to connect directly with the entire food industry in the UAE, including food processing companies, traders and wholesalers through the Agriota-E Marketplace platform.
- The marketplace allows the farmers to bypass intermediaries, optimising the supply chain and ensuring traceability to create value for all stakeholders, officials said.
- The online marketplace also provides end-to-end traceability and transparency through last-mile verification and extension infrastructure in a blockchain environment.
Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys that are manufactured in the state of:
- Tamilnadu
- Kerala
- Andhra pradesh
- Karnataka
Answer: (d) Karnataka
Explanation:
In NEWS:In toy city of Channapatna, artisans await govt. assistance
- In his “Mann ki baat” address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for India to become a big hub of toy production
- The Prime Minister also talked about developing toy clusters in India to make the nation a toy hub. “Some parts of India developing also as toy clusters, that is, as centres of toys, like Channapatna in Ramnagaram (Karnataka), Kondaplli in Krishna (Andhra Pradesh), Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, Dhubri in Assam and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh
About Channapatna toys
- Channapatna toys are a particular form of wooden toys that are manufactured in the town of Channapatna, in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka.Hence option (d) is correct.
- The manufacture of toys in Channapatna goes back at least 200 years according to most accounts and it has been traced to the era of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century.
- The fame of Channapatna toys was built on the smooth quality and bright colours of the products that were safe to handle.
- The Channapatna toys are laced with vegetable dyes and colours devoid of chemicals and hence they are safe for children
- It has been accorded GI Tag.
Consider the following statements regarding National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority
- It was established as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.
- It is an independent regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.
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:Union Ministers Shri Gowda and Shri Mandaviya complements NPPA on its 23rd Foundation Day today for playing crucial role in reasonable pricing and availability of essential medicines
- Recognizing the crucial role being played by NPPA during COVID 19 pandemic
- Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers congratulated National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority (NPPA) for working tirelessly to ensure availability of life-saving drugs at reasonable prices, on the foundation day of NPPA.
- It prevented any shortage of medicines during COVID19 and resolved Public Grievances efficiently through an active Control room.
- It also catered to the needs of over 120 countries by supplying critical medicines by india during COVID
About National Pharmaceuticals Pricing Authority
- National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) was constituted by a resolutiontaken by Government of India on 29th August, 1997.
- NPPA was established as an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP),Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is an independent regulator for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.Hence statement 2 is correct
- NPPA works as a Regulator is to work towards a Healthy Nation by making medicines accessible and affordable.
- The functions of NPPA include fixation and revision of prices of Scheduled drugs under Drug (Price Control) Orders issued from time to time, as well as monitoring and enforcement of prices and ensuring availability and accessibility of all medicines and medical devices, including non-scheduled drugs.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1649494
Index of Eight Core Industriesis compiled and released by
- Office of the Economic Adviser
- Central Statistics Office
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
- Reserve Bank of India
Answer: (a) Office of the Economic Adviser
Explanation:
In NEWS:July core sector shrinks 9.6% versus 12.9% contraction in June
- The index of eight core infrastructure sectors dropped to 9.6% in July from a year ago compared to a 12.9% contraction in June, suggesting industrial production may contract
- The production of eight core sectors had expanded 2.6% in July 2019.
- India’s factory output contacted for fourth month in a row in June at 16.6%. CARE Ratings expects 12-14% decline in industrial production in July.
About index of eight core infrastructure
- The monthly Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) is a production volume index.
- ICI measures collective and individual performance of production in selected eight core industriesviz. Coal, Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Refinery Products, Fertilizers, Steel, Cement and Electricity– together have a 40% weight in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)
- It is compiled and released by Office of the Economic Adviser (OEA), Department of IndustrialPolicy & Promotion (DIPP), and Ministry of Commerce & Industry.Hence option (a) is correct.
- The base year of the ICI has been revised to 2011-12 from 2004-05 in alignment with the new series of IIP.
Consider the following statements regarding Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee
- It was set up to recommend suitable persons for selection of Chairperson and Whole Time and Part Time Members of the financial sector regulators
- It is headed by Cabinet Secretary.
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:Govt to soon fill top posts in key regulatory bodies
- Key bodies such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), besides the State Bank of India (SBI), are set to have new people in top positions at a time that financial and sectoral regulations are increasingly becoming crucial for the survival of businesses grappling with the crisis.
About Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee
- FSRASC was set up based on the recommendation of the Financial Sector Legislative Reforms Commission as a “standing committee” to “recommend suitable persons for selection of Chairperson and Whole Time and Part Time Members of the financial sector regulators.”Hence statement 1 is correct
- The Financial Sector Regulatory Appointment Search Committee, comprising the cabinet secretary (chairperson), RBI governor, and the financial services secretary, interviewed the candidates for the post. Hence statement 2 is correct
- As per the process, the panel will invite applications from eligible candidates and based on interactions with them will select the candidate.
- The appointment would be made by the central government on the recommendation of the FSRASC.
- It is noted that the FSRASC is free to identify and recommend any other person also, on the basis of merit, who has not applied for the post.
The world’s largest wetland Pantanal is recently seen in news, is located in
- Brazil
- Australia
- Indonesia
- Peru
Answer: (a) Brazil
Explanation:
In NEWS:‘US beef market is why the Pantanal is burning’
- According to the news agency Bloomberg, in July, the number of fires burning in the Pantanal, which spans about 210,000 square kilometers, reached the highest for the month since the data started being collected in 1998
- The world’s largest wetland is burning with the worst fires in the last 15 years.
- It has vegetation compacted under the marshy flood water which continue to smolder long (burn slowly with smoke but no flame) after the visible flames die down.
- The temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius made fire unstoppable and strong winds resulted in multiple firebreaks.
About Pantanal region:
- The Pantanal in Brazil is a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its unique biodiversity. Hence option (a) is correct
- It is a natural region encompassing the world’s largest tropical wetland area, and the world’s largest flooded grasslands.
- The region spreads in more than 150,000 sq. km in Brazil and also extends into Bolivia and Paraguay.
- Roughly 80% of the floodplains are submerged during the rainy seasons, nurturing a biologically diverse collection of aquatic plants.
- The region is rich with tapirs, pumas, capybaras and jaguars.
Smart Meter National Programme is being implemented by
- Energy Efficiency Services Limited
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency
- Bureau of Indian Standards
- The Energy and Resources Institute
Answer: (a) Energy Efficiency Services Limited
Explanation:
In NEWS: How smart metering infrastructure can help distressed power sector
- Electricity demand is expected to nearly double by 2030, but high aggregate technical and commercial (AT&C) losses mar sector.
- AT&C losses are major contributors to overall power losses in the sector. As a result, distribution utilities lose almost 72 paise per unit of electricity they purchase
- The country aims to cut AT&C losses under 12 per cent by 2022 and below 10 per cent by 2027. The losses are currently pegged at 20 per cent.
- Advanced Smart Metering Infrastructure (AMI), according to experts, provides a reliable and effective solution for most of these drivers. Using smart meters can result in an efficient way to manage electricity by checking data entry errors and cutting costs of manual metering.
- The Smart Meter National Programme (SMNP) by EESL aims to replace 25 crore conventional meters with smart meters in India and are at various stages of implementation. Around 1.9 million smart meters have been installed in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar and Delhi.Hence option (a) is correct.
About Smart Meter National Programme
- The Smart Meter National Programme is being implemented to deploy smart meters across the country. The scheme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a JV of PSUs under Ministry of Power.
- The smart meters are installed as per guidelines issued by the Central Electricity Authority.
Consider the following statements regarding National Land Bank Portal
- It is a first-of-its kind portal which will help investors in getting real-time information about the availability of industrial land and resources.
- It has been developed by the Integration of Industrial Information System (IIS) with state GIS
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:Piyush Goyal launches GIS-enabled national land bank portal for details on industrial belts
- Commerce and Industry minister Piyush Goyal virtually launched a first-of-its kind GIS-enabled national land bank portal, which will help investors zero in on land located in various states for potential projects.
- As much as 4.2 lakh hectares of land has been mapped across 3,275 industrial clusters in India, of which about 1.13 lakh hectares of land is available for investors, as the government looks to lure investors at a time when anti-China sentiments are growing globally.
- Investors will also get access to details of logistics, land, rail & air connectivity, tax incentives, drainage system, power supply and raw material availability from the portal on various industrial belts.
About GIS-enabled National Land Bank Portal
- It is a first-of-its kind portal which will help investors in getting real-time information about the availability of industrial land and resources.Hence statement 1 is correct
- It has been developed by the Integration of Industrial Information System (IIS) with state GIS (Geographic Information System).Hence statement 2 is correct
Consider the following statements regarding International Women’s Trade Centre (IWTC)
- Kerala will set up India’s first international women’s trade centre in consonance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- It will provide a safe place away from home to start a business, expand and get their products marketed globally.
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:India’s first international women’s trade centre to come up in Kerala
- Kerala will set up India’s first international women’s trade centre (WTC), in consonance with the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs), at Angamaly.Hence statement 1 is correct
- This initiative aims to accelerate women entrepreneurship and secure gender parity while providing women with a safe place away from home to start new businesses, set up or expand, and get their products marketed globally. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The Women Trade Centre will enable women entrepreneurs to come forward and participate in international trade, enjoy greater economic benefits and enhance their competitiveness to tap market opportunities.
- WE Mission Kerala of Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation(KSIDC) aims at scaling up the women-led endeavours through comprehensive support measures
- The Centre has been established under the Green Park initiative of Kerala.
Which of the following are the reasons for the occurrence of multi-drug resistance in microbial pathogens in India?
- Genetic predisposition of some people
- Taking incorrect doses of antibiotics to cure diseases
- Using antibiotics in livestock farming
- Multiple chronic diseases in some people
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 3 and 4
- 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) 2,3 and 4
Explanation:
- Antimicrobial resistance occurs naturally over time, usually through genetic changes. However, the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials is accelerating this process.
- In many places, antibiotics are overused and misused in people and animals, and often given without professional oversight. Examples of misuse include when they are taken by people with viral infections like colds and flu, and when they are given as growth promoters in animals or used to prevent diseases in healthy animals. Hence option (d) is correct.
