Consider the following Statements regarding B3W project:
- It envisages to collectively mobilize hundreds of billions of infrastructure investment for low- and middle-income countries.
- It is a global infrastructure plan.
- It is proposed by the G7
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Fight against authoritarianism, extremism, says PM at G7 meet
- India is a “natural ally” to work with the world’s richest G7 countries to fight against threats of authoritarianism
- S. President Joseph Biden’s proposal for a “Build Back Better World” (B3W) initiative, seen as a counter to China’s trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, that was endorsed by the G7, keeping in mind the principles of “transparency and inclusion
About Build Back Better World (B3W) project:
- The G7 has unveiled a global infrastructure plan called “Build Back Better World (B3W) to counter Beijing’s multi-trillion-dollar Belt And Road Initiative(BRI). Hence statement (2) is correct.
- The “Build Back Better World” (B3W) project envisages to collectively mobilize hundreds of billions of infrastructure investment for low- and middle-income countries. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- B3W initiative, will provide a transparent infrastructure partnership to help narrow the $40 trillion needed by developing nations by 2035
- Build Back Better World” (B3W), will be a values-driven, high-standard, and transparent infrastructure partnership led by major democracies and intended to facilitate the building of infrastructure in poorer nations
Source: TH Pg: No: 1
Consider the following Statements regarding iDEX:
- It will be funded and managed by the Defence Innovation Organization.
- It is an initiative taken by the government to contribute towards modernization of the Defence Industry.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: ₹498 crore for iDEX challenge
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the budgetary support of ₹498.8 crore to Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) challenge under the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO) for the next five years
- The iDEX framework and establishment of the DIO by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) is aimed at promoting innovation and indigenisation in the aerospace and defence sector at the start-up level.
- The scheme is aimed at providing financial support to nearly 300 start-ups, MSME, individual innovators and 20 partner incubators
About iDEX
- iDEX is an initiative taken by the government to contribute towards modernization of the Defence Industry. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- It was launched by the Government in April 2018.
- iDEX aims to promote innovation and technology development in Defence and Aerospace by engaging Industries (which includes MSMEs, start-ups, individual innovators, R&D institutes & academia).
- iDEX will provide the engaging industries with funding and other support to carry out Research & Development.
- iDEX will be funded and managed by Defence Innovation Organization (DIO), and will function as the executive arm of DIO. Hence statement (1) is correct.
Defence Innovation Organization (DIO)
- DIO is a ‘not for profit’ company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.
- Its two founding members are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) & Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) – Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). HAL and BEL are navratna companies.
Source: TH Pg: No: 8
Consider the following Statements regarding Pyrostria laljii:
- It is a tree of the coffee family discovered in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
- It has been assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List criteria.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Tree of coffee family discovered in Andaman and Nicobar
- A 15-metre-tall tree that belongs to the genus of the coffee family has recently been discovered from the Andaman Islands by a team of researchers from India and the Philippines. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- The new species, Pyrostria laljii, is also the first record of the genus Pyrostria in India
- Pyrostria laljii has been assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List criteria. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- The genus Pyrostria is not found in India, there are several genera from the family Rubiaceae that are common in India.
- Physical features that distinguish the tree from other species of the genus is its umbellate inflorescence with eight to 12 flowers
Source: TH Pg: No: 10
Consider the following Statements regarding PENCIL Portal:
- It was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
- It is an online platform that aims at engaging the Central Government, State Government, District, civil society and the public in eradicating child labour.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani Appeals to Citizens to Report Instances of Child Labour on PENCIL Portal or on Childline-1098
- Union Minister of Women and Child Development and Textiles, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani has Appealed to Citizens to report the instances of Child Labour on PENCIL Portal or by calling on Childline-1098.
- It is the Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour (PENCiL).
- It was launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment to rehabilitate child labour in the country. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- It is an online platform that aims at engaging the Central Government, State Government, District, civil society and the public in eradicating child labour. Hence statement (2) is correct.
Features of PENCiL Portal
- It is an integrated application system that is based on the technology which primarily aims at the submission of complaints by any citizens of the country from anywhere and anytime basis.
- It mandates the uniform and systematic approach towards the monitoring of the process by adopting a general classification and standardisation of filing complaints.
- It facilitates the online lodging of complaints that are registered by the general citizens to the concerned Departments, Ministries and Organizations which can be linked to their official portal.
- It facilitates the user with the generation of automated notifications such as Acknowledgement and replies for the official correspondence with the complainants.
Significance of PENCIL Portal
- It aims to achieve the target of child labour free society.
- It enables the citizens to raise a complaint and report incidents of child labour through effective tracking and monitoring mechanism.
- It is to build a strong authentication mechanism for implementing and monitoring both the enforcement of the legislative provisions and effective implementation of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP).
- It aims to facilitate convergence and provides better coordination between the Governments departments and the general public.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1726502
Consider the following Statements regarding Central Athlete Injury Management System:
- It is a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
- It is for streamlining the sports medicine and rehabilitation support offered to the athletes for Olympics 2024 and beyond.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Central Athlete Injury Management System launched for training of athletes for 2024 Olympics
- Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has launched the Central Athlete Injury Management System (CAIMS) for streamlining the sports medicine and rehabilitation support offered to the athletes.
About Central Athlete Injury Management System
- It is a first-of-its-kind initiative by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- It is for streamlining the sports medicine and rehabilitation support offered to the athletes for Olympics 2024 and beyond. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- CAIMS aims to provide the best sports injury management support nearest to the athlete’s geographical location. CAIMS will help to standardize appropriate injury treatment protocol for athletes across the country.
- It will start with support for athletes who are a part of the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) development group expected to participate in 2024 and beyond.
- CAIMS will have the following four structures: Athlete Wellness Cell, On-Field Sports Medicine Experts, National Resource Referral Teams and a Central Core Team.
- The core committee of CAIMS includes eminent top of the line experts such as Dr. SKS Marya, Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala, Dr. BV Srinivas and Shrikant Iyengar.
Consider the following Statements regarding Border Roads Organisation (BRO):
- It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
- It develops and maintains road networks in India’s border areas and friendly neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh inaugurates BRO’s two Centres for Excellence to promote road safety & road construction
- Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh dedicated to the nation two Centres of Excellence established by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) at Seema Sadak Bhawan in New Delhi, on June 11, 2021. These Centres have been established to achieve excellence in road safety as well as foster growth in construction of roads, bridges, air fields and tunnels.
- The Centre of Excellence for Road Safety & Awareness (CoERSA) aims to create awareness about road safety through analysis, sharing of road accidents and suggesting methods to save precious lives.
- The Centre of Excellence for Roads, Bridges, Air Fields and Tunnels (CoERBAT) focuses on institutionalising the knowledge gained over the years in development of almost 60,000 kilometres of roads, 56,000 metres of bridges, 19 airfields and four tunnels in the eastern and north-western part of the country.
About Border Roads Organisation
- BRO is a modern and transnational construction organization that is committed to meeting the strategic requirements of the Indian armed forces.
- Initially, BRO was functional under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. But since 2015, it is being managed and is functional under the Ministry of Defence. Hence statement (1) is incorrect.
- BRO is operational in 21 Indian states and 1 union territory. But also, functional in our friendly countries like neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- The Organisation was formed on May 7, 1960, to maintain and develop the Indian remote areas of north and northeast situated near the borders
- The BRO Raising Day is celebrated on May 7, every year
BRO works under set guidelines or as instructed by the Government of the country. Given below is the mission of BRO:
- To ensure that cost-effective, sustainable, and strategic needs of the armed forces are met without any inconvenience
- Achieving an international level of quality excellence and time consciousness
- Present their expertise in any project of national or transnational development
- Using information technology in the best possible manner and implementing it as an advantage in the various infrastructure projects
- Highest level of proficiency must be shown with every construction
- To upgrade the quality of life and livelihood in border areas by helping them with the means of easy transport, accessibility and connectivity
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1726182
Carbis Bay Declaration is related to which of the following area?
a) It is a landmark global health declaration aimed at preventing future pandemics
b) It is a south Asian countries declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution
c) It aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild
d) It is an international declaration of women’s rights
Answer: (a) It is a landmark global health declaration aimed at preventing future pandemics
Explanation:
In NEWS: G7 leaders to sign Carbis Bay Declaration to prevent pandemic in 100 days.
- Under the Carbis Bay Declaration, the UK, which holds the presidency for the G7 Leaders’ Summit 2021, will establish a new centre to develop vaccines.
- The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations are on Saturday expected to sign the ‘Carbis Bay Declaration’, a landmark global health declaration aimed at preventing future pandemics, according to a Downing Street statement.
- The UK government said the G7 leaders will commit to using all their resources to prevent a pandemic from ever happening again.
- Under the Carbis Bay Declaration, the United Kingdom will establish a new centre to develop vaccines to prevent zoonotic diseases spreading from animals to humans. Hence option (a) is correct
- The G7 nations are expected to collectively agree to provide a billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine in an effort to end the pandemic in 2022.
The G7 Carbis Bay declaration includes the following interventions:
- Slashing the time taken to develop and licence vaccines, treatments and diagnostics for any future disease to under 100 days
- Reinforcing global surveillance networks and genomic sequencing capacity
- Support for reforming and strengthening the World Health Organization (WHO)
Consider the following Statements regarding EnVision:
- It is a European Space Agency led mission with contributions from NASA.
- It will carry a range of instruments to study the planet’s atmosphere and surface, monitor trace gases in the atmosphere and analyse its surface composition.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation:
In NEWS:
EnVision is an European Space Agency (ESA) led mission with contributions from NASA. It is likely to be launched sometime in the 2030s.
What is EnVision?
- EnVision is an ESA led mission with contributions from NASA. It is likely to be launched sometime in the 2030s. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- The earliest launch opportunity for EnVision is 2031, followed by 2032 and 2033.
- Once launched on an Ariane 6 rocket, the spacecraft will take about 15 months to reach Venus and will take 16 more months to achieve orbit circularisation.
- The spacecraft will carry a range of instruments to study the planet’s atmosphere and surface, monitor trace gases in the atmosphere and analyse its surface composition. A radar provided by NASA will help to image and map the surface. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- EnVision will follow another ESA-led mission to Venus called ‘Venus Express’ (2005-2014) that focussed on atmospheric research and pointed to volcanic hotspots on the planet’s surface.
- Other than this, Japan’s Akatsuki spacecraft has also been studying the planet’s atmosphere since 2015.
Why are scientists interested in studying Venus?
- At the core of the ESA’s mission is the question of how Earth and Venus evolved so differently from each other considering that they are roughly of the same size and composition.
- Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system because of the heat that is trapped by its thick cloud cover.
- To learn about the evolution of terrestrial planets in general, as we discover more Earth-like exoplanets.
Consider the following Statements regarding Aspirational Districts Programme:
- It aims to remove this heterogeneity through a mass movement to quickly and effectively transform these districts.
- A total of 117 Aspirational districts have been identified by NITI Aayog based upon composite indicators.
- The broad contours of the programme are Convergence, Collaboration and Competition
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 only
c) 1,2 and 3
d) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS:
- In an independent appraisal report released the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India has lauded the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) as ‘a very successful model of local area development’ that ‘should serve as a best practice for several other countries where regional disparities in development status persist for many reasons’.
- The report found concerted efforts made under the ADP, previously neglected districts, including those in remote locations and those affected by Left Wing Extremism, ‘have experienced more growth and development in the last three years than ever before’.
- A comparison between the Aspirational Districts and their counterparts found that ADs have outperformed non-ADs.
- Across the sectors of health and nutrition and financial inclusion, the report found that 9.6% more home deliveries are attended by a skilled birth attendant; 5.8% more pregnant women with severe anemia are treated; 4.8% more children diagnosed with diarrhoea are treated; 4.5% more pregnant women register for antenatal care within their first trimesters.
About Aspirational Districts Programme
- Launched in January 2018, the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts’ initiative aims to remove this heterogeneity through a mass movement to quickly and effectively transform these districts. Hence statement (1) is correct.
- The broad contours of the programme are Convergence (of Central & State Schemes), Collaboration (of Central, State level ‘Prabhari’ Officers & District Collectors), and Competition among districts driven by a spirit of mass Movement. Hence statement (3) is correct.
- With States as the main drivers, this program will focus on the strength of each district, identify low-hanging fruits for immediate improvement, measure progress, and rank districts.
- A total of 117 Aspirational districts have been identified by NITI Aayog based upon composite indicators. Hence statement (2) is correct.
- These include Health & Nutrition, Education, Agriculture & Water Resources, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development and Basic Infrastructure which have an impact on the Human Development Index.
- 5 key sectors of the ADP—health and nutrition; education; agriculture and water resources; basic infrastructure; and skill development and financial inclusion—found that the programme has acted as a catalyst for expediting development in these districts.
- The Aspirational Districts Programme was launched as a part of the government’s effort to raise the living standards of its citizens and ensure inclusive growth for all, ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1726315
Which one of the following categories of Fundamental Rights incorporate protection against untouchability as a form of discrimination?
a) Right against Exploitation
b) Right to Freedom
c) Right to Constitutional Remedies
d) Right to Equality
Answer: (d) Right to Equality
Explanation:
Right to Equality (Article 14 -18) protects the citizens against any discrimination by the State on the basis of religion, caste, race, sex, or place of birth. Article 14 says that all citizens enjoy equal privileges and opportunities.
- Article 15 provides that the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.
- Article 16 says that no citizen can be discriminated against or be ineligible for any employment or office under the State on grounds of only religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth or residence. Article 17 abolishes ‘untouchability’ and forbids its practise in any form. Article 18 abolishes all titles national or foreign which create artificial distinctions in social status amongst the people. Hence option (d) is correct.
