Consider the following statements regarding portal SRIJAN
- It is a one stop shop online portal that provides access to the vendors to take up items that can be taken up for indigenization.
- It has launched by the ministry of defence
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 Defence minister has launched Department of Defence Production portal named SRIJAN
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched a portal SRIJAN which is a one stop shop online portal that provides access to the vendors to take up items for indigenization.
- It will help the industry partners to play an active role in the goal of self-reliance in the defence sector.
- Pursuant to Atmanirbhar Bharat announcement, Department of Defence Production has developed an indigenization portal, srijandefence.gov.in, as “opportunities for Make in India in Defence.
- On this portal, DPSUs/OFB/SHQs can display their items which they have been importing or are going to import which the Indian Industry can design, develop and manufacture as per their capability or through joint venture with OEMs.
- The Indian Industry will be able to show their interest. The concerned DPSUs/OFB/SHQs, based on their requirement of the items and their guidelines & procedures will interact with the Indian industry for indigenization.
Source: http://newsonair.com/Main-News-Details.aspx?id=397312
Consider the following statements regarding Ice Stupa
- It is a form of glacier grafting technique that creates artificial glaciers, used for storing winter water in the form of conical shaped ice heaps.
- It is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh
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: Ice stupas help ghost villages of Ladakh become habitable again
- Ice Stupa is a form of glacier grafting technique that creates artificial glaciers, used for storing winter water (which otherwise would go unused) in the form of conical shaped ice heaps.
- During summer, when water is scarce, the Ice Stupa melts to increase water supply for crops. Ice Stupa was invented by engineer, innovator and education reformist Sonam Wangchuk, who is the founder-director of the NGO Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL).
- This is achieved by freezing the stream water vertically in the form of huge ice towers or cones of 30 to 50m height that look very similar to the local sacred mud structures called Stupa or Chorten. These ice mountains can be built right next to the village itself where the water is needed. Very little effort or investment would be needed except for laying one underground pipeline from a higher point on the stream to the outskirts of the village.
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs in collaboration with the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) is implementing the ‘Rehabilitation of Abandoned Villages through Ice Stupas’ project in Ladakh to make the villages habitable again as people are migrating due to water scarcity.
Consider the following statements regarding Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Andolan
- It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.
- The main objectives of this Yojana are to prevent gender-biased sex selective elimination and to ensure the protection and survival of the girl child.
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: Over-regulation of drugs impeding access to safe abortion, finds survey
- Over-regulation of drugs to curb gender-biased sex selection such as through government programmes like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ has hindered access to safe, legal and cost-effective abortion, according to a survey.
- The Survey found an “overwhelming shortage” of abortion pills or medical abortion drugs.
- The findings show that State-wise regulatory and legal barriers are the key reasons why almost 80% of chemists surveyed refrained from stocking these drugs.
- More than 50 % of chemists also reported that medical abortion drugs were over-regulated as compared to other prescription drugs.
- The fact that these abortions are allowed under the Medical Termination Act is also neglected.
About Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme:
- Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) was launched by the Prime Minister on 22nd January, 2015 in Panipat, Haryana.
- It is a tri-ministerial effort of Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health & Family Welfare and Human Resource Development.
- It is one of the flagship programmes of the Government, to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) and related issues of empowerment of women on a life-cycle continuum.
Main Objectives:
- To prevent gender biased sex selective elimination
- To ensure survival and protection of the girl child
- To ensure education and participation of the girl child
Nasha Mukht Bharat Campaign is launched by which of the following ministry in inda?
- Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs
- Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
Answer: (a) Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Explanation:
In NEWS: SHRI THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT ADDRESSES THROUGH WEBCAST A GATHERING OF 272 DISTRICT COLLECTORS & 31 STATE SECRETARIES INVOLVED WITH ‘NASHA MUKT BHARAT CAMPAIGN’
The Campaign focuses on 272 most affected districts by launching a three-pronged attack combining efforts of Narcotics Bureau, Outreach/Awareness by Social Justice and Treatment through the Health Department.
About Nasha Mukht Bharat Campaign:
- It is a drug-free India campaign launched by the union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
- The Campaign focuses on 272 most affected districts by launching a three-pronged attack combining efforts of Narcotics Bureau, Outreach/Awareness by Social Justice and Treatment through the Health Department.
- These 272 districts have been identified based on the inputs received from Narcotics Control Bureau and the findings on the comprehensive National survey done by the Ministry.
The Campaign Plan has the following components:
- Awareness generation programmes;
- Focus on Higher Educational institutions, University Campuses and Schools;
- Community outreachand identification of dependent population;
- Focus on Treatment facilities in Hospital settings;
- Capacity Building Programmes for Service Provider.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1645855
Consider the following statements regarding Project Dolphin
- It is planned to launch to conserve and protect the Dolphins only on rivers in the country
- It is to primarily focus on Gangetic Dolphins.
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: PM Modi launches Project Lion, Project Dolphin during I-Day celebrations
On August 15, 2020, PM Modi launched Project Lion and Project Dolphin during his speech at the 74th Independence Day celebrations.
About Project Dolphin
- Project Dolphin was launched to conserve and protect the Dolphins in the rivers and oceans in the country. The project will conserve dolphins in aquatic habitat using modern technology especially in anti-poaching activities.
- The project will engage the fishermen and other river/ocean dependent populations and will strive for improving the livelihood of the local communities. The conservation of dolphins will also envisage activities, which will also help in the mitigation of pollution in rivers and in the oceans.
- The Project is to primarily focus on Gangetic Dolphins. The Gangetic Dolphins were declared as National Aquatic Animal in 2010. The project is to work under several ministries such as Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Fisheries, Shipping, Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Power, Ministry of Rural Development.
- The Ganges river dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) is one of the five river dolphins found in the world. The species is found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. They feed majorly on fish, but are blind.
- There are around 3,700 Gangetic Dolphins in India. They are considered as ideal ecological indicators of healthy riverine eco system.
Flood Forecasting is a joint initiative of:
- Ministry of Panchayat Raj and Central Water Commission
- World Meteorological Organization and Mountain Research Initiative
- Food and Agriculture Organization and Google
- Central Water Commission and Google
Answer: (d) Central Water Commission and Google
Explanation:
In NEWS: Google partners Central Water Commission for flood forecasting initiative
- The Central Water Commission along with Google has launched flood forecasting initiative.
- Under the initiative, numerous alerts can be sent to the public regarding flood situation in the region. Also, people can learn about current water level in the flood affected regions in the country.
- Google in association with the Central Water Commission (CWC) has taken flood forecasting initiative over the past several months, and sent numerous public alerts to people in impacted regions across the country.
- These alerts provide timely, updated, and critical information that can help users make informed decisions on their safety, and that of their families and friends
- A colour-coded map indicating the flooded areas is also shown and clicking on this map opens a larger, more detailed view in Google Maps where users can zoom in to get a better understanding of water levels in specific regions
The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to
(a) Central Asia
(b) Middle East
(c) South-East Asia
(d) Central Africa
Answer. B) Middle East
IN News: Limited peace: On UAE-Israel peace agreement
The Golan Heights, a rocky plateau in south-western Syria, has a political and strategic significance which belies its size.
Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Six-Day War. Most of the Syrian Arab inhabitants fled the area during the conflict.
An armistice line was established and the region came under Israeli military control. Almost immediately Israel began to settle the Golan.
Syria tried to retake the Golan Heights during the 1973 Middle East war. Despite inflicting heavy losses on Israeli forces, the surprise assault was thwarted. Both countries signed an armistice in 1974 and a UN observer force has been in place on the ceasefire line since 1974.
Israel unilaterally annexed the Golan Heights in 1981. The move was not recognised internationally, although the US Trump Administration did so unilaterally in March 2019.
There are more than 30 Jewish settlements on the heights, with an estimated 20,000 settlers. There are some 20,000 Syrians in the area, most of them members of the Druze sect.
International Labour Organization’s Conventions 138 and 182 are related to
(a) Child labour
(b) Adaptation of agricultural practices to global climate change
(c) Regulation of food prices and food security
(d) Gender parity at the workplace
Answer.a) Child Labour
Explanation:
Recently, International Labour Organization (ILO)’s convention on Worst Forms of Child Labour also known as Convention No. 182 received universal ratification after the Kingdom of Tonga ratified the same.
- Universal Ratification:
- It means ratification by all the members of an organisation. Convention No. 182has received ratification from all the 187 members of ILO.
- Child Labour:
- The ILO defineschild labour as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to their physical and mental development.
- In the least developed countries, slightly more than one in four children (ages 5 to 17)are engaged in labour that is considered detrimental to their health and development.
- The eradication of child labour is part of the Sustainable Development GoalTarget 8.7.
- The UN General Assemblyhas declared 2021 as the year for the elimination of child labour.
- Convention No. 182:
- The convention was adopted by ILOmember states meeting in Geneva in 1999.
- It aimsto protect children from the worst forms of child labour, which include slavery, prostitution, trafficking, deployment of children in armed conflict and other conditions that compromise their overall well-being.
You are standing in a location called ‘Mare Serenitatis’, You are in?
- Antarctica
- Greenland
- Moon
- Mars
Solution: c) Moon
Explanation:
In News: Chandrayaan-2’s orbiter spots Sarabhai crater on Moon on his birth centenary
- ISRO pays tribute to Dr Vikram Sarabhai by announcing that Chandrayaan 2 Orbiter has captured the Moon images of “Sarabhai” Crater.
- Sarabhai is a small, circular, bowl-shaped crater on the Mare Serenitatis, in the northeast quadrant of the Moon. The formation is relatively isolated, being located to the northeast of the crater Bessel. It lies along a wrinkle ridge designated the Dorsum Azara.
- This crater is named after Indian astrophysicist Vikram Sarabhai, considered the Father of the Indian Space Programme. It was previously identified as Bessel A.
With reference to Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), consider the following statements
- AIIB has more than 80 member nations.
- India is the largest shareholder in AIIB.
- AIIB does not have any members from outside Asia.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c). 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: a) 1 Only
Explanation: Headquartered in Beijing, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a development bank established to boost lending for projects in sectors like energy, transportation, urban construction, logistics, education and healthcare. AIIB presently has 97 approved members worldwide. The Bank has invested in 13 member regions; it has members from outside Asia in Egypt (Middle East), Azerbaijan (Asia and Europe) and others. The three largest shareholders of the bank are China, India and Russia.
