1. What is SVAMITVA Scheme?
a) Digital maps of all villages
b) Food For all
c) Old age pension
d) GST Regulations
Answer: (a) Digital maps of villages
Explanation:
In NEWS: India to prepare digital maps of all villages
● India plans to prepare digital maps of all its 6,00,000 villages and pan-India 3D maps will be prepared for 100 cities. Hence option(a) is correct.
· SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
· Under the scheme, the latest surveying technology such as drones will be used for measuring the inhabited land in villages and rural areas.
· The mapping and survey will be conducted in collaboration with the Survey of India, State Revenue Department and State Panchayati Raj Department under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
· The drones will draw the digital map of every property falling in the geographical limit of each Indian village.
· Property Cards will be prepared and given to the respective owners.
· The updated guidelines help private companies to prepare a variety of maps without needing approvals from a host of ministries.
· They aim to make it easier to use drones and develop applications via location mapping.
· It encompasses the trinity of geospatial Systems, Drone Policy and unlocked Space Sector will be the hallmark of India’s future economic progress.
2. Recently, the Beed model is seen in news, it is related to
a) Crop insurance
b) Water harvesting
c) Cropping System
d) Open air class in school
Answer: (a) Crop Insurance
Explanation:
In NEWS: Maharashtra may become 8th state to opt out of Centre’s flagship crop insurance scheme
Maharashtra may follow several other big states and opt out Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), the Narendra Modi government’s much-vaunted crop insurance scheme. India’s second-most populous state may replace the central scheme with its own — a step already adopted by states like West Bengal.
· PMFBY insures farmers against all non-preventable natural risks from pre-sowing to post-harvest.
· Farmers have to pay a maximum of 2 per cent of the total premium of the insured amount for kharif crops, 1.5 per cent for rabi food crops and oilseeds as well as 5 per cent for commercial / horticultural crops.
· The balance premium is shared by the Union and state governments on a 50:50 basis and on a 90:10 basis in the case of northeastern states.
· Claims are worked out on the basis of shortfall in actual yield, vis-a-vis the threshold yield in the notified area.
Beed Model
● The model of crop insurance in place in Maharashtra’s Beed district is also being studied by a central government panel set up to suggest suitable working models for PMFBY. Hence option(a) is correct.
· In the Beed model, there is a cap on the profit of the insurance companies. If the claims exceed the insurance cover, the state government pays the bridge amount.
· If the claims are less than the premium collected, the insurance company keeps 20 per cent of the amount as handling charges and reimburses the rest to the state government.
· The Beed model will reduce the state’s subsidy burden but we have to see if it is benefitting the farmers,
3. Consider the following statements are regarding Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
1) It is composed of its 150 Member States
2) It is the United Nations body responsible for supporting global ocean science and services
3) It was established by UNEP general conference
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: Understanding oceans: Why UNESCO wants to map 80% of the world‘s seabed
· Around 80 per cent of the world’s ocean floors will be mapped by 2030, pledged the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
· At present, only 20 per cent seabed has been mapped and studied.
· Data gathered from this survey will help understand seismic and tsunami risks, sustainable fisheries resources, ways to deal with oil spills, air crashes and shipwrecks as well as potential for offshore infrastructure
The repository of knowledge will be gained through studying the topology and depth of seafloors to identify the following:
· Location of ocean faults
· Workings of ocean currents and tides
· Transport of sediments
About IOC
· It is the United Nations body responsible for supporting global ocean science and services. . Hence statement 2 is correct
· It was established by UNESCO general conference in 1961. . Hence statement 3 is incorrect
· The IOC enables to work together to protect the health of the shared ocean by coordinating programmes in areas such as ocean observations, tsunami warnings and marine spatial planning.
· The IOC is supporting all its Member States to build their scientific and institutional capacity in order to achieve the global goals including the UN Agenda 2030 and its Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction
· The IOC is composed of its 150 Member States, an Assembly, an Executive Council and a Secretariat, based at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. Hence statement 1 is correct
The IOC is working to achieve its Vision through the following High-Level Objectives:
· Healthy ocean ecosystems and sustained ecosystem services;
· Effective early warning systems and preparedness for tsunamis and other ocean-related hazards;
· Increased resiliency to climate change and variability and enhanced safety, efficiency and effectiveness of all ocean-based activities through scientifically-founded services, adaptation and mitigation strategies;
· Enhanced knowledge of emerging ocean science issues.
4. MUSE and HelioSwarm mission is closely associated with which of the following area?
a) Early warning system in disaster management
b) Clinical trial management system
c) Understand the dynamics of the Sun
d) Part of Deep sea mission in the Indian Ocean region
Answer: (c) Understand the dynamics of the Sun
Explanation:
In NEWS: New Sun Missions to Help NASA Better Understand Earth-Sun Environment
● NASA has selected two science missions – the Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) and HelioSwarm – to help improve our understanding of the dynamics of the Sun, the Sun-Earth connection, and the constantly changing space environment. Hence option(c) is correct.
