Consider the following statements regarding Leprosy
- It is an infectious disease caused by a bacillus called Mycobacterium leprae
- It is not transmitted from person to person
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: Explained: Why is Himachal testing residents for leprosy?
- There are currently around 80-82 patients with leprosy in Himachal, mostly adults. Half of these patients were diagnosed in 2020, and the rest have been under treatment since last year.
- For the first time in years, none of the new cases detected this year had visible impairments/deformity or ‘Grade 2 disability’, as the World Health Organization (WHO) calls it.
- The national leprosy eradication programme is being implemented in Himachal under the National Health Mission. According to state mission director Dr Nipun Jindal, ASHA workers try to detect new cases at an early stage by screening people from house-to-house and referring suspected cases to a medical officer.
About Leprosy
- Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by a bacillus, Mycobacterium Hence statement 1 is correct
- leprae multiplies slowly and the incubation period of the disease, on average, is 5 years.
- The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.
- Symptoms may occur within 1 year but can also take as long as 20 years or even more to occur.
- Leprosy is curable with Multidrug Therapy (MDT).
- Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases. Hence statement 2 is correct
- Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.
- Pregnant mothers with leprosy can’t pass it to their unborn babies.
Consider the following statements regarding Electoral Bonds
- It aims to increase transparency in political funding.
- This bond is available for purchase for 10 days at the beginning of every quarter.
- These bonds are issued by the authorized branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) and are valid for 15 days from the date of the purchase.
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: No public interest in disclosing names of electoral bond buyers, says CIC
- The RTI Act prohibits sharing of third party information without the written consent of the third party unless sharing would serve a larger public interest.
- The Central Information Commission (CIC), India’s transparency watchdog, has said no public interest is involved in disclosing the names of buyers of electoral bonds while reiterating the argument that such information cannot be shared under the Right to Information (RTI) Act as it is held in a “fiduciary” capacity — a move that reflects a change in position from an order it issued
About electoral bonds
- The electoral bonds were introduced with the Finance Bill (2017) and government notified the Electoral Bond Scheme 2018 to boost transparency in political funding. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is a financial instrument for making donations to political parties.
- It is like a promissory note that can be bought by any Indian citizen or company incorporated in India and the citizen or corporate can then donate the same to any eligible political party of his/her choice.
- These bonds are issued in multiples of Rs. 1,000, Rs. 10,000, Rs. 1 lakh, Rs. 10 lakh and Rs. 1 crore without any maximum limit.
- The bonds are available for purchase for 10 days at the beginning of every quarter. The first 10 days of January, April, July and October have been specified by the government for the purchase of electoral bonds. An additional period of 30 days shall be specified by the government in the year of Lok Sabha elections. Hence statement 2 is correct
- These bonds are issued by the authorised branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) and are valid for 15 days from the date of the purchase. Hence statement 3 is correct
Consider the following statements regarding Permanent Court of arbitration
- It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
- India is not a party of the PCA.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation:
In NEWS: Blow to India, Cairn wins $1.2-b award in retrospective tax dispute
- British oil and gas explorer Cairn Energy Plc said it has won an arbitration tribunal award of $1.2 billion plus interest and costs against the Indian government on a tax dispute, in a second blow to the government in three months on the controversial retrospective tax levy
About Permanent Court of Arbitration
- The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) is an intergovernmental organization located at The Hague in the Netherlands. Hence statement 1 is incorrect
- The PCA is not a court in the traditional sense but provides services of an arbitral tribunal to resolve disputes that arise out of international agreements between member states, international organizations or private parties.
- The cases span a range of legal issues involving territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, international investment, and international and regional trade.
- The PCA is constituted through two separate multilateral conventions with a combined membership of 122 states.
- It was established in 1899 by the first Hague Peace Conference of 1899 Hague Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes. At the second Hague Peace Conference, the earlier Convention was revised by the 1907 Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes.
- India is a party of the PCA according to the Hague Convention on Hence statement 2 is incorrect
- It seeks to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution involving various combinations of states, state entities, international organizations and private parties.
Consider the following statements
- The charge register shows the distribution of work among enumerators and marks the House Listing Blocks (HLB) to be visited by each official.
- The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
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: Registrar General writes to States to update ‘charge register’, a census document
- The Registrar General of India (RGI) that conducts the decennial Census exercise has written to all State coordinators to update names of an area, locality, colony or a building in the “charge register,” an important census document that will help enumerators to collect details during the first phase of Census-House Listing and Housing Census and the National Population Register.
- The charge register shows the distribution of work among enumerators and marks the House Listing Blocks (HLB) to be visited by each official. Each HLB, the primary unit for collection of data, can comprise an estimated present population of only 650 to 800. Hence statement 1 is correct
- The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner falls under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The register will also be used for the field work relating to the updating of NPR since the same functionaries would be engaged for both the exercises. Around 30 lakh enumerators — government officials and government school teachers — will each be assigned the responsibility to collect details about 650-800 people through both online and offline mode.
Consider the following statements regarding Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
- It provides free of cost insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family on a floater basis.
- It will ensure Universal Health Coverage and focuses on providing financial risk protection and quality and affordable essential health services to all individuals and communities.
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: PM Modi to launch AB-PMJAY SEHAT scheme for Jammu and Kashmir
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday launch the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) SEHAT scheme for the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. The scheme will benefit as many as 21 lakh eligible people on the basis of Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011
- The government is collecting details of beneficiary families who may be missing from the SECC 2011 database. This will ensure that all beneficiaries are enrolled at the earliest so that they can avail free healthcare services
About Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
- The scheme provides free of cost insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family on a floater basis. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It convergences with PM-JAY and provides for an operational extension of PM-JAY to 15 lakh (approx) additional families.
- The benefits of the scheme will be portable across the country.
- The hospitals empanelled under PM-JAY scheme shall provide services under this scheme as well.
- The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively.
- It will ensure Universal Health Coverage and focuses on providing financial risk protection and quality and affordable essential health services to all individuals and communities. Hence statement 2 is correct
- It covers medical procedures such as oncology, cardiology, nephrology etc and up to three days of pre-hospitalisation and 15 days post-hospitalisation expenses such as diagnostics and medicines are also included in the scheme.
Ayushman Bharat adopts a continuum of care approach, comprising of two inter-related components, which are –
- Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs)
- Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY)
Consider the following statements regarding Himalayan Tahr
- It is found in western and central Himalayas from Jammu & Kashmir
- It is one of the three species of tahrs.
- It has been listed as a near threatened species under the IUCN red list of Threatened Species
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: Rare snow leopard, Himalayan brown bear, Tahr sighted in Gangotri National Park
- These animals were camera trapped and sighted by forest patrolling staff during the ongoing snow leopard estimation process in the region.
- A rare Snow leopard, a Himalayan Brown bear and several Himalayan Tahrs were recently sighted in the Gangotri National Park in Uttarakhand, in an indication of the rich biodiversity of the region
- Snow leopard, Himalayan Brown bear, Himalayan Tahr and many other smaller fauna have been sighted and camera trapped in the park in the past few weeks. The presence of all these animals indicates that the park has a rich biodiversity and there is a stable prey base
About Himalayan Tahr:
- Found in western and central Himalayas from Jammu & Kashmir (rare: west of Doda) to Sikkim. Hence statement 1 is correct
- Habitat: Temperate and subalpine forests precipitous terrain with grass cover and slopes with oak and bamboo forests. In the Greater Himalayas, found on southern forested slops(1550-5300 m although they prefer higher altitudes between 2000-4400 m).
- Tahrs are related to wild goats. The Himalayan Tahr is one of the three species of tahrs. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The Himalayan Tahr has a thick, shaggy, dual-layered coat.
- The Tahr eats herbs, grasses, and the leaves of shrubs and trees.
- The male Tahr has a coarse, tangled mane over its neck and chest, and a mantle that covers the flanks down to its thighs.
- IUCN: Near Threatened. Hence statement 3 is correct
- Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.
Consider the following statements regarding National Cadet Corps
- It was formed under the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948
- The officers and cadets have no liability for active military service once they complete their course.
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: Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar launches DGNCC Digital Forum in New Delhi
- The Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar launched the DGNCC Digital Forum in New Delhi today. This Digital Forum hosted on the DGNCC website, will provide a platform to National Cadet Corps cadets all over the country to share their experiences of various NCC activities
About National Cadet Corps:
- The National Cadet Corps is the youth wing of Armed Forces in India. Headquarters: New Delhi
- It is a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Wing, engaged in grooming the youth of the country into disciplined and patriotic citizens.
- It was formed under the National Cadet Corps Act of 1948. Hence statement 1 is correct
- It is open to school and college students on voluntary basis.
- The Cadets are given basic military training in small arms and drill.
- The officers and cadets have no liability for active military service once they complete their course. Hence statement 2 is correct
- During India-Pakistan wars of 1965 & 1971, NCC cadets were the second line of defense.
- They organized camps to assist ordnance factories, supplying arms and ammunition to the front and also were used as patrol parties to capture enemy paratroopers.
- The NCC is headed by a Director General with the rank of Lieutenant General.
Consider the following statements regarding E-Sampada web portal
- It have been developed by National Informatics Centre
- It provides a single-window for all these services including an allotment for over one lakh government residential accommodations, office space allotment to government organizations in 45 office complexes in 28 cities
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: E-Sampada- New Web Portal & Mobile App Launched on Good Governance Day– To Simplify Processes & Bring Uniformity In Systems Across India
- Good governance day is celebrated annually on 25 December, the anniversary of the birth of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The new Web Portal and Mobile App have been developed by National Informatics Centre (NIC). Hence statement 1 is correct
- In line with the objectives of boosting transparency and accountability while ensuring ease of living for the citizens, the Directorate of Estates, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs today dedicated to the nation, a new Web Portal and Mobile App, e-Sampada. The new application provides a single window for all these services including allotment for over one lakh government residential accommodations, office space allotment to government organisations in 45 office complexes in 28 cities, booking of 1,176 holiday home rooms and venues like 5, Ashoka Road for social functions etc. Hence statement 2 is correct
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1683601
Consider the following statements regarding Electronic-Human Resource Management System
- It aims to facilitate a digital working environment, and streamline Human Resource services for Government employees.
- National Informatics Centre (NIC) is the technical partner of DoPT for designing, development and implementation of e-HRMS.
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 Home Secretary and Secretary, DoPT Shri A.K.Bhalla releases e-HRMS brochure on Good Governance Day
- The Expenditure Management Commission (EMC) has recommended to put in place a Human Resource Management System (HRMS) across all offices of the Government of India.
- The DoPT was tasked to expeditiously roll-out e-Service Book in respect of all the central government employees in a time bound manner with the support of NIC and involvement of Cadre Controlling authorities.
What is e-HRMS?
- The DoPT (Department of Personnel and Training) has introduced the e-HRMS to facilitate a digital working environment, and streamline Human Resource services for Government employees. Hence statement 2 is correct
- The National Informatics Centre (NIC) is the technical partner of DoPT for designing, development and implementation of e-HRMS. Hence statement 1 is correct
- The e-HRMS will provide analytics to the Senior Administration in Policy formulation and implementation.
- The e-HRMS can be adopted by State Governments and other Government Units providing a single window access for hiring-to-retiring of Government employees.
Significance of e-HRMS
- Automated clearances when implemented will save resources in terms of time money and efforts both on part of administration and employee.
- The e-HRMS can eliminate employees’ time spent to fill up various forms (such as NOC, No Dues Certificate, etc.) from various offices/sections, resulting in ease of living for Government employees post-retirement.
- Learning and learning record management: Integration with iGOT Karmayogi (Online Training Portal for employees) will enable digitization of learning records of officials.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1683566
Consider the following historical places:
- Ajanta Caves
- Lepakshi Temple
- Sanchi Stupa
Which of the above places is/are also known for mural paintings?
- 1 only
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- None
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
The Lepakshi temple has the finest specimens of mural paintings of the Vijayanagar kings.
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