1. Recently, DP Singh committee has been established by the Government of India to suggest ways to:
- ensure more students stay and study in India
- ensure national food security
- ensure availability of safe and quality of milk and products both for the domestic and foreign market
- ensure speedy development of infrastructure in North eastern states and Sikkim by way of filling the existing infrastructural gaps
Answer: (a) ensure more students stay and study in India
Explanation:
In NEWS: HRD plans to increase seat capacity, number of IoEs as govt looks to stop brain drain
- The HRD minister took a meeting of top officials and directed that a committee be set up under UGC chief D P Singh to give suggestion on retaining Indian students in the country’s institutions. The panel will give its report within a fortnight.
- Ministry of HRD has set up a committee headed by UGC Chairman DP Singh to:
- Prepare guidelines to ensure more students ‘Stay in India and Study in India. Hence option (b) is correct
- Increase intake in top universities and start multi disciplinary and innovative programmes such as online lectures by eminent faculties abroad and joint degree programmes.
- Establish links between academia and industry and allow lateral entry to Indian higher education institutions.
2.Consider the following statements regarding Institutes of Eminence
- It aims to help 20 public institutions from country break into top 500 global rankings in 10 years
- Only higher education institutions currently placed in the top 500 of global rankings or top 50 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are eligible to apply for the eminence tag.
- It was rolled out by University Grants Commission
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 2 only
- 1,2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation:
In NEWS: HRD plans to increase seat capacity, number of IoEs as govt looks to stop brain drain
- The Centre is planning to increase seat capacity in all premier institutions by 50% by 2024 and will take the number of institutions under the ambitions Institutes of Eminence programme to 50
- Increasing seat capacity by 50% in all premier institutions would require major fund infusion. All the minister said the ambitious IoE or Institutes of Eminence programme would be significantly scaled up to include 50 varsities or colleges.
- Presently, the ministry has planned giving the IoE status to 20 institutions, ten in public and ten in private sector. The HRD ministry would need the nod of the Union Cabinet in case it wants to increase the number of IoEs.
About Institutes of Eminence programme:
- It aims to help 20 higher education (10 public and 10 private) institutions from country break into top 500 global rankings in 10 years, and then eventually break into top 100 over time. Hence statement 1 is incorrect
- It was rolled out by University Grants Commission (UGC). Hence statement 2 is correct
- These selected institutions will have greater autonomy compared to other higher education institutions.
- They will be free to decide their fee for domestic and foreign students and have flexible course duration and structure.
- Only higher education institutions currently placed in the top 500 of global rankings or top 50 of the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) are eligible to apply for the eminence tag. Hence statement 3 is correct
- The private Institutions of Eminence can also come up as greenfield ventures provided the sponsoring organisation submits a convincing perspective plan for 15 years. There will be no financial assistance to the private institutions.
3. Consider the following passage:
This tiger reserve is the largest Tiger reserve (covers a total area of about 3,568 square kms) in the country. Krishna River passes through this reserve. It spreads over five districts in the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The area consists mostly of the Nallamala Hills. It has been recognized by the Project Tiger in the year 1983.
Which of the following tiger reserve referred to in the above passage?
- Bandipur Tiger Reserve
- Bhadra Tiger Reserve
- Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
- Kali Tiger Reserve
Answer: (c) Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve
Explanation:
In NEWS: Conservationists elated as Andhra Pradesh sees remarkable increase in tiger numbers
- Of the 3,980 tigers left in the world, India, with 2,967, accounts for 75%. The magnificent animal is at the top of the food pyramid and is vital to maintain the ecosystem. A massive conservation effort spearheaded by the Forest Department and many global NGOs has started showing results as is evident from the tangible increase in the population of tigers.
- The Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is the largest one in the country and it is here the number of big cats is on the rise. Hence option (c) is correct
- According to the tiger census carried out by the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (2018) and released on July 29, 2019, Andhra Pradesh has 48 adult tigers and Telangana 26, in comparison with 68 (2014), 72 (2010) and 95 (2006).
About Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)
- The Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest Tiger reserve(covers a total area of about 3,568 square kms) in the country.
- It is spread over Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar.
- The area consists mostly of the Nallamala Hills. The hill ranges contain number of plateau of which Amrabad, Srisailam, Peddacheruvu, Sivapuram, Nekkanti are noteworthy.
- The Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Sanctuary has been recognized by the Project Tiger in the year 1983.
- This Reserve has been renamed as the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in the year 1992.
- The mighty River Krishna which rising in Sahyadri Hills and makes its way through Maharashtra and Karnataka flows across Nallamala tiger reserve.
- Srisailam’s temples and reservoirs are the major attraction for thousands of tourists and pilgrims visiting the holy town.
- The area is home to a dazzling array of wild animals. In addition to the Bengal Tiger, which is the apex predator, many other species like leopard, rusty-spotted cat, sloth bear, wild dog, pangolin, mouse deer, Chausingha, Mugger Crocodiles, Indian Rock Python, and innumerable varieties of birds are found here.
4. Consider the following statements regarding Conversation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS)
- It is an important part of Tx2, the global goal to double wild tiger numbers by the year 2022.
- It is an accreditation scheme that encourages tiger conservation areas to meet a set of standards and criteria
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 Environment Minister releases detailed report of Tiger Census on the eve of Global Tiger Day
- Tiger is an incredible part of the nature and the increased number of the big cats in India reflects equilibrium in the nature
- India has 70 percent of world’s tiger population. India is tirelessly working with all 13 tiger range countries towards nurturing the tiger.
- It is working on a programme in which efforts would be made to provide water and fodder to animals in the forest itself to deal with the challenge of human-animal conflict which is causing deaths of animals.
- For this LIDAR based survey technology will be used for the first time. Lidar is a method for measuring distances by illuminating the target with laser light and measuring the reflection with a sensor.
- With the presence of nearly 30 percent of India’s tigers outside tiger reserves, India had embarked upon assessing management interventions through the globally developed Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) framework, which will now be extended to all fifty tiger reserves across the country.
About Conversation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS)
- The Conversation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS) is an accreditation scheme that encourages tiger conservation areas to meet a set of standards and criteria, created by an international group of experts and protected area managers that assures effective and long term tiger conservation. Hence statement 2 is correct
- CA|TS is a partnership between governments, NGOs and tiger conservation areas.
- It was developed in response to the need for stringent conservation procedures that is essential to delivering on the goal of doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022 agreed to in declaration adopted at the St Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010. Hence statement 1 is correct
- CA|TS provides an opportunity for individual tiger conservation areas or networks of areas todemonstrate their commitment to, and success in, protecting tigers.
- CA|TS mission is to secure safe havens for wild tigers.
- CA|TS is based on a set of seven pillars with 17 minimum standards and associated criteria for effective management.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1641759
5. The St. Petersburg Declaration, recently seen in the news is associated with which of the following?
- Artificial Intelligence
- Action to halt global deforestation.
- Neglected Tropical diseases
- Encourage the work of Tiger conservation.
Answer: (d) Encourage the work of Tiger conservation.
Explanation:
In NEWS: Union Environment Minister releases detailed report of Tiger Census on the eve of Global Tiger Day
- The Heads of the Governments of Tiger Range countries at St. Petersburg, Russia, had resolved to double tiger numbers across their global range by 2022 by signing the St. Petersburg declaration on tiger conservation.
About St. Petersburg declaration
- Every year 29 July is celebrated across the world as Global Tiger Day to create awareness about tiger conservation and protection of natural habitat of tigers.
- This is because 29 July act as a reminder of agreement signed by countries at Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in Russia in 2010, to raise awareness about decline of global tiger population. Signatories declared an agreement that governments of tiger-populated countries would double animal’s population by 2022. Hence option (d) is correct
- Tx2 was launched by World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) at the 2010 St Petersburg Tiger Summit held in Russia.
- Under it, 13 tiger range countries (TRCs) had agreed to double the world tiger population by 2022, which is the year of tiger in Chinese calendar.
- These 13 Tiger range countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1641759
6. Consider the following pairs:
Small cat species in india IUCN Status
- Fishing cat Vulnerable
- Golden cat Near Threatened
- Leopard Cat Least Corncen
Which of the pairs given above is/ are correctly matched?
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 only
- 1,2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1,2 and 3
Explanation:
In NEWS: Union Environment Minister to release detailed report of Tiger Census on the eve of Global Tiger Day.
- The Environment Minister will also release a poster on Small Wild Cats of India. Hence option (d) is correct
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1641531
7. Knowledge Resource Center Network (KRCNet) is an ambitious project of the:
- Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
- Ministry of science and technology
- Ministry of civil aviation
Answer: (a) Ministry of Earth Sciences
Explanation:
In NEWS: MoES-Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet) Launched on the Foundation Day of Ministry of Earth Sciences
- Under the Digital India initiative of Government of India, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) aims to develop a World-Class Knowledge Resource Centre Network (KRCNet).
- Keeping in mind the spectacular development in information Technology and Digital India initiatives of Government of India, the traditional libraries of Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) system will be upgraded into world class Knowledge Resources Center (KRC).
- KRCs will be connected with each other and integrated into the KRCNet portal.
- MoES Knowledge Resource Center Network (KRCNet)
- KRCNet is an ambitious project of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES). Hence option (a) is correct
- Under the project, an attempt has been made to develop a system for accessing MoES knowledge products developed in MoES and its institutes from a centralized portal.
- KRCNet aims to develop an integrated information system for providing one point 24×7 access to the Knowledge products like books, reports, journals, presentations, photographs, videos etc.
- The full text documents and other documents will be uploaded in the digital repository and will be integrated in the KRCNet portal.
Objectives of the MoES Knowledge Resource Center Network (KRCNet)
- Establish KRCs in MoES institutes by upgrading, automating and networking existing libraries.
- Establish a Total Quality Management (TQM) system by securing ISO certification for documenting MoES knowledge resources, its maintenance, easy retrieval and dissemination.
- Collect, collate, analyse, index, store and disseminate the intellectual resources, products and project outputs available in MoES headquarter and its institutes.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641508
8. Consider the following statements regarding National Biopharma Mission
- It is an industry-academia collaborative mission for accelerating biopharmaceutical development in the country.
- It is being implemented by the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
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: Department of Biotechnology supported efficacy trial with recombinant BCG vaccine, VPM1002 completes enrolment of about 6000 health-workers and high risk individualsSerum Institute of India Pvt Ltd (SIIPL) has been supported under Department of Biotechnology’s National Biopharma Mission for conduct of a multisite randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial of a recombinant BCG vaccine candidate, VPM1002.
About National Biopharma Mission.
- It is the Industry-Academia Collaborative Mission of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) for accelerating discovery research to early development for Biopharmaceuticals approved by the Cabinet for a total cost US$ 250 million and 50% co-funded by the World Bank is being implemented at Biotechnology Research Assistance Council (BIRAC). Hence statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is correct
- This program is dedicated to deliver affordable products to the nation with an aim to improve the health standards of India’s population.
- Vaccines, medical devices and diagnostics and biotherapeutics are few of its most important domains, besides, strengthening the clinical trial capacity and building technology transfer capabilities in the country.
- The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) chaired by an eminent scientist provides scientific leadership to the mission drawing upon global expertise.
- Under this Mission, the Government has launched Innovate in India (i3) programme to create an enabling ecosystem to promote entrepreneurship and indigenous manufacturing in the biopharma sector.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1641519
9. Consider the following statements regarding Mobile App Mausam
- It will be an important tool for dissemination of weather information and warnings in an attractive and user-friendly manner which will meet the requirements of public.
- It has been designed and developed jointly by ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture & Youth (DAY) team, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and India Meteorological Department (IMD).
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: Ministry of Earth Sciences launches Mobile App “Mausam” for India Meteorological Department on its Foundation Day Celebrations
- Ministry of Earth Sciences launches Mobile App “Mausam” for India Meteorological Department on its Foundation Day Celebrations.
- The app will be an important tool for dissemination of weather information and warnings in an attractive and user friendly manner which will meet the requirements of public. Hence statement 1 is correct
- The mobile app has been designed and developed jointly by ICRISAT’s Digital Agriculture & Youth (DAY) team, Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune and India Meteorological Department(IMD). Hence statement 2 is correct
- The MAUSAM mobile App has the following 5 services:
- Current Weather –Current temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction for 200 cities updated 8 times a day. Information on Sunrise/ sunset and moonrise/ moonset are also given.
- Nowcast– Three hourly warnings of localized weather phenomena and their intensity issued for about 800 stations, and districts of India by State Meteorological Centres of IMD. In case of severe weather, its impact also is included in the warning.
- City Forecast – Past 24 hours and 7 day forecast of weather conditions around 450 cities in India.
- Warnings- Alerts issued twice a day for all districts for the next five days in colour code (Red, Orange and Yellow) to warn citizens of approaching dangerous weather. The colour code Red is the most severe category urging authorities to take action, Orange code prompts authorities and public to be alert and Yellow code prompts authorities and public to keep themselves updated.
- Radar products:Latest Station wise radar products updated every 10 minutes
