QUIZ – 2017: Insights Current Affairs Quiz, 16 March 2017

Solution: b.

• The material structurally resembles red algae, embedded in fossil mats of cyanobacteria inside a 1.6 billion-year-old phosphorite, a kind of rock, found in Chitrakoot region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
• Claims of ancient life are always controversial. Without DNA evidence, confirmation must rest on whether more fossils can be found.
• There is also debate over whether red algae belong in the plant kingdom or in a class of their own.

TH: India hosts world’s oldest algae fossil;

BBC;

Solution: a.

About UNESCWA;

TH: Crimes of Apartheid;

Solution: c.

• The Bill proposes a Single Standing Tribunal (with multiple benches) instead of existing multiple tribunals, which shall consist of one Chairperson, one Vice-Chairperson and not more than six other Members.
• While the term of office of the Chairperson is five year or till he attains the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier, the term of office of Vice Chairperson and other member of tribunal shall be co-terminus with the adjudication of the water dispute.
• It also provides for the appointment of assessors to provide technical support to the tribunal.
• The total time period for adjudication of dispute has been fixed at maximum of four and half years.
• The decision of the Tribunal shall be final and binding.
• The Bill also proposes to introduce mechanism to resolve the dispute amicably by negotiations, through a Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to be established by the Central Government consisting of relevant experts, before such dispute is referred to the tribunal.
• The Bill also provides for transparent data collection system at the national level for each river basin and for this purpose, an agency to maintain data-bank and information system shall be appointed or authorized by Central Government.

PIB;

Solution: c.

• Sweet Gas is natural gas that contains very little or no hydrogen sulphide (H2S). H2S is undesirable due to its toxicity in addition to being corrosive to all metals used in the equipment for gas processing, handling and transportation.
• Coalbed methane, coalbed gas, coal seam gas, or coal-mine methane is an unconventional form of natural gas extracted from coal
• According to the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons, “India has the fifth largest proven coal reserves in the world and thus holds significant prospects for exploration and exploitation of CBM.”

Wikipedia;

Improvisation: PIB;

Solution: d.

Statement 1: If you know what India’s INDCs contain, you would know that this statement is correct.

“…the government is  working towards formulating an integrated, multi modal  logistics and transport policy  which will   reduce logistics costs in the country by nearly half, making Indian products more competitive.  The strategy would be to adopt a “hub-and –spoke”  model for the logistics sector in place of the present “point-to-point” model.. This is the first time ever that the development of the transport sector is being done in such an integrated manner. The plan would serve to make the economy competitive by reducing logistics costs, bring down pollution levels by reducing congestion on roads, give a boost to industry and create employment.”

PIB;

Solution: b.

TH: Gauntlet at Sukma;

Solution: c.

• The scheme would provide assistance for setting up and up-gradation of infrastructure projects with overwhelming export linkages like the Border Haats, Land customs stations, quality testing and certification labs, cold chains, trade promotion centres, dry ports, export warehousing and packaging, SEZs and ports/airports cargo terminuses.
• This support is imperative to act as an inducement to the States to channelize funds from their increased devolution towards creation of export infrastructure.
• The objective of the proposed scheme is to enhance export competitiveness by bridging gaps in export infrastructure, creating focused export infrastructure, first mile and last mile connectivity for export-oriented projects and addressing quality and certification measures.

PIB;