Insights Revision Through MCQs – 02 November 2019

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Electoral Bond- the banking instrument resembling promissory notes will not carry any interest.
• It will be a bearer instrument.
• It will not carry the name of the payee.
• It can be bought for any value, in multiples of Rs 1,000, Rs 10,000, Rs 1 lakh, Rs 10 lakh or Rs 1 crore
• The electoral bonds can be purchased for specified denominations and the payee then can bestow it upon a registered political party as donation which can then be cashed in via the party’s verified account within 15 days.
• The bonds shall not carry the donor’s name, although the payee will have to fulfil KYC (Know Your Customer) norms at the bank. Further, no report is required to be submitted by receiving parties in case of donations received via electoral bonds. In short, neither the donors nor the political parties are obliged to reveal the sources of donations.
• Every party that is registered under section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples Act, 1951 and has secured at least one per cent of the votes polled in the most recent Lok Sabha or State election will be allotted a verified account by the Election Commission of India. Electoral bond transactions can be made only via this account.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/02/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-02-november-2019/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• On 2 July 2019, the Tiware dam in Ratnagiri district of Maharastra state of India failed following heavy rains. The failure resulted in flooding of the villages situated downstream. At least 19 people died, most of them from the lower castes, and four went missing.
• Polavaram dam across the Godavari River is under construction located in West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh state and its reservoir spreads in parts of Chhattisgarh and Orissa States also.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/02/polavaram-project-2/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, the plan was formulated after several meetings that the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) held with state government representatives and experts. The result was a plan that institutionalised measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates.
• GRAP works only as an emergency measure. As such, the plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions. When the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the measures listed under both sections have to be followed since the plan is incremental in nature.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/02/public-health-emergency-declared-in-delhi/

Ans: (d)

Explanation: The salient features of the AFSPA act are:

• Governor of a State and the Central Government are empowered to declare any part or full of any state as a disturbed area if according to their opinion that it has become necessary to disrupt terrorist activity or any such activity that might impinge on the sovereignty of India or cause insult to the national flag, anthem or India’s Constitution.
• Section (3) of AFSPA provides that, if the governor of a state issues an official notification in The Gazette of India then the Central government has the authority to deploy armed forces for assisting the civilian authorities. Once a region is declared ‘disturbed’ then it has to maintain status quo for a minimum of three months, as per The Disturbed Areas Act of 1976.
• Section (4) of AFSPA gives special powers to army officers in disturbed areas to shoot (even if it kills) any individual who violates law / or is suspected to violate law (this includes assembly of five or more people, carrying of weapons) etc. The only condition is that the officer has to give a warning before opening fire.
• Security forces can arrest anybody even without a warrant, and carry out searches without consent.
• Once a person is taken into custody, he/she has to be handed over to the nearest police station as soon as possible.
• Prosecution of the officer on duty for alleged violation of human rights requires the prior permission of the Central Government.
• AFSPA was first enacted to deal with the Naga insurgency in the Assam region.
  • In 1951, the Naga National Council (NNC) reported that it conducted a “free and fair plebiscite” in which about 99 percent of Nagas voted for a ‘Free Sovereign Naga Nation’. There was a boycott of the first general election of 1952 which later extended to a boycott of government schools and officials.
• The AFSPA – like many other controversial laws – is of a colonial origin. The AFSPA was first enacted as an ordinance in the backdrop of Quit India Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi in 1942.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/02/afspa-3/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Android version of Pegasus spyware is called Chrysaor Malware
• The android version of Pegasus installs as an application on phone and uses root technique called framaroot
• A zero-day (also known as 0-day) vulnerability is a computer-software vulnerability that is unknown to, or unaddressed by, those who should be interested in mitigating the vulnerability (including the vendor of the target software).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/02/whatsapp-hacking-and-issues-related/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Defence Cyber Agency: It will work in close coordination with National Cyber Security Advisor. It will focus on non-civilian cyber issues, including safeguarding critical infrastructure. It will be have over 1,000 personnel and will be distributed to various formations of Army, Navy and IAF.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/02/whatsapp-hacking-and-issues-related/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

Refer: Facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/11/02/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-02-november-2019/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• First statement is right as it is its particle nature of light that scatters it. (https://sciencing.com/diffused-light-5470956.html)
• Second statement is correct. Light is diffused after being scattered by particles in atmosphere (or in any medium)
• Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in the atmosphere causes diffuse sky radiation, which is the reason for the blue color of the sky and the yellow tone of the sun itself. This involves gas molecules.

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Under Lytton, the first Famine Commission (1878-80) under Sir Richard Strachey was appointed and it made many commendable recommendations. They include provision of funds for famine relief and construction work in the annual budget. The Famine Code came into existence in 1883.
• In 1878, the Arms Act was passed by Lord Lytton. This Act prevented the Indians to keep arms without appropriate license. Its violation would be a criminal offence. The Europeans and the Anglo- Indians were exempted from the operation of these legislations
• Lord Lytton introduced uniform salt tax throughout British India
• when Lord Lytton was appointed the Viceroy of India, he was instructed by the

home government to follow a forward policy. The Russian attempt to send a mission to Afghanistan was the main cause of the Second Afghan War from 1878 to 1880.

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Gandhipedia is being developed by the National Council for Science Museums (NCSM) to sensitise the youth and the society at large about Gandhian values
• The portal will function on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine running. It will be a repository of knowledge on Mahatama Gandhi. The portal will contain original photographs, visuals, speeches and the 100 collected works of Gandhiji. Books by Gandhiji will also be available on the portal apart from books that have been written on him
• The Gandhipedia will be free for access to everybody. The project is at present being designed by the National Council for Science and Museums. It will be jointly implemented by IIT-Kharagpur and IIT-Gandhinagar