INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS (15 January 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Guidelines for declaring a language as ‘Classical’ are:

• High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000
• A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
• The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
• The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/classical-language/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: The following benefits are available for languages which are declared as classical languages:

• Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the concerned language.
• A ‘Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages’ can be set up.
• The University Grants Commission can be requested to create, to start with at least in Central Universities, a certain number of professional chairs for classical languages, for scholars of eminence in the concerned language.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/classical-language/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Although Gwalior has long been thought to be the site of the first occurrence of the zero written as a circle, an ancient Indian scroll called the Bhakshali manuscript, which shows a placeholder dot symbol(see bottom row, seventh character when read from right to left), was recently carbon dated to the 3rd or 4rd Centuries. It is now considered the earliest recorded occurrence of zero.
• 

Bharati Script:

It is an alternative script for the languages of India developed by a team at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Madras lead by Dr. Srinivasa Chakravarthy.

The scripts that have been integrated include Devnagari, Bengali, Gurmukhi, Gujarati, Oriya, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/bharati-script/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• A rare disease, also referred to as an orphan disease, is any disease that affects a small percentage of the population.
• The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has published a national policy for the treatment of 450 ‘rare diseases’.
• Under the policy, there are three categories of rare diseases — requiring one-time curative treatment, diseases that require long-term treatment but where the cost is low, and those needing long-term treatments with high cost.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/rare-diseases/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was issued in 1991 under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, by the Ministry of Environment and Forest to regulate activities in coastal areas of India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/bharati-script/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Ghoghala Beach (Diu), Shivrajpur beach (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Padubidri and Kasarkod (Karnagaka), Kappad beach (Kerala) etc.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/bharati-script/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• The first project of Samsung’s Star Labs, NEONs are being called the world’s first artificial humans.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/virtual-human-neons/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Taal is the second most active volcano (erupted recently) in the Philippines, with 34 recorded historical eruptions, all of which were concentrated on Volcano Island, near the middle of Taal Lake.
• All volcanoes of the Philippines are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
• It is classified as a “complex” volcano. A complex volcano, also called a compound volcano, is defined as one that consists of a complex of two or more vents, or a volcano that has an associated volcanic dome, either in its crater or on its flanks.

Refer: Facts for Prelims:https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/01/15/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-15-january-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:Caspian Sea, a sea or lake?

• The Caspian Sea has a number of different species of sturgeon, the fish that yields the highly prized delicacy caviar. Between 80-90% of the world’s caviar is sourced from the Caspian, but the numbers have been falling over the past few decades.
• In a landmark deal that has been more than two decades in the making, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan -all bordering the Caspian Sea -have agreed in principle on how to divide it (the Caspian) up.
• Until 1991, the Caspian was known as a lake. But the dissolution of the USSR complicated this issue. Iran had argued it was a lake and not a sea, but none of the other four littoral states agreed.
• If it was treated as a sea, then it would be covered by international maritime law, namely the United Nations Law of the Sea. This binding document sets rules on how countries can use the world’s oceans. It covers areas such as the management of natural resources, territorial rights, and the environment.And it is not limited to littoral states, meaning others can seek access to its resources.
• But if it is defined as a lake, then it would have to be divided equally between all five countries.

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Mumbai is home to the highest concentration of leopards anywhere in the world. They capitalise on hunting the animals that man brings into the city.

Refer: Leopards of Mumbai:https://www.bbcearth.com/blog/?article=5-surprising-species-that-are-making-it-in-cities