INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 17 September 2020) REVISION THROUGH MCQS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• China, which has now gone over a month without any locally transmitted Covid-19 cases, was able to contain Covid-19 due to its ability to manage the serial interval.
• What is it?
  • The serial interval is the duration between symptom onset of a primary case and symptom onset of secondary cases (contacts) generated by the primary case.
  • In simple terms, the serial interval is the gap between the onset of Covid-19 symptoms in Person A and Person B, who is infected by Person A.
• When was it first used?
  • The term was first used by British physician William Pickles, who had initially referred to it as transmission interval with reference to a hepatitis epidemic in the United Kingdom during 1942-45.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/what-is-serial-interval-and-how-can-it-be-managed-to-control-covid-19/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context:
  • Passed in Lok Sabha. The Bill replaces an ordinance to the same effect promulgated on June 26.
  • The Bill proposes amendments to the Banking Regulation Act, 1949.
  • With this new Bill, the central government aims to bring cooperative banks under the supervision of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Key changes:
  • Now, Provisions applicable to banking companies will also applicable to cooperative banks. This ensures that cooperative banks are equally subject to better governance and sound banking regulations through the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  • With the amendments, RBI will be able to undertake a scheme of amalgamation of a bank without placing it under moratorium.
  • It will help the central bank to develop a scheme to ensure the interest of the public, banking system, account holders in the bank and banking company’s proper management, without disrupting any banking functionalities.
  • The amendments also allow cooperative banks to raise money via public issues and private placements of equity or preference shares as well as unsecured debentures, with the central’s bank’s nod.
  • However, the changes will not:
    • Affect the existing powers of the state registrars of co-operative societies under state laws.
    • Apply to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) or co-operative societies whose primary object and principal business is long-term finance for agricultural development, and which do not use the words “bank”, “banker” or “banking”.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/banking-regulation-amendment-bill-2020/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: What is a solar cycle?

• The Sun is a huge ball of electrically-charged hot gas. This charged gas moves, generating a powerful magnetic field. This magnetic field goes through a cycle, called the solar cycle.
• Every 11 years or so, the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips. This means that the Sun’s north and south poles switch places. Then it takes about another 11 years for the Sun’s north and south poles to flip back again.
• So far, astronomers have documented 24 such cycles, the last one ended in 2019.
• How do scientists track solar activity?
  • Scientists track a solar cycle by using
  • The beginning of a solar cycle is typically characterised by only a few sunspots and is therefore referred to as a solar minimum.
• What is solar minimum and maximum?
  • One way to track the solar cycle is by counting the number of sunspots.
  • The beginning of a solar cycle is a solar minimum, or when the Sun has the least sunspots. Over time, solar activity—and the number of sunspots—increases.
  • The middle of the solar cycle is the solar maximum, or when the Sun has the most sunspots. As the cycle ends, it fades back to the solar minimum and then a new cycle begins.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/what-is-solar-cycle-25/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Launched at the recently held Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) of the G20 countries which took place under the Presidency of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• About the Initiative:
• It aims to strengthen the implementation of existing frameworks to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation within G20 member states and globally, taking into account possible implications on the achievement of other SDGs and adhering to the principle of doing no harm.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/global-initiative-to-reduce-land-degradation-and-coral-reef-program/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: About Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act:

• Passed in 1967, the law aims at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India.
• The Act assigns absolute power to the central government, by way of which if the Centre deems an activity as unlawful then it may, by way of an Official Gazette, declare it so.
• It has death penalty and life imprisonment as highest punishments.
• Key points:
  • Stat1: Under UAPA, both Indian and foreign nationals can be charged. It will be applicable to the offenders in the same manner, even if crime is committed on a foreign land, outside India.
  • Stat2: Under the UAPA, the investigating agency can file a charge sheet in maximum 180 days after the arrests and the duration can be extended further after intimating the court.
• Amendments and changes:
• The 2004 amendment, added “terrorist act” to the list of offences to ban organisations for terrorist activities, under which 34 outfits were banned. Till 2004, “unlawful” activities referred to actions related to secession and cession of territory.
• As per amendments of 2019:
  • The Act empowers the Director General of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to grant approval of seizure or attachment of property when the case is investigated by the said agency.
  • The Act empowers the officers of the NIA, of the rank of Inspector or above, to investigate cases of terrorism in addition to those conducted by the DSP or ACP or above rank officer in the state.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/unlawful-activities-prevention-act-6/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Ans: Source: Once an FDI always an FDI.
• Foreign Investment means any investment made by a person resident outside India on a repatriable basis in capital instruments of an Indian company or to the capital of an LLP.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is the investment through capital instruments by a person resident outside India (a) in an unlisted Indian company; or (b) in 10 percent or more of the post issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company.
• Foreign Portfolio Investment is any investment made by a person resident outside India in capital instruments where such investment is (a) less than 10 percent of the post issue paid-up equity capital on a fully diluted basis of a listed Indian company or (b) less than 10 percent of the paid up value of each series of capital instruments of a listed Indian company.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-17-september-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• FDI in India is currently not permitted in the following sectors:
  • Lottery Business including Government /private lottery, online lotteries, etc;
  • Gambling and Betting including casinos etc.;
  • Chit funds;
  • Nidhi company (borrowing from members and lending to members only);
  • Trading in Transferable Development Rights (TDRs);
  • Real Estate Business or Construction of Farm Houses;
  • Manufacturing of Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes, of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes;
  • Activities / sectors not open to private sector investment e.g. Atomic Energy.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-17-september-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Kosi Rail Mahasetu:
• Inaugurated recently in Bihar.
• Sanctioned by the Centre during 2003-04.
• Connects Nirmali and Saraigarh districts of Bihar.
• Provides a shorter route to the Northeast.
• The bridge is of strategic importance along the India-Nepal border.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/09/17/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-17-september-2020/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Nimbarka, was a Hindu philosopher and commentator, known for propagating the Vaishnava doctrine of bhedabheda dvaitadvaita, duality in unity. According to the Vedic scriptures, he was born in 3096 B.C.E., but modern historical research places him in the thirteenth or fourteenth century. So, 1 is clearly wrong. See https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nimbarka
• Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was born after Saint Kabir. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Sirhindi
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabir

Source: UPSE CSE 2019

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Stat1: TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) was a 15th-century Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of the god Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Hence S1 is incorrect.
• Stat2: Tyagaraja took music training from SontiVenkataramayya. But that didn’t stop him from taking musical inspirations from various earlier poets. He was an ardent devotee of lord Rama. In his praise and honour he wrote numerous musical operas, and about twenty four thousand songs, a claim that has been speculated among music historians. Hence, S2 is correct.
• Stat3: Tyagaraja was born on 14th May 1767 in the village of Thiruvayaru in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu whereas TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) (22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint. Hence, statement 3 is incorrect.
• Stat4: TaḷḷapākaAnnamācārya (or Annamayya) (22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503) was a 15th-century Hindu saint and is the earliest known Indian musician to compose songs called sankirtanas in praise of the god Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu. Hence, S4 is correct.
• Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annamacharya
• https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-tyagaraja-guardian-saint-carnatic-music-his-250th-birth-anniversary-55754

Source: UPSC CSE 2018