12 APRIL CURRENT AFFAIRS

1. Consider the following

1. Amnesty International has raised allegations over the functioning of the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam.
2. The organization has observed that the FTs that determined the paramount right to citizenship in Assam were often dismissive, used derogatory language, controlled their own procedures and applied them in arbitrary ways

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Foreigners Tribunals and associated issues

● Recently, Amnesty International has raised allegations over the functioning of the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) in Assam.

● In a report titled “Designed to Exclude‟, Amnesty International has asserted that the Supreme Court and Gauhati High Court had enabled the FTs to create a statelessness crisis in Assam.

● There appear to be aberrations in some cases to the policy of assessing the performance of a FT member.

● The organization has observed that the FTs that determined the paramount right to citizenship in Assam were often dismissive, used derogatory language, controlled their own procedures and applied them in arbitrary ways.

● It has also called for a review of the existing legislative regime governing the determination of nationality in India.

2. Consider the following

1. Every individual, whose name does not figure in the final National Register of Citizens (NRC), can represent his/her case in front of the appellate authority i.e. Foreigners Tribunals (FT).
2. The Assam Police Border Organisation, a wing of the State police tasked with detecting foreigners, readies the cases for the tribunals to decide who is a foreigner and who is not.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Foreigners Tribunals in Assam

● The tribunals are quasi-judicial bodies, to determine if a person staying illegally is a “foreigner” or not.

● Every individual, whose name does not figure in the final National Register of Citizens (NRC), can represent his/her case in front of the appellate authority i.e. Foreigners Tribunals (FT).

● Assam has set up FTs, specifically to handle the cases of 19.06 lakh people left out of the updated NRC.

● Under the provisions of Foreigners Act 1946 and Foreigners (Tribunals) Order 1964, only Foreigners Tribunals are empowered to declare a person as a foreigner.

● The Assam Police Border Organisation, a wing of the State police tasked with detecting foreigners, readies the cases for the tribunals to decide who is a foreigner and who is not.

3. Consider the following

1. No access will be given to the IAEA beyond safeguards of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
2. Iran would deny the IAEA real-time access to footage from surveillance cameras installed at some sites and, if sanctions are not lifted within three months, delete it.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Iran Deal over Nuclear Inspections

● Recently, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed to temporary measures to offset Iran’s decision to restrict access to inspectors.

● In December 2020, Iran’s Parliament passed the law demanding a suspension of some inspections if the US failed to lift sanctions.

Key points of the agreement

● Iran will stop the implementation of the voluntary measures as envisaged in the 2015 nuclear deal, as of 23rd February 2021.

● However, Iran will continue to implement fully and without limitation its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA as before.

● Under a comprehensive safeguards agreement, the IAEA has the right and obligation to ensure that safeguards are applied on all nuclear material in the territory, jurisdiction or control of the State for the exclusive purpose of verifying that such material is not diverted to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive.

● No access will be given to the IAEA beyond safeguards of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

● Iran would deny the IAEA real-time access to footage from surveillance cameras installed at some sites and, if sanctions are not lifted within three months, delete it.

4. Consider the following

1. The Q4 surge drove up the overall fresh investments in 2020-21 to ₹10.72 lakh crore, just 1.2% below the 2019-20 levels, although investments had plummeted sharply that year from ₹16.87 lakh crore in 2018-19.
2. The Centre’s investment stimulus since March 2020 and the RBI‟s liberal monetary policy have helped hasten recovery in projects investment activities.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Key points

● The Q4 surge drove up the overall fresh investments in 2020-21 to ₹10.72 lakh crore, just 1.2% below the 2019-20 levels, although investments had plummeted sharply that year from ₹16.87 lakh crore in 2018-19.

● New project investments in the January to March 2021 quarter hit almost ₹4 lakh crore, nearly ₹1 lakh crore or 33.4% higher than the previous quarter.

● The government’s push for capital expansion finally translated into new projects getting off the ground rising 21.8% during the quarter, after an 11.3% dip in the Centre and States‟ investment announcements in the third quarter.

● Over 1,700 new government projects were announced in Q4, with the Centre accounting for projects worth ₹76,185 crore and State agencies pushing projects worth ₹91,067 crore.

● The Centre’s investment stimulus since March 2020 and the RBI‟s liberal monetary policy have helped hasten recovery in projects investment activities.

● The fresh surge in COVID-19 cases and the spate of lockdowns would certainly be an impediment in the return to complete normalcy, so the government should step up its investment plans, intensify the vaccination drive and extend support to the private sector to sustain the growth in project investments through 2021-22.

5. Consider the following

1. Lighthouse Tourism will boost tourism activities and also will provide opportunities to learn about the enriched history of lighthouses
2. A museum will be created near the lighthouse to showcase its history, working and equipment used and Also, the area around the lighthouse will be converted into aquariums, gardens and children play area along with water bodies.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

India to launch “Lighthouse Tourism”

● In July 2020, the Union Minister of State for Shipping held a high-level meeting to develop 194 lighthouses into major tourist attractions.

● This will boost tourism activities and also will provide opportunities to learn about the enriched history of lighthouses.

● A detailed action plan was presented at the meeting. According to the plan, the lighthouses that are more than 100 years old are to be identified.

● A museum will be created near the lighthouse to showcase its history, working and equipment used.

● Also, the area around the lighthouse will be converted into aquariums, gardens and children play area along with water bodies.

Objectives of Lighthouse as tourism destination

● To enhance and develop the existing Lighthouses and their surrounding areas into unique tourism destinations and Maritime Landmarks.

● To identify and develop possible tourism infrastructure components to facilitate promotion of tourism at Lighthouse premises.

● To explore the possibilities of developing these projects under PPP by integrating commercially viable interventions at the feasible locations in order to make the project viable.

6. Consider the following pairs

1. Anti-Malaria Medications: Chloroquine
2. HIV Drugs: Lopinavir
3. Antiviral Compound: Remdesivir

Which of the above pair/s is/are correctly matched?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. All the above

Answer: (d)

Efficacy of Known Drugs

● Anti-Malaria Medications: Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine

○ The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has suggested the use of

hydroxychloroquine to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (Coronavirus) for restricted populations.

○ Also, the small study conducted in France found that it led to a significant reduction in viral load in COVID-19 patients.

○ However, Hydroxychloroquine is known to have a variety of side-effects, and can in some cases damage the organs like the heart.

● HIV Drugs- Lopinavir and Ritonavir

● The combination drug, ritonavir/lopinavir was introduced to treat HIV infections.

● It was experimented in China with COVID-19 patients but there was no significant difference observed among them.

● Although the drug is generally safe, it may interact with other drugs usually given to severely ill patients with other diseases.

● The drug could cause significant liver damage.

● Antiviral Compound-Remdesivir

○ The drug, remdesivir is developed to treat Ebola and related viruses, is being tested to find out whether it can be used on COVID-19 patients.

○ According to WHO, the drug helps to prevent COVID-19 viral replication.

○ It has the best potential and can be used in high doses without causing toxicities.

7. Consider the following

1. Amnesty International is a London based Non-Governmental Organisation founded in 1961.
2. The organization aims to create a world where every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a London based Non-Governmental Organisation founded in 1961.

The organization aims to create a world where every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948. It recognized the fundamental human rights universally for the first time.

It also conducts research, generates action to prevent gave abuses of human rights and demands justice for those whose rights have been violated.

The organization was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for its “Defence of human dignity against torture” and the United Nations Prize in the field of Human Rights in 1978.

8. Consider the following

1. The IAEA was created in 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology.
2. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c)

International Atomic Energy Agency

Widely known as the world’s “Atoms for Peace and Development” organization within the United Nations family, the IAEA is the international centre for cooperation in the nuclear field.

The IAEA was created in 1957 in response to the deep fears and expectations generated by the discoveries and diverse uses of nuclear technology.

Headquarter: Vienna, Austria.

The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

In 2005 it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work for a safe and peaceful world.

Functions: It is an independent international organization that reports annually to the United Nation General Assembly. When necessary, the IAEA also reports to the UN Security Council in regards to instances of members’ non-compliance with safeguards and security obligations.

9. “Shaphari” relates with

1. Sericulture
2. Aquaculture
3. Agriculture
4. Vermiculture

Answer: (b)

“Shaphari”- Certification scheme for aquaculture products

● India is the second largest fish producer in the world with a total production of 13.7 million metric tonnes in 2018-19 providing meaningful employment to 14 million people across the value chain in harvesting, processing packaging, and distribution.

● During 2019-20, India exported 12.89 lakh MT of seafood worth US$6.68 Billion.

● The commodity basket of Indian fishery export is highly diversified and bulk of the exports is traded in the frozen form.

10. False Point island lighthouse is in which state?

1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Odisha
3. Karnataka
4. Maharashtra

Answer: (b)

As the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways seeks to develop 65 lighthouses on public-private-partnership mode, Odisha‟s five lighthouses present a huge potential for tourism.

● One of the five lighthouses situated along the Odisha coast was the 180-year-old functional tower which continues to guide ships.

● The “False Point‟ island lighthouse is situated off the Kendrapara coast while the other four are situated in the mainland.