07 SEPTEMBER CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Which of the following are defined under Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest
Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, commonly known as Forest Rights Act (FRA)?

1. Critical Wildlife Habitat
2. Community Forest Resource
3. Forest Villages
   Select the correct answer using the code given below

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 2 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: d)
Explanation:
Features of the Act
 The act recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in Forest land in forest Dwelling
Scheduled Tribes (FDST) and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD)who have been
residing in such forests for generations.
 The act also establishes the responsibilities and authority for sustainable use, conservation
of biodiversity and maintenance of ecological balance of FDST and OTFD.
 It strengthens the conservation regime of the forests while ensuring livelihood and food
security of the FDST and OTFD.
 It seeks to rectify colonial injustice to the FDST and OTFD who are integral to the very
survival and sustainability of the forest ecosystem.
 The act identify four types of rights:
o Title rights
 It gives FDST and OTFD the right to ownership to land farmed by tribals or
forest dwellers subject to a maximum of 4 hectares.
 Ownership is only for land that is actually being cultivated by the concerned
family and no new lands will be granted.
o Use rights
 The rights of the dwellers extend to extracting Minor Forest Produce,
grazing areas, to pastoralist routes, etc.
o Relief and development rights
 To rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or forced displacement and to
basic amenities, subject to restrictions for forest protection
o Forest management rights
 It includes the right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any
community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting
and conserving for sustainable use.

Q2. Which of the following are the reasons for rise in Indian Forex Reserves?

1. Rising FDI and FII
2. Low Capital Outflow due to travel restrictions
3. Reduced remittance from Gulf countries
   Select the correct answer using the code given below

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 3 only

Solution: a)
Explanation:
Reasons for recent rise in Indian Forex Reserves
 Though Indian reserves are rising since its 1991 Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis (left only
with US$5.8billion of reserve), the speed of rise is significant in last 2-3 years.
 Some of the major reasons for this sudden rise includes:
o High Foreign Capital Flow in terms of Rising Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio
Investment (FPI) due to its large market size, growing startups, corporate tax cut, higher returns etc.
o Reduced Capital outflow due to reduced consumptions under Covid-19 and curbs on foreign
travel. E.g. In 2020-21, India’s BoP was at record surplus of $87 billion.
o Record remittances from its Diaspora in last two years (above US$ 80billion), and
o Massive Liquidity Injection in USA through stimulus measures against economic impact of Covid19 pandemic. E.g. US$2.3 trillion lending support from Federal Reserve to households, financial
markets, government etc.

Q3. The ‘Enhanced Transparency Framework’, sometimes seen in news, is related to which one of
the following agreement/plans?
a) Abraham Accord
b) India-US FTA
c) Paris Agreement
d) Iran Nuclear Agreement

Solution: c)

Explanation:
In 2015, at COP 21, Parties, aiming to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change,
adopted the Paris Agreement and through it established an enhanced transparency framework. The
enhanced transparency framework is expected to build mutual trust and confidence, and promote
effective implementation by providing:
1) Clarity and tracking of progress towards achieving the countries’ individual nationally determined
contributions.
2) Clarity on support provided and received by relevant individual Parties in the context of climate
change actions.

Q4. Which of the following are the implications of the recently passed General Insurance Business
(Nationalisation) Amendment Act, 2021?

1. The central government’s shareholding in the companies nationalised under the Act will be
   kept at least 51%.
2. The Act specifies that a director of a specified insurer, who is not a whole-time director, will
   not be held liable for any act.
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: d)

Explanation:
Both statements are incorrect.
Earlier the Act required that shareholding of the central government in the specified insurers under
the Act must be at least 51%. The new Amendment Act removes this provision. This will push for
higher private participation in public sector insurance companies.
The Bill specifies that a director of a specified insurer, who is not a whole- time director, will be held
liable only for certain acts. These include acts which have been committed: (i) with his knowledge,
attributable through board processes, and (ii) with his consent or connivance or where he had not
acted diligently.

Q5. Which of the following are consequences of La Nina?

1. Heavy floods In Australia
2. Positive impact on fishing industry of South America
3. Droughts in Peru and Ecuador
   Select the correct answer using the code given below

a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: d)

Explanation:
La Nina:
About:
 La Nina, the “cool phase” of ENSO, is a pattern that describes the unusual cooling of the
tropical eastern Pacific.
 La Nina events may last between one and three years, unlike El Nino, which usually lasts
no more than a year.
 Both phenomena tend to peak during the Northern Hemisphere winter.
Impact:
 Off the west coast of the Americas, upwelling increases, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water
to the surface.
 It usually has a positive impact on the fishing industry of western South America.
 It can also lead to a more severe hurricane season.
 Causes the jet stream to move northward and to weaken over the eastern Pacific.
 Causes drought in the South American countries of Peru and Ecuador.

 There are increased temperatures in Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and off the Somalian
coast. It also leads to heavy floods in Australia.

Q6. Consider the following statement regarding PM-WANI(Prime Minister – Wi-fi Access Network
Interface).

1. It aims to provide all PDS shop with Wi-Fi-access to provide seamless transaction.
2. The public network will set up by the PDOA’s to provide Wi-Fi-service through the PDO’s spread
   throughout the country.
3. It was recommended by TRAI (Telecom regulatory Authority of India) in first place.
   Select the correct answer using the code belowa) 1 and 2 only
   b) 2 and 3 only
   c) 1 and 3 only
   d) 1, 2 and 3
   Solution: b)
   Explanation:
   Statement 1 is not correct.
   The public Wi-Fi Access Network Interface, which will be called ‘PM-WANI’, was first recommended
   by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in 2017.
   PM-WANI: This will involve multiple players, including PDOs, PDOAs, app providers, and a central
   registry. PM-WANI infrastructure can be structured in the form of a pyramid.
   Need for a Public Wi-Fi Network in India:
    To increase the proliferation of internet services in the country.
    With PDOs – which will basically be small retail outlets across the length and breadth of
   the country – last mile connectivity is being aimed at.
    To offer a cost-effective option for the common man.
    Even in urban areas with sufficient mobile data coverage, the mobile internet tariffs are
   bound to increase.
    To achieve the ‘Digital India’ vision.
    From 2015 to June of 2020, India grew from 302 million internet subscribers to 750 million.
   That is a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20%, making India one of the fastest
   growing internet markets in the world.
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   Q7. Consider the following statements1. Fossil Fuels are generally found in Igneous Rocks.
4. Granite, which is an igneous rock consists of Felspar, Quartz and Mica.
5. Igneous Rocks are crystalline in nature.
   Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?
   a) 1 and 3 only
   b) 3 only
   c) 2 only
   d) 2 and 3
   Solution: d)
   Explanation:
   Fossil Fuels are generally found in Sedimentary rocks.
   Granite is an igneous rock and it is made up of Felspar, Mica and Quartz. And, Igneous are normally
   crystalline in nature and they do not contain any fossil fuels.
   Q8. Consider the following statements regarding Central Issue Price (CIP) in India:
6. It is the price at which central government issues food grains to state. governments and UTs.
7. It is more than the economic cost of food grains incurred by the Central Government.
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2
   Solution: a)
   Explanation:
   Statement 2 is not correct.
   Central Issue Price (CIP) is the price at which central government issues food grains to state
   governments and governments of Union territories for distribution under Targeted Public
   Distribution System (TPDS) to serve families of Below Poverty Line (BPL), Above Poverty Line (APL)
   and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) at rates fixed by the Government of India.
   Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Government of India, fixes the Central Issue
   Prices (CIP) of wheat and rice which is uniform throughout the country.
   Page | 8 | CAPS 07 Sep 2021 |
   CIP is less than the economic cost incurred by the Central Government by way of procurement,
   storage, transport and distribution. The difference between the economic cost and the CIP, called
   the consumer subsidy, is borne by the Central Government.
   Q9. With reference to the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES)
   consider the following statements:
8. It is a DRDO lab located in Delhi.
9. It is India’s only research facility engaged in conservation and preservation of wildlife and its
   resources.
10. It was established in 1998.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 and 2 only
    b) 1 and 3 only
    c) 3 only
    d) 2 and 3 only
    Solution: d)
    Explanation:
    Statement 1 is not correct.
     Based on reports by CCMB-LaCONES, it has now been confirmed that eight Asiatic lions
    housed in Nehru Zoological Park (NZP), Hyderabad have tested positive for SARS-CoV2
    virus.
     LaCONES or Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species, is a Council of
    Scientific and Industrial Research lab located in Hyderabad.
     It is a part of CCMB (centre for cellular and molecular biology).
     It was conceptualised by Lalji Singh.
     It is India’s only research facility engaged in conservation and preservation of wildlife and
    its resources. This lab would strive to: “To promote excellence in conservation
    biotechnology and serve for conservation of endangered wildlife in India”.
     It was established in 1998 with the help of Central Zoo Authority of India, CSIR and the
    government of Andhra Pradesh. It was dedicated to the nation in 2007 by then President
    of India APJ Abdul Kalam.
    Page | 9 | CAPS 07 Sep 2021 |
    Q10. With reference to the Nipah virus, consider the following statements:
11. The virus is transmitted to people from animals and can also be passed on through contaminated
    food or directly from person-to-person.
12. There are currently no drugs or vaccines specific for Nipah virus infection.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 only
    b) 2 only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2
    Solution: c)
    Explanation:
    Both statements are correct.
     The virus is transmitted to people from animals and can also be passed on through
    contaminated food or directly from person-to-person.
     Fruit bats are considered to be a natural reservoir of the virus.
     In infected people, it causes a range of illnesses from asymptomatic (subclinical) infection
    to acute respiratory illness and fatal encephalitis. The virus can also cause severe disease
    in animals such as pigs, resulting in significant economic losses for farmers.
     There are currently no drugs or vaccines specific for Nipah virus infection although WHO
    has identified Nipah as a priority disease for the WHO Research and Development
    Blueprint.