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14-16 NOV CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

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14-16 NOV CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to The Social Security Code Act, 2020 1. It proposes to bring unorganised sector, gig workers and platform workers under the ambit of social security schemes, 2. It proposes to form a National Social Security Board that would recommend suitable schemes for the different sections of unorganised sector workers. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

 Solution : c)

 Explanation :- The Social Security Code Act, 2020 · Social security funds for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers: It proposes to empower the centre to constitute a social security fund for the provision of social security for the unorganised workers, platform workers or gig workers or any such class of workers. · National Social Security for gig workers and platform workers:It proposes to bring unorganised sector, gig workers and platform workers under the ambit of social security schemes, including life and disability insurance, health and maternity benefits, provident fund and skill upgradation. · It proposes to form a National Social Security Board that would recommend suitable schemes for the different sections of unorganised sector workers. · The Social Security Code will extend the scope of the Employees State Insurance Corporation to all 740 districts in the country and that of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation to all institutions with 20 or more workers as well as the selfemployed. Platform work: · The Act defines Platform work as a work arrangement outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship in which organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals. · Platform work aims to solve specific problems or to provide specific services or any such other activities which may be notified by the Central Government, in exchange for payment.

 Q2. Consider the following statements with reference to sex ratio 1. It refers to the number of females per 1000 males in a given area at a specified time period. 2. The girl babies appear to have an advantage over boy babies in terms of resistance to disease in infancy. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

a)1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

 Solution : c)

 Explanation :- The sex ratio refers to the number of females per 1000 males in a given area at a specified time period. · Historically, all over the world it has been found that there are slightly more females than males in most countries. · This is despite the fact that slightly more male babies are born than female ones; nature seems to produce roughly 943 to 952 female babies for every 1000 males. · If despite this fact the sex ratio is somewhat in favour of females, this seems to be due to two reasons. o First, girl babies appear to have an advantage over boy babies in terms of resistance to disease in infancy. o At the other end of the life cycle, women tend to outlive men in most societies, so that there are more older women than men

Q3. Consider the following statements about the Ariel Space Mission, recently in news 1. To be launched in 2029, the mission was recently adopted by NASA. 2. The explorer will perform a large-scale survey of over a thousand exoplanets over a period of four years that will help in studying the nature, formation and evolution of exoplanets. Which of the above statement/s is/are correct?

a)1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

 Solution : b)

Explanation :- About Ariel Space Mission: · The European Space Agency (ESA) has formally adopted Ariel – Atmospheric Remotesensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, which scientists are planning to launch in 2029. · Need: According to the ESA, while a large number of exoplanets have already been discovered, there is no clear link between the presence, size or orbital parameters of the planet and the nature of their parent stars. · A large-scale survey: The explorer will perform a large-scale survey of over a thousand exoplanets over a period of four years that will help in studying the nature, formation and evolution of exoplanets. o Ariel is the first of its kind mission dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of exoplanets o Further, Ariel will help to answer one of the key questions of ESA’s Cosmic Vision Plan – What are the conditions for planet formation and the emergence of life?.

Q4. With reference to the history of India, “Ulgulan” or the Great Tumult is the description of which of the following events?

a) The Revolt of 1857 b) The Mappila rebellion of 1921 c) The Indigo revolt of 1859 – 60 d) Birsa Munda’s revolt of 1899-1900

 Solution : d)

 Explanation :- About Birsa Munda: · Born in 1875, he was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe. · He spearheaded a tribal religious movement that came to be known as Ulgulan (revolt) or the Munda rebellion that arose in the Bengal Presidency in the late 19th century against the British Raj imposed feudal state system.

Q5. Consider the following statements: 1. Tristan da Cunha is located 2,810 kilometers east of Cape Town, South Africa. 2. Tristan albatross is a critically endangered species. Which of the above statements is/are correct?

 a) 1 only b) 2 only c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2

 Solution : b)

 Explanation :- Tristan da Cunha · Archipelago: It is a small chain of islands over 6,000 miles from London in the South Atlantic. o The territory includes four main islands, the largest of which is Tristan da Cunha, located 2,810 kilometers west of Cape Town, South Africa. 1 is incorrect. o It was discovered by the Dutch in 1643. o Britain took possession of Tristan da Cunha in 1816, establishing the territory’s first permanent settlement. The waters around Tristan da Cunha serve as a feeding ground for the critically endangered Tristan albatross and endangered yellow-nosed albatross.

 Q6. PM KUSUM Scheme has been launched Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) b) Ministry of Agriculture c) Ministry of Human Resources d) None of these

 Solution : a)

 Explanation :- Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evem Utthan Mahabhiyan (PM KUSUM) Scheme for farmers for installation of solar pumps and grid connected solar and other renewable power plants in the country. The scheme aims to add solar and other renewable capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022 with total central financial support of Rs. 34,422 Crore including service charges to the implementing agencies.

 Q7. With reference to Emergency Retrieval System (ERS) for power lines, consider the following statements: 1. This technological development will enable the manufacturing in India for the first time, which will be an import substitute and will cost about 40% of imported systems. 2. ERS is a lightweight modular system that is used as temporary support structure to restore power immediately after the collapse of transmission line towers during natural calamities such as cyclone/earthquake, or manmade disruptions. 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 :- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), constituent laboratory Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC) based in Chennai, has developed an indigenous technology, Emergency Retrieval System (ERS), for quick retrieval of power transmission in the event of failure of transmission line towers. · At present, the ERS systems are imported and the cost is relatively high. This technological development will enable the manufacturing in India for the first time, which will be an import substitute and will cost about 40% of imported systems. · ERS is a lightweight modular system that is used as temporary support structure to restore power immediately after the collapse of transmission line towers during natural calamities such as cyclone/earthquake, or manmade disruptions. · Made of structurally highly stable box sections, ERS is lightweight, modular and reusable. · ERS can be assembled quickly at the disaster site for restoration of power in 2-3 days, whereas the permanent restoration may take several weeks. · This development is very significant as failure of transmission lines severely impact lives of common people and causes huge monetary loss to the power companies. · Hence both statements are correct.

Q8. With reference to the Leonid meteor showers, consider the following statements: 1. The Leonids emerge from the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which requires 33 years to revolve once around the Sun. 2. These meteors are bright and among the fastest moving– travelling at speeds of 1000 km per second. 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 :- The Leonid meteor showers are currently making their yearly appearance, and will reach their peak in India on November 17 and 18. In 2020, these showers are active from November 6th to November 30th. · The Leonids emerge from the comet Tempel-Tuttle, which requires 33 years to revolve once around the Sun. · These meteors are bright and among the fastest moving– travelling at speeds of 71 km per second. During this year’s showers, peaks of around 10 to 15 meteors are expected to be seen every hour. · The Leonid showers include fireballs– bright and large meteors than can last longer than average meteors, and “earthgazers”– meteors which appear close to the horizon with colourful and long tails. · Meteor showers are named after the constellation they appear to be coming from. The Leonids originate from the constellation Leo the Lion– the groups of stars which form a lion’s mane. · On its journey around the Sun, the Earth passes through large swathes of cosmic debris. · The debris is essentially the remnants of comets — great frigid chunks of matter that leave behind dirty trails of rocks and ice that linger long after the comets themselves have passed. · As the Earth wades through this cloud of comet waste, the bits of debris create what appears from the ground to be a fireworks display in the sky — known as a meteor shower. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q9. Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of which of the following country? a) U.S.A b) Russia c) France d) U.K Solution : a) Explanation :- For the third time in ten years, the United States territory of Puerto Rico has voted in favour of statehood, and thus be treated at par with the current 50 states of the country. · Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States. · Puerto Ricans have been citizens of the United States since 1917, and can move freely between the island and the mainland. · As it is not a state, Puerto Rico does not have a vote in the U.S. Congress, which governs the unincorporated territory with jurisdiction under the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950. · It is located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida. · It is an archipelago among the Greater Antilles located between the Dominican Republic and the U.S. Virgin Islands; it includes the eponymous main island and several smaller islands, such as Mona, Culebra, and Vieques. · The capital and most populous city is San Juan. · Originally populated by the indigenous Taíno people, Puerto Rico was colonized by Spain following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493. · In 1898, following the Spanish–American War, the United States acquired Puerto Rico, which remains an unincorporated territorial possession, making it the world’s oldest colony. · Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q10. Jolly Grant Airport, often mentioned in news, is located in:

a)Uttarakhand b) Uttar Pradesh c) Rajasthan d) Himachal Pradesh

 Solution : a)

Explanation :- Environmental activists and local residents in Uttarakhand are opposing the cutting of trees for a project to expand Dehradun’s Jolly Grant airport. · Dehradun Airport, also known as Jolly Grant Airport, is located 25 km south-east of Dehradun. · Commercial operations began on 30 March 2008 after a runway extension to accommodate larger aircraft. · It is also known as the Air Gateway of Garhwal and plays an important role in the tourism of Uttarakhand. · The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority has proposed the expansion of Jolly Grant airport in Dehradun with the aim of upgrading it to meet international standards. · It is proposed to take over 87 hectares of forest land in Doiwala village in Dehradun district, and another 17.41 hectares of non-forest land for the project. · Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.