24 MAY CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. “Whiteflies, Colorado Potato Beetle, Fall Armyworm, Pink Bollworm” have been
frequently seen in the newsa) New Software
b) Crop Pests
c) Cryptocurrency
d) New species of fish found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Solution: b)
Explanation:
COLORADO POTATO BEETLE
The Colorado potato beetle has been a nuisance because of its resistance to insecticides.
In fact, it’s developed a resistance to more than 50 insecticides in just 50 years, making
the damage it causes uncontrollable. As its name states, the beetle feeds on potato crops,
but they can also feed on tomatoes and eggplants. Both adults and larvae enjoy the plant
foliage but can also feed on the stalks and the fruit or vegetables themselves. If left alone,
these beetles can ruin entire crops at a fast pace.
The invasive Rugose Spiralling Whitefly (RSW) seems to be showing its presence in the
State with its incidence being reported in different districts.
According to information, a high incidence (more than 30 spirals for leaflet) is reported in
East and West Godavari and Nellore districts.
The RSW has invaded crops such as coconut, oil palm, cocoa, banana, curry leaf, jackfruit,
papaya, yam, and mango.
It has also invaded ornamental plants such as bird of paradise, fishtail palm, spider lily,
areca palm, cabbage tree, rose apple, and heliconia.
Pink Bollworm (PBW)
The pink bollworm (Pectinophora gossypiella) is an insect known for being a pest in cotton
farming.
The pink bollworm is native to Asia, but has become an invasive species in most of the
world’s cotton-growing regions.
In parts of India, the pink bollworm is now resistant to first generation transgenic Bt cotton
(Bollgard cotton) that expresses a single Bt gene (Cry1Ac).
Monsanto has admitted that this variety is ineffective against the pink bollworm pest in
parts of Gujarat, India.

Q2. Consider the following statementsMovement State

1. Appiko Movement Andhra Pradesh
   | CAPS [May 23-24 2021] | © Absolute IAS Academy Page | 3
2. Narmada Bachao Andolan Gujarat
3. Chipko Movement Uttarakhand
4. Save Silent Valley Movement Kerala
5. Bishnoi Movement Rajasthan
   Select the correct answer using the belowa) 1,2,4 and 5
   b) 1,2 and 3
   c) 1 and 2 only
   d) 2,3,4 and 5

Solution: d)
Explanation:
Appiko Movement- Karnataka
Narmada Bachao- Gujarat
Chipko Movement- Uttarakhand
Save Silent Valley Movement- Kerala
Bishnoi Movement- Rajasthan

Q3. Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a military prison of which of the following
country?
a) United States
b) Brazil
c) Mexico
d) Cuba

Solution: d)
Explanation:
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a detainment and interrogation facility of the
United States military located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba. The facility was
established in January 2002 by the Bush Administration to hold detainees it had
determined to be connected with opponents in the Global war on Terror.
It has often been in news because current and former prisoners have reported abuse and
torture. Further, since high value prisoners involved in the WTC attack in 2001 have been
lodged here, it is often in news for one reason or the other.
There have been instances of reported suicides. Accusations of torture by using
humiliating acts, solitary confinement, temperature extremes etc. have also been in news.
In light of these issues, President Barack Obama had promised to close down the detention
camp in 2009. He has reaffirmed his commitment again in 2013.
However, after years of inaction his recommitment is being taken less seriously. Most of
the roadblocks in closing down the camp have come from the U.S. Congress itself. It has
restricted the use of funds to transfer detainees to the US for trial, while imposing
conditions that make transfers out of the US more difficult.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS)
Regime:

1. Fertilizers are provided to the farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients
   contained in it.
2. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
   Which of the statements given above is/are not correct ?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: b)
Explanation:
 Under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Regime, fertilizers are provided to the
farmers at the subsidized rates based on the nutrients (N, P, K & S) contained in
these fertilizers.
 Also, the fertilizers which are fortified with secondary and micronutrients such as
molybdenum (Mo) and zinc are given additional subsidy.
NBS policy intends to increase the consumption of P&K fertilizers so that optimum
balance (N:P:K= 4:2:1) of NPK fertilization is achieved.
 This would improve soil health and as a result the yield from the crops would
increase, resulting in enhanced income to the farmers.
Also, as the government expects rational use of fertilizers, this would also ease off
the burden of fertilizer subsidy.
 It is being implemented from April 2010 by the Department of Fertilizers,
Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers.

Q5. Consider the following statements1. The Mines and Minerals in India are governed under Mines and Minerals Act of
1957.

2. The mines and mineral sector contributes less than 2% in GDP.
3. India has explored only 30% of its Obvious Geological Potential (OGP) so far.
   Select the correct answer using the code belowa) 1 and 2 only
   b) 2 and 3 only
   c) 1 only
   d) 3 only
   Solution: a)
   Explanation:
   The MMDR Act, 1957: The mines and minerals sector is governed by the Mines and
   Minerals Act of 1957. This act provides for:
    The governance of mining leases within the country.
    The purpose of why the lease is given.
    How to ensure the well being of the people living in the areas where mines are
   auctioned.
   Mineral Potential of India: India has the same mineral potential as South Africa and
   Australia. It produces 95 types of minerals but despite this huge mineral potential, the
   mining sector of India still remains underexplored.
   The mining sector contributes around 7 to 7.5% of the GDP of countries like South Africa
   and Australia whereas it is only 1.75% in India.
   High Imports of Minerals: India is importing around 2.5 lac crore rupees worth minerals.
   Underexplored Mining Areas of India: India has explored only 10% of its Obvious
   Geological Potential (OGP) so far.
   Only 5% of OGP is being used by India for mining.
   In Australia and South Africa, 70-80% of OGP is mined.

Q6. Consider the following statements1. Currently, India does not have any law to regarding Data Protection of Citizens.

2. Countries like U.S, Australia and U.K have their own privacy policies which protects
   their citizen’s data.
   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:
India: Although the Puttaswamy Judgment talks for privacy as a fundamental
right, India for real, does not have a strict law or any specific provisions for the protection
of an individual’s data.
The Personal Data Protection Bill (PDP). that seeks to provide for the protection of
personal data of individuals is still a debated topic in the Parliament of India.
Russia: The Russian Federation has separate legislations regarding Electronic
Transactions and draft legislations for Consumer Protection as well as Privacy and Data
Protection.
The key legislation is Federal Law No. 15-FZ on Personal Data 2006 (the Personal Data
Law), which is supplemented by numerous additional laws, regulations and guidelines.
The combination of a number of Russian laws provides comprehensive privacy protection
across all sectors
European Union: 43 countries in the European Union (out of 45) have legislation
specifically for data protection.
WhatsApp is legally bound to not share data with Facebook in the European Region
because it’s a contravention of the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR).
GDPR is a regulation in the European Union law on data protection and privacy in the
European Union and the European Economic Area.
United Kingdom: The UK has separate laws for electronic transactions, consumer
protection, privacy & data protection and cybercrimes.
In 2018, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) got WhatsApp to sign an
undertaking in which it has committed publicly not to share personal data with Facebook
in the future until the two services can do it in a way that is compliant with GDPR.
USA: The US has sector specific data protection laws and regulations that work together
with state-level legislation to safeguard American citizens’ data such as Federal
Information Security Management Act (FISMA), NIST 800-171 etc.
Australia: The Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) is an Australian law which regulates the
handling of personal information about individuals.

Q7. “Sheikh Jarrah” have been frequently seen in the news isa) American Military Base in Afghanistan
b) Iran’s nuclear reactor site
c) Neighborhood in Jerusalem
d) UAE’s new Province

Solution: c)
Explanation:
Sheikh Jarrah Issue:
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced out of their homes when the State of
Israel was created in historical Palestine in 1948.
Twenty-eight of those Palestinian families moved to Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem to
settle there.
In 1956, when East Jerusalem was ruled by Jordan, the Jordanian Ministry of
Construction and Development and the UN Relief and Works Agency facilitated the
construction of houses for these families in Sheikh Jarrah. But Israel would capture East
Jerusalem from Jordan in 1967.
By the early 1970s, Jewish agencies started demanding the families leave the land.
Earlier this year (2021), the Central Court in East Jerusalem upheld a decision to evict
four Palestinian families from their homes in Sheikh Jarrah in favor of Jewish settlers.
The issue remains unresolved and potentially inflammable.

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding Asset Reconstruction Companies
(ARCs):

1. These are specialized financial institutions that buy the Non Performing Assets
   (NPAs) from banks.
2. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934 provides the legal basis for the setting up
   of ARCs in India.
3. The ARCs are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
   Which of the statements given above are correct?
   a) 1 and 2 only
   b) 2 only
   c) 3 only
   d) 1 and 3 only

Solution: d)
Explanation:
 An Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) is a specialized financial institution that
buys the Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) from banks and financial institutions so
that they can clean up their balance sheets.
 A NPA is a loan or advance for which the principal or interest payment remained
overdue for a period of 90 days.
 This helps banks to concentrate in normal banking activities. Banks rather than
going after the defaulters by wasting their time and effort, can sell the bad assets to
the ARCs at a mutually agreed value.
 The Securitization and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of
Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act, 2002 provides the legal basis for the setting up of
ARCs in India.
 The Act helps reconstruction of bad assets without the intervention of courts. Since
then, a large number of ARCs were formed and were registered with the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI).
 RBI has got the power to regulate the ARCs.

Q9. Consider the following statements:

1. The legislative assembly for Delhi was created through the 69th Amendment to the
   Indian Constitution.
2. The GNCT of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2021 gives primacy to the Lieutenant Governor
   (L-G) over the elected government in Delhi.
   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:
 The 69th Amendment Act, 1992 to the Indian Constitution added two new Articles
239AA and 239AB under which the Union Territory of Delhi has been given a special
status.
 Article 239AA provides that the Union Territory of Delhi be called the National
Capital Territory of Delhi and its administrator shall be known as Lt. Governor.
 It also creates a legislative assembly for Delhi which can make laws on subjects
under the State List and Concurrent List except on these matters: public order,
land, and police.
 It also provides for a Council of Ministers for Delhi consisting of not more than 10%
of the total number of members in the assembly.
 The Government of National Capital Territory (GNCT) of Delhi (Amendment) Act,
2021, which gives primacy to the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) over the elected
government in the city, has come into force.

Q10. With reference to Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA), consider the following
statements:

1. These are ecologically fragile areas which are located within 10 km of protected
   areas.
2. ESAs are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
   under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
   Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
   a) 1 only
   b) 2 only
   c) Both 1 and 2
   d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution: b)
Explanation:
 Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) or Ecologically Fragile Areas are
located within 10 km of Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife
Sanctuaries.
 ESAs are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) under Environment (Protection) Act 1986.
 ESA aims to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife
Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts on the fragile ecosystem
encompassing the protected areas.
 Recently, a Kerala-based NGO for farmers has moved the Supreme Court (SC) to
declare the draft notification on the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA)
unconstitutional.