29 MAY CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Mid-Day Meal Programme-

1. It is administered by Ministry of Women and Child Development.
2. Apart from govt. school and govt-aided schools, madrasa and maqtabs are
   also supported under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan.
3. The meal is served in school only.
4. It is a central sector scheme.

Select the correct answer using the code below-
a) 1,2 and 3
b) 1 and 4 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 3 and 4 only

Solution: c)
Explanation:
 The Midday Meal Scheme comes under the HRD Ministry’s Department of
School Education and Literacy.
 Launched in the year 1995 as a centrally sponsored scheme, it provides
that every child within the age group of six to fourteen years studying in
classes I to VIII who enrolls and attends the school, shall be provided hot
cooked meal having nutritional standards of 450 calories and 12 gm of
protein for primary (I- V class) and 700 calories and 20 gm protein for upper
primary (VI-VIII class), free of charge every day except on school holidays.
 The scheme covers all government and government aided schools and
also Madarsa and Maqtabs supported under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
(SSA).
 The last Mid-Day Meal Rules were notified in the year 2015 under the
National Food Security Act, 2013 but amendments have been made
from time to time.
The rules provide that –
 The place of serving meals to the children shall be school only.
 The meal shall be prepared in accordance with the Mid Day Meal guidelines
issued by the Central Government from time to time.
 The latest guidelines provide instructions on procuring AGMARK quality
items for preparation of midday meals, tasting of meals by two or three adult
members of the school management committee, including at least one
teacher, before serving to children.

 If the Mid-Day Meal is not provided in school on any school day due to non-
availability of food grains or any other reason, the State Government shall

pay food security allowance by 15th of the succeeding month.

Q2. Suppose, GST Council wants to decrease the tax on Oxygen Cylinders which
is taxed at 12%. If the Council wants to bring it in 5?tegory, the resolution should
be passed by-

a) Not less than 1/3rd of members present and voting
b) Not less than 2/3rd of members present and voting
c) Not less than 3/4th of members present and voting
d) Not less than 1/2nd of members of strength of GST council

Solution: c)
Explanation:
GST Council
 It is a constitutional body under Article 279A. It makes recommendations to
the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax
and was introduced by the Constitution (One Hundred and First
Amendment) Act, 2016.
 The GST Council is chaired by the Union Finance Minister and other
members are the Union State Minister of Revenue or Finance and Ministers
in-charge of Finance or Taxation of all the States.
 It is considered as a federal body where both the centre and the states get
due representation.
 Every decision of the Goods and Services Tax Council shall be taken at
a meeting by a majority of not less than three-fourths of the weighted
votes of the members present and voting, in accordance with the
following principles, namely:
 the vote of the Central Government shall have a weightage of one third of the
total votes cast, and
 the votes of all the State Governments taken together shall have a weightage
of two-thirds of the total votes cast, in that meeting.

Q3. With reference to Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana, consider the following

statements-

1. It offers a sum insured of 5 lakh per family for secondary care as well as
   primary care.
2. It is a first cum- first subscription scheme.
3. It is implemented by State Government.

Select the correct answer using the code below-
a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution: a)

Explanation:
 PMJAY offers a sum insured of 5 lakh per family for secondary care (which
doesn’t involve a super specialist) as well as tertiary care (which does). For
the beneficiaries, this is a free scheme.
 It is an entitlement-based scheme that targets the beneficiaries as identified
by latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
 Individuals can walk into any empanelled hospital that can process cashless
payments.
 Once identified by the database, the beneficiary is considered insured.
 The insurance cost is shared by the centre and the state mostly in the ratio
of 60:40.
 Empanelled hospitals agree to the packaged rates under PMJAY—there are
about 1,400 packaged rates for various medical procedures under the
scheme.
 These packaged rates also mention the number of average days of
hospitalization for a medical procedure and supporting documents that are
needed.
 These rates are flexible, but once fixed hospitals can’t change it and under
no circumstances can they charge the beneficiary. The scheme also has
prescribed a daily limit for medical management.
 National Health Agency has been constituted as an autonomous entity
under the Society Registration Act, 1860 for effective implementation of
PMJAY in alliance with state governments.

Q4. “Bandung Conference” recently seen in news is related to –

a) Creation of Non-Aligned Movement
b) Creation of ASEAN
c) Creation of NATO
d) None of the above

Solution: a)

Explanation:
About Non-Aligned Movement:
It was formed during the Cold War (1945-1991) as an organisation of States that
did not seek to formally align themselves with either the USA (Capitalism) or the
Soviet Union (Socialism) but sought to remain independent or neutral.
Foundation:
Six years after the Bandung Conference in 1955, the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries was founded on a wider geographical basis at the First Summit
Conference of Belgrade, which was held in September 1961.
It was held under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia, Gamal Abdel
Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of India, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, and
Sukarno of Indonesia.

Q5. Consider the following statements with reference to Genetically Modified

Crops-

1. Bacillus thuringiensis is the alien gene in Bt cotton which helps crop to

develop a toxic to common pest Pink Bollworm.

2. The task of monitoring Genetically Modified crops was initially with the
   Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) but Food Standards and
   Safety Authority has been tasked with same.
3. In India, there are no edible GM Foods approved.

Select the correct answer suing the code below-
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 only
d) All of the above

Solution: d)

Explanation:
Genetically Modified Crops:
 Bt cotton is the only Genetically Modified (GM) crop that is allowed in India.
It has alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that
allows the crop to develop a protein toxic to the common pest pink bollworm.
 Herbicide Tolerant Bt (Ht Bt) cotton, on the other hand is derived with the
insertion of an additional gene, from another soil bacterium, which allows
the plant to resist the common herbicide glyphosate.
 In Bt brinjal, a gene allows the plant to resist attacks of fruit and shoot
borers.
 In DMH-11 mustard, genetic modification allows cross-pollination in a crop
that self-pollinates in nature.

Q6. Consider the following statements:

1. The Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) is set up under the Ministry of Home
   Affairs.
2. DIU will ensure strict compliance of the Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018.
   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: b)
Explanation:
 Recently, the Ministry of Communications has decided to set up a Digital
Intelligence Unit (DIU) as a nodal agency to deal with complaints of
unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) and cases of financial fraud,
especially in the digital payments space.
 Apart from the DIU a Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and
Consumer Protection (TAFCOP) will also be set up at all the 22 license service
area levels.
 It would also ensure strict compliance of the Telecom Commercial
Communications Customer Preferences Regulations (TCCCPR) 2018 which
provides a revised regulatory framework aimed at regulating ‘unsolicited
commercial communication’ (UCC) in India.

Q7. Consider the following statements:

1. Geo-textile is a permeable material used to prevent drains from clogging.
2. Geo-textile material is used to protect the soil from erosion.
   Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?

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

Solution: c)

Explanation:

 Geo-textiles are synthetic including polyester and polypropylene or man-
made materials that have varying degrees of permeability.

 Permeability means their surfaces have very small openings that allow liquid
or gases to pass through.
Characteristics of Geo Textile Fabrics:
 It has the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect and drain when used
in association with soils.
 It drains areas where water pools while keeping soil in place.
 It serves as effective filters, catching some materials to prevent drains from
clogging.
 It reinforces earthen structures like drains by holding layers in place.
 It protects against erosion in places like roads and beaches.

Q8. Remdesivir has been used to treat which of the following diseases?

1. Ebola
2. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
3. Dengue Hemorrhagic Syndrome
4. Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome
5. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
   Choose the correct code from the options given below:

a) 1,2,3 and 5 only
b) 1,2 and 4 only
c) 1,2 and 5 only
d) 1,3,4 and 5 only

Solution: c)

Explanation:
Remdesivir is an injectable anti-viral manufactured in 2014 to treat Ebola. It has
since been used to treat Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle
East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). In 2020, it was repurposed for Covid-19
treatment. Clinical experience has shown it works best in mildly ill patients, and
in early stages of hospitalisation; late use has little effect.

Q9. Consider the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna
Yojana (PMGKAY):

1. Under PMGKAY free food grains will be provided to all the beneficiaries of
   National Food Security Act.
2. The expenditure on PMGKAY will be shared between the Centre and States.
   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:

Under PMGKAY, five kilogram per person per month food grains (wheat/rice) will
be provided for free, to all the 800 million beneficiaries of NFSA, in the months of
May and June this year. The NFSA beneficiaries belonging to both Antyodaya Anna
Yojana and Priority Householders categories will get the allocation, over and above
their regular monthly NFSA entitlement.
The Central government will bear the entire expenditure of over Rs 26,000 crore,
on account of cost of food grains, intra-state transportation, etc.

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding small savings:

1. Interest rate on small savings is determined by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
2. National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) is a part of the Public Account of India.
3. Unlike Central and State governments, Union Territories cannot utilise funds
   from the NSSF.
   Which of the following statements is/are incorrect?

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

Solution: d)
Explanation:
 Interest rate on small savings schemes are determined by the Central
government. The interest rates for SSSs are announced by the Department
of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on quarterly basis.
 National Small Savings Fund (NSSF) was established in 1999. It is a part of
the Public Account of India. Public Account of India accounts for flows for
those transactions where the government is acting as a banker.
 Central government, State governments as well as Union Territories with a
Legislative Assembly can utilize funds from the National Small Savings Fund.