Plutus IAS ‘Weekly Current Affairs: Quizzes, 27 February to 04 March, 2023

EXPLANATION:

• Article 153 states that there shall be Governor for each State: Provided that nothing in this article shall prevent the appointment of the same person as Governor for two or more States. Hence Statement 1 is correct.
• Governors hold office during the pleasure of the president . So, he can be terminated by the president. There is no need for the recommendation of the Chief minister. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• The Prime minister is not right in the matter of appointment and termination of the governor. The President has the sole rights in this regard. However, the President does everything after the recommendation and advice of the cabinet. Hence statement 3 is also not correct.

EXPLANATION:

• National Smart Cities Mission is an urban renewal and retrofitting program by the Government of India with the mission to develop smart cities across the country, making them citizen friendly and sustainable. The Union Ministry of Urban Development is responsible for implementing the mission in collaboration with the state governments of the respective cities. It is not related to home affairs. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• The objective of this mission is to promote cities that provide core infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment, and the application of ‘Smart’ Solutions. Hence statement 2 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The government of India is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM), to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Independence. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is celebrating ‘Digital Payments Utsav' from 5th December, 21 to 5th March 2022, for the promotion of Digital Payments in the country. Home affairs are not related to this. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• This is a 3-month campaign to accelerate the adoption of digital payments in the country. All the ecosystem partners, including Banks, Payment Service Providers, and Central/ State/ Local Government are requested to make a joint effort to empower all citizens and merchants with convenient Digital Payment solutions. Hence statement 2 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Khelo India Youth Games, formerly Khelo India School Games, are the annual national level multidisciplinary grassroot games in India held in January or February for two categories, namely under-17 years school students and under-21 college students. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports took this initiative. Hence Statements 1 and 4 are correct.
• Khelo India Youth Games 2023, the fifth edition of the flagship event under the Indian government’s Khelo India initiative, concluded on February 11, 2023. A total of 11 venues spread across eight cities in Madhya Pradesh and New Delhi hosted the different KIYG 2023 events. Hence Statement 2 is not correct.
• The first edition of Khelo India School Games, which are a part of the Khelo India programme, are being held from 31st January to 8th February 2018 in New Delhi. Hence Statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The LPAI Act, 2010 provides for the establishment of the Land Ports Authority of India to put in place systems which address security imperatives and for the development and management of facilities for the cross-border movement of passengers and goods at designated points along India’s international borders. Hence statements 1 and 3 are correct.
• The LPAI is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining and managing border infrastructure in India. It manages several Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) all across Borders of India. Hence statement 2 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The acronym OTT stands for Over-the-Top. OTT streaming means paying an internet provider, like Xfinity, for internet access to watch Netflix, without paying for cable TV. To stream OTT, customers only need a high-speed internet connection and a connected device that supports apps or browsers. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Kerala will launch a state-owned over-the-top (OTT) platform, CSpace to offer movies, short films, and documentaries. Since Kerala has good facilities for electricity and high-speed internet, he took this initiative. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

EXPLANATION:

• National Organ Transplantation Guidelines are released by the Ministry of Health.
• Registration for the organ transplantation can be done from any of the states. No registration fee to be taken for organ transplant as directed by the Centre to the state. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• Centre has removed the upper age limit as life expectancy has increased, and a 65 years old is no longer considered a very old patient. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.

EXPLANATION:

• India and Canada agreed to formally re-launch the negotiations for India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and also consider an Interim Agreement or Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) that could bring early commercial gains to both the countries. Hence statement d is correct.
• It is highlighted that the existing trade complementarities between India and Canada and trade agreement would help in expanding bilateral trade in goods and services through unlocking the potential across sectors.
• The Interim Agreement would include high level commitments in goods, services, rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and dispute settlement, and may also cover any other areas mutually agreed upon.

EXPLANATION:

• Naseem-Al-Bahr (Sea Breeze) is a bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Navy of Oman, being conducted since 1993.
• "Dharma Guardian" is a joint military exercise conducted between India and Japan. Exercise began in 2018 and has since been conducted annually in Japan and India on a rotational basis.
• Hand-in-Hand is an annual exercise that takes place as part of India's and China's military diplomacy and interaction.
• 'Khanjar' is a joint military exercise between India and Kyrgyzstan. Khanjar exercise includes insertion of troops by going stealthily from helicopters and destroying hiding places of terrorists.

EXPLANATION:

• The Union Cabinet has approved a new Scheme, Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region (PM-DevINE) for the remaining four years of the 15th Finance Commission from 2022-23 to 2025-26.
• The PM-DevINE is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% Central funding and will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER). Hence statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.
• The PM-DevINE Scheme will have an outlay of Rs.6,600 crore.
• The objectives of PM-DevINE are to:
  • Fund infrastructure convergently, in the spirit of PM Gati Shakti. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • Support social development projects based on felt needs of the NER.
  • Enable livelihood activities for youth and women.

EXPLANATION:

• In the Nabam Rebia judgment, the Supreme Court had said that the Speaker of a House cannot decide a disqualification petition filed under the anti-defection law while a notice under Article 179(c) for the Speaker’s removal is pending. Hence option (c) is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Smt. Sitharaman mentioned in the budget speech that an Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) will be established through use of priority sector lending shortfalls.
• This will be managed by the National Housing Bank, and will be used by public agencies to create urban infrastructure in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Hence statements 1 and 2 are incorrect.

• All cities and towns will be enabled for 100 per cent mechanical desludging of septic tanks and sewers to transition from manhole to machine-hole mode. Enhanced focus will be provided for scientific management of dry and wet waste. Hence statement 3 is correct.