Plutus IAS ‘Weekly Current Affairs: Quizzes, 27 March to 01 April, 2023

EXPLANATION:

EXPLANATION:

• The Red Corridor comprises the central, eastern and southern part of India that experience Maoist insurgency. 
• It is spread over 11 states with the concentration in Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. This area is highly undeveloped with people deprived of even the basic amenities.
• The government has successfully been able to reduce the number of districts included in this corridor from 180 to 90, in the year 2019.
• Though there has been a reduction in the number of the districts under Maoist influence, the issue has not been completely controlled. These places still reel under extreme economic, social and political exigencies which are not dealt with.
• These districts are amongst the poorest in the country with staggering impoverishment and inequality.

EXPLANATION:

• The Gujarat government has planned to translocate 40 adult and sub-adult lions to the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in the state. Hence statement (1) is incorrect.
• Barda sanctuary, about 100 kilometers away from Gir National Park, has been identified as a potential site to accommodate the Asiatic Lions. Hence statement (2) is incorrect.
• Asiatic lions are currently found in nine districts of Gujarat, including Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Botad, Porbandar, Jamnagar and Surendranagar, falling under the Saurashtra region. They are spread across an area of 30,000 square kilometers. 
• Members of the Maldhari community will also have to be relocated along with the big cats as it is important to restore around 1,000 km of ‘exclusive lion habitat’ under Project Lion through incentivised voluntary relocation of forest villages.

EXPLANATION:

• Under its ‘Operation Trishul,’ the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has extradited 33 fugitives involved in various criminal activities in the past one year. 
• As the nodal agency of India coordinated with the bureaus of other nations, the extradition process of criminals became more streamlined.
• It is undergone in order to ensure deportation of criminals through a formal route. Hence statement(a) is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference at Subramaniam Hall, NASC Complex, IARI Campus, PUSA New Delhi today. Hence statements (1) and (3) are incorrect. 
•  The two-day  global conference will have sessions on all important issues related to millets (Shree Anna) like promotion and awareness of millets among producers, consumers and other stakeholders; millets’ value chain development; health and nutritional aspects of millets; market linkages; research and development etc. Hence statement (2) is correct. 

• The Prime Minister also inaugurated and visited the Exhibition cum Buyer Seller Meet Pavilion. He also unveiled a Commemorative Stamp and Commemorative Coin. This was followed by the Prime Minister digitally launching a compendium of Indian Millet (Shri Anna) startups and a book of millet (Shri Anna) standards.

• International leaders conveyed their messages on the occasion. President of Ethiopia, H.E. Sahle-Work Zewde congratulated the Government of India for organizing the event. She said that millets provide an affordable and nutritious option to feed the people in these times. Ethiopia is an important millet-producing country in Sub-Saharan Africa. She underlined the utility of the event for highlighting the policy attention needed for the propagation of millets and studying the suitability of the crops as per their ecosystem.

EXPLANATION:

• Samudrayaan Mission is aimed at sending three personnel to 6000-metre depth in a vehicle called ‘MATSYA 6000’ for the exploration of deep sea resources like minerals.The mission is expected to be realised by year 2026. Hence statement (1) is correct. 
• ‘MATSYA 6000’ vehicle is being designed and developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai under Ministry of Earth Sciences. It has an endurance of 12 hours under normal operation and 96 hours in case of emergency for human safety. Hence statement (2) is incorrect. 
• Design of the vehicle is completed and realization of various components of the vehicle is in progress. 
• Manned Submersible facilitates the direct observation by the human in deep ocean in exploring mineral resources rich in Nickel, Cobalt, Rare Earths, Manganese etc. and collection of samples, which can be used for analysis. 
• Apart from the scientific research and technological empowerment as the benefits, this mission has immediate spin-offs in the form of underwater engineering innovations in asset inspection, tourism and promotion of ocean literacy.

EXPLANATION:

• Horseshoe crabs, medicinally priceless and one of oldest living creatures on the earth, appear to be disappearing from their familiar spawning grounds along Chandipur and Balaramgadi coast in Odisha’s Balasore district. Hence statement (2) is incorrect. 
• “There are two to three major issues causing threat to Horseshoe crabs. Because of unregulated fishing activities, their spawning activities are affected.
• Like Olive Ridley Sea turtles, these crabs are basically deep sea animals. 
• They come to the coasts of Balasore in Odisha and Digha and Sundarban in West Bengal for breeding purposes. Hence statement (1) is correct. 
•  They select a suitable site for laying their eggs but those eggs are also damaged by local people. 
• These crabs have a high medicinal value. Hence statement (3) is correct.

EXPLANATION:

Objectives of the REACHOUT scheme:

• To support various R&D activities in the thrust areas of different components of Earth system sciences that are theme and need-based, and that would help in attaining the National goals set up for MoES. Hence statement (1) is incorrect. 
• Develop useful collaborations with international organizations for mutual transfer of advanced knowledge in science and technology in Earth sciences and to provide services to developing countries.
• Create awareness amongst the public, students, academicians and user communities about the various fields of Earth system science as well as on the achievements and services rendered by MoES. Hence statement (2) is incorrect.
• Develop a skilled and trained workforce in Earth sciences with the support of academic institutions in the country and abroad.

EXPLANATION:

• The World Air Quality Report reviews the status of air quality around. This report presents PM 2.5 air quality data from 7,323 cities across 131 countries, regions, and territories. The data used in this report was aggregated from over 30,000 regulatory air quality monitoring stations and low-cost air quality sensors. These monitoring stations and sensors are operated by governmental bodies, research institutions, non-profit non-governmental organizations, universities and educational facilities, private companies, and citizen scientists across the globe.
• The PM 2.5 data in this report is measured in units of micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) and incorporates the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines and interim targets as a basis for data visualization and risk communication.
• The air quality data utilized in the  World Air Quality Report was sourced from IQAir’s real-time online air quality monitoring platform which validates, calibrates, and harmonizes air quality data from monitoring stations located around the world. Hence statement (b) is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Sievert (Sv), is the unit of “radiation absorption” in the international System of Units (SI). The sievert takes into account the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of ionizing radiation. One sievert is generally defined as the amount of radiation roughly equivalent in biological effectiveness to one gray (or 100 rads) of gamma radiation. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has specified maximum radiation exposure levels and this has also been adopted by India’s atomic energy establishment. As per the norms public exposure shouldn’t exceed 1 milli-Sievert every year. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Recently, the systematic study of background radiation and the distribution of radionuclides in the environment of coastal Karnataka, South India, has been initiated by scientists at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). The report revealed that the level of radiation has reached a higher level but not translated to health risk. Hence, statement 3 is also correct.

EXPLANATION:

Money supply is the aggregate value of all monetary assets in circulation within an economy. The management and manipulation of money supply is a critical function of the central bank, such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which employs various tools to control it. These tools may include adjustments to key policy rates, such as the repo and reverse repo rates,as well as the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR), among others.

• The bank rate is the rate of interest which is charged by a central bank while lending loans to a commercial bank. It is one of the tools used by the central bank to control the money supply and stabilize the economy. The loans are provided without keeping any security. Bank rate is fixed by the RBI. Thus, statement 1 is correct.
• Commercial banks often face liquidity crises. In the event of a fund deficiency, a bank can borrow money from the central bank of a country. In India, RBI acts as the ‘lender of last resort’ and provides funds to the needy banks. Among the various instruments, the Bank rate is one such instrument. Thus, statement 2 is correct.
• When the RBI raises the bank rate, it becomes more expensive for commercial banks to borrow from the central bank, which can lead to an increase in the interest rates for borrowers.
• Conversely, when the RBI lowers the bank rate, it becomes cheaper for banks to borrow from the central bank, which can stimulate lending and economic growth.
• The lender to the commercial banks is Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
• and not State Bank of India (SBI). Thus, statement 3 is not correct.

EXPLANATION:

• GST council is a constitutional body for making recommendations to the Union and State Government on issues related to Goods and Service Tax.
• 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.
• As per Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution, the GST Council has to be constituted by the President within 60 days of the commencement of Article 279A.
• The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2016, for introduction of Goods and Services tax in the country was introduced in the Parliament and passed by Rajya Sabha on 3rd August, 2016 and by Lok Sabha on 8th August, 2016. Hence, option (d) is correct.
• The GST Council plays a vital role in the implementation of GST in India, and its main functions include:
  • Recommend GST rates and amendments: The council recommends the GST rates for goods and services and also proposes changes in the tax structure to ensure that the tax burden is distributed equitably across various sectors.
  • Formulate GST policies and rules: The council is responsible for formulating policies and rules related to GST, including the registration and administration of GST, the implementation of e-way bills, and the composition scheme for small taxpayers.
  • Address issues and grievances: The council reviews the implementation of GST and addresses any issues and grievances that may arise. It also makes recommendations to improve the GST system and ensure compliance with GST laws.
  • Decide on revenue sharing: The council decides on the sharing of revenue between the Union and State Governments and the compensation mechanism for any revenue losses incurred by the States due to the implementation of GST.
  • Make recommendations on exemptions: The council makes recommendations on exempting certain goods and services from GST, as well as on the threshold limit for GST registration for businesses.