Weekly Current Affairs: Quizzes 15/08/2022 to 20/08/2022

EXPLANATION:

• Recently, the Reserve Bank of India proposed to allow Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) to process cross-border inbound bill payments. This will help the Non-resident Indians (NRIs) who face challenges in paying utility bills in India. If the proposal is accepted, it will benefit the NRIs. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The BBPS system was conceptualized by the central bank. It is owned and operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) & Bharat BillPay Ltd (NBBL). NPCI is the specialized division of RBI, under the parent head of the Ministry of Finance. It was established in 2008, to operate the retail payments and settlement systems in India. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The system offers interoperable and accessible bill payment services digitally, along with a network of bank branches and agents. BBPS allows recurring payments, like electricity bill, DTH bill, gas bill, water bills, Insurance, Education fees, Loan repayments etc. Payment mode options available at BBPS include Cash, Cards UPI, IMPS, AEPS, Internet Banking and Wallets. Currently, this system is available for residents in India only. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• National Anti-Doping Bill
• The parliament passed the National Anti-Doping Bill unanimously taking India in the league of nations like the US, China, France or Australia, Japan, S Korea to have a law and dope test laboratory.
• Key provisions:
• Prohibits athletes from engaging in doping. In case of violation of doping rules, the athlete will be disqualified including forfeiture of medals, points, and prizes. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Empowers NADA to “investigation, put sanctions, initiate disciplinary enquiry and the powers of inspection, sample collection and sharing and free flow of information”. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Earlier directions by government: 
• In past government had directed National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), the Indian Olympic Association, the National Sports Federations and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to adopt a policy of ‘Zero tolerance’ towards doping.
• NADA was also directed to sensitise the players at grassroots level about the ill-effects of doping through regular seminars and information campaigns at schools and colleges.

EXPLANATION:

• New Chief Justice of India:
• News: UU Lalit will be next CJI as per the Memorandum of Procedure of Appointment of Supreme Court Judges.
• Memorandum of Procedure of Appointment of Supreme Court Judges:
• It says “appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office”. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The process begins with the Union Law Minister seeking the recommendation of the outgoing CJI about the next appointment at the appropriate time. The Memorandum does not elaborate or specify a timeline. Hence statement 2 is correct but statement 3 is incorrect.
• After receipt of the recommendation, the Union Minister of Law will put up the recommendation to the Prime Minister who will advise the President in the matter of appointment. Hence statement 4 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022:
• The bill seeks to insert a new Section 12A in the existing law which states that “no person shall finance any activity which is prohibited in relation to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.” Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The central government may freeze, seize or attach funds, financial assets, or economic resources (whether owned, held, or controlled directly or indirectly). Hence statement 2 is correct.
• About Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act 2005:

• The act, only banned the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction.
• About Indo-USA Civil Nuclear Agreement:
• Special NSG Waiver to India.
• Separate Programmes of civilian and military nuclear facilities.
• Placing civilian nuclear facilities under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.
• India will refrain from transfer of nuclear technologies to states that do not have them and India should also support international efforts to limit their spread.
• It gave India the recognition of being a responsible nuclear weapon state with strong non-proliferation credentials.

EXPLANATION:

• Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan:
• News: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan, casting aside private warnings from the Biden administration about the risk that her high-profile diplomatic visit could stoke a new crisis in Asia and immediately prompting a sharp response from the Chinese government.
• About One China Policy:
• The One China principle is the position held by the People's Republic of China (PRC) that there is only one sovereign state under the name China, with the PRC serving as the sole legitimate government of that China, and Taiwan is a part of China. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• About the issue of Taiwan:
• The relationship between USA and China started in 1970s with Ping Pong diplomacy. US acknowledged that “One China Policy.” Hence statement 2 is correct.
• However, congress passed Taiwan Relations Act 1979 asserting that any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means would be of grave concern to the United States. Today stability is also being jeopardized by both China and the US. 
• China is experiencing a significant economic slowdown, thereby pushing Chinese President Xi, as Chinese leaders have derived much of their legitimacy from economic success. So, Xi could turn to foreign policy to distract public attention from faltering GDP growth. In 2019, Xi publicly called for unification of Taiwan with China and refused to rule out the use of force.
• On the part of USA, former President Donald Trump has spoken directly with Taiwan’s president and recently House Speaker visited Taiwan.
• In essence, he argues that the risks are high for all the parties. It would be best to avoid symbolic steps that would be unacceptable to the other party. The status quo is admittedly imperfect, but it is far less imperfect than a crisis.

EXPLANATION:

• International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
• News: Recently, Containers from Russia’s Astrakhan port crossed the Caspian Sea and eventually reach Nhava Shiva port in Mumbai, signaling the launch of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• About INSTC:
• It is a ship, rail, and road route for moving freight between India, Russia, Iran, Europe, and Central Asia aimed at increasing trade connectivity between major cities such as Mumbai, Moscow, etc. Hence statement 1 is correct.

• Russia, Iran and India signed the agreement for the INSTC project in 2002. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyztan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Turkey, Tajikistan, Oman, Syria and Bulgaria (observer status). 
• Once the North-South Corridor becomes operational, India will have better connectivity with Russia. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• Bypass Pakistan to access Afghanistan, Central Asia and beyond. Hence statement 4 is correct.

EXPLANATION:

• Issues of Gig Workers:
• A person who works temporary jobs typically in the service sector as an independent contractor or freelancer. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• ‘Temporary’ jobs have comprised the vast majority of available government employment for quite some time. They may be classified into three categories:
• Permanent Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
• Contractual
• Daily wagers
• Debate on government intervention in the economy – by subsidy and government jobs:
• Basically, all contemporary debate can be divided into two segments
• Those who advocate government intervention.
• Those who are against government intervention.
• Against government intervention
• Scholars associated with Neo-Liberal School like Fredrich Hayek and Robert Nozick argue against any kind of government intervention.
• Building on the work of Classical Economist Adam Smith, who had given the Idea of the “Invisible Hand”, the Neo-liberal scholars argue that the Market is like a nervous system capable of receiving unlimited stimulus.
• Basically, they argue that there is no need for any government intervention in any sphere of socio-economic development of society. The Market forces are capable of that.
• That is why, the father of Neo-Liberalism Hayek has termed Planning as “Road to Serfdom”.

EXPLANATION:

• Parliamentary Standing Committee Report on E-commerce
  Issues highlighted by the report:
• Few platforms control a large part of the e-commerce market (which may lead to monopoly)
• Lack of platform neutrality, i.e., providing preferential treatment to selected sellers
  Deep discounting,e., discounts of preferred sellers are selectively funded by the platform
• Non-transparent search rankings
• Misuse of data
• E- Commerce Policy 2019:
• It has come came into effect on February 1, 2019 with DPIIT as the nodal agency. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Bar online retailers from selling products through vendors in which they have an equity interest or entering into exclusive deals with any brands or selling more than 25% product of a same vendor. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• They cannot control the inventory of the vendors as 100% FDI through automatic route is allowed only in the marketplace model of e-commerce retailing. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• Marketplaces cannot influence prices with special offers like cashback, extended warranties, faster deliveries etc, with the view to provide a level playing field and to curb deep discounting. Hence statement 4 is correct.
• Govt. to be given access to source code, algorithms of AI systems, impose custom duties on electronic transmissions to reduce revenue loss. It bars sharing of sensitive data of Indian users with third party entities, even with consent.
• All ecommerce websites, apps available have to be registered as a business entity in India. Non-compliant ecommerce app/website to be denied access in India.
• Location of the computing facilities like data centres, server farms within India. Firms to get 3 years to comply with local data storage requirements.

EXPLANATION:

• India Designates 5 New Ramsar Sites:
• India has designated five (5) new wetlands of international importance, making a total of 54 Ramsar sites in the country.
• Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest (TN): It is a freshwater marsh in Chennai. It is the only surviving wetland ecosystem in Chennai and the last remaining natural wetlands of South India. Hence option 1 is incorrect.
• Karikili Bird Sanctuary (TN): Located in the Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu Hence option 2 is incorrect.
• Pichavaram Mangrove (TN): It is located near Chidambaram in the Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu. It could be counted among the largest mangrove forests in the country (more than 1100 hectares). Hence option 3 is incorrect.
• Pala wetland (Mizoram): It is the largest natural wetland in Mizoram. The wetland is surrounded by green woodlands. Hence option 4 is incorrect.
• Sakhya Sagar (MP): This lake is an integral part of Madhav National Park in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh.
• About Ramsar Convention:
• Ramsar is the name of the Iranian city on the Caspian Sea where the treaty was signed in 1971.
• It is an international agreement for the preservation and prudent use of wetlands.
• It entered into force in 1975 and is formally known as "the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance notably as Waterfowl Habitat" (or, more recently, just "the Convention on Wetlands").

EXPLANATION:

• Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019: (PDPB):
• It is based on Justice B N Srikrishna committee.
• The Bill establishes a Data Protection Authority (DPA) as an independent regulator with quasi-judicial powers. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Each company will have a Data Protection Officer (DPO) who will liaison with the DPA for auditing, grievance redressal, recording maintenance and more. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Holistic Approach: The Bill governs the processing of personal data by: government, companies incorporated in India, and foreign companies dealing with personal data of individuals in India. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• The Bill classifies the data into 3 types: Hence statement 4 is correct.

• Critical data (characterised by the government) must be stored and handled only in India.
• Sensitive data like passwords, financial data, health data, biometric data, etc may be processed outside India with the explicit consent of the user and to be stored in India only.
• General data is any data that is non-critical and non-sensitive is categorised as general data with no limitation on where it is stored or managed.

EXPLANATION:

• According to former Chinese premier Deng Xiaoping, "one country, two systems" means there is only but one China and under this premise the mainland adheres to the socialist system while Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan may retain their capitalist systems over a long time to come. Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct.

EXPLANATION:

• The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis produced by two research organizations tracking climate action since 2009. Hence statement 1 is incorrect.
• It tracks progress toward the globally agreed aim of holding warming well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C. Hence statement 2 is correct.