February 09 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Microplastics serve as vectors of heavy metals in the aquatic environment.
• The possible mechanisms of heavy metal adsorption by microplastics are complex.
• Microplastics properties and environmental factors affect heavy metal adsorption.
• It negatively affects animal and human health.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Plastic debris is a particular concern to marine life.
• Over time plastics break down into smaller pieces known as micro-plastics.
• Micro-plastics are small plastic pieces less than 5 millimetres long which can be harmful to our ocean and aquatic life.
• Micro-plastics have been shown in laboratory studies to be toxic to animals and cells.
• The micro-plastics can be consumed or absorbed in various ways by aquatic organisms.
• The scientists have detected different sizes of micro plastics in the digestive tracts of the fish which are consumed by the human.

Statement 3 is correct

• The scientists have found that the degradation of micro plastics leads to production of greenhouse gases.
• Airborne micro-plastics may influence the climate by scattering and absorbing solar and terrestrial radiation, leading to atmospheric warming or cooling depending on particle size, shape and composition.
• It is worth noting that Micro Plastics are synthetic organic polymers consisting entirely of C-C bonds and C-H bonds, which not only directly release GHG such as CO2 and CH4 during degradation but also impact the relative abundance of C and N cycling-related microorganisms in the environment, impacting the emissions of CO2, CH4, and N2O, among other GHG.

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• DigiReady Certification Portal aims to assess and certify digital readiness of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and small entities.
• It is an online self-assessment tool, MSMEs can evaluate their preparedness to seamlessly on-board as sellers on the ONDC platform, thereby expanding their digital capabilities and business potential.
• It accelerates the integration of MSMEs into the Network while also amplifying their potential to thrive in the digital economy.
• It also resonates with the objectives of the recently launched FIRST (Forum for Internet Retailers, Sellers, and Traders).

Statement 2 is incorrect

• It is an initiative of Quality Council of India (QCI) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
• The overarching motive behind the DRC portal is to ultimately widen the digital prowess and business potential of MSMEs by smoothly onboarding them as participants on ONDC’s open e-commerce network.
• Assessing themselves on parameters like documentation, software skills, workflow integration etc. will allow MSMEs to understand their strengths and gaps in digital capabilities.

Answer: (b) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the “Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY)”, a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada for formalization of the fisheries sector and supporting fisheries micro and small enterprises with an investment of over Rs. 6,000 crores over a period of next four (4) years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 in all States/Union Territories.
• The Sub-scheme will be implemented as a Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Central Sector Component of the PMMSY at an estimated outlay of Rs.6,000 crore consisting of 50% i.e. Rs.3,000 crore public finance including the World Bank and the AFD external financing, and rest 50% i.e.Rs.3,000 crore being the anticipated investment from the beneficiaries/private sector leverage.

Statement 2 is correct

• Aims and objectives of PM-MKSSY:
  • Gradual Formalization of the unorganized fisheries sector through self-registration of fishers, fish farmers and supportive workers under a National Fisheries Sector Digital Platform including creation of work based digital identifies of fish workers for improved service delivery.
  • Facilitating access to institutional financing fisheries sector micro and small enterprises.
  • Providing one-time incentive to beneficiaries for purchasing aquaculture insurance.
  • lncentivizing fisheries and aquaculture microenterprises through performance grants for improving fisheries sector value-chain efficiencies including creation and maintenance of jobs.

Statement 3 is correct

• Intended Beneficiaries:
  • Fishers, Fish (Aquaculture) Farmers, Fish workers, Fish Vendors or such other person directly engaged in fisheries value chain.
  • Micro and Small enterprises in the form of Proprietary Firms, Partnership Firms and Companies registered in India, Societies, Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), Cooperatives, Federations, Village Level Organizations like Self Help Groups (SHGs), Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs) and Startups engaged in fisheries and aquaculture value chains.
  • FFPOs also include Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs).
  • Any other beneficiaries that may be included by the Department of Fisheries, Gol as targeted beneficiaries.

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Smart Advanced Manufacturing and Rapid Transformation Hub (SAMARTH) centres are set up under the Scheme for Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector.
• Components of the Scheme
  • Identification of Technologies through Technology Innovation Portals.
  • Setting up of four New Advanced Centres of Excellence and augmentation of Existing Centres of Excellence.
  • Promotion of skilling in the Capital Goods Sector–the creation of Qualification packages for skill levels 6 and above.
  • Setting up of four Common Engineering Facility Centres (CEFCs) and augmentation of existing CEFCs.
  • Augmentation of Existing Testing and Certification Centres.
  • Setting up of ten Industry Accelerators for Technology Development.

Statement 2 is correct

• Key facts about the Enhancement of Competitiveness in the Indian Capital Goods Sector scheme:
  • It has been launched by the Ministry of Heavy Industries to address technological obsolescence and limited access to quality industrial infrastructure and common facilities.
  • In order to address the skill gaps and infrastructure development and technology needs for the Capital Goods Sector, Phase I of the Capital Goods scheme was rolled out in November 2014.
  • Phase I of the scheme fostered partnerships between Academia and Industry for engendering technology development with Government support.
  • The objective of Phase II (on January 25, 2022) is to expand and enlarge the impact created by the Phase I pilot scheme, thereby providing greater impetus through the creation of a strong and globally competitive capital goods sector that contributes at least 25% to the manufacturing sector.

Statement 3 is correct

• These centres have been providing assistance to the MSMEs to train the workforce and make them aware of Industry 4.0 technologies in the following ways:
  • Organizing Seminars/ Workshops and knowledge-sharing events on Industry 4.0,
  • Training industries to create awareness about Industry 4.0,
  • Providing consultancy (in areas such as IOT Hardware, Software development, and data analytics) and incubation support to start-ups including MSMEs.

Answer: (c) All; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• A multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) is a ballistic missile payload that contains multiple warheads, each capable of being aimed at a different target.
• They can confuse anti-ballistic-missile protection systems by releasing multiple warheads, some of which may be dummies, with different targets.
• They were originally developed in the early 1960s to permit a missile to deliver multiple nuclear warheads to different targets.
• The United States was the first country to develop MIRV technology, deploying a MIRVed Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) in 1970 and a MIRVed Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) in 1971.
• The United States, the United Kingdom, and France use MIRV technology on SLBMs.
• In India, Agni-P is equipped with Multiple Independently targetable Re-entry Vehicle (MIRV) feature.

Answer: (b) It confuses anti-ballistic-missile protection systems by releasing multiple warheads, some of which may be dummies, with different targets; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• In order to address the infrastructure requirement for fisheries sector, the union Government during 2018-19 created the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
• FIDF envisages creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries sectors and augment the fish production to achieve the target set under the Blue Revolution.
• FIDF will continue provide concessional finance to the Eligible Entities (EEs), including State Governments/Union Territories for development of identified fisheries infrastructure facilities through Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs) that includes:
  • National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and
  • National Cooperatives Development Corporation (NCDC) and All scheduled Banks.
• The eligible entities under FIDF are:
  • State Governments / Union Territories,
  • State Owned Corporations and State Government Undertakings,
  • Government Sponsored, Supported Organizations, Fisheries Cooperative Federations, Cooperatives and Collective Groups of fish farmers & fish produces,
  • Panchayat Raj Institutions, Self Help Groups (SHGs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Women Entrepreneurs, Private Companies and Entrepreneurs.

Answer: (d) All; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• It is the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
• Instituted in 2001, the Summit series has a legacy of over two decades of making ‘sustainable development’ a globally shared goal.
• WSDS strives to provide long-term solutions for the benefit of global communities by assembling the world’s most enlightened leaders and thinkers on a single platform.
  

  TERI is a leading think tank dedicated to conducting research for sustainable development of India and the Global South. It is an independent, multi-dimensional organization, with capabilities in research, consultancy, and policy implementation.

Statement 2 is correct

• It is the only independently convened international summit on sustainable development and environment, based in the Global South.
• WSDS 2024 will take place on the theme ‘Leadership for the Sustainable Development and Climate Justice’.

Answer: (b) 2 Only; Difficulty Level: Medium