February 20 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

• The simians, anthropoids, or higher primates are an infraorder of primates containing all animals traditionally called Simian and apes.
• They are classified into two subdivisions, the platyrrhines (New World monkeys) and the catarrhines (Old World monkeys and apes, including humans).
• Simians live all over the world.

  

Answer: (a) Various species of monkeys that live all over the world; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled the first cohort of fellows under the Vaishvik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) scheme, a strategic initiative aimed at fostering short-term collaborations with Indian-origin scientists based abroad.
• The Government has launched VAIBHAV fellowships programme in 2023 to connect the Indian STEMM (Science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine) diaspora with Indian academic and R&D institutions for collaborative research work leading to sharing of knowledge, wisdom, and best practices in the frontier areas of science & technology.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The VAIBHAV Fellow would identify any Indian Institution for collaboration and may spend up to two months there in a year for a maximum of 3 years.
• The VAIBHAV fellows are expected to collaborate with their Indian counterparts and help initiate research activities in the host institution in the cutting-edge areas of Science and Technology.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The VAIBHAV fellowships programme to be implemented by the DST, Ministry of Science and Technology, would be awarded to outstanding scientist/technologists of Indian origin [Non-resident Indians (NRI) / Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) / Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)] who are engaged in research activities in their respective countries.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• YUva VIgyani KAryakram (YUVIKA) aims to impart basic knowledge on Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications to the younger students.
• The course covers class room lectures, hands on activity like robotics challenge, DIY assembly of rocket/satellite, sky gazing, etc., technical facility visits, and interaction with space scientists.
• Students studying in Class 9 within India are eligible to apply for the ISRO Young Scientist Programme (YUVIKA) – 2024.
• YUVIKA programme is also expected to encourage more students to pursue in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) based research and aligned career.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• YUVIKA was conceived to impart basic knowledge on Space Science, Space Technology and Space Applications to the younger students with a preference to rural areas of the country.
• The programme is thus aimed at creating awareness about the emerging trends in science and technology amongst the school going students.
• The programme envisages two weeks’ class room training, practical demonstration of experiments, hands on CANSAT, Robotic kit, Model rocketry interactions with ISRO scientists and field visits.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• It is being organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• It is proposed to select 3 students each from each State/ Union Territory to participate in this programme covering CBSE, ICSE and State syllabus.
• ISRO has chalked out this programme to “Catch them young“.

Answer: (c) All; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• It is almost completely restricted to India as a breeding bird, with only occasional breeding in western Bangladesh.
• It can be found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India.
• The recent population decline has been accompanied by a range contraction and there are no recent confirmed breeding records from Pakistan or Myanmar.

  

• It was formerly widely distributed across the Indian Subcontinent, along the major rivers of Myanmar and along the Mekong in Indo-China.
• In India the species remains widely distributed, but breeding areas are now highly restricted along the rivers such as Chambal, Ganges, Yamuna, Mahanadi and Son.

  

Statement 2 is incorrect

• It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes and, in the non–breeding season, estuaries and coasts.
• They breed between February to June and raise one to three chicks per clutch.
• Nesting success is currently very low.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• It is listed as endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list.
• It is listed under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• It is not listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
• Sand mining, agricultural activities, cattle movement and human disturbance are major threats to the bird.
• Widespread increases in exploitation and degradation of rivers and lakes through irrigation schemes and transportation.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Shivaji was born in Shivner near Junnar.
• He was the son of Shahji Bhonsle by his first wife Jijabai.
• The Treaty of Purandar (1665) was signed between the Jai Singh I and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• This treaty was signed on 11th June 1665 and Raja Jai Singh signed on behalf of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

Statement 2 is correct

• Religious heads such as Ramdas and Tukaram, also influenced Shivaji.
• Ramdas was regarded by Shivaji as his guru.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Torna Fort, also known as Prachanda gad, is a large fort located in Pune district, in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
• It is historically significant because it was the first fort captured by Shivaji in 1646, at the age of 16.
• In 1646, he captured the fortress of Torna from the Sultan of Bijapur.
  

  The Fort Murumbdev was captured by Shivaji Maharaj in 1647. It was repaired and renamed as Rajgad. It was the first capital of Swaraj. This fort was under the rule of the Adilshahis before Shivaji’s conquest.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) is an apex organization that deals with marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.
• It was established on 2nd October 1958 and registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act.
• NAFED was setup with the object to promote Co-operative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers.
• Agricultural farmers are the main members of Nafed, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of Nafed.
• It is a nodal agency to implement price stabilization measures under “Operation Greens” which aims to double the farmers’ income by 2022.
• The objectives of the NAFED includes:
  • Facilitate, coordinate and promote the marketing and trading activities of the cooperative institutions, partners and associates in agricultural, other commodities, articles and goods
  • Collaborate with any international agency or a foreign body for development of cooperative marketing, processing and other activities for mutual advantage in India or abroad.
  • Undertake purchase, sale and supply of agricultural, marketing and processing requisites, such as manure, seeds, fertilizer, agricultural implements and machinery.
  • Act as warehouseman under the Warehousing Act and own and construct its own godowns and cold storages
  • Act as agent of any Government agency or cooperative institution, for the purchase, sale, storage and distribution of agricultural, horticultural, forest and others.
  • Under takes grading, packing, standardization, scientific treatment and process of agricultural produce and other articles.
  • Act as insurance agent and to undertake all such works related to the agricultural activities.
  • Organizes consultancy work in various fields for the benefit of the cooperative institutions in general and for its members in particular.
  • Sets up storage units for storing various commodities and goods, by itself or in collaboration with any other agency in India or abroad.

Answer: (d) All; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) is a statutory body established in 2020 under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and took force in 2020.

Statement 2 is correct

• It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment is the ex-officio chairperson of the council.

Statement 3 is correct

• The NCTP’s responsibilities include:
  • Advising the government on policy matters affecting transgender, intersex and GIESC (Gender Identity/Expression and Sex Characteristics) identities.
  • Protecting the rights of transgender people.
• A Member of National Council, other than ex officio member, shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his nomination.

Answer: (c) All; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• It is a European Union (EU) naval mission to protect cargo ships in the Red Sea from attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
• It will send European warships and airborne early warning systems to the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.
• Aspides vessels, whose operational command centre will be in the Greek city of Larissa, will have orders to fire on the Houthis only if they attack first and will not be authorised to shoot pre-emptively.
• So far, France, Germany, Italy and Belgium have said they plan to contribute ships.

Answer: (a) It is a EU naval mission to protect cargo ships in the Red Sea; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Global Resources Outlook Report was launched in 2019.
• It is Published by the International Resource Panel of UN.
• The International Resource Panel (IRP) was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2007 to build and share the knowledge needed to improve our use of resources worldwide
• Global Resources Outlook Report aims to provide regular reporting on the state and impact of, and outlook for, resource use globally.
  

  The 2024 edition of the Global Resources Outlook Report will be tabled at the 6th UN Environment Assembly which is to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.

Statement 2 is correct

• It highlights how global natural resources consumption has increased fourfold since 1970 and is set to rise by a further 60% by 2060.
• It sheds light on how resources are essential to implement the Agenda 2030 effectively.
• High-income countries use six times more materials per capita and are responsible for ten times more climate impacts per capita than low-income countries.
• The report also describes the potential to turn negative trends around and put humanity on a sustainable trajectory. For that, bold policy action is critical to:-
  • Phase out unsustainable activities.
  • Speed up responsible and innovative ways of meeting human needs.
  • Create conditions conducive to social acceptance and equity within the necessary transitions.
• The report also suggests urgent action to embed resources in delivering multilateral environmental agreements, define sustainable resource use paths and roll out appropriate financial, trade and economic incentives.

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