Monthly Current Affairs Test - March 2020

During the coronavirus outbreak, penal provisions, such as Sections 269 and 270 of the IPC, are being invoked to enforce the lockdown orders in various states. Sections 269 and 270 have been used to book persons defying quarantine orders for containing the spread of the pandemic. Sections 269 and 270 of the IPC come under Chapter XIV of the Indian Penal Code– ‘Of Offences Affecting The Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals’. Sections 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) provides for a jail term of six months and/or fine. Section 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) provides for a jail term of two years and/or fine. In Section 270, the word ‘malignantly’ indicates indicates a deliberate intention on the part of the accused. Both Sections have been used for over a century to punish those disobeying orders issued for containing epidemics. Hence both statements are correct.

Veteran poet and Malayalam scholar Puthussery Ramachandran passed away at the age of 91. He was suffering from age-related ailments. He is credited with publishing the complete text of Kannassa Ramayanam, the first complete Ramayana in Malayalam, with notes and interpretations. His most important scholarly work is Kerala Charithrathinte Adisthana Rekhakal (The basic documents of the history of Kerala). His efforts resulted in Malayalam getting recognised as a classical language by the Union government in 2013. He had taken the initiative in organising the first World Malayalam Conference in Thiruvananthapuram in 1977 and was also the organising secretary of the First All India Conference on Dravidian Linguistics in 1971. He was the honorary director of the International Centre for Kerala Studies, University of Kerala. The Sahitya Akademi honoured him with its translation award in 2005 and Bhasha Samman in 2014. In 2009, he was conferred the fellowship of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi. He is a recipient of the Ezhuthachan Puraskaram of the Kerala state government and the Mahakavi Vallathol award. In 2012, he was selected for the Yesenin award, instituted by the Russian Cultural Centre and the Sergei Yesenin Museum, Moscow, for popularising Russian poetry and culture in south India.

China’s English daily Global Times has reported the death of a person from Yunnan Province who tested positive for the hantavirus. The hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents. A person can get infected if he/she comes in contact with a rodent that carries the virus. The hantavirus is not novel and its first case dates back to 1993. Cases of the hantavirus in humans occur mostly in rural areas where forests, fields and farms offer suitable habitat for infected rodents. Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as “New World” hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Other hantaviruses, known as “Old World” hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Hence both statements are correct.

Amid the all-round disruption caused to the economy by the novel coronavirus outbreak, various governments have unveiled various measures to address such concerns, and one of the most talked about is Germany’s Kurzarbeit scheme. Kurzarbeit is German for “short-work”. The policy provides for a short-time work allowance, called kurzarbeitgeld, which partially compensates for lost earnings during uncertain economic situations. The policy was rolled out during the 2008 economic crisis while its origins date back as far as the early 20th century, before and after World War I. When companies face a loss of earnings due to unforeseen economic situations, they often need to cut back on their working hours or send some of their employees home. The Kurzarbeit scheme aims to address workers who are impacted by loss of income due to shortened work hours during such times. They can apply for short-term work benefits under the scheme, with the government stepping in to pay employees a part of their lost income. This helps the companies retain their employees instead of laying them off, and allows the latter to sustain themselves for a period of up to 12 months. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Raksha Mantri recently informed Rajya Sabha about the Relaxation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in Defence Sector. In 2001, the Defence Industry sector, which was hitherto reserved for the public sector, was opened upto 100% for Indian private sector participation, with FDI upto 26% both subject to licensing. Further, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry has allowed FDI under automatic route upto 49% and above 49% through government route wherever it is likely to result in access to modern technology. Further, FDI in defence industry sector is subject to industrial license under Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 and manufacturing of small arms and ammunition under the Arms Act, 1959.
Sectors which come under the ' 100% Automatic Route' category are
Agriculture & Animal Husbandry, Air-Transport Services (non-scheduled and other services under civil aviation sector), Airports (Greenfield + Brownfield), Asset Reconstruction Companies, Auto-components, Automobiles, Biotechnology (Greenfield), Broadcast Content Services (Up-linking & down-linking of TV channels, Broadcasting Carriage Services, Capital Goods, Cash & Carry Wholesale Trading (including sourcing from MSEs), Chemicals, Coal & Lignite, Construction Development, Construction of Hospitals, Credit Information Companies, Duty Free Shops, E-commerce Activities, Electronic Systems, Food Processing, Gems & Jewellery, Healthcare, Industrial Parks, IT & BPM, Leather, Manufacturing, Mining & Exploration of metals & non-metal ores, Other Financial Services, Services under Civil Aviation Services such as Maintenance & Repair Organizations, Petroleum & Natural gas, Pharmaceuticals, Plantation sector, Ports & Shipping, Railway Infrastructure, Renewable Energy, Roads & Highways, Single Brand Retail Trading, Textiles & Garments, Thermal Power, Tourism & Hospitality and White Label ATM Operations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru on the occasion of the Shaheedi Diwas (Martyrs’ Day). The anniversary of the deaths of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru on 23 March 1931, in Lahore is declared to be Martyr's Day. Bhagat Singh conspired with revolutionaries like Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar, and Chandrashekhar Azad to kill Scott to avenge Lala Lajpat Rai's death. However, in a case of mistaken identity, the plotters shot John P. Saunders, an Assistant Superintendent of Police. Surfacing again in April 1929, he and another associate, Batukeshwar Dutt, exploded two improvised bombs inside the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are oral prescription drugs that have been used for treatment of malaria and certain inflammatory conditions. Chloroquine has been used for malaria treatment and chemoprophylaxis. Hydroxychloroquine is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and porphyria cutanea tarda. Both drugs have in-vitro activity against SARS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2, and other coronaviruses, with hydroxychloroquine having relatively higher potency against SARS-CoV-2. Based upon limited in-vitro and anecdotal data, chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine are currently recommended for treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in several countries. Hence both statements are correct.

National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Lucknow has developed a pest-resistant variety of cotton. Whiteflies are one of the top ten devastating pests in the world that damage more than 2000 plant species and also function as vectors for some 200-plant viruses. Cotton is one of the worst hit crops by these. In a move to fight against whiteflies National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) Lucknow has developed a pest-resistant variety of cotton and is going to start field trials this year from April to October in Faridkot Center of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana. They used the leaf extract of an edible fern Tectariamacrodonta which causes toxicity to the whitefly. This fern is known to be used as salad in Nepal and as a concoction for the gastric disorders in many regions of Asia. Hence both statements are correct.

The Minister of Textiles informed Lok Sabha about the Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY). The Ministry of Textiles is implementing converged Mahatma Gandhi Bunkar Bima Yojana (MGBBY) for providing social security benefits like life, accidental & disability insurance coverage to handloom weavers/workers in the age group of 51-59 years across the country, who have already enrolled under the scheme on 31.5.2017. The claim benefits are provided by LIC directly into the bank account of beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Four convicts in Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case were hanged to death at Tihar jail in Delhi. The last death sentence executed by the justice system in India was the 30 July 2015 hanging of terrorist Yakub Memon, who was convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts. Hanging and shooting are the two methods of death penalty in India. According to the Criminal Procedure Code, hanging is the method of execution in the civilian court system. The Army Act, 1950, however, lists both hanging and shooting as official methods of execution in the military court-martial system. The executions were carried out after the convicts exhausted every possible legal avenue to escape the gallows. According to Article 72 of the Constitution, the power to pardon — philosophy of which is “every civilised country recognises and provides for the pardoning power as an act of grace and humanity in course of law” — lies with the President. The Article also states that he/she can grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the convict. The mercy petition is reviewed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which consults the state involved, before going to the President. Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Explanation :
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of blood plasma from recovered patients to treat severely critical COVID-19 patients. It is called convalescent plasma therapy. It seeks to make use of the antibodies developed in the recovered patient against the coronavirus. The whole blood or plasma from such people is taken, and the plasma is then injected in critically ill patients so that the antibodies are transferred and boost their fight against the virus. A COVID-19 patient usually develops primary immunity against the virus in 10-14 days. Therefore, if the plasma is injected at an early stage, it can possibly help fight the virus and prevent severe illness. Hence both statements are correct.

The correct answer is "2 only". The GreenCo Rating System has been developed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, which makes statement 1 correct. However, statement 2 is incorrect because the GreenCo Rating System does not help industrial units in implementing various measures in terms of energy conservation. Instead, it is a system that rates and certifies industrial units based on their energy efficiency and environmental performance.

Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, launched the– Market Intelligence and Early Warning System (MIEWS) Web Portal. The portal can be accessed at http://miews.nafed-india.com. The MIEWS Dashboard and Portal is a ‘first-of-its-kind’ platform for ‘real time monitoring’ of prices of tomato, onion and potato (TOP) and for simultaneously generating alerts for intervention under the terms of the Operation Greens(OG) scheme. The portal would disseminate all relevant information related to TOP crops such as Prices and Arrivals, Area, Yield and Production, Imports and Exports, Crop Calendars, Crop Agronomy, etc in an easy to use visual format.
Operation Greens Scheme
• In the budget speech of Union Budget 2018-19, a new Scheme “Operation Greens” was announced with an outlay of Rs.500 crores to promote Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management.
• Accordingly, the Ministry has formulated a scheme for integrated development of Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP) value chain.
• As per the terms of the OG Scheme, during a glut situation, evacuation of surplus production from producing areas to consumption centres will be undertaken as determined by the following:
o When the prices fall below preceding 3 years’ average market price at the time of harvest;
o When the prices fall more than 50% compared to last year’s market price at the time of harvest;
o When the prices fall less than the benchmark, if any, fixed by the State / Central Government for a specified period.
Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Explanation : Government has approved Insurance Scheme announced under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package for health workers who are fighting to contain COVID-19. The scheme will provide an insurance cover of 50 lakh rupees for ninety days to around 22.12 lakh public healthcare providers. They include community health workers, who may have to be in direct contact and care of COVID-19 patients and who may be at risk of being impacted by this. The scheme will also include accidental loss of life on account of contracting COVID-19. The insurance provided under this scheme will be over and above any other insurance cover being availed by the beneficiary.

A technology has been developed by an incubatee company of Scitech Park, Pune which offers an effective solution for India’s fight against Covid 19 by reducing the viral load of infected areas within a room significantly within an hour. The negative ion generator titled Scitech Airon, which helps to control the virus, bacteria, and fungal infections in a closed environment, could clean up the air and disinfect areas which are exposed to the infection through Covid 19 positive cases and suspects. Hence it could ensure the wellbeing of the staff, doctors, and nurses who are working round the clock in the quarantine facilities by enhancing their disease resistance power and ability to fight the virus. The technology has been developed under the NIDHI PRAYAS program initiated by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). DST has released Rs 1 crore to manufacture and scale up the product, and 1000 of them will soon be ready for installation in various hospitals in Maharashtra. JCLEAN WEATHER TECHNOLOGIES, a Pune based company, is manufacturing the product. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

According to the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the measures against COVID-19 have led to a drop in PM2.5 (fine particulate pollutant) by 30% in Delhi and by 15% in Ahmedabad and Pune, respectively. With a nationwide lockdown in place, over 90 cities, including Delhi, recorded minimal air pollution in the last few days. India is currently under the biggest lockdown with around 130 crore people asked to stay home in view of the COVID-19 outbreak. The government has urged people to avoid unnecessary travel, significantly reducing the traffic movement across the country. The level of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) pollution, which can increase the risk of respiratory conditions, has also reduced. NOx pollution is mainly caused due to a high motor vehicle traffic. System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) was indigenously developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune and is run by India Meteorological Department (IMD). Objective is to provide Real-time air quality index on 24x7 basis with colour coding along with 72-hour advance weather forecast; To issue Health advisory to prepare citizens well in advance.
Parameters monitored:
•
o Pollutants: PM1, PM2.5, PM10, Ozone, CO, NOx (NO, NO2), SO2, BC, Methane (CH4), Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), Black Carbon, VOC’s, Benzene and Mercury.
o Meteorological Parameters: UV Radiation, Rainfall, Temperature, Humidity, Wind speed, Wind direction, solar radiation.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.

In a bid to shore up its disinvestment kitty ahead of the end of the fiscal, the Centre raised Rs. 13,883 crore through strategic sale of its stake in two state-owned power companies, THDCIL and NEEPCO, and Kamarajar Port Ltd to other state-owned entities. It has sold 74.49 per cent stake in THDC India Ltd (THDCIL) for Rs 7,500 crore and 100 per cent in North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for Rs 4,000 crore to state-owned power utility NTPC. Further, the Centre sold 66.67 per cent in Kamarajar Port Ltd to Chennai Port Trust for Rs 2,383 crore. This takes the Centre’s total collections from disinvestment at Rs 48,728.06 crore so far in FY20, which still falls short of the revised target of Rs 65,000 crore for the ongoing financial year. For the upcoming fiscal’s budget, the government has announced an ambitious disinvestment agenda, aiming to raise Rs 2.1 lakh crore via stake sales, including plans to list Life Insurance Corporation on stock exchanges and sale of its stake in IDBI Bank. Privatisation of BPCL, Container Corporation of India, Shipping Corporation of India and national carrier Air India will be other key issues next year. Disinvestment means sale or liquidation of assets by the government, usually Central and state public sector enterprises, projects, or other fixed assets. The government undertakes disinvestment to reduce the fiscal burden on the exchequer, or to raise money for meeting specific needs, such as to bridge the revenue shortfall from other regular sources. In some cases, disinvestment may be done to privatise assets. Hence both statements are correct.

A recent study by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has proved that Himalayan Ibex is a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex. The paper, ‘Genetic evidence for allopatric speciation of the Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica) in India,’ has recently been published in Endangered Species Research, an international peer-reviewed journal. The researchers, under a project funded through the National Mission on Himalayan Studies implemented by the Ministry of Environment, undertook field surveys and collected faecal samples from Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Himalayan Ibex is distributed in the trans-Himalayan ranges of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh up to the river Sutlej. It is listed as Least Concern in IUCN Red list. Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Siberian Ibex is a species of wild goat and is distributed in diverse habitats, ranging from cold deserts, rocky outcrops, steep terrain, high-land flats and mountain ridges to low mountains and foothills. From Mongolia, its distribution extends towards Altai, Hangai, Gobi-Altai, the Hurukh mountain ranges as well as Sayan Mountains near Russia and scattered populations in the small mountains of Trans-Altai Gobi.

A tribal lockdown ritual has staged a comeback in Arunachal Pradesh, the State geographically closest to China’s Hubei province where the COVID-19 outbreak began. Arunachal Pradesh’s West Siang district ceremonially entered the Arr-Rinam phase on March 26, 2020. Arr-Rinam is the Galo equivalent of lockdown imposed by consensus for 48 hours whenever an epidemic strikes. The Galos, one of the 26 major tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, dominate West Siang district. Arr-Rinam, which follows the Ali-Ternam ritual to ward off an epidemic, has been a part of their culture. Ali-Ternam — Ali means epidemic and Ternam forestall — and Arr-Rinam were last performed almost four decades ago when a water-borne disease had affected many members of the community.
Chenchus are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group whose hamlets or Pentas dot the Nallamala forest range spread across four to five districts in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states.
Irula are a Dravidian ethnic group inhabiting the area of the Nilgiri mountains, in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, India.
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) – Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for the recent Kabul gurdwara attack. On 25 March 2020, suicide bombers and assailants armed with guns attacked the Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib (Sikh shrine) in Kabul (Afghanistan), in which 25 Sikh worshippers were killed. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) – Khorasan Province has claimed responsibility for the attack. It said the attack was carried out in response to the Indian government's actions in Kashmir. One of the gunman was identified as Abu Khalid al-Hindi, an Indian citizen from Kerala. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province (ISIL-KP) is a branch of the militant Islamist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Some media sources also use the terms ISK, ISISK, IS-KP, or ISIS-K in referring to the group. Its main activity is in the border region of eastern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan. However, its area of operations also includes other parts of South Asia, such as India where individuals have pledged allegiance to it. Khorasan (also transcribed as Khurasan and Khorassan) was a province in north eastern Iran, but historically referred to a much larger area comprising the east and north-east of the Persian Empire.
Lombardy is a region in Northern Italy. Its capital, Milan, is a global hub of fashion and finance.
Qom is the seventh largest metropolis and also the seventh largest city in Iran. Qom is the capital of Qom Province.

The Indian Council of Medical Research invited bids for an estimated 10 lakh antibody kits (for serological tests) for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Viral infections are mainly identified by two kinds of tests– genetic and serological. Genetic tests can identify infections that are active, but cannot be used to detect past infections. This is what serological tests seek to determine. Unlike genetic tests, which look for RNA in swab samples, serological tests work on antibodies in blood samples. Hence, they are also called ‘antibody tests’. To disable a pathogen, the antibody latches to a unique protein molecule on pathogen’s surface, called an antigen. Serological tests use antigen molecules to detect the presence of antibodies relevant to the infection. Such tests are relatively inexpensive, and can display results within a few minutes. Hence both statements are incorrect.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the constitution of the PM's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) fund. This will be a dedicated national fund with the primary objective of dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation, like posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister is the Chairman of this trust and its Members include Defence Minister, Home Minister and Finance Minister. Citizens and organisations can go to the website pmindia.gov.in and donate to PM CARES Fund. This fund will enable micro-donations allowing a large number of people will be able to contribute with smallest of denominations. Donations to this fund will be exempted from income tax under section 80(G). Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Leaders from the group of 20 nations attended an extraordinary virtual G20 Summit through video conference. Chaired by Saudi Arabia, the summit discussed a global response to COVID- 19 crisis. Saudi Arabia, the chair of the G20 this year coordinated the video summit. At a video-conference of leaders of the world’s top 20 economies, the G20, hosted by the Saudi King, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to discuss the novel coronavirus pandemic. The G20 countries committed to inject more than $5 trillion into the global economy, and contribute to the COVID-19 solidarity response fund led by the World Health Organization (WHO). The leaders agreed to have more interactions of G20 Foreign Ministers, health officials and the respective Sherpas before the Riyadh Summit of the G20 nations in November 2020. Prime Minister Modi also called for a bigger mandate and more funding for the World Health Organisation, which he said had failed to “adapt itself to deal with the new challenges the international community has faced.” Many countries have been critical of WHO’s failure to alert the world quickly enough of the potential threat from the pandemic, even after it had been informed of its spread in Wuhan by China on December 31 last year. Hence both statements are correct.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the demise of Brahma Kumari's Chief Dadi Janki. Rajyogini Dadi Janki, the Chief of Brahmakumaris Sansthan, the world's largest spiritual organization run by women, passed away at the age of 104 after prolonged illness. Rajyogini Dadi Janki was born in 1916. She had embraced the spiritual path at the age of 21. In 1970s, she moved to western countries to establish Indian philosophy, Raj Yoga and human values. She had set up 'Seva Kendras' in 140 countries around the world. Dadi janki was appointed the brand ambassador of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan (Clean India Mission) by the government for her work in the field of maintaining cleanliness. The Brahma Kumaris are a Spiritual movement that originated in Hyderabad, Sindh, during the 1930s. The Brahma Kumaris movement was founded by Lekhraj Kripalani. The organisation is affiliated with the United Nations and is known for the prominent role that women play in the movement. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

The Indian capital market regulator imposed some curbs on short- selling, starting this week to curb the ongoing volatility and equity sell-off in the stock market. Short selling refers to a strategy by which traders bet on a decline in prices and try to profit at a time when the markets are falling. Indian indices have fallen more than 25% from their record highs reached in January. In market parlance, a fall of over 20% is looked upon as a sign of the markets entering a bear market. Regulators in a few countries like Spain, South Korea and Italy have banned short selling amid huge volatility and a fall in stock prices. During the global financial crisis of 2008, the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) had banned short-selling in financial stocks. Hence both statements are correct.

Statement 1 is correct:
Finland is the world’s happiest country according to the World Happiness Report 2020. India ranks 144 in the report. Nordic states dominated the top 10, along with countries such as Switzerland, New Zealand and Austria. Luxembourg also edged into the 10th spot for the first time this year. The happiest countries are those “where people feel a sense of belonging, where they trust and enjoy each other and their shared institutions. Meanwhile, the countries at the bottom are those afflicted by violent conflicts and extreme poverty, with Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Afghanistan classified as the world’s least happy nations.
Statement 2 is incorrect:
The World Happiness Report is a publication of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, which operates under the auspices of the United Nations since 2012 to mobilize scientific and technical expertise in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is the eighth World Happiness Report which ranks 156 countries by how happy their citizens perceive themselves to be. Researchers for Report asked people to evaluate their own levels of happiness, and took into account measures such as GDP, social support, personal freedom and levels of corruption to give each nation a happiness score. The World Happiness Report 2020 for the first time ranks cities around the world by their subjective well-being and digs more deeply into how the social, urban and natural environments combine to affect our happiness.

In response to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, United States President Trump declared a national emergency under the Stafford Act, allowing the federal government through FEMA to take advantage of a $50 billion fund for disaster relief that's rarely been used for disease outbreaks. Official name is The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Common name is Stafford Act. It is named for Vermont Sen. Robert Stafford (in Senate 1971–89), who helped pass the law. It is a 1988 United States federal law designed to bring federal natural disaster assistance for state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to aid citizens. It created the system by which a presidential disaster declaration or an emergency declaration triggers financial and physical assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Act gives FEMA the responsibility for coordinating government-wide relief efforts.

Bhilwara, considered the hub of textile manufacturing in Rajasthan, has grabbed national attention following a number of positive cases of COVID-19 being detected at a private hospital in the city. Bhilwara is a city in the Mewar region of Rajasthan. It is famous for Textile in Rajasthan. The main textile product is synthetic fabric used in trousers. Many seasonal rivers such as Kothari, Banas, Menali, Bedach, Khari, and Mansi meander their way through Bhilwara. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

National Book Trust (NBT) of HRD Ministry has launched #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks initiative in the wake of Preventive Measures of the Government of India to contain the spread of Covid-19. To encourage people to read books while at home, NBT is providing its select and best-selling titles for FREE Download as part of its initiative of #StayHomeIndiaWithBooks! The 100+ books, in PDF format, can be downloaded from the NBT's website https://nbtindia.gov.in. Available in various languages, the books cover all genres of fiction, biography, popular science, teacher's handbook, and majorly books for children and young adults. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) has developed ultrafast laser surface texturing technology, which can improve the fuel efficiency of internal combustion engines. Laser surface micro-texturing, which offers precise control of the size, shape and density of micro-surface texture features has gained momentum as a way to control friction and wear. In this technology, a pulsating laser beam creates micro-dimples or grooves on the surface of materials in a very controlled manner. Such textures can trap wear debris when operating under dry sliding conditions and sometimes provide effects like enhancing oil supply (lubricant reservoir) which can lower friction coefficients and may enable reduced wear rate. International Advanced Centre for Powder Metallurgy & New Materials (ARCI) is an autonomous R&D Centre of Department of Science and Technology (DST). Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Election Commission has decided to allow usage of indelible ink on persons for stamping for home quarantine by health authorities in view of COVID-19. Indelible ink refers to the violet-coloured ink in India that is applied on a voter’s forefinger after she exercises her vote. It is known to contain silver nitrate and is manufactured in secrecy. Indelible ink remains bright for about 10 days, after which it starts fading. In 1962, the Election Commission in collaboration with the Law Ministry, the National Physical Laboratory of India and the National Research Development Corporation made an agreement with Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. to manufacture ink that couldn't be wiped off easily. Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. was founded in 1937 by Maharaja Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. The company is the sole supplier of indelible ink for civic body, Assembly and Parliamentary polls. It also supplies ink to about 25 countries. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Ministry of Labour has issued advisory to all the States to use cess fund for Welfare of Construction Workers in the wake of COVID-19. In the advisory, Labour Minister has asked the States to transfer funds in the account of construction workers through DBT mode from the Cess fund collected by the Labour Welfare Boards under the Building and Other Construction Workers Act, 1996. About 52000 crore rupees are available as cess fund and about 3.5 crore construction workers are registered with these Construction welfare Boards. The cess fund is maintained by state governments which also maintain a register of construction workers in their region. Hence only statement 2 is correct.

After the Janata Curfew on Sunday, Delhi and many other states took the Centre’s advice to enforce a full lockdown in districts to contain the spread of COVID-19. The orders issued to curb the spread of the coronavirus have been framed under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which lays down punishment as per Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Section 188 IPC deals with the acts of disobedience committed against the orders passed by a public servant, lawfully empowered to pass such orders. According to sec.188 Indian Penal Code, disobedience to the order promulgated by the public servant is an offence. The term of punishment in the cases of IPC Section 188 differs on the basis of the gravity of the offence committed. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die after the passage of the Finance Bill, 2020 without any debate due to the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. A Finance Bill is a bill ordinarily introduced each year to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government for the following financial year and includes a Bill to give effect to supplementary financial proposals for any period. The Finance Bill is introduced in the Lok Sabha immediately after the presentation of the annual budget, as directed by Article 110 (a) of the Constitution of India. The Finance Bill becomes the Finance Act for the year concerned after it is passed by the parliament and receives assent of the President. A Budget usually contains tax proposals for the upcoming financial year. The proposed changes pertain to existing laws dealing with various taxes in the country. The Finance Bill makes required amendments to the tax laws concerned, thus obviating the need to bring out a separate amendment law in each case. It does so by over-riding provisions in the existing laws. Finance Bills can be divided into three categories, viz. Finance bill category I, Finance bill category II and Money Bill. Finance bills category I and II contain provisions on taxation and expenditure. On the other hand, a Bill may be deemed as a Money Bill only if it has provisions pertaining to Consolidated Fund of India and results in imposition, abolition or alteration of central or state taxes. Hence both statements are correct.

The government has constituted a high level technical committee of Public Health Experts for COVID-19 to guide the prevention and control activities in the country. The 21 member committee will be headed by NITI Aayog member Dr V K Paul. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan and Director General Indian Council of Medical Research are the Co-Chair. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

In a rare sight after a gap of seven years, mass nesting of olive ridley turtles was witnessed during the daytime along the Rushikulya rookery coast in Odisha’s Ganjam district. Olive Ridley inhabit warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. These turtles spend their entire lives in the ocean, and migrate thousands of kilometres between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year. These turtles, along with their cousin the Kemps ridley turtle, are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada. i.e. thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs. The coast of Odisha in India is the largest mass nesting site for the Olive-ridley, followed by the coasts of Mexico and Costa Rica. Usually, olive ridleys prefer to nest in darkness. Sometimes due to pressure of delivery time, they may be opting to nest at daytime. IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

The study on the Carissa kopilii, a wild berry, was published in the latest issue of the Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. The Carissa kopilii is threatened by the very river it is named after — Kopili in central Assam. A hydroelectric project on the river and water turned acidic because of coal mining in Meghalaya upstream. The “sun-loving” plant is distributed sparsely, rooted in rocky crevices along the Kopili riverbed at altitudes ranging from 85-600 metres above sea level. Carissa kopilii, yielding white flowers from August-October and fruits from November-January, should have all the medicinal and utilitarian properties. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Researchers have revealed new insights into how the human hand evolved from fish fins based on their analysis of an ancient fossil found in Miguasha, Canada. Palaeontologists said the fish specimen has yielded the missing evolutionary link in the transition from fish to four legged animals. They said this happened during the Late Devonian period, millions of years ago, as fish began to foray in habitats such as shallow water and land. The study, published in the journal Nature, noted that the 1.57 m long fossil shows the complete arm — pectoral fin — skeleton for the first time in any elpistostegalian fish. This is the first time researchers have unequivocally discovered fingers locked in a fin with fin-rays in any known fish. The finding pushes back the origin of fingers in vertebrates to the fish level. The evolution of fishes into four-legged vertebrates was one of the most significant events in the history of life. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

In a relief to the residents of Lachen in North Sikkim, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) opened for traffic 360 feet long bailey suspension bridge over Teesta River in Munshithang near Chungthang town. This Bridge was constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) over Teesta River in North Sikkim under Project Swastik. Construction of the bridge commenced in October 2019 and completed it in January 2020. The bridge will give impetus to tourism and facilitate the movement of logistics for the Armed Forces deployed in forward areas. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal stated in Rajya Sabha that services rendered by Parliamentarians, doctors, and para-medics fall under Essential Services category. Functioning of Parliament after invoking the Epidemics Act and notification restricting the movement of people above sixty-five years in the wake of Coronavirus does not violate any provision of the law. This was stated by Union Minister Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha. His remarks came in the wake of query raised by Anand Sharma of the Congress who said, most of the Parliamentarians above the age of sixty-five fall under the ambit of the notification. He questioned as to how the government could circumvent the provisions of the notification. Hence both statements are correct.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and called for a Janta Curfew on Sunday, March 22. He said this curfew will be “for the people and by the people of India” and will be from 7 am to 9 pm on Sunday. PM Modi said it will apply to everyone and urged all citizens to stay inside their homes. He said those in emergency and essential services should do their regular duties. PM Modi urged the entire nation to stay at home for the coming few weeks to arrest the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. He said senior citizens aged over 65 years should stay indoors at all cost for the next few weeks. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) of 1973 authorises the Executive Magistrate of any state or territory to issue an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area. Restriction under Section 144 is different from curfew. In the areas where curfew is imposed, all public activity is barred. Civilian traffic is also stopped. Curfew warrants much graver situation posing bigger danger of rioting and violence. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Minister for Power informed Lok Sabha about the status of electricity production in India. As per the latest key world energy statistics published by the IEA in 2019, India is the 3rd largest producer of electricity in the world. India also ranks 106th in terms of per capita consumption in 2017. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Maintaining that women and men officers should be treated equally, the Supreme Court today cleared permanent commission for women in the Navy and asked the Centre to complete the modalities within three months. It said, denying permanent commission to women officers who have served the nation would result in a serious miscarriage of justice. The bench rejected the Centre's stand that sea sailing duties cannot be granted to SSC (Short Service Commission) women officers in the Navy as its Russian vessels do not have washrooms for them. Such arguments, the court said, are contrary to the Centre's policy of 1991 and 1998 which lifted the statutory bar on the induction of women officers in the Navy. The bench quashed the prospective effect of the policy barring women officers inducted before 2008 from being granted permanent commission in the Navy. It also granted pension benefits to women officers who have retired and were not granted permanent commission. Hence both statements are correct.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his 100th Birth Anniversary. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920 – 1975) was a Bangladeshi politician and statesman. Mujib is credited as an important figure in efforts to gain political autonomy for East Pakistan and later as the central figure behind the Bangladesh Liberation Movement and the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. Thus, he is regarded "Jatir Janak" or "Jatir Pita" (Jatir Jônok or Jatir Pita, both meaning "Father of the Nation") of Bangladesh. He served as the first President of Bangladesh and later as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 17 April 1971 until his assassination on 15 August 1975. He is popularly dubbed with the title of "Bangabandhu" (Bôngobondhu "Friend of Bengal") by the people of Bangladesh. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

The famous annual Chaitra Jatra festival scheduled to be held on March 17 at Odisha’s Tara Tarini hill shrine was cancelled as a precautionary measure against COVID-19 infection. This festival is celebrated at Tara Tarini hill shrine on Tuesdays of the Hindu month of Chaitra. The largest gatherings occur on second and third Tuesdays. March 17 happens to be second Tuesday. Tara Tarini hill shrine, located at Kumari hill on banks of the Rushikulya river, is a major centre of Shakti worship in Odisha. Indian Navy’s sailboat INSV Tarini was named after Tara Tarini hill shrine. The first Indian all-woman crew had circumnavigated the globe in INSV Tarini. .

Ignaz Semmelweis is regarded as the first doctor to recommend ‘wash your hands’ by scrubbing hands with soap and water as one of the most effective methods to stop the spread of several illnesses including COVID-19. Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis (1818 – 1865) was a Hungarian physician and scientist, now known as an early pioneer of antiseptic procedures. Described as the "saviour of mothers", Semmelweis discovered that the incidence of puerperal fever (also known as "childbed fever") could be drastically cut by the use of hand disinfection in obstetrical clinics. Semmelweis proposed the practice of washing hands with chlorinated lime solutions in 1847. He published a book of his findings in Etiology, Concept and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever. Semmelweis's practice earned widespread acceptance only years after his death, when Louis Pasteur confirmed the germ theory. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Scientists have identified a 100-million-year-old flying dinosaur encased in amber that may be the smallest yet discovered. The skull of Oculudentavis khaungraae was found in a globule of amber in Myanmar. The preserved skull is just 7.1mm (less than one-third of an inch) long. It would have been smaller than the smallest bird alive today, the bee hummingbird. Despite its minuscule size, researchers believe it hunted insects, using its sharp teeth and large eyes to home in on prey. Oculudentavis is an extinct genus of tetrapod, originally identified as an avialan dinosaur (bird, in the broad sense) with a single known species, Oculudentavis khaungraae. The amber specimen which Oculudentavis is based on is embroiled in controversy regarding its identity and the ethical issues surrounding the acquisition and study of Burmese amber. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

The nine working groups, constituted after the Lok Sabha election and comprising Election Commission of India (ECI) officials and State Chief Electoral Officers, presented their draft recommendations to ECI. The ECI published 25 of the main recommendations and invited comments or suggestions from the public till March 31. Some of these draft recommendations are:
•
o Issuing electronic versions of the voter ID card — EPIC — for convenience of voters;
o Replacing all the forms for various voter services, including registration of new voter and change of address, with one single form;
o Exploring new voting methods which remains secure and safe to ease and improve the electoral participation;
o Capping the campaign expenditure of political parties;
o Starting online registration facilities at the school or college-level for all prospective voters at 17 years of age, so they can be enrolled in the electoral roll as soon as they become eligible at 18; and
o Imposing a “silence period of 48 hours” before polling on social media and print media.
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

There are 128 sites in India contaminated by toxic and hazardous substances, according to a March update by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). West Bengal led the list with 27 sites followed by Odisha at 23. Including those, there are 324 sites that may be contaminated, with 196 still awaiting an investigation and confirmation. Twenty sites in 6 States have seen agencies prepare a detailed project reports, or a plan of action, to clean up sites. Such action follows orders by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
• These incidents include
o oil contamination due to leakage of underground oil pipelines of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in Tamil Nadu,
o pesticide and heavy metal contamination in creeks at Eloor, Kerala,
o chromium contamination at Rania,
o improperly disposed electronic waste lying on the banks of river Ramganga, Moradabad and
o mercury contamination of the soil at Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and Ganjam, Odisha.

The Government of India is set to launch a mahua-based alcoholic beverage in the market for the first time. Called Mahua Nutribeverage, it will be available as early as next month for Rs 700 for a 750 ml bottle, and will come in six fruit-based flavours. The beverage has a high nutritional value and relatively low alcohol content, at 5 per cent. It has been developed by IIT-Delhi after two years of research in collaboration with TRIFED (Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India). The marketing is being undertaken under the Tribal Affairs Ministry’s Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram. Mahuwa (Madhuca indica) is a prominent forest tree in tribal areas of Bastar and plays an important role in the rural economy. The mahuwa flowers are a rich source of sugars and are said to contain vitamins, minerals and calcium. The flowers are fermented and distilled yielding spirituous liquor also known as ‘country beer’. An estimated 90 per cent of annual production of Mahuwa flower is used in the process of brewing beverages.