Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

• Also called as pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, H1N1 is a subtype of influenza A virus (a communicable viral disease), which causes upper, and potentially, lower respiratory tract infections in the host it infects.
• Symptoms of H1N1 includes fever, chills and sore throat; and is similar to seasonal influenza but has been characterised by higher fatality rates among healthy young adults and higher incidence of viral pneumonia.
• It spreads from person to person, either by touching the affected person or inhaling.
• The first outbreak of H1N1 was witnessed by the world in 2009 and soon declared as ‘Pandemic’ by the World Health Organisation.

Explanation :

• The International Judicial Conference-2020, organized by the Supreme Court of India, was held from 21st-23rd February, 2020 in New Delhi, under the theme- Judiciary and the Changing World.
• The Conference discussed the changes being introduced by the Government of India to bring Gender Equality in recruiting women in military services, selection process of fighter pilots, freedom of women to work in mines at night.
• The Conference also focused on the need for technology to deliver rapid justice.

Explanation :

• The Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known commonly as the Pacific Ridley Sea Turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae.
• The turtle is named for the generally greenish color of its skin and shell, or carapace. It is closely related to the Kemp’s Ridley, with the primary distinction being that Olive Ridleys are found only in warmer waters, including the Southern Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Olive and Kemp’s Ridleys are the smallest of the sea turtles, weighing up to 100 pounds and reaching only about 2 feet in shell length.
• These turtles are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada.
• The Olive Ridley is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.

Explanation :

• Mahadayi River rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district. Flowing westward, it enters Goa from Sattari taluk of North Goa district.
• A number of streams join the flow of the river to form the Mandovi which is one of two major rivers that flow through Goa.
• It joins the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
• The Mahadayi River, also spelt Mhadei or Mahadeyi, stretches 111-km. Over two-thirds of the river’s stretch lies in Goa (76km).
• Mapusa River is an important tributary of Mandovi.
• Dudhsagar Falls and Varapoha Falls are important falls located on Mandovi River.

Explanation :

• Launched in 2016, SPMRM follows the vision of - Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of "Rurban Villages".
• The objective is to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters.
• Substantial part of the works identified for development in the clusters is focused on provision of basic and economic amenities.
• Provision of basic amenities in a cluster typically comprise; provision of 24/7 Water Supply to all households, Solid and Liquid Waste Management facilities at the household and cluster level, provision of Inter and Intra village roads within the cluster, adequate Street Lights and Public Transport facilities using green technologies.
• Provision of Economic Amenities in a cluster comprise various thematic areas in the sectors of Agri Services and Processing, Tourism, and Skill Development to promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

Explanation :

• Three Indian species –the mainland Asian elephant, Great Indian Bustard and the Bengal Florican were selected for priority bio-diversity conservation at the United Nations summit for conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
• All the three animals were included in the ‘Appendix I’ of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of wild animals (CMS). The announcement was made at the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the CMS being hosted by India, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from February 17-22, 2020.

Significance

• Inclusion in the 'Appendix I’ is for ‘migratory species threatened with extinction’ would lead to push for greater habitat protection, prohibition against poaching and facilitation of their movement in the regions and countries that are part of these species ranges.

Explanation :

• On 20^th February, 2020, the two hill states of northeast, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, celebrated their 32nd Statehood Day.

Mizoram

• Mizoram being a mountainous region was a district off Assam till 1972. It became a state with the implementation of North-Eastern Reorganization Act, 1972. It became the 23rd Indian state on February 20, 1987.

Arunachal Pradesh

• The state was called the North-East Frontier Agency. Later in 1975, an elected Legislative Assembly was constituted. After the Reorganization Act, 1972, Arunachal Pradesh remained as a Union Territory. It became a state in 1987.

Explanation :

• The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in July 1989 by the Group of Seven (G-7) Summit in Paris, initially to examine and develop measures to combat money laundering.
• The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terror financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.
• The FATF has developed a series of Recommendations that are recognised as the international standard for combating of money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.They form the basis for a coordinated response to these threats to the integrity of the financial system and help ensure a level playing field.
• First issued in 1990, the FATF Recommendations were revised in 1996, 2001, 2003 and most recently in 2012 to ensure that they remain up to date and relevant, and they are intended to be of universal application.
• The FATF's decision making body, the FATF Plenary, meets three times per year.

Explanation :

• Asur people are a very small Austroasiatic ethnic group (PVTG) living primarily in the Indian state of Jharkhand, mostly in the Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu and Latehar districts.
• They are traditionally iron-smelters. They were once hunter gatherers, having also involved in shifting agriculture.
• The Asur society is divided into 12 clans. These Asur clans are named after different animals, birds and food grains. Family is second prominent institution after the clan.
• The Asurs speak a distinct language called Asuri but no portion of the Scripture is available.

Explanation :

• Kambala is an annual festival celebrated in the Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka.
• Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka and Kasaragod of Kerala, a region collectively known as Tulu Nadu.
• The festival involves the traditional buffalo race, a popular and unique sport among the farming community of the state.
• During the early days of the festival it was known as Karaga celebrations. Later it came to be known as Kambala celebrations.

Types

• There are four types of Kambala: Bare Kambala, Pokare Kambala, Arasu Kambala and Modern Kambala.
• In the first type, the man holding the rope of bulls also runs the race from behind. But the plough is not tied in this type.
• In the second type, the man though holds the rope doesn’t run from behind, rather he ties a plank to the plough and stands on the plough.
• In the third type, a plough is tied to both the bulls and the man holding the rope runs from behind.
• The fourth type is called Kane halage race: In this format, reaching the goal is not important. A cloth is tied at two meters height on the both sides of the running track. While running, the sludge should touch and stain the cloth....Prize is given based on the proportion of stains on the cloth.