Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

• Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has announced a new scheme in Public-Private Partnership basis, National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT), for using technology for better learning outcomes in higher education.
• The objective is to use Artificial Intelligence to make learning more personalised and customised as per the requirements of the learner.
• HRD would create and maintain a National NEAT platform that would provide one-stop access to these technological solutions and it would act as a facilitator to ensure that the solutions are freely available to a large number of economically backward students.
• AICTE would be the implementing agency for NEAT programme. The scheme shall be administered under the guidance of an Apex Committee constituted by HRD.

Explanation :

• PMMVY is a direct benefit transfer scheme under which cash benefits are provided to pregnant women in their bank account directly to meet enhanced nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.
• All the pregnant women and lactating mothers, who have their pregnancy on or after 1^st January 2017, are eligible for the scheme.
• A cash benefit of Rs. 5,000 in three installments on fulfilling the respective conditionality, viz. early registration of pregnancy, ante-natal check-up and registration of the birth of the child and completion of first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.
• The eligible beneficiaries also receive cash incentive under JananiSurakshaYojana (JSY). Thus, on an average, a woman gets Rs 6,000.
• Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Rajasthan are the top five States/UT in the country in implementation of PMMVY.

Explanation :

• The Gharial(Gavialisgangeticus) is a unique species of crocodilian, characterized by its long, thin snout and the bulbous growth at the end of its snout.
• It is listed on CITES Appendix I. It is classified as critically endangered species in IUCN list and protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• Presently, the wild populations of gharials can only be found in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

Ecological Importance

• Indian gharials are important predators of fish. Unfortunately the numbers of gharials are now so low that their effects on the ecosystem may not be significant.

Explanation :

• Bio fencing is a unique and cost-effective method to keep wild animals away from residential areas and to protect agricultural crops and livestock in areas adjoining to forests.
• Plant species lemongrass, agave, rambans, and certain species of chilly and some other plant species have been identified to be grown in areas where wild animals enter residential areas and near forests.
• Bio-fencing with lemongrass will be done to prevent entry of elephants because elephants do not like the smell of lemongrass.
• Similarly, agave will be grown to deter elephant and wild boars. This biotic method is environment-friendly and harvesting of such plants can also be economical for farmers.

Explanation :

• The Astra missile which is an indigenously developed sophisticated Beyond Visual RangeAir-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM), developed by DRDO, with Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) as the lead laboratory.
• The sophisticated missile, which has a strike range of over 70 kms, can fly towards the target at a speed of over 5,500 km per hour.
• The missile has a 15-kilogramme high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead.
• Astra missile has some highly advanced features like Electronic Counter-Countermeasures or ECCM. This feature enables Astra missile to overcome defensive measures put forth for the target by the enemy.
• Astra is extremely effective in a multi-target scenario. Another deadly feature of Astra missile is that it has an option to choose between “Lock on Before Launch – LOBL” and “Lock on After Launch – LOAL”. The latter option allows the fighter aircraft to safely shoot and scoot after launching the missile towards the target.

Explanation :

• Certificate of Origin is an instrument which establishes evidence on origin of goods imported into any country. These certificates are essential for exporters to prove where their goods come from and therefore stake their claim to whatever benefits goods of Indian origin may be eligible for in the country of exports.
• There are two categories of CoO- Preferential and Non-preferential.

Preferential CoO

• Rules of origin are the criteria needed to determine the national source of a product. Their importance is derived from the fact that duties and restrictions in several cases depend upon the source of imports. The arrangement/scheme under which India is receiving tariff preferences for its exports are:
• Generalised System of Preferences (GSP)
• Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP)
• SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA)
• Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA)
• India-SriLanka Free Trade Agreement (ISLFTA)
• Indo-Thailand Free Trade Agreement
• India-Malaysia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (IMCECA)
• India-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)
• India-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IJCEPA)
• ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement

Non Preferential CoO

• Non-preferential Rules of Origin are the instruments used to determine the “nationality” of a good when entering a country. The country of import is then entitled to request a certificate of origin to prove the non-preferential origin of the good imported. Exporters desiring Non preferential CoO may apply with following documents:
• Details of quantum/origin of inputs/consumables used in export product.
• Two copies of Invoices
• Packing List in duplicate for concerned invoice
• Fee not exceeding Rs.100 per certificate as may be prescribed by concerned agency.

Explanation :

• The Rudrasagar Lake falls in the Melaghar Block under Sonamura Sub-Division in the West Tripura District.
• It is a natural sedimentation reservoir, which receives flow from three perennial streams namely- Noacherra, Durlavnaraya cherra and Kemtali cherra.
• It has been included in the list of Ramsar site as wetland of international importance in November, 2005

Explanation :

• Pangong Lake is located in the Changthang region of eastern Ladakh.The lake stretches for nearly 135 kilometers and 5 kilometers wide.
• Approximately 60% of the length of the lake lies within the Tibetan Autonomous Region.
• It is an example of an endorheic lake in the Himalayas situated at a height of about 4,350 m.
• The eastern part of the lake is fresh, with the content of total dissolved solids at 68 g/L, while the western part of the lake is saline, with the salinity at 11.02 g/L.

Explanation :

• Collegium is a system under which judges are appointed by an institution comprising judges. The Collegium of judges is the Supreme Court’s invention. It does not find its mention in the Constitution.
• The First Judges Case (1981) ruled that the “consultation” with the CJI in the matter of appointments must be full and effective. However, it rejected the idea that the CJI’s opinion should have primacy.
• The Second Judges Case (1993)introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant “concurrence”. It added that it was not the CJI’s individual opinion, but an institutional opinion formed in consultation with the two senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. 
• The Third Judges Case (1998)expanded the Collegium to a five-member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.

Explanation :

• INTERPOL is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 194 member countries.
• It is headquartered in Lyon, France.
• INTERPOL Notices are international requests for cooperation or alerts allowing police in member countries to share critical crime-related information.
• Notices are published by the General Secretariat at the request of a National Central Bureau and are made available to all our member countries.
• In its RCN issued against a fugitive, the Interpol asks its 194 member countries to arrest or detain the person if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.