Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

In a move to curb air pollution, the Union Environment Ministry banned import of pet coke for purpose of trading in Delhi and its neighbouring states. As part of its dedicated air pollution abatement programme for 100 polluting cities, the Centre formulated a National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) to fight the menace through a long-term strategy. It set a target to reduce 35 per cent of the pollution in three years and 50 per cent in the next 5 years for the 100 identified cities.

Explanation :

The Prime Minister was honoured with United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) highest civilian honour, the ‘Zayed Medal’ by the President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The medal, awarded to kings, presidents and heads of states, was conferred upon the PM for boosting bilateral strategic relations between the Emirates and India.

Explanation :

Statement 1: Anti Hijacking Act 2016 replaced the Anti Hijacking Act, 1982. The given statement is correct.

Statement 2:  It gives effect both to The Hague Convention of 1971 and the Beijing Protocol of 2010. So the given statement is incorrect.

Statement 3: Death penalty, life sentence for hoax calls, and a wider definition for aircraft “in service” are the new introductions. So, the given statement is correct.

Statement 4: On 16th June, 2019, the National Investigation Agency Special(NIA) Court, Ahmedabad pronounced its judgment in the Jet Hijacking Case, making the accused Birju Kishor Salla the first convict under the Anti-Hijacking Act of 2016.So, the given Statement is incorrect.

Explanation :

• It was constituted in June 2018 to make special economic zone (SEZ) policy compatible with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules after the US challenged India’s export subsidy programme at the multilateral trade body.
• It has recommended measures like continuation of tax incentives, migration of SEZs to employment and economic enclaves and creation of link infrastructure and maintenance for enclaves.

Explanation :

On 10th June, 2019, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) declared ancient Buddhist site Chaukhandi Stupa in Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) as protected monument of national importance.

It was built as a terraced temple during the Gupta period between the 4th and 6th centuries.

It was excavated by Alexander Cunningham and Daya Ram Sahni.

Explanation :

• Irula tribe is a Dravidian ethnic group, belonging to negrito race which inhabits the area of the Nilgiri mountains, in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• They speak the Irula language, a mix of Tamil and Kannada language.
• They protect the ancient Nilgiri rock painting.

Explanation :

Article 371A grants special status to the people of Nagaland in terms of:

• Religious & social practices of Nagas;
• Nagas customary law & procedure;
• Administration of civil or criminal justice involving decisions according to Naga customary law; and
• Ownership & transfer of land and its resources.

Explanation :

Statement 1: On July 1st 2019, the government formed a high level committee headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in order to suggest measures for Transformation of Indian Agriculture and to bring structural reforms in agrarian sector in the country. Therefore, the given statement is incorrect.       

Statement 2: It is tasked to suggest suitable policy measures, attract investments and raise growth in food processing; hence, the given statement is correct.

Statement 3: It is required to suggest a mechanism for linking of market reforms with e-NAM, GRAM and other relevant Centrally Sponsored Schemes; hence, the given statement is correct.

Explanation :

• The Polavaram Project, is an under construction multi-purpose irrigation project on the Godavari River in the West Godavari District and East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh.
• The project has been accorded national project status by the Union Government of India.
• On completion it will irrigate nearly 3 lakh ha of land in Andhra Pradesh, generate hydel power with an installed capacity of 960 MW and provide drinking water facilities to 540 enroute villages covering 25 lakh populations in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation :

• In January 2019, RBI set up an expert committee under the former SEBI chairman U.K. Sinha to suggest long-term solutions for the economic and financial sustainability of the MSME sector.
• It recommended for the creation of a distressed asset fund, with a corpus of Rs. 5,000 crore, structured to assist units in clusters where a change in the external environment, e.g. a ban on plastics or ‘dumping’ has led to a large number of MSMEs becoming non-performing asset (NPA).