INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 22 June 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS – INSIGHTSIAS

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The jurisdiction of a High Court can be shifted only through an Act of Parliament.
  • Article 241 states that Parliament may by law constitute a high court for a Union Territory or declare any court in any such territory to be a high court for all or any of the purposes of this Constitution.
• S2: Article 222 of the Constitution makes provision for the transfer of a Judge (including Chief Justice) from one High Court to any other High Court.
• The initiation of the proposal for the transfer of a Judge should be made by the Chief Justice of India whose opinion in this regard is determinative.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/shifting-of-jurisdiction-of-a-high-court/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Delimitation is carried out by an independent Delimitation Commission.
• The Constitution mandates that its orders are final and cannot be questioned before any court as it would hold up an election indefinitely.
• S1: Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• S2: Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/delimitation-in-jammu-and-kashmir/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The CDS is a four-star officer selected from among the serving officers of the Indian Armed Forces. While being “first among equals” among the service chiefs, the CDS is a single-point military advisor to the defence minister.
• The CDS is assisted by a deputy, the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. The CDS heads the Department of Military Affairs under the Ministry of Defence, as its secretary. Apart from heading the DMA, the CDS is the Permanent Chairperson of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (PC-CoSC).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/chief-of-defence-staff-3/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: The draft Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2021:

The draft was recently released by the Centre. It seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act of 1952.

• Key Provisions:
• Revision of certification: This provision will give the Centre “revisionary powers” and enable it to “re-examine” films already cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
• Age-based certification: It seeks to introduce age-based categorisation and classification. It proposes to divide the existing categories (U, U/A and A) into further age-based groups: U/A 7+, U/A 13+ and U/A 16+.
• S1: Provision against piracy: At present, there are no enabling provisions to check film piracy. Violation shall be punishable with imprisonment and fine.
• S2: Eternal certificate: It proposes to certify films for perpetuity. Currently a certificate issued by the CBFC is valid only for 10 years.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/the-draft-cinematograph-amendment-bill-2021/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• National Initiative for School Heads and Teachers Holistic Advancement (NISHTHA) is a national mission to improve learning outcomes at the elementary level. This is done through integrated teacher training.
  • It is the largest teachers’ training programme of its kind in the world.
  • It has been launched under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Samagra Shiksha in 2109-20.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/nishtha-teachers-training-programme/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• In virology, gain-of-function research involves deliberately altering an organism in the lab, altering a gene, or introducing a mutation in a pathogen to study its transmissibility, virulence and immunogenicity.
• It is believed that this allows researchers to study potential therapies, vaccine possibilities and ways to control the disease better in future. “Gain-of-function research involves manipulations that make certain pathogenic microbes more deadly or more transmissible. This is done by genetically engineering the virus and by allowing them to grow in different growth mediums, a technique called as serial passage,”

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/what-is-gain-of-function/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: Black Softshell Turtle:

• It is a freshwater species.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature had in 2021 listed the turtle as ‘critically endangered’.
• It does not enjoy legal protection under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
• Until sightings along the Brahmaputra River’s drainage in Assam, the black softshell turtle was thought to be ‘extinct in the wild’ and confined only to ponds of temples in northeastern India and Bangladesh.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-22-june-2021/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Why in News?
• Hayagriva Madhava Temple Committee in Assam has signed a memorandum of understanding with two green NGOs, the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden and the Kamrup district administration for long-term conservation of the rare freshwater black softshell turtle (Nilssonia nigricans).
• Hayagriva Madhava Temple is situated on the Monikut hill. The hill is situated in Hajo of Kamrup District in Assam, India.
  • The present temple structure was constructed by the King Raghudeva Narayan in 1583.
  • According to some historians the King of Pala dynasty constructed it in 10th century.
  • It is a stone temple and it enshrines an image of Hayagriva Madhava.
• Kamakhya Temple:
  • It is a Sakta temple dedicated to the mother goddess Kamakhya.
  • It is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas.
  • Situated on the Nilachal Hill in western part of Guwahati city in Assam, India.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/06/22/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-22-june-2021/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body constituted in the Ministry of Environment and Forests under ‘Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells 1989’, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• It is the apex body to accord notified under Rules 1989, for approval of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recom¬binants in research and industrial production from the environ¬mental angle. The GEAC is also responsible for ap¬proval of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimen¬tal field trials (Biosafety Research Level trial-I and II known as BRL-I and BRL-II).

Refer: https://geacindia.gov.in/about-geac-india.aspx