INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 14 July 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS – INSIGHTSIAS

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Lightning phenomenon is the discharge of the cloud to the ground. The cloud and the ground form two plates of a gigantic capacitor and the dielectric medium is air. Since the lower part of the cloud is negatively charged, the earth is positively charged by induction. Lightning discharge will require the puncture of the air between the cloud and the earth.
• S2: A single stroke of lightning can heat the air around it to 30,000°C (54,000°F)! This extreme heating causes the air to expand explosively fast. The expansion creates a shock wave that turns into a booming sound wave, known as thunder.
• Thunder and lightning occur at roughly the same time although you see the flash of lightning before you hear the thunder. This is because light travels much faster than sound.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/how-lightning-strikes-3/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• A Government Security (G-Sec) is a tradable instrument issued by the Central Government or the State Governments. It acknowledges the Government’s debt obligation. Such securities are short term (usually called treasury bills, with original maturities of less than one year) or long term (usually called Government bonds or dated securities with original maturity of one year or more).
• S1: G-Secs are issued through auctions conducted by RBI.
  • Floatation of State Government Loans (State Development Loans): As per the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the RBI may, by agreement with any State Government undertake the management of the public debt of that State.
  • Accordingly, the RBI has entered into agreements with State Governments and one Union Territories for management of their public debt.
• S2: In India, the Central Government issues both, treasury bills and bonds or dated securities while the State Governments issue only bonds or dated securities, which are called the State Development Loans (SDLs).
  • Treasury Bills (T-bills) Treasury bills or T-bills, which are money market instruments, are short term debt instruments issued by the Government of India and are presently issued in three tenors, namely, 91 day, 182 day and 3.64 day.
• S3: Treasury bills are zero coupon securities and pay no interest. They are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face value at maturity.
  • For example, a 91 day Treasury bill of 100/- (face value) may be issued at say 98.20, that is, at a discount of say, 1.80 and would be redeemed at the face value of  100/-.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/rbi-unveils-retail-direct-scheme/

Ans: (a)

Explanation: here the directive word is not correct!!

• S1: BHIM is not a wallet. It is a payments application which allows users to make instant bank transfers.
• S2: NPCI does not charge any user for transacting on BHIM. Kindly get in touch with your bank to ask for their charges
• S3: Dial *99# to avail features of BHIM without internet on any mobile phone.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/after-singapore-bhutan-adopts-indias-bhim-upi/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India, is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, for creating a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.
• S2: National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has developed the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) program to meet the electronic tolling requirements of the Indian market.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/after-singapore-bhutan-adopts-indias-bhim-upi/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an instant real-time payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India facilitating inter-bank transactions. The interface is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and works by instantly transferring funds between two bank accounts on a mobile platform.
• It also caters to the “Peer to Peer” collect request which can be scheduled and paid as per requirement and convenience.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/after-singapore-bhutan-adopts-indias-bhim-upi/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd (NTPC REL) will set up the country’s first green Hydrogen Mobility project in Ladakh.
• NTPC REL is a 100 per cent subsidiary of NTPC.
• What is green hydrogen?
  • Hydrogen when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known as Green Hydrogen which has no carbon footprint.
  • The hydrogen that is in use today is produced using fossil fuels, which is the primary source.
  • Organic materials such as fossil fuels and biomass are used for releasing hydrogen through chemical processes.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/ntpc-rel-to-set-up-indias-first-green-hydrogen-mobility-project-in-ladakh/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: The National Green Tribunal has been established on 18.10.2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests.
• S2: The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
• S3: The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing of the same.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/amnesty-scheme-for-violators-of-environment-norms/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The cryptogamic organisms play a vital role in the ecosystem. Algae, one of the most primitive organisms, are excellent at cleaning the environment. Similarly, mosses prevent soil erosion by binding the soil.
  • Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts) too, like algae clean the environment. This cryptogamic species monitors air pollution, prevents soil erosion, and helps in soil formation over the bare rocky surface. Mosses have a high water retention capacity, which makes them suitable for the transportation and packaging of plants. Mosses are also indicators of mineral deposits.
• S2: The first cryptogamic garden in India was inaugurated on Sunday, July 11 in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun district. The garden is a first of its kind and houses a plethora of cryptogams species.

Refer: facts for prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/07/14/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-14-july-2021/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: Tirthan Wildlife sanctuary: Himachal Pradesh
  • Why in news: Survey: Tirthan sanctuary, Great Himalayan National Park best performers among protected areas read more>>
• S2: Turtle (Kachhua) Wildlife Sanctuary: Varanasi District in Uttar Pradesh
• S3: Tal Chhapar Sanctuary: Rajasthan
  • Why in news: Cheetah reintroduction project.

Refer: Famous Wildlife Sanctuaries in India.

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Avicennia marina is one of the most prominent mangroves species found in all mangrove formations in India.
• It is a salt-secreting and extraordinarily salt-tolerant mangrove species that grows optimally in 75% seawater and tolerates >250% seawater.
• It is among the rare plant species, which can excrete 40% of the salt through the salt glands in the leaves, besides its extraordinary capacity to exclude salt entry to the roots.

Refer: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1734363