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

Ans: (b)

Explanation: here the directive word is not correct!!

• S1: The vehicle scrappage policy is a government-funded programme (provides incentives) to replace old vehicles from Indian roads. The policy is expected to reduce pollution, create job opportunities and boost demand for new vehicles.
  • Incentives for scrapping old vehicles and buying new ones:
    • Vehicle manufacturers can give up to 5% discount for buying new vehicles
    • Zero new registration fee
    • Scrap value equivalent of 4-6% of ex-showroom price of new vehicles
    • States can give up to 25% and 15% rebate on road tax for personal and commercial vehicles, respectively
    • Reduced maintenance cost and increased savings from fuel
  • Disincentives for keeping old vehicles:
    • States can levy an additional ‘Green Tax’
    • Hike in renewal of registration fee for private vehicles
    • Increase in renewal of fitness certification for commercial vehicles
    • Automatic deregistration of unfit vehicles
  • S2: As the name suggests, the policy will help in phasing out old, unfit vehicles.
    • On February 1, 2021, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated in her annual budget speech, “the government will announce a voluntary vehicle scrapping policy to phase out old and unfit vehicles.”
  • S3: Not all vehicles that have run beyond 15 years — in the case of personal vehicles — and 10 years — in the case of commercial vehicles — will be scrapped.
    • After completion of the limits, vehicles will have to undergo a mandatory fitness test, which would determine if it is fit to run or not.
    • If the vehicle fails a fitness test, it will not get a renewal certificate and will not be able to ply on roads.
    • If a vehicle passes the fitness test, it will get a renewal certificate and would have to undergo a fitness test every five years.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/vehicle-scrappage-policy-3/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1 & S2: Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY is the largest health assurance scheme in the world which aims at providing a health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to over 10.74 crores poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) that form the bottom 40% of the Indian population.
• The households included are based on the deprivation and occupational criteria of Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011) for rural and urban areas respectively.
• S3: PM-JAY is fully funded by the Government and cost of implementation is shared between the Central and State Governments.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/ayushman-bharat-pm-jay/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is an instant payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), an RBI regulated entity.
• S2: UPI is built over the IMPS (not NEFT) infrastructure and allows you to instantly transfer money between any two parties’ bank accounts.
  • Also, UPI is providing additional benefits to IMPS in the following ways:
    • Provides for a P2P Pull functionality
    • Simplifies Merchant Payments
    • Single APP for money transfer
    • Single click two factor authentication
  • S3: At present, the upper limit per UPI transaction is Rs.1 Lakh.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/open-network-for-digital-commerce-ondc/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: In 2020-21, India covered121. 21 lakh ha (299.52 lakh acres) of area under soybean as compared to 113.40 lakh ha (280.22 lakh acres) during corresponding period of last year.
• S2: The production of soybean in India is dominated by Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, which contribute 89 per cent of total production while Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat contribute remaining.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/import-of-crushed-genetically-modified-gm-soybean-allowed/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is the apex body that allows for commercial release of GM crops.
  • Use of the unapproved GM variant can attract a jail term of 5 years and fine of Rs. 1 lakh under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
  • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the authorised body to regulate the imported crops in India.
• S2: India allows the import of GM soybean and canola oil. Import of GM soya bean seeds was so far not approved in India.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/import-of-crushed-genetically-modified-gm-soybean-allowed/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1: It was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with subsequent endorsement by the United Nations General Assembly the same year.
  • Membership is open to all member states of the WMO and UN and currently comprises 195 countries.
• S2: The IPCC does not conduct original research nor monitor climate change; rather, it undertakes a systematic review of all relevant published literature to provide a comprehensive update on climate change, its effects, and potential strategies.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/ipccs-sixth-assessment-report/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Recently, IPCC released its Sixth Assessment Report “Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science”.
• What is Sixth Assessment Report (AR6)?
  • The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the sixth in a series of reports intended to assess scientific, technical, and socio-economic information concerning climate change.
  • This report evaluates the physical science of climate change – looking at the past, present, and future climate.
  • It reveals how human-caused emissions are altering our planet and what that means for our collective future.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/ipccs-sixth-assessment-report/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. It is scheduled to be held in the city of Glasgow, Scotland from 31 October to 12 November 2021 under the presidency of the United Kingdom.
• This conference is the first time that Parties are expected to commit to enhanced ambition since COP21. Parties are required to carry out every five years, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, a process colloquially known as the ‘ratchet mechanism’.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/14/ipccs-sixth-assessment-report/