[MISSION 2022] INSIGHTS CURRENT AFFAIRS ( 16 August 2021) REVISION THROUGH MCQS – INSIGHTSIAS

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• S1: The Environment Ministry has notified the Plastic Waste Management Amendment Rules, 2021, which prohibit specific single-use plastic items which have “low utility and high littering potential” by 2022.
• What is banned? The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the identified single-use plastic will be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022.
• S2: The ban will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic.
• For banning other plastic commodities in the future, other than those that have been listed in this notification, the government has given industry ten years from the date of notification for compliance.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/08/24/rstv-the-big-picture-say-no-to-plastic/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 recognises producers’ liability for recycling and reducing e-waste in the country.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach under which producers are given a significant responsibility – financial and/or physical – for the treatment or disposal of post-consumer products.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been given the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) authorisation under the new e-waste rules

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/08/24/rstv-the-big-picture-say-no-to-plastic/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from the 1st July, 2022:-
  • ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene [Thermocol] for decoration;
  • plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays, wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards,  and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2019/08/24/rstv-the-big-picture-say-no-to-plastic/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Gati Shakti will be a National Infrastructure Master Plan for our country which will lay the foundation of holistic Infrastructure.
• This scheme of more than 100 lakh crores rupees will result in new employment opportunities for lakhs of youth.
• The plan will help raise the global profile of local manufacturers and help them compete with their counterparts worldwide.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/16/gati-shakti-infrastructure-plan/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• S1: The Public Distribution System (PDS) evolved as a system of management of scarcity through distribution of food grains at affordable prices.
  • PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and the State Governments. The Central Government, through Food Corporation of India (FCI), has assumed the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk allocation of food grains to the State Governments. The operational responsibility including allocation within State, identification of eligible families, issue of Ration Cards and supervision of the functioning of Fair Price Shops (FPSs) etc., rest with the State Governments.
• S2: Under the PDS, presently the commodities namely wheat, rice, sugar and kerosene are being allocated to the States/UTs for distribution. Some States/UTs also distribute additional items of mass consumption through the PDS outlets such as pulses, edible oils, iodized salt, spices, etc

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/16/rice-fortification-plan-to-tackle-malnutrition/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: here the directive word is not corrcet!!

• S1: Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless gas abundant in the Earth’s atmosphere and is utilised for industrial uses such as petroleum refining, aerospace applications and manufacturing of chemicals, steel, and ammonia fertilisers.
• S2: The National Hydrogen Mission was first announced in the 2021-22 Union Budget.
  • Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the Hydrogen Energy Mission will be launched in 2021-22, during her budget speech February 1, 2021.
• S3: green hydrogen costs about three times as much as natural gas, though that price doesn’t factor in the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels. Today, green hydrogen is two to three times more expensive than blue hydrogen, according to a December 2020 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/16/national-hydrogen-mission-2/

Ans: (b)

Explanation: The Union Home Ministry has released data on fatalities caused due to hydro-meteorological calamities.

• Nearly 6,800 people lost their lives in the country over the past three years due to hydro-meteorological calamities.
• West Bengal has recorded the highest deaths among all States.
• The causes for these calamities include extreme rainfall events or cloudbursts.
• These types of fatal landslip events are common almost every year, mainly in the Himalayan States, in the Western Ghats, and Konkan areas.
• In terms of funds released by the Centre under State Disaster Response Funds, highest funds were allocated to Maharashtra.
• Over the past three years, West Bengal had braved four tropical cyclones — Fani (May 2019), Bulbul (November 2019), Amphan (May 2020) and Yaas (May 2021).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2020/10/13/the-human-cost-of-disasters-2000-2019-report/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• The species belong to the genus Impatiens (family Balsaminaceae).
• Plants of this genus are popular as ‘Kashithumba’ in Malayalam.
• They were spotted in the Western Ghats region of southern Kerala and the Idukki district.
• Of the three species, two have been named after Communist veteran and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and the former Health Minister, K.K. Shailaja.

Refer: Facts for Prelims: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2021/08/16/insights-daily-current-affairs-pib-summary-16-august-2021/