10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: December 26, 2020

Statement 1 is correct. A tri-hydroid of nitrogen (NH3), ammonia is a building block for ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) that is used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertiliser.
Ammonia is also used as a refrigerant gas, for purification of water supplies, and in the manufacture of plastics, explosives, textiles, pesticides, dyes and other chemicals.
Statement 2 is correct. Ammonia is irritating and corrosive. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. This can cause bronchiolar and alveolar edema, and airway destruction resulting in respiratory distress or failure.
Inhalation of lower concentrations can cause coughing, and nose and throat irritation. Ammonia’s odor provides adequate early warning of its presence, but ammonia also causes olfactory fatigue or adaptation, reducing awareness of one’s prolonged exposure at low concentrations.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The European Union is a unified trade and monetary body of 27 member countries. It eliminates border controls between members. The open border allows the free flow of goods and people.
The European Council is a collegiate body that defines the overall political directions and priorities of the European Union. It comprises the heads of state or government of the EU member states, along with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The eurozone consists of all countries that use the euro. All EU members pledge to convert to the euro, but only 19 have so far.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a report titled Global Status Report for Building and Construction, 2020.
The report has been prepared by the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GlobalABC), the Secretariat of which is hosted by the UNEP.
— The construction activities dropped by 20-30% in 2020 compared to 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and 10% of overall jobs lost or at risk in the building construction sector.
— The building sector emitted more than a third of global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2019.
— The CO2 emissions increased due to a high proportion of fossil fuels used for power generation, combined with higher activity levels in regions where electricity remains carbon-intensive.

Greenland, an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark is one of the EU countries’ overseas countries and territories (OCT) associated to the European Union. Greenland joined the then European Community in 1973 as a county along with Denmark, but after gaining autonomy in 1979 with the introduction of home rule within the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland voted to leave in 1982 and left in 1985, to become an OCT.
Brexit happened because a public vote – or referendum – was held in June 2016, to decide whether the UK should be in the EU. Leave won by 52% to 48%.

Both statements are correct.
Article 356 states that If the President, on receipt of a report from the Governor of a State or otherwise, is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the Government of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the President may by Proclamation—
(a) assume to himself all or any of the functions of the Government of the State and all or any of the powers vested in or exercisable by the Governor or any body or authority in the State other than the Legislature of the State;
(b)declare that the powers of the Legislature of the State shall be exercisable by or under the authority of Parliament.
Provided that nothing in this clause shall authorise the President to assume to himself any of the powers vested in or exercisable by a High Court, or to suspend in whole or in part the operation of any provision of this Constitution relating to High Courts.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has launched Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) as a nation-wide Campaign.
Statement 2 is correct. It aims at achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The mission aims at achieving accessibility by:
— Enhancing the proportion of accessible government buildings
— Transportation System Accessibility
— Information and Communication Eco-System Accessibility

With the objectives of boosting transparency and accountability while ensuring ease of living for the citizens, the Directorate of Estates, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs launched a new Web Portal and Mobile App, e-Sampada.
The new application provides a single window for all these services including allotment for over one lakh government residential accommodations, office space allotment to government organisations.
It aims to boost transparency and accountability in providing various Estate Services like allotment, retention, regularisation, no dues certificate etc.
He further said that E-Sampada is developed to simplify processes and bring uniformity in the system across India. This will promote ease of living for Government of India officers / Departments as all services can be availed online on a single window with a live tracking of applications.

Statement 1 is correct. The Code on Wages 2019 prohibits gender discrimination in matters related to wages and recruitment of employees for the same work or work of similar nature. Work of similar nature is defined as work for which the skill, effort, experience, and responsibility required are the same.
Statement 2 is correct. The Code specifies penalties for offences committed by an employer, such as (i) paying less than the due wages, or (ii) for contravening any provision of the Code. Penalties vary depending on the nature of offence, with the maximum penalty being imprisonment for three months along with a fine of up to one lakh rupees.

Option 1 is correct. Following the death of Pt. Nehru, Gulzari Lal Nanda was a sworn in as Prime Minister of India on May 27, 1964. Again on January 11, 1966, he was sworn in as Prime Minister following the death of Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri at Tashkent.
Option 2 is correct. Atal Bihari Vajpayee served as Prime Minister for a short period in 1996. He later served as PM consecutively from 1998-99 and 1999-2004.
Option 3 is incorrect. Morarji Desai served as 4th Prime Minister of India in period March 24, 1977 – July 28, 1979.

Bambari is a town in the Central African Republic, lying on the Ouaka River. It was seized by rebel fighters on recently ahead of elections, is now in the hands of United Nations peacekeepers and national security forces.
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria.
Quang Nam is a province in central Vietnam, bordering Laos to the west and the sea to the east. India – Vietnam recently announced New Development Partnership projects in heritage conservation in Vietnam (F-block of Temple at My Son; Dong Duong Buddhist Monastery in Quang Nam and Nhan Cham Tower in Phu Yen).