10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : December 28, 2018

Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana (AGEY) is a sub-scheme under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). It aims to provide connectivity to rural areas through vehicles operated by SHG members. AGEY has the following two objectives:
   1. To provide safe, affordable and community monitored rural transport services to connect remote villages with key services and amenities (including access to markets, education and health) for the overall economic development of the area by making use of the supports available within the framework of DAY-NRLM.
   2. To provide an alternative source of livelihoods to members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and their families under DAY-NRLM by facilitating them to operate public transport services in backward rural areas, as identified by the States.

NW1- Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (Haldia – Allahabad) is the longest inland waterway in India with a length of 1620 km. It passes through Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal

The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind. They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind.
It is classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List

Source of Arsenic:

• Volcanic activity, the erosion of rocks and minerals, and forest fires are natural sources that can release arsenic into the environment
• Agricultural applications, mining, and smelting also contribute to arsenic releases.
• Surface arsenic-related pollutants enter the groundwater systems by gradually moving with the flow of groundwater from rains, melting of snow, etc. Drinking water, especially groundwater, is a major source of arsenic for most people.
• Exposure to arsenic has been shown to cause a severe disease of the blood vessels, which leads to gangrene, known as ‘black foot disease’
• Blue baby syndrome can also be caused by nitrates in drinking water leading to methemoglobinemia

Minimum Support Price Scheme

• Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is the Nodal Ministry for implementation of the scheme which will announce Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the selected MFPs with the technical support from TRIFED
• The scheme has been started with the objective of providing fair price to MFP gatherers, enhance their income level and ensure sustainable harvesting of MFPs.
• The Scheme has been implemented in eight States having Schedule areas as listed in the Fifth Schedule of the constitution of India. From November 2016, the scheme is applicable in all States
• Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Ltd. (TRIFED) has been directed to develop market linkage between state agencies (through State Nodal Department) and bulk users and buyers to enable implementation.
• TRIFED has also introduced the MFPnet portal which is designed to act as an adjunct and a catalyst for implementing the scheme of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP).
• MFPNet portal provides information about TRIFED, MFP trade in India, marketing prospects for MFPs, MFP development training and TRIFED’s retail marketing activities, MSP for MFPs and its current status.

The draft bill provides for the constitution of a National Commission with three autonomous boards entrusted with conducting overall education of Homoeopathy by Homoeopathy Education Board. The Board of assessment and rating to assess and grant permission to educational institutions of Homoeopathy and Board of ethics and registration of practitioners of Homoeopathy to maintain National Register and ethical issues relating to practice are under the National Commission for Homoeopathy.

It also proposes a common entrance exam and an exit exam which all graduates will have to clear to get practicing licenses. Further, a teacher’s eligibility test has It further aims at bringing reforms in the medical education of Homoeopathy in lines with the National Medical Commission proposed for setting up for Allopathy system of medicine. The CCH had been earlier superseded by Board of Governors through an Ordinance and subsequent amendment of Act.