10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: December 31, 2020

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine is not a RNA type vaccine; it rather is made from a weakened version of a common cold virus (known as an adenovirus) from chimpanzees that carries genetic material from S protein of SARS-COV-2 to generate immune response in human body.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine can be transported and stored at 2C-8C temperature for up to six months.
# It is being produced in India by the Serum Insititute of India under the brandname COVISHIELD.
# It has been approved for use in the UK by the regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Statement 1 is incorrect. AKASH is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile system to protect vulnerable areas and vulnerable points from air attacks. It has been developed indigenously by the Defence Research & Development Organisation.
Statement 2 is correct. AKASH Weapon System can simultaneously engage Multiple Targets in Group Mode or Autonomous Mode. It has built in Electronic Counter-Counter Measures (ECCM) features. The entire weapon system has been configured on mobile platforms.
AKASH Weapon Systems has been inducted and is operational with the Indian Air Force (IAF) as well as the Indian Army (IA).
# Union Cabinet has recently approved the export of Akash Missile system.

Statement 1 is incorrect. There has been surplus production of sugar in the country since sugar season 2010-11 (except reduction due to drought in sugar season 2016-17); & sugar production is likely to remain surplus in the country in coming years due to introduction of improved varieties of sugarcane.
In the normal sugar season (October- September) about 320 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of sugar is produced whereas, our domestic consumption is about 260 LMT.
Statement 2 is correct. Government has fixed target of 10% blending of fuel grade ethanol with petrol by 2022, 15% blending by 2026 & 20% blending by 2030.
With a view to support sugar sector and in the interest of sugarcane farmers, the Government has also allowed production of ethanol from B-Heavy Molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar syrup and sugar.

In view of the resource requirement to meet the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of India had in May, 2020 enhanced the borrowing limit of the States by 2 percent of their GSDP. Half of this special dispensation was linked to undertaking citizen centric reforms by the States.
The four citizen centric areas for reforms identified were (a) Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System, (b) Ease of doing business reform, (c) Urban Local body/ utility reforms and (d) Power Sector reforms.
The reforms stipulated in Ease of doing business reform category are:
–Completion of first assessment of ‘District Level Business Reform Action Plan’
–Elimination of the requirements of renewal of registration certificates/approvals/licences obtained by businesses under various Acts.
–Implementation of computerized central random inspection system under the Acts wherein allocation of inspectors is done centrally, the same inspector is not assigned to the same unit in subsequent years, prior inspection notice is provided to the business owner, and inspection report is uploaded within 48 hours of inspection.
# So far 10 States have implemented the One Nation One Ration Card System, 7 States have done ease of doing business reforms, and 2 States have done local body reforms.

Visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, is characterized by irregular bouts of fever, substantial weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, and anaemia.
Kala Azar is the 2nd largest parasitic killer in the world after Malaria and results in a 95% fatality rate if the patients are not treated. Additionally, up to 20% of the patients who are correctly treated and cured, develop a skin condition called Post-Kala-Azar Dermal Leishmaniasis (PKDL) which surfaces within months to years after treatment. These patients can contain large amounts of parasites in their skin lesions, making them an important source of transmission.
The disease is endemic in 54 districts in four states namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. [PIB]

Statement 1 is correct. The government has launched the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomic Consortia (INSACOG), comprising 10 labs namely DBT-NIBMG Kalyani, DBT-ILS Bhubaneswar, ICMR-NIV Pune, DBT-NCCS Pune, CSIR-CCMB Hyderabad, DBT-CDFD Hyderabad, DBT-InSTEM/ NCBS Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, CSIR-IGIB Delhi, and NCDC Delhi.
The overall aim of the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium is to monitor the genomic variations in the SARS-CoV-2 on a regular basis through a multi-laboratory network. This vital research consortium will also assist in developing potential vaccines in the future.
Statement 2 is correct. DBT- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG) as the Co-ordinating Unit of Genome Sequencing Consortium and will closely work with a Nodal Unit of NCDC on activities like SOPs, data annotation, data analysis, data release etc.

Statement 1 is correct. The PMLA deals with the confiscation of the property in accordance with the chapter III of the said Act. The attachments are done by the Director or any person below the Deputy Director authorised to do so by him.
The property here in question relates to both movable and immovable property. In case of immovable property, the term shall include all persons claiming/entitled to claim any interest in the property.
Statement 2 is correct. Directorate of Enforcement is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, which enforces the following laws: –
Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999 (FEMA) – A Civil Law, with officers empowered to conduct investigations into suspected contraventions of the Foreign Exchange Laws and Regulations, adjudicate, contraventions, and impose penalties on those adjudged to have contravened the law.
Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) – A Criminal Law, with the officers empowered to conduct investigations to trace assets derived out of the proceeds of crime, to provisionally attach/ confiscate the same, and to arrest and prosecute the offenders found to be involved in Money Laundering.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) along with Indian Navy recently conducted the successful maiden test trial of ‘SAHAYAK-NG’ India’s first indigenously designed and developed Air Dropped Container from IL 38SD aircraft (Indian Navy).
The trial was conducted by Indian Navy to enhance its operational logistics capabilities and provide critical engineering stores to ships which are deployed more than 2000 km from the coast. It reduces the requirement of ships to come close to the coast to collect spares and stores.
SAHAYAK-NG is an advanced version of SAHAYAK Mk I. The newly developed GPS aided air dropped container is having the capability to carry a payload that weighs upto 50 kg and can be dropped from heavy aircraft.

The Indian National Congress met at Haripura during 19 to 22 February 1938, under the presidency of Subhas Chandra Bose.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose visited Port Blair during the last three days of December 1943 and hoisted the tricolor at Port Blair on 30th December 1943.
Cabinet Mission arrived in New Delhi on 24 March 1946. The main objective of Cabinet Mission was to find out ways and means for the peaceful transfer of power in India, to suggest measures for the formation of a Constitution making machinery and also to set up the Interim Government.
# The Havelock, Neil and Ross Island were renamed to Swaraj Dweep, Shaheed Dweep and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep in 2018.

Statement 1 is incorrect. In 1950, the concept of a European trade area was first established. The European Coal and Steel Community had six founding members: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.
In 1957, the Treaty of Rome established a common market. It eliminated customs duties in 1968. It put in place standard policies, particularly in trade and agriculture.
In 1973, the ECSC added Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The UK voted to leave the European Union on June 23rd, 2016 by a majority of 51.9 to 48.1 per cent. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, therefore UK’s departure from the EU means Northern Ireland is leaving the bloc too.