10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : January 31 2021

Statement 1 is correct. All deposits under small savings schemes are credited to the ‘National Small Savings Fund’ (NSSF), established in the Public Account of India with effect from 1.4.1999. All withdrawals by the depositors are made out of the accumulations in this Fund.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The balance in the Fund is invested in special Government securities as per norms decided from time to time by the Central Government. The special Central Government securities issued to NSSF constitute a part of the internal debt of the Government of India.

In geodesy and geophysics, the Bouguer anomaly (named after Pierre Bouguer) is a gravity anomaly, corrected for the height at which it is measured and the attraction of terrain. The height correction alone gives a free-air gravity anomaly.
Bouguer anomaly is the measured gravity corrected for the known or modeled gravity effects at a planetary scale.

Statement 1 is correct. Post-independence, first three gallantry awards namely Param Vir Chakra, Maha Vir Chakra and Vir Chakra were instituted by the Government of India on 26th January, 1950. Thereafter, other three gallantry awards i.e. Ashoka Chakra Class-I, Ashoka Chakra Class-II and Ashoka Chakra Class-III were instituted in 1952, which were renamed as Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and Shaurya Chakra respectively in January, 1967.
Order of precedence of these awards is the Param Vir Chakra, the Ashoka Chakra, the Mahavir Chakra, the Kirti Chakra, the Vir Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra.
Statement 2 is correct. The Ashoka Chakra, Kirti Chakra and the Shaurya Chakra awards can be made to any member of the armed forces, police forces as well as civilians in the war effort or during peacetime.

Statement 1 is correct. Water Technology Initiative, initiated in August 2007 aims to promote R&D activities aimed at providing safe drinking water at affordable cost and in adequate quantity using appropriate Science and Technology interventions evolved through indigenous efforts. Since quality is the main consideration of safe drinking water, processes which imply nano-material and filtration technologies have been focused.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Water Technology Initiative programme is an initiative of the Department of Science & Technology (DST).
# IIT Bombay has come up with ‘Shaft with Multiple Outlets’ as an intervention for improving the performance of existing piped water distribution networks. The intervention consists of a new strategy of optimal water supply operation by use of scheduling and decentralizing infrastructure.
With support from the DST-Water Technology Initiative, IIT Bombay & IIT Madras, with participation of local gram panchayat, implemented the solution in the towns of Saphale, and Umerpada, in Palghar district, Maharashtra, which is currently provided with water from a multi village water supply system.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the country. The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service).
Statement 2 is incorrect. All nominations received for Padma Awards are placed before the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.

“AYU SAMVAD” (My Health My Responsibility) is one of the largest public awareness campaign programs on AYURVEDA and COVID 19 PANDEMIC, organized by All India Institute of Ayurveda New Delhi, as envisioned & supported by Ministry of AYUSH. More than 5 lac lectures will be organized across the nation by Ayurveda Physicians for citizens of India.
This campaign will be immensely beneficial in understanding the importance of Ayurveda & in the fight against COVID 19 & also for Post Covid Management. This campaign will specifically focus on the Role of Preventive, Promotive, Curative and Rehabilitation in Management of COVID 19 through Ayurveda.

A large-scale tri-service joint amphibious exercise AMPHEX – 21 was conducted in Andaman & Nicobar group of islands from 21 – 25 Jan 2021. The exercise involved participation of Naval ships, amphibious troops of the Army and different types of aircraft from the Air force.
The exercise involved multi-faceted maritime operations by synergised employment of amphibious assault ships, surveillance platforms, execution of maritime air strikes and complex manoeuvres at sea. Airborne insertion of Marine Commandos of Navy and Special Forces of the Army, naval gunfire support, amphibious landing of forces and follow-on operations also formed part of the exercise.
Exercise KAVACH for defence of Andaman & Nicobar Islands formed a part of AMPHEX – 21.

The online international Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS) 2021 on 25 and 26 January, hosted by the Netherlands, convenes global leaders and local stakeholders. It saw the launch of a comprehensive Adaptation Action Agenda that sets out clear commitments to deliver concrete new endeavours and partnerships to make our world more resilient to the effects of climate change.
CAS Online built on the advances of the UN Climate Action Summit by showcasing pioneering solutions to the climate emergency, and sustaining momentum through to UNFCCC’s COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The World Customs Organization (WCO), established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations.
Statement 2 is correct. WCO 183 Members, three-quarters of which are developing countries, are responsible for managing more than 98% of world trade. India is a member of the WCO since 1971.
# The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) observed the International Customs Day, 2021 on 27th January. The theme for this year as given by World Customs Organisation (WCO) is “Customs bolstering Recovery, Renewal and Resilience for a sustainable supply chain”.

The Inequality Virus report has recently been released by the Oxfam International at the Davos Dialogues of World Economic Forum.
The report states that Covid has the potential to increase economic inequality in almost every country at once — the first time this has happened since records began over a century ago.
The report has found that as the pandemic stalled the economy, forcing millions of poor Indians out of jobs, the richest billionaires in India increased their wealth by 35 per cent.