10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: July 16, 2020

All of the above are part of the Chiang Mai initiative.

The Chiang Mai Initiative (CMI) is the regional currency swap arrangement launched by the ASEAN+3 (Japan, China + Hongkong, South Korea) countries in May 2000 at an annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank to address the short-term liquidity difficulties in the region and to supplement the existing international financial arrangements.

CMI is composed of: (a) the ASEAN Swap Arrangement (ASA) among ASEAN countries, and (b) a network of bilateral swap arrangements (BSAs) among the ASEAN+3 countries.

Statement 1 is correct. Certain criteria must be met for admission into European Union. These criteria (known as the Copenhagen criteria) were established by the Copenhagen European Council in 1993 and strengthened by the Madrid European Council in 1995. They are:

-stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;

-a functioning market economy and the ability to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the EU;

-ability to take on the obligations of membership, including the capacity to effectively implement the rules, standards and policies that make up the body of EU law, and adherence to the aims of political, economic and monetary union.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The Schengen Area is an area comprising 26 European countries that have officially abolished all passport and all other types of border control at their mutual borders.

Schengen Area encompasses most EU States, except for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland and Romania. Of non-EU States, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have joined the Schengen Area.

Statement 1 is correct. The Budget 2016-17 provided for: equalization levy at the rate of six percent of the amount of consideration for any specified service received by a person, being a non-resident from:

-a person resident in India and carrying on business or profession; or

-a non-resident having a permanent establishment in India.

Except where the non-resident providing the specified service has a permanent establishment in India or aggregate amount of consideration for specified service received or receivables in previous year does not exceed one lakh rupees.

A “specified service” here means online advertisement, any provision for digital advertising space or any other facility or service for the purpose of online advertisement.

Statement 2 is correct. The Budget 2020-21 provided for: the equalization levy at the rate of two percent of the amount of consideration received by an e-commerce operator (a non-resident) from e-commerce supply or services made by it:

-to a person resident in India; or

-to a non-resident in the specified circumstances or

-to a person who buys such goods or services or both using internet protocol address located in India.

Except where the e-commerce operator making or providing or facilitating e-commerce supply or services has a permanent establishment in India or consideration received is less than two crore rupees during the previous year.

Option 1 is correct. ZyCoV-D vaccine developed by the Zydus (Cadila) Healthcare, India has successfully completed preclinical development and has received permission from DCGI to initiate human clinical trials.

Option 2 is correct. COVAXIN is also a vaccine candidate undergoing trials in India; it has been developed by the Bharat Biotech Ltd in collaboration with the ICMR.

Option 3 is incorrect. CanSino’s Covid vaccine is jointly developed by Chinese vaccine company CanSino Biologics and the Beijing Institute of Biotechnology in the Academy of Military Medical Sciences.

Both statements are correct.

The Woolly Whitefly (Aleurothrixus floccosus) is a species of whitefly in the family Aleyrodidae, it is invasive and polyphagous (one that feeds on various kinds of food).

It is among the exotic pests troubling farmers in India, particularly fruit growers. The woolly whitefly was first described from Jamaica in 1896 and noticed in Florida, U.S. in 1909. It is a native of warmer climates, Carribean, Florida, South America.

It has recently been reported that two types of ladybird beetles and green lacewing fly feed on this whitefly.

UNESCO Global Geoparks are single, unified geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological significance are managed for protection, education and sustainable development.

Statement 1 is correct. The Global Geoparks Network (GGN) is a non-profit International Association officially established in 2014 subject to French legislation. The Global Geoparks Network is the official partner of UNESCO for the operation of the UNESCO Global Geoparks. Its membership is obligatory for UNESCO Global Geoparks.

Statement 2 is correct. Recently UNESCO designated 15 new Geoparks in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The Global Geoparks Network contains 161 parks in 44 countries, none of which is in India.

Statement 1 is correct. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras is a project of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) to establish Model Training Centers in every district of the country. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is the implementation agency for the project.

The model training centers envisage to:

-Create benchmark institutions that demonstrate aspirational value for competency-based skill development training.

-Focus on elements of quality, sustainability and Connection with stakeholders in skills delivery process.

-Transform from a Mandate-driven footloose model to a sustainable institutional model.

Statement 2 is correct.  NSDC provides a concessional secured loan funding per center, up to 75% of the project investment, to cover expenditure only related to:

-Training infrastructure including purchase of plant, machinery & equipment

-Training aid and other associated items

-Civil work including setting up prefabricated structures and retrofit existing structures.

Loan assistance under the PMKK project is sanctioned to any form of separate legal entity including but not limited to Company/Society/Trust.

Both statements are correct.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)-NITI Aayog recently coordinated and concluded a series of virtual COVID-19 Demo Days; an initiative to identify promising start-ups with potential COVID-19 innovations and to further help them deploy and scale-up their solutions nationwide.

The initiative was launched in partnership with other government bodies including Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology (DBT); Department of Science and Technology (DST), Startup India, AGNIi, and other Ministries.

Over 1,000 COVID-19 related start-ups were put through two rounds of evaluation, from which more than 70 start-ups were shortlisted for the Virtual COVID-19 Demo Days. A total of nine DemoDays for Medical Devices, PPE, Sanitization, Technology solutions etc. were held.

These start-ups will receive support in the form of funding, access to manufacturing abilities, supply chain and logistics and finding the right vendors and mentors.

Option 1 is correctly matched. IIT-Roorkee has developed a low-cost portable ventilator in association with AIIMS-Rishikesh. ‘Prana-Vayu’ the closed-loop ventilator can deliver the required amount of air to the patient, with an automated process controlling the pressure and flow rates.

Option 2 is incorrectly matched. IIT Kanpur has developed an Ultraviolet (UV) sanitizing product named SHUDH. Smartphone operated Handy Ultraviolet Disinfection Helper (SHUDH) has six UV lights of 15 Watts each that can be individually monitored from a distance.

Option 3 is correctly matched. Corosure, a low-cost RT-PCR based Covid-19 diagnostic kit has been developed at the Kusuma School of Biological Sciences in the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

In the joint working group meeting of the Sustainable Growth Pillar of India–US Strategic Energy Partnership co-chaired by NITI Aayog and USAID, an India Energy Modeling Forum have been launched.

Statement 1 is incorrect. NITI Aayog will initially coordinate the activities of the forum and finalize its governing structure. The forum would include knowledge partners, data agencies and concerned government ministries.

Statement 2 is correct. The India Energy Modeling Forum aims to:

-Provide a platform to examine important energy and environmental related issues;

-Inform decision-making process to the Indian government;

-Improve cooperation between modeling teams, government, and knowledge partners, funders.