10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : March 18, 2019

The Namami Gange is an Integrated Conservation Mission which seeks effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of River Ganga. The NMCG implements the Namami Gange programme.

NMCG is the implementation wing of the National Ganga Council.  It was registered as a under the Societies Registration Act 1860. The government through the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, declared NMCG as an Authority. It has been powers to issue directions and also to exercise the powers under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Previously, NMCG was the implementation wing of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). In 2016, NGRBA was replaced by National Council for River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management), also known as National Ganga Council. The council has the overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution prevention and rejuvenation of river Ganga Basin.

KUSUM YOJANA has been announced by the central government for promoting solar power production and solar farming which will benefit the farmers. The Government of India mentions that this KUSUM Scheme will help in replacing all the existing Diesel and Electric Pumps. And this is possible with Solar Agricultural Pumps. And the Central Government of India is going to provide 60% of total cost as a subsidy for all the eligible farmers in the country. And apart from this, banks are also going to give 30% extra of the total expenses. And this is through Bank loans for the farmers.

The scheme aims to provide financial and water security to farmers through harnessing solar energy capacities of 25.75 gigawatts (GW) by 2022.

The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has formulated ‘Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (KUSUM) Scheme.

The Bandipur National park is located in Karnataka. It was established in 1974 as a tiger reserve under Project Tiger.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala. It was notified as an Elephant Reserve under Project elephant. The Project Elephant scheme was launched by the Government of India in 1991 for better conservation of elephant through protection and management of their habitat.

The, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley are part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first biosphere reserve in India established in the year 1986. It is located in the Western Ghats and spreads over parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

The National Human rights Commission (NHRC) is a statutory body. It was established under the Protection of Human Rights Act (PHRA), 1993. The Act was amended in 2006 (Protection of Human Rights (Amendment) Act, 2006). NHRC deals with promotion and protection of human rights.

Human Rights are the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

Malaria is disease caused by Plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. According to the World Malaria Report 2018, more than 200 million people were affected by malaria in 2017. Africa has the highest malaria burden.

Registrar of Geographical Indications, Government of India has accorded a GI tag to ‘Sirsi Supari’. It is an arecanut cultivated in Yellapura, Siddapura and Sirsi taluks of Karnataka. The Totagars’ Cooperative Sale Society (TSS) Ltd, a Sirsi-based agri-cooperative, is the registered proprietor of the GI ‘Sirsi Supari’.

Sirsi Supari is medium sized, round in shape and has ash coloured hard seed. The fruit of Sirsi Supari turns from yellow to red upon ripening. The fruit consists of a thick fibrous husk that encloses this seed.