10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: May 19, 2020

Statement 1 is incorrect. Central government has raised the borrowing limits for state governments to five percent from three percent in view of financial crisis due to COVID-19. This however is not unconditional:

An increase of 0.5 percentage points is unconditional.

A further increase of 1 percentage point will be released in four tranches of 0.25 percentage points each, linked to state performance in four areas: One nation, one ration card scheme; ease of doing business; reforms of power sector distribution companies; reforms of urban local bodies.

The final 0.5 percentage points in increased borrowing limit will be unlocked if targets are met in three of the four outlined areas.

Statement 2 is correct. As per article 293 (3) of the constitution “a State may not without the consent of the Government of India raise any loan if there is still outstanding any part of a loan which has been made to the State by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government, or in respect of which a guarantee has been given by the Government of India or by its predecessor Government.”

Statement 1 is correct. The Executive Board of World Health Organisationis composed of 34 persons who are technically qualified in the field of health, each designated by a Member State that has been elected to serve by the World Health Assembly. Member States are elected for three-year terms. The main functions of the Board are to implement the decisions and policies of the Health Assembly and advise and generally to facilitate its work.

Statement 2 is incorrect. India is expected to take chairmanship of Executive Board in 2020 inongoing World Health Assembly.

Statement 1 is correct. Central Electricity Authority is a statutory body established under Section 70 of the Electricity Act, 2003. The Authority consists of not more than fourteen Members (including its Chairperson) of whom not more than eight are full-time Members appointed by the Central Government. The Central Government may appoint any person, eligible to be appointed as Member of the Authority and as the Chairperson of the Authority.

Statement 2 is correct.  The Electricity Act 2003 is the parent legislation governing the electricity sector in India (other than nuclear energy, which is governed by the Atomic Energy Act 1962). Under the act generation of electricity (including captive generation) is a delicensed activity (other than for hydro projects exceeding the notified capital cost, for which an approval of the CEA is required).

Pinangaandamanensis is a species of endemic palms in the Andaman Islands.It resembles the areca palm to which it is closely related. But its entire population of some 600 specimens naturally occurs only in a tiny, evergreen forest pocket in South Andaman’s Mount Harriet National Park.

Statement 1 is correct. The RSMC New Delhi (IMD) Tropical Cyclone Center is responsible to name the tropical cyclones that have formed over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea when they have reached the relevant intensity.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The naming of the tropical cyclones over north Indian Ocean commenced from September 2004, with names provided by eight Members. Since then, five countries have joined the Panel.The list of 169 cyclone names released by IMD in April 2020, were provided by these countries with 13 suggestions from each of the 13 countries.

In 1946, George Kennan, an official at the US Embassy in Moscow, was asked to provide a summary of what the Soviets were up to and their intentions in Eastern Europe. Kennan’s response became known as The Long Telegram.

The Soviet response to The Long Telegram was The Novikov Telegram, in which the Soviet ambassador to the USA, Nikolai Novikov, warned that the USA had emerged from World War II economically strong and bent on world domination.

Privatization of FCI has not been proposed.

Some of the agricultural measures announced under Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan are:

Rs 1 lakh croreAgricultureInfrastructure Fund for agricultural cooperative societies, farmer producer organizations and start-ups for boosting farm-gate infrastructure.

Rs10,000 crore for formalization of micro-food enterprises, cluster-based farming approach to be followed.

PM MatsyaSampadanaYojana:Rs20,000 crore allocated.

Rs13,000 croresupport to achieve 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalos, sheep, goats and pigs while Rs15,000 crore has been granted for animal husbandry infrastructure.

Rs4,000 crore allotted for promotion of herbal cultivation. Beekeeping initiatives have been assigned Rs.500 crore.

The Essential Commodities Act, 1955, is to be amended to de-regulate cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onion and potato.

Marketing reforms will be undertaken to provide adequate choice for farmers to sell produce at prices of their choice.

Quad group or The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QSD) includes: The United States, Japan, Australia and India.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Australia is part of the group.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Five permanent members of UNSC are: China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Statement 1 is correct.Haemoglobin (Hb) is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen from lungs to the rest of the body and gives blood its red colour.

Statement 2 is correct. Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method for monitoring a person’s oxygen saturation. It is a painless measure of how well oxygen is being sent to parts of your body furthest from your heart, such as the arms and legs.

It has been observed that a pulse oximeter can help identify a potentially deadly condition in Covid-19 patients called ‘Covid pneumonia’ sooner and more effectively.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) together with its variants is the smallest and lightest Multi-Role Supersonic Fighter Aircraft of its class. It is not a hypersonicaircarft.

A supersonic aircraft is an aircraft able to fly faster than the speed of sound (Mach 1), while hypersonic speed of above Mach 5 is much greater than speed of sound.

Statement 2 is incorrect. LCA Tejas is a delta wing single engine aircraft; it has been designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).