10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : October 2

Statement a is incorrect. Gujarat will be second state after Goa to use VVPAT system for the Assembly elections in entire state.

Statement b is correct.

Knowledge Base on VVPAT:

• VVPAT is a method that provides feedback to voters after they cast their votes in EVMs.
• It is an independent verification printer machine attached to EVMs.
• It allows voters to verify if their vote has gone to the intended candidate. Thus, ensuring free and fair elections.
• In the VVPAT system, when voter presses button for candidate of his choice in EVM, a paper slip containing serial number, name of candidate and poll symbol will be printed for voter. The paper slip will be only visible to voter from glass case in VVPAT for seven seconds, after that slip will be cut and dropped into drop box in VVPAT machine.

Forest dieback is a condition in trees or woody plants in which peripheral parts are killed, either by pathogens, parasites or due to conditions like acid rain and drought.

“Dieback” refers to the progressive death of twigs and branches which generally starts at the tips. Trees and shrubs affected by the decline and dieback syndrome may die within a year or two after symptoms first appear or in some cases survive indefinitely. Corrective practices such as proper watering, fertilization, and pruning are not guaranteed solutions in all cases.

Decline and dieback may be caused by many factors and is usually progressive over several years. Trees and shrubs of all ages may be affected, although this disease complex is usually associated with plants that have attained some size and maturity.

Defence Ministry has rolled out ARPAN 3.0 (Army Record Office Process Automation 3.0), new automation software for Defence Security Corps personnel to ease personal documentation and all issues related to their progression. The software was jointly developed by Army Software Development Centre (ASDC) and Tech Mahindra, using state-of-the-art web-based technology. Thus, both statement 1 and 2 are true.

ARPAN 3.0 will provide over 12 lakh soldiers of Indian Army easy access to their service records including pay and leave details and transfer and postings among others.  As of now, all these records are maintained manually, which is a time-consuming exercise.

The Jan Sampark program will be held regularly every month apart from the quarterly Facebook live chat by CEO CARA. During the event, details pertaining to Immediate Placement and Special Needs Adoption Module of Child Adoption Resource Information & Guidance System (CARINGS) will be shared with all the stakeholders. This will serve as platform for counselling and motivating PAPs to go for adopting older children.

ADB is a regional development bank which aims to promote social and economic development in Asia. From 31 members at its establishment, ADB now has 67 members, of which 48 are from within Asia and the Pacific and 19 outside. Thus, both the statements are true.

The ADB has been modelled closely on the World Bank. It has similar weighted voting system where votes are distributed in proportion with members capital subscriptions. As of 2014, Japan was largest shareholder (capital subscription) of ADB having 15.7% shares followed by US (15.6%), China (6.5%), India (6.4%), and Australia (5.8%).

Statement 1 is correct. In a major decision, the union environment ministry notified the new Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules 2017 which prohibit a range of activities in wetlands like setting up and expansion of industries, waste dumping and discharge of effluents.

Statement 2 is correct. The rules prohibit activities like conversion of wetland for non-wetland uses including encroachment of any kind, setting up of any industry and expansion of existing industries, manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous substances and construction and demolition waste, solid waste dumping, discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages and other human settlements.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths per 1,000 live births of children under one year of age.

Statement 2 is correct. The latest data from Sample Registration Survey (SRS) show that India’s infant mortality rate (IMR) declined from 37 per 1000 live births in 2015 to 34 per 1000 live births in 2016. However, there is still a long way to go to meet the 2019 target of IMR 28 per 1000 live births.