10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: October 26th 2020

CSIR scientists had developed Less Polluting Firecrackers which are not only environment friendly but 15-20 % cheaper than the conventional ones. These crackers have been named as safe water releaser (SWAS), safe minimal aluminium (SAFAL) and safe thermite cracker (STAR).
SWAS crackers eliminates usage of (KNO3) Potassium nitrate and Sulphur with consequent reduction in particulate matter (30-35%) SO2 and NOx. It has matching sound intensity with commercial crackers in the range of 105-110 dBA.
STAR eliminates usage of KNO3 and S with consequent reduction in particulate matter (35-40%), SO2 and NOx. It has matching sound intensity with commercial crackers in the range of 105-110 dBA.
SAFAL has minimal usage of aluminium (only in flash powder for initiation) with consequent significant reduction in particulate matter (35-40 %) compared to commercial crackers.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Brown bears are not endemic to Himalaya, rather various subspecies of the Brown bear are found in Europe, Russia, Himalaya and Alaska.
Statement 2 is correct. Himalayan Brown bear (Ursus Arctos) is listed in the Schedule I of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972. The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List.
# A recent study by Zoological Survey of India on the Himalayan brown bear (Ursus arctos isabellinus) has predicted a significant reduction in suitable habitat and biological corridors of the species in the climate change scenario.

Statement 1 is incorrect. National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body constituted under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The functions of the board are also enumerated under the act.
The WLPA mandates that without the approval/recommendation of the NBWL, construction of tourist lodges, alteration of the boundaries of PAs, destruction or diversion of wildlife habitat and de-notification of Tiger Reserves, cannot be done.
Statement 2 is correct. The Prime minister is the chairperson of the board while Minister of Environment, Forests & Climate Change is the Vice-Chairperson.
# Action Plan for Vulture Conservation 2020-2025 has been approved by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) recently.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Yellow dust refers to sand from Mongolian and Chinese deserts that blow into North and South Korea at certain times of the year. It is intermingled with toxic dust that for years has raised health concerns in both countries.
Statement 2 is incorrect. WHO has not issued any such advisory.
North Korea has though warned its citizens to stay indoors over fears that “yellow dust” which blows in from China could bring coronavirus with it.
# The US Centres for Disease Control has said coronavirus can remain suspended in the air “for hours”. However, it also says it is extremely rare for someone to be infected this way – especially outdoors. The main way people get infected is from standing in close proximity to someone who is infected who then coughs, sneezes or talks, spreading the virus through droplets.

Statement 1 is incorrect. It is a scheme of the Gujarat government.
Prime Minister inaugurated three projects, including Kisan Suryodaya Yojana for the farmers in Gujarat recently.
Statement 2 is correct. Under the scheme, farmers will be able to avail power supply from 5am to 9pm for irrigation purposes. The state government has allocated a budget of Rs 3,500 crores for installing transmission infrastructure under this scheme by 2023.
Dahod, Patan, Mahisagar, Panchmahal, Chhota Udepur, Kheda, Tapi, Valsad, Anand and Gir-Somnath districts have been covered under the scheme for 2020-21. The rest will be included in a phased manner by 2022-23.

Nine species of vultures are found in India. The species worst hit are White-rumped, Indian (Long billed), and Slender-billed Vultures. These are also listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN RED List.
The white-rumped vulture had previously numbered in the millions, and was possibly the most abundant large bird of prey in the world. The long-billed vulture had also been very common in India, while the slender-billed vulture had historically been less common.
Others are affected too, but not as badly, due to a number of factors, including their migratory nature (such as Cinereous Vulture and Eurasian Griffon) or their habitats being more remote and forested (such as Himalayan Griffon).

Statement 1 is correct. Carbon neutrality means having a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks. Sometimes entities fund the equivalent amount of carbon savings elsewhere in the world to achieve neutrality.
Statement 2 is incorrect. India’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) are:
–To reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33%–35% by 2030 below 2005 levels;
–To increase the share of non-fossil-based energy resources to 40% of installed electric power capacity by 2030, with help of transfer of technology and low-cost international finance including from Green Climate Fund (GCF);
–To create an additional (cumulative) carbon sink of 2.5–3 GtCO2e through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.

Khadi Oaxaca is a farm-to-garment collective which comprises around 400 families, which live and work on traditional farms and homesteads in the Oaxaca region of southern Mexico.
# It was mentioned by the Prime Minister in Mann ki Baat address on Sunday (October 25).

Both statements are correct.
The Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) has been formulated as a specific response to the unprecedented situation caused by COVID-19 and the consequent lockdown, which has severely impacted manufacturing and other activities in the MSME sector.
The Scheme aims at mitigating the economic distress being faced by MSMEs by providing them additional funding of up to Rs. 3 lakh crores in the form of a fully guaranteed emergency credit line.
Under the Scheme, 100% guarantee coverage is provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) for additional funding of up to Rs. three lakh crores to eligible MSMEs and interested MUDRA borrowers, in the form of a Guaranteed Emergency Credit Line (GECL) facility.
The GECL is a loan for which 100% guarantee would be provided by National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) to Member Lending Institutions (MLIs).

Statement 1 is correct. COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
The ACT Accelerator is a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
Statement 2 is incorrect. COVAX is co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and WHO. Its aim is to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines, and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country in the world.
# World Health Organization Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said that 184 countries have now joined the COVAX facility.