10 PM Daily Current Affairs Quiz : February 5 2021

Under article 69A of the Information & Technology Act if the Central Government or any of its officers specially authorised by it in this behalf is satisfied that it is necessary or expedient so to do, in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above block for access by the public or cause to be blocked for access by the public any information generated, transmitted, received, stored or hosted in any computer resource.
The intermediary who fails to comply with the direction issued shall be punished with an imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and also be liable to fine.

The Government of India constituted a Commission in 2017 to examine sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes with the objective to examine the extent of inequitable distribution of benefits of reservation among the castes or communities included in the broad category of Other Backward Classes with reference to such classes included in the Central List.
# On January 21, the Centre has extended the tenure of the Commission for the tenth time, it is now to submit its report by July 31, 2021.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The objective of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) is to strengthen/maintain decentralized laboratory-based IT enabled disease surveillance system for epidemic prone diseases to monitor disease trends and to detect and respond to outbreaks in early rising phase through trained Rapid Response Team (RRTs).
Statement 2 is correct. Under IDSP data is collected on epidemic-prone diseases on weekly basis (Monday–Sunday). The information is collected on three specified reporting formats, namely “S” (suspected cases), “P” (presumptive cases) and “L” (laboratory confirmed cases) filled by Health Workers, Clinicians and Laboratory staff respectively. The weekly data gives information on the disease trends and seasonality of diseases.
Whenever there is a rising trend of illnesses in any area, it is investigated by the Rapid Response Teams (RRT) to diagnose and control the outbreak.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Micro Irrigation Fund with a corpus of Rs.5000 crore has been operationalized in NABARD from 2019-20. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW), Government of India is the Nodal Ministry.
Statement 2 is correct. The objective of the fund is to facilitate State Govts. efforts in mobilizing additional resources for expanding coverage under micro irrigation.
States may also access MIF exclusively for innovative integrated projects (like high water duty crops like sugarcane/solar linked systems/Micro irrigation in command area etc.) including projects in PPP mode depending on State specific requirements. The GoI provides 3% interest subvention on loans extended to State Govt. under MIF.

Statement 1 is correct. National Agriculture Market (NAM) is envisaged as a pan-India electronic trading portal which seeks to network the existing APMC and other market yards to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.
NAM creates a national network of physical mandis which can be accessed online. It seeks to leverage the physical infrastructure of the mandis through an online trading portal, enabling buyers situated even outside the State to participate in trading at the local level.
Statement 2 is correct. Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is the lead agency for implementing eNAM under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
# Better market linkage was provided under e-NAM by Integrating 1000 markets across 18 States and 3 UT. So far, more than 1.69 crore Farmers & 1.55 Lakh traders registered on e-NAM platform. Union Budget has declared to further integrate 1000 more mandis with e-NAM.
# e-NAM is now developing as “Platforms of Platform” to create a digital ecosystem that leverage the expertise of individual platforms across various segments of agri. value chain viz. developing and Integrating service platform with e-NAM (QC services, transportation & delivery services, sorting/grading services, packaging services, insurance, trade finance, warehouses etc.).

The Government has taken various steps to provide online education amidst COVID-19 pandemic. These include PRAGYATA Guidelines on Digital Education, Internet access under BHARAT NET scheme, etc.
The PRAGYATA guidelines include eight steps of online/ digital learning that is, Plan- Review- Arrange- Guide- Yak(talk)- Assign- Track- Appreciate.
The guidelines outline suggestions for administrators, school heads, teachers, parents and students on the following areas:
–Concerns while planning online and digital education like duration, screen time, inclusiveness, balanced online and offline activities etc.
–Modalities of intervention including resource curation, level wise delivery etc.
–Physical, mental health and wellbeing during digital education
–Cyber safety and ethical practices including precautions and measures for maintaining cyber safety
–Collaboration and convergence with various initiatives

Statement 1 is incorrect. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the “Global Fund”) is a multistakeholder international financing institution duly formed as a non-profit foundation under the laws of Switzerland and recognized as an international organization by various national governments.
The purpose of the Global Fund is to attract, leverage and invest additional resources to end the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to support attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations.
Statement 2 is correct. India joined the Global Fund as a donor in 2006, and has contributed a total US$53.5 million to date. The Government of India pledged US$22 million to the Global Fund’s Sixth Replenishment for 2020-2022.

The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) was signed April 8, 2010, in Prague by the United States and Russia and entered into force in 2011. It is an agreement for nuclear arms reduction between the United States and Russia, establishing a limit on deployed strategic warheads.
Statement 1 is incorrect. New START does not limit the number of non-deployed ICBMs and SLBMs, but it does monitor them and provide for continuous information on their locations and on-site inspections to confirm that they are not added to the deployed force.
Statement 2 is correct. The United States and Russia agreed on Feb. 3, 2021, to extend New START by five years, as allowed by the treaty text, until Feb. 5, 2026.

Finance Minister in Budget 2021-22 declared the Government’s decision of setting up of a national institution for One Health, a Regional Research Platform for WHO South East Asia Region, 9 Bio-Safety Level III laboratories and 4 regional National Institutes for Virology.
One Health is an approach that recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment.
One Health issues include zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and food security, vector-borne diseases, environmental contamination, and other health threats shared by people, animals, and the environment.
Even the fields of chronic disease, mental health, injury, occupational health, and noncommunicable diseases can benefit from a One Health approach involving collaboration across disciplines and sectors.

Monpa Handmade paper ‘Mon Shugu’ is made from the bark of tree Shugu Sheng grown locally in Tawang and is identified by its distinctive translucent fibrous texture. The paper is weightless but its natural fibers add great tensile strength to this paper making it apt for various art works.
It has been used for writing Buddhist scriptures, manuscripts and for making prayer flags. Writing on this paper is also known to be tamper-proof. The Monpa Handmade paper industry set up in Tawang aims at engaging the local youths with this art professionally and earn.
The sale of the 1000-years old heritage Monpa handmade paper or “Mon Shugu” is quickly catching pace due to its special mention by Prime Minister in his radio program Mann ki Baat.