10 PM Current Affairs Quiz : November 20

Statement 1 is correct as The Self Help Groups under AGEY will operate road transport service in backward areas. This will help to provide safe, affordable and community monitored rural transport services to connect remote villages with key services and amenities (such as access to markets, education and health) for the overall economic development of backward rural areas.

Statement 2 is incorrect as there will be no interest charged on the loan amount that will be provided to Self Help Groups under the scheme.

• Statement 1 is correct as Saubhagya Dashboard is designed to monitor household electrification progress, which would disseminate information on Household Electrification Status (State, District, village-wise), Household Progress on live basis, State-wise Target vs Achievement, Monthly Electrification Progress, etc.
• Statement 2 is correct as it would make paying of electricity bills viable for the poor, reduce power losses and increase compliance in paying electricity bills.

• The purpose of the programme is to actively enhance interaction between people of diverse cultures living in different states and union territories, with the objective of promoting greater mutual understanding among them.
• The broad objectives of the initiative are as follows
• To celebrate the Unity in Diversity of our Nation and to maintain and strengthen the fabric of traditionally existing emotional bonds between the people of our Country. Statement 1 is correct.
• To promote the spirit of national integration through a deep and structured engagement between all Indian States and Union Territories through a year-long planned engagement between States;
• To showcase the rich heritage and culture, customs and traditions of either State for enabling people to understand and appreciate the diversity that is India, thus fostering a sense of common identity
• To establish long-term engagements and,
• To create an environment which promotes learning between States by sharing best practices and experiences

ESCAP works to overcome some of the region’s greatest challenges by providing results oriented projects, technical assistance and capacity building to member States in:  Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development, Trade, Investment and Innovation, Transport, Environment and Development, Information and Communications Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction, Social Development, Statistics, Subregional activities for development and Energy. Thus, statement 1 is correct.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the regional development arm of the United Nations for the Asia-Pacific region. It is made up of 53 member states and 9 associate members which include India. Thus statement 2 is incorrect.

About Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific:
ESCAP promotes rigorous analysis and peer learning in our core areas of work; translates these findings into policy dialogues and recommendations; and provides good development practices, knowledge sharing and technical assistance to member States in the implementation of these recommendations.
ESCAP uses its convening power to bring countries together to address issues through regional cooperation, including:
a) Issues that all or a group of countries in the region face, for which it is necessary to learn from each other;
b) Issues that benefit from regional or multi-country involvement;
c) Issues that are transboundary in nature, or that would benefit from collaborative inter-country approaches;
d) Issues that are of a sensitive or emerging nature and require further advocacy and negotiation.

Clubfoot is one of the most common orthopaedic birth defects. Thus, statement 1 is correct.

Ponseti method has been developed to treat and correct clubfoot without surgery. The Ponseti method and the treatment of clubfoot require that all children who suffer from it are able to get a full course of treatment. Thus statement 2 is correct.

About clubfoot:

• It can cause permanent disability if not treated early.
• This affects the child’s mobility and confidence.
• Inevitably, education and schooling suffer – and the child cannot fulfil his or her potential.

Scenario of Clubfoot in India:

• It is estimated that over 50,000 children are born annually in India with clubfoot.
• Till recently most children who suffered from clubfoot needed to be treated surgically.
• This was expensive for parents and traumatic for both the children and their families.
• Access to surgery was also difficult in rural areas. As such, many received no treatment.

Statement 1 is correct. BS stands for Bharat Stage and is set by the central pollution control board. BS standard is generally applicable to all the vehicles that are running in the country.BS is the emission standards given by Government of India to regulate the air pollutants coming from internal combustion engine.

Statement 2 is correct. The main difference between BS-IV and BS-VI (Which is comparable to Euro 6) is in the amount of sulphur in the fuel.BS-VI fuel is estimated to bring around an 80% reduction in sulphur content –from 50 parts per million (ppm) to 10 ppm.

Statement 1 is correct. Drought resistant plant make use of an enhanced form of photosynthesis known as crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM).

Statement 2 is correct. CAM photosynthesis is regulated by the plant’s internal circadian clock, which allows plants to differentiate and pre-empt day and night and adjust their metabolism accordingly.