10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: July 5, 2020

Both statements are correct.

UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has launched Africa Communication and Information Platform (ACIP) for Health and Economic Action to serve as a two-way information and communication platform between citizens and government.

The platform will bring together the major mobile network operators on the continent as well as other partners to support each country’s National COVID-19 Taskforce, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Finance, Economy, and Planning, and international development organizations, including Africa CDC and ECA with intelligent information and analysis of live data for decision-making.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Operation Greens Scheme is being implemented by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

Statement 2 is correct. It has been extended from tomato, onion and potato (TOP) crops to other notified horticulture crops for providing subsidy for their transportation and storage from surplus production area to major consumption centers.

Eligible Crops: Fruits- Mango, Banana, Guava, Kiwi, Lichi, Papaya, Citrus, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Jackfruit; Vegetables: – French beans, Bitter Gourd, Brinjal, Capsicum, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chillies (Green), Okra, Onion, Potato and Tomato.

Eligible entities: Food Processors, FPO/FPC, Co-operative Societies, Individual farmers, Licensed Commission Agent, Exporters, State Marketing/Co-operative Federation, Retailers etc. engaged in processing/ marketing of fruits and vegetables.

Ministry will provide subsidy @ 50 % of the cost of two components, subject to the cost norms: transportation of eligible crops from surplus production cluster to consumption center; and/or hiring of appropriate storage facilities for eligible crops (for maximum period of 3 months).

Both statements are correct.

The Sample Registration System (SRS) in India is carried out by the Office of Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India with an objective of providing reliable annual estimates of birth rate, death rate, infant mortality rate and various other fertility and mortality indicators at the State and National level.

The system has a unique feature of dual recording, which involves continuous enumeration and retrospective half-yearly surveys.

Registrar General of India has released the Sample Registration System – Statistical Report 2018. For more visit Factly.

Statement 1 is incorrect. To provide a single platform for research internships, capacity building programs, and workshops across the country, the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) has launched a new scheme called ‘Accelerate Vigyan’ (AV).

Statement 2 is correct. The primary objective of this inter-ministerial scheme is to give more thrust on encouraging high-end scientific research and preparing scientific manpower.

Recognizing that all research has its base as development of quality and well-trained researchers, AV will initiate and strengthen mechanisms of identifying research potential, mentoring, training and hands-on workshop on a national scale.

This scheme is primarily to focus on young potential researchers with an aim to give an opportunity to them to spend quality time in the pre-identified premier institution, labs / organizations; specially those students who do not have access and exposure to such facilities and environment.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Project PLATINA has been launched by the Maharashtra state government.

Statement 2 is correct. The PLATINA project will be trial cum treatment project and will give robust data regarding the role of convalescent plasma in the treatment of COVID 19 patients.

Convalescent plasma therapy makes use of the antibodies developed in the recovered patient against the infections. Under this plasma from recovered patients are taken and then injected into critically ill patients so that the antibodies are transferred and boost their immune response against the virus.

Both statements are correct.

The Open Government Data (OGD) Platform India has been setup by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) in compliance with the Open Data Policy (NDSAP) of India.

It facilitates Government Organizations to publish their datasets in open formats for free public use. OGD is also available as Software as a Service (SaaS). OGD works as a connecting link for Government, citizen and community to create an Open Data ecosystem in the country.

Open Government Data Platform India has 4 (four) major modules: Data Management System (DMS), Content Management System (CMS), Visitor Relationship Management (VRM) and Communities module.

The Asian Productivity Organization (APO) was established on 11 May 1961 as a regional inter-governmental organization comprising of 21 member countries from Asia and the Pacific.

The APO headquarter is located in Tokyo, Japan. Its mission is to contribute to the socio-economic development of Asia and the Pacific through enhancing productivity. The APO is nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondiscriminatory in character.

National Productivity Council of India (NPC), established in the year 1958, is an autonomous organization under Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. NPC is a constituent of the Tokyo-based Asian Productivity Organisation (APO).

Statement 1 is incorrect. Floating Rate Savings Bonds, 2020 (Taxable) are to be issued by Reserve Bank India on behalf of the Government of India. It will enable person resident in India/Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) to invest in a taxable bond, without any monetary ceiling.

Statement 2 is correct. The interest on the bonds is payable semi-annually on 1st Jan and 1st July every year. The coupon on 1st January 2021 shall be paid at 7.15%. The Interest rate for next half-year will be reset every six months, the first reset being on January 01, 2021. There is no option to pay interest on cumulative basis.

The Agni-V is a three-stage solid fueled Intercontinental ballistic missile with approximate range of 5,500-5,800 kilometers developed by DRDO.

Astra is a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by the Defense Research and Development Organization. It is the first air-to-air missile developed by India. Astra has been integrated with Indian Air Force’s Sukhoi Su-30MKI.

Maareech Advanced Torpedo Defense System (ATDS) is a torpedo detection and countermeasure system used by the Indian Navy, it has been developed as a joint project of the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL), Kochi and the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam.

Statement 1 is correct. Wetlands are the major habitats of the fishing cat. In India, fishing cats are mainly found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, on the foothills of the Himalayas along the Ganga and Brahmaputra river valleys.

The fishing cat is an adept swimmer and enters water frequently to prey on fish as its name suggests. It is known to even dive to catch fish.

Statement 2 is correct. The fishing cat is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and Appendix II of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).