10 PM Current Affairs Quiz: November 10,2020

Both statements are correct.
The Central Government launched National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) as a long-term, time-bound, national level strategy to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024 keeping 2017 as the base year for the comparison of concentration.
Under NCAP, 122 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country based on the Air Quality data from 2014-2018.
The city specific action plans have been prepared which, inter-alia, include measures for strengthening the monitoring network, reducing vehicular/industrial emissions, increasing public awareness etc.
Implementation of the city specific action plans are regularly monitored by Committees at Central and State level namely Steering Committee, Monitoring Committee and Implementation Committee

Statement 1 is correct. It is a specialized body equipped with the necessary expertise to handle environmental disputes involving multi-disciplinary issues. The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but is guided by principles of natural justice.
Statement 2 is correct. Any person seeking relief and compensation for environmental damage involving subjects in the legislations mentioned in Schedule I of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 may approach the Tribunal. The statutes in Schedule I are:
–The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
–The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
–The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
–The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
–The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
–The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
–The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

The India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2020 jointly organized by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and Cellular Operators Association of India (COAT).
The IMC 2020, fourth edition of the event is scheduled for 8th -10th December, and will be held virtually this year given the ongoing pandemic. This year IMC’s theme is going to be – “Inclusive Innovation – Smart I Secure I Sustainable”.
COAI was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non-governmental society.

: The Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine regions of Ethiopia. It is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob and Kunama peoples.
–The leaders of Tigray dominated Ethiopia for many years until Mr Abiy came to power in 2018 on the back of anti-government protests and curbed their influence.
–They claim they have been unfairly targeted by purges and allegations of corruption, and say Mr Abiy is an illegitimate leader, because his mandate ran out when he postponed elections due to coronavirus.
–The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), defied the nationwide ban on elections, and held a vote which was declared illegal by the central government.
–The UN says there have now been clashes between federal troops and Tigrayan forces in eight different locations.
# Mr Abiy won the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize for helping to end a long-standing conflict with Eritrea.

The East Asia Summit is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries of the Asia-Pacific region formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity.
Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest and concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the highest level.
The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA. EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed by China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in 2015, placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
President Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018, claiming it failed to curtail Iran’s missile program and its influence in the region.
Despite European efforts to salvage the JCPOA, Iran began ignoring limitations on its nuclear program in 2019.

Statement 1 is correct. At the fourth BRICS Summit in New Delhi (2012), the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa considered the possibility of setting up a new Development Bank to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies, as well as in developing countries.
Following the report from the Finance Ministers at the fifth BRICS summit in Durban (2013), the leaders agreed on the feasibility of establishing the New Development Bank.
During the sixth BRICS Summit in Fortaleza (2014), the leaders signed the Agreement establishing the New Development Bank (NDB).
Statement 2 is correct. The Bank has an initial authorized capital of US$ 100 billion. The initial subscribed capital is US$ 50 billion, equally shared among founding (BRICS) members.
Bank’s Articles of Agreement specify that all members of the United Nations could be members of the bank; however the share of the BRICS nations can never be less than 55% of voting power.

Both statements are correct.
The Fifteenth Finance Commission (XVFC) led by Chairman Sh N K Singh have submitted its Report for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 to the President.
As per the terms of reference (ToR), the Commission was mandated to give its recommendations for five years from 2021-22 to 2025-26 by 30 October, 2020. Last year, the Commission had submitted its report containing recommendations for the year 2020-21 which was accepted by the Union Government and tabled in the Parliament on 30 January 2020.
Apart from the vertical and horizontal tax devolution, local government grants, disaster management grant, the Commission was also asked to examine and recommend performance incentives for States in many areas like power sector, adoption of DBT, solid waste management etc.
The Commission was also asked to examine whether a separate mechanism for funding of defence and internal security ought to be set up and if so, how such a mechanism could be operationalized. The Commission has sought to address all its ToRs in this Report to the Union government

Chhattisgarh, carved out of Madhya Pradesh came into being on 1 November 2000 as the 26th State of the Union.
In January 1950, the United Province was renamed as Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal remained a part of Uttar Pradesh before it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh on 9 November 2000. It is incepted as the 27th State of India.
Jharkhand which came into being on 15 November 2000 splitting from Bihar, as the 28th State of the Union is the homeland of the tribals.

Statement 1 is correct. ‘Mission Shakti’ was India’s first ever Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Missile Test successfully conducted on 27th March 2019 from Dr AP J Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha, where a fast-moving Indian orbiting target satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) was neutralized with pinpoint accuracy.
Statement 2 is incorrect. China conducted its first acknowledged test of an anti-satellite missile in 2007. Apart from India and China, USA and Russia possess the anti-satellite weapons technology.