UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION

PRELIMS 2019 SPECIAL

LECTURE 65

MCQs – CURRENT AFFAIRS

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Q. Consider the following statements regarding “National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)”:

1. It serves as an apex body for the review of all wildlife-related matters.

2. The board is advisory in nature and can only advise the Government on policy making for

conservation of wildlife.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 Only

b) 2 Only

c) Both 1 & 2

d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

QUESTION 1

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QUESTION 1

It is a “Statutory Organization” constituted under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Its roles is “advisory” in natureand advises the Central Government on framing policies and measures for conservation of wildlife in the country.

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Primary function of the Board is to promote the conservation and development of wildlife and forests. It has power to review all wildlife-related matters and approve projects in and around national parks and

sanctuaries. No alternation of boundaries in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries can be done without approval of the

NBWL.

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The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister. It has 47 members including the Prime Minister. Among these, 19members are ex-officio members. Other members include three Members of Parliament (two from Lok Sabha andone from Rajya Sabha), five NGOs and 10 eminent ecologists, conservationists and environmentalists.

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India’s apex National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has cleared 682 of the 687 projects (99.82%) that came up forscrutiny. Only five projects were rejected since August 2014.

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Q. With reference to “Trans fatty acids (TFA)”, consider the following statements:

1. These fats are only produced artificially.

2. TFAs pose a lower risk of heart disease than saturated fats.

3. WHO recommends that trans-fat intake be limited to less than 1% of total energy intake.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 & 2 Only

b) 3 Only

c) 1 & 3 Only

d) All of the above

Answer: B

QUESTION 2

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a

QUESTION 2

Kerala has drawn up an action plan to generate public awareness on the harmful effects of trans fatty acids (TFA) incommercially available food items and to encourage the local food industry to meet the current statutory limits setfor TFA.

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Various studies suggest that an unhealthy diet with a highTFA content is a significant factor that pushes up metabolicsyndrome and the burden of its associated complications.

TFAs pose a higher risk of heart disease than saturated fats.While saturated fats raise total cholesterol levels, TFAs notonly raise total cholesterol levels but also reduce the goodcholesterol (HDL), which helps to protect us against heartdisease. Trans fats consumption increases the risk ofdeveloping heart disease and stroke.

It is also associated with a higher risk of developing obesity,type 2 diabetes, heart disease, metabolic syndrome, insulinresistance, infertility, certain types of cancers and can alsolead to compromised fetal development causing harm tothe yet to be born baby.

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a

QUESTION 2

Trans fatty acids (TFAs) or Trans fats are the most harmful type of fats which can have much more adverse effects onour body than any other dietary constituent. These fats are largely produced artificially but a small amount alsooccurs naturally. Thus in our diet, these may be present as Artificial TFAs and/ or Natural TFAs.

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Artificial TFAs are formed when hydrogen is made to react with the oil to produce fats resembling pureghee/butter.

In our diet the major sources of artificial TFAs are the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVO)/vanaspati/margarine while the natural TFAs are present in meats and dairy products, though in small amounts.

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WHO recommends that trans-fat intake be limited to less than 1% of total energy intake and has called for the totalelimination of TFAs in global food supply by 2023. FSSAI has proposed to limit TFA limit in foods to 2% and eliminatetrans fats from foods by 2022.

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Q. Which of the following ministries has launched e-AUSHADHI portal?

a) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare

b) Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers

c) Ministry of AYUSH

d) Ministry of Women and Child Development

Answer: C

QUESTION 3

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a

QUESTION 3

Recently the Government has launched the e-AUSHADHI portal, for online licensing of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani andHomoeopathy drugs and related matters. This new e-portal is an acronym for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha andHomeopathy Automated Drug Help Initiative.

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The portal is intended for increased transparency, improved information management facility, improved datausability and increased accountability. The timelines is fixed for processing of applications with text message and e-mail status updates at each step of the process.

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It will provide real time information of the licensed manufactures and their products, cancelled and spuriousdrugs, contact details of the concerned authority for specific grievances, and thereby aid the licensing authority ,manufactures and consumers.

It can be noted that recently the Cabinet also approved the draft National Commission for Indian Systems ofMedicine (NCIM) Bill, 2018 which seeks to enhance transparency.

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Q. With reference to ‘Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-Dhan (PM- SYM)’, consider the following

statements:

1. The spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50% of the pension received by the

beneficiary as family pension.

2. The subscriber’s contributions to PM-SYM shall be made through ‘auto-debit’ facility from his/ her

savings bank account/ Jan-Dhan account.

3. This scheme is available in offline mode as well.

Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?

a) 1 Only

b) 1 & 3 Only

c) 3 Only

d) None of the above

Answer : C

QUESTION 4

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a

QUESTION 4

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Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) will be rolled out by the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Thescheme announced in the Interim Budget (2019) was notified by the Ministry.

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The unorganised workers mostly engaged as home based workers, street vendors, mid-day meal workers, headloaders, brick kiln workers, cobblers, rag pickers, domestic workers, washer men, rickshaw pullers, landless labourers,own account workers, agricultural workers, construction workers, beedi workers, handloom workers, leather workers,audio- visual workers and similar other occupations whose monthly income is Rs 15,000/ per month or less andbelong to the entry age group of 18-40 years are eligible for the scheme.

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The subscriber will be required to have a mobile phone, savings bank account and Aadhaar number. The eligiblesubscriber may visit the nearest CSCs (Common Services Centres) and get enrolled for PM-SYM using Aadhaarnumber and savings bank account/ Jan-Dhan account number on self-certification basis.

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a

QUESTION 4

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Minimum Assured Pension: Each subscriber under the PM-SYM,shall receive minimum assured pension of Rs 3000/- per monthafter attaining the age of 60 years.

Family Pension: During the receipt of pension, if the subscriberdies, the spouse of the beneficiary shall be entitled to receive 50%of the pension received by the beneficiary as family pension.Family pension is applicable only to spouse. If a beneficiary hasgiven regular contribution and died due to any cause (before ageof 60 years), his/her spouse will be entitled to join and continuethe scheme subsequently by payment of regular contribution orexit the scheme as per provisions of exit and withdrawal.

Contribution by the Subscriber: The subscriber’s contributions toPM-SYM shall be made through ‘auto-debit’ facility from his/ hersavings bank account/ Jan- Dhan account.

Matching contribution by the Central Government: PM-SYM is avoluntary and contributory pension scheme on a 50:50 basiswhere prescribed age-specific contribution shall be made by thebeneficiary and the matching contribution by the CentralGovernment.

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Q. With reference to ‘Cobra Gold Military Exercise’, consider the following statements:

1. This is an initiative by the United States of America and India.

2. 38th edition of this exercise will take place in India.

3. It It was first held in 1982.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 2 Only

b) 2 & 3 Only

c) 3 Only

d) All of the above

Answer : C

QUESTION 5

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QUESTION 5

The United States and Thailand are hosting the multi-nation Cobra military exercise this year. The exercise is takingplace in the northern Thai province of Phitsanulok. This is the 38th edition of this exercise.

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This is a Thai-American initiative with an aim to improve coordination between the armed forces. It is one of theAsia-Pacific region’s largest multinational military exercises that is held in Thailand every year.

It was first held in 1982 and its headquarters is in Bangkok, Thailand. India joined this exercise for the first time in 2016 while China was admitted for the first time in 2015 but was

only allowed to participate in humanitarian assistance training.

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Thank You and Happy Learning