Daily Current Affairs MCQ- August 10, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister of India, recently approved the transfer of 10 in-orbit communication satellites from the government to New Space India Limited (NSIL).

NSIL is a wholly-owned public sector enterprise under the Department of Space, for the purpose of streamlining space operations.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL):

• NSIL is a wholly owned Government of India company incorporated on 6 March 2019, under the Companies Act, 2013.
• It is under the administrative control of the Department of Space (DOS) - an Indian government department under the Prime Minister Office (PMO).
• It is the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to engage in high-tech space-related activities.
• It is also in charge of the promotion and commercial exploitation of products and services derived from the Indian space program.
• NSIL draws on the proven heritage of the Indian Space Program and ISRO's vast experience in diverse branches of Space Technology to meet the needs of its customers.

Hence both statements are correct.

Actor Emilia Clarke, who played the role Daenerys Targaryen in the series Game of Thrones, recently told BBC One in an interview that she had suffered two brain aneurysms while filming for the series, in 2011 and 2013.

• Aneurysm is a swelling of the arteries and veins in any part of the body, and is caused by weakening of the walls. It occurs most commonly in the aorta, back of the knees, brain or intestines. If the aneurysm gets ruptured, it can even cause internal bleeding and stroke.
• Blood vessels of the brain and the heart are the most common locations to get seriously affected. The swelling can be of two types. Either the complete blood vessel is swollen or a specific side of the blood vessel can bulge out from the sides.
• Potential risk factors for aneurysm include smoking, age, high cholesterol, obesity, hypertension or tissue disorders. Pregnancy can also increase risk of aneurysm of the spleen.
• A device called flow diversion stent is a new innovative intervention for treatment of aneurysm for the initial stages, when it has not ruptured.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Lok Sabha deferred the consideration and passing of the Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022, due to protests by the Congress members outside of Parliament over the Enforcement Directorate’s summoning of their party president Sonia Gandhi for questioning.

• The Indian Antarctic Bill, 2022 was introduced in Lok Sabha on April 1, 2022.
• The Bill seeks to give effect to the Antarctic Treaty, the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty.
• Applicability: The provisions of the Bill will apply to any person, vessel or aircraft that is a part of an Indian expedition to Antarctica under a permit issued under the Bill.
• Central committee: The central government will establish a Committee on Antarctic Governance and Environmental Protection. The Committee will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Need for permit: A permit by the Committee or written authorisation from another party to the Protocol (other than India) will be required for various activities.
• Prohibited activities: The Bill prohibits certain activities in Antarctica including: (i) nuclear explosion or disposal of radioactive wastes, (ii) introduction of non-sterile soil, and (iii) discharge of garbage, plastic or other substance into the sea which is harmful to the marine environment.

Hence both statements are correct.

Denying an unmarried woman the right to a safe abortion violates her personal autonomy and freedom, the Supreme Court held in an order.

• A Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was hearing the appeal of a woman who wanted to abort her 24-week pregnancy after her relationship failed and her partner left her.
• The lower court had taken an “unduly restrictive view” that her plea for a safe abortion was not covered under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act as the pregnancy arose from a consensual relationship outside wedlock.
• Chastising the lower court, the Bench said live-in relationships had already been recognised by the Supreme Court. There were a significant number of people in social mainstream who see no wrong in engaging in pre-marital sex.
• The law could not be used to quench “notions of social morality” and unduly interfere in their personal autonomy and bodily integrity.
• The court noted that an amendment to the Act in 2021 had substituted the term ‘husband’ with ‘partner’, a clear signal that the law covered unmarried women within its ambit.
• A woman’s right to reproductive choice is an inseparable part of her personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. She has a sacrosanct right to bodily integrity.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Supreme Court has asked the Central government to place before it within six weeks the information regarding preventive, corrective and remedial measures taken by the state governments, so far, in compliance with its earlier judgments on hate speech.

Legal Provisions of Hate Speech:

• Hate speech has not been defined in any law in India. However, legal provisions in certain legislations prohibit select forms of speech as an exception to freedom of speech.
• Indian Penal Code (IPC) Provisions:
  • Under Section 153A of IPC, ‘promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony’, is an offence punishable with three years’ imprisonment.
  • Section 505 of IPC makes it an offence to making “statements conducing to public mischief”.
• Representation of the People Act, 1951:
  • Section 8 disqualifies a person from contesting election if he is convicted for indulging in acts amounting to illegitimate use of freedom of speech and expression.
• Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955:
  • Section 7 penalizes incitement to, and encouragement of untouchability through words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise.
• Religious Institutions (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988:
  • Section 3(g) prohibits religious institution or its manager to allow the use of any premises belonging to, or under the control of, the institution for promoting or attempting to promote disharmony, feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Foreign exchange reserves fell by $7. 5 billion to $572 billion during the week ended July 15, according to data released by the RBI.

Foreign exchange reserves (Forex Reserve)

• Foreign Exchange reserves or Forex reserves are assets such as foreign currencies, gold reserves, treasury bills, etc retained by a central bank or other monetary authority.
• RBI is the custodian of the Foreign exchange reserves in India.
• It checks the balance payments and influences the foreign exchange rate of its currency and maintains stability in financial markets.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Government of India has several initiatives to provide financial and medical support to all pregnant women including women belonging to economically weaker sections during their pregnancy and delivery in Government hospitals.

• Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), a demand promotion and conditional cash transfer scheme for promoting institutional delivery.
• Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakaram (JSSK) entitles every pregnant woman to free delivery, including for caesarean section, in public health institutions along with the provision of free transport, diagnostics, medicines, other consumables, diet and blood.
• Over 25,000 ‘Delivery Points’ across the country have been strengthened in terms of infrastructure, equipment, and trained manpower for provision of comprehensive RMNCAH+A services.
• Surakshit Matratva Ashwasan (SUMAN) for providing assured, dignified, respectful and quality healthcare at no cost and zero tolerance for denial of services for every woman and newborn visiting the public health facility to end all preventable maternal and newborn deaths.
• Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) provides pregnant women a fixed day, free of cost assured and quality Antenatal Care on the 9th day of every month.
• LaQshya (Labour room Quality improvement Initiative) to improve the quality of care in Labour room and Maternity operation theatres to ensure that pregnant women receive respectful and quality care during delivery and immediate post-partum.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Government said the doctor-population ratio in the country is better than the standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

• In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said the doctor-population ratio in the country is 1:834 whereas WHO standard is 1:1000.
• The Minister said as per the National Medical Commission, there are 138009 registered allopathic doctors besides 565000 AYUSH doctors. The Minister said there are over 34 lakh registered nursing personnel and 13 lakh allied and healthcare professionals in the country.
• The Minister further said the government is taking all possible measures for increasing the availability of doctors in the country, which include increasing UG and PG medical seats.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day after completing the special mentions under which the members raised issues of public importance.

• Special Mentions are made by Members of Parliament on matters of public importance with the permission of Honorable Chairman Rajya Sabha, under Rule 180B.
• The Minister concerned with the subject matter is required to respond in writing by intimating the Member within 30 days of the factual position or the action taken/proposed to be taken.
• This instrument evolved later on. There was no specific provision in the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha in regard to the mentioning of matters of urgent public importance in the House by members till 1 July 2000.

Hence both statements are correct.

• The creation of the Skill Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) was approved in the 10th meeting of the National Skill Qualifications Committee held in 2015.
• Skill Council for Green Jobs is one of the most recently launched initiatives of the Government of India aligned to the National Skill Development Mission. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The SCGJ was established as a not-for-profit, independent, industry-led organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860.
• It is promoted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Hence, Statement 2 is not correct.