Daily Current Affairs MCQ- August 24, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Article 161 of the Constitution:

• Under Article 161 of the Constitution, the Governor of a state possesses the pardoning power.
• A Governor can grant pardons, reprieves, respites and remissions of punishment or suspend, remit and commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against a state law.
• The advice of the state cabinet is binding on the Governor in matters relating to commutation /remission of sentences under Article 161.
• Also, the orders passed by the Governor, under Article 161, can be subjected to judicial review.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

India has contributed four lakh US dollars to four Voluntary Trust Funds as part of its commitment to global promotion and protection of human rights and support for United Nations Human Rights.

• India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Geneva in a tweet said that the contribution reflects India's commitment in this regard.
• The four Trust Funds to which contribution has been made include the Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the Voluntary Fund for Technical Cooperation, the Voluntary Fund for financial and technical assistance for the implementation of Universal Periodic Review, and the Voluntary Technical Assistance Trust Fund to support the participation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDs) in the work of the council.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

On August 16, 2022, Navroz or the Parsi New Year is being celebrated.

• It is the most widely celebrated festival of the Parsi community.
• This is seen as a harbinger of peace and prosperity. In Mumbai and its suburbs, which host a considerable population of Parsi community, the festival is celebrated with grand lunch and dinner with the best and finest variety of Parsi cuisine.
• Parisis see this festival as the great occasion to get together, eat and mingle.
• On this day, the Parsis visit the Agyaris or the fire temples to offer prayers. They feed the poor on this day, as the new year has to start on a good note. President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have greeted the people on the occasion.

Hence both statements are correct.

National Health Authority has announced performance-based fund allocation to State and Union Territories for strengthening the registries of healthcare professionals and health facilities.

• This performance-based fund allocation will help in structured implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
• CEO of National Health Authority Dr RS Sharma said, the benefits of digital health services can be further extended to masses with the enthusiastic support from the States and UTs in registering more healthcare professionals and health facilities.
• He said, States and UTs support will help in building national-level registries of healthcare professionals and health facilities. Five hundred crore rupees had been demarcated for setting up of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission's offices at State and UTs by the financial year 2025-26.

Hence both statements are correct.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over indigenously-developed equipment and systems to the Indian Army in New Delhi.

• Future Infantry Soldier, new generation anti-personnel mine, upgraded sights system for tanks, high mobility Infantry Protected Vehicles and Assault Boats are among the state-of-the-art equipment’s.
• The equipment/systems have been jointly developed by Indian Army in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Industry, in line with the Prime Minister's vision to modernise the Armed Forces, under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’.

Hence both statements are correct.

The New York City Health Department announced that the West Nile virus had been detected in two people, one in Brooklyn and another in Queens, as well as in a “record number” of infected mosquitoes throughout the city.

• West Nile Virus (WNV) can cause neurological disease and death in people. WNV is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia.
• WNV is maintained in nature in a cycle involving transmission between birds and mosquitoes. Humans, horses and other mammals can be infected.
• West Nile Virus (WNV) is a member of the flavivirus genus and belongs to the Japanese encephalitis antigenic complex of the family Flaviviridae.

Hence both statements are correct.

Mudhol hounds, a breed of hunting dogs native to north Karnataka, could be inducted into the Special Protection Group (SPG), the elite force protecting the Prime Minister of India.

• The dogs already serve with the Indian armed forces and some paramilitary forces and could become the first indigenous breed to be part of the SPG.
• The Mudhol hounds are believed to have been bred first by Raja Malojirao Ghorpade of the erstwhile Deccan kingdom of Mudhol.
• Known for their hunting and guarding skills, the characteristically lanky Mudhol hounds get their name from the erstwhile kingdom of Mudhol (in present-day Bagalkot), whose rulers first began to breed them. The dogs are fast runners, with excellent stamina and agility, and have a sharp vision and a keen sense of smell.

Using fossil evidence to create a three-dimensional model, researchers have found new evidence about the life of one of the biggest predatory animals of all time — the Megalodon.

• According to the new study published in the journal Science Advances, the Megalodon could “completely ingest, and in as few as five bites,” a prey as big as the killer whale.
• According to the study, the Megalodon was bigger than a school bus at around 50 feet from nose to tail. In comparison, the great white sharks of the present can grow to a maximum length of around 15 feet.
• Using their digital model, the researchers have suggested that the giant transoceanic predator would have weighed around 70 tonnes — or as much as 10 elephants.
• Megalodons roamed the oceans an estimated 23 million to 2.6 million years ago.

Hence both statements are correct.

National Fisheries Development Board (NPFB) conducted its 9th governing body meeting in New Delhi. The governing body meeting was chaired by Minister of Fisheries Parshottam Rupala.

• On this occasion, he also launched an online marketplace feature - 'Aqua Bazar' app.
• The app will help the fish farmers and stakeholders to source the inputs such as fish seed, feed and medicines and services required for fish culture. It will connect various stakeholders involved in aquaculture sector.
• He said, for the first time under the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, government has taken up promotion of startups by the entrepreneurs to achieve the targeted fish production.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Government of India has prepared the draft Indian Ports Bill, 2022 to consolidate and amend the laws relating to ports.

• The draft bill seeks to repeal and replace the existing the Indian Ports Act, 1908. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has issued Draft Indian Ports Bill, 2022 for Stakeholder Consultation.
• The proposed bill will homogenize and streamline the development of the maritime sector, along with, promoting ease of doing business by eliminating unnecessary delays, disagreements and defining responsibilities.
• It will incorporate State Maritime Boards in the national framework.
• India has a 7,500 kilometre long coastline, 14,500 kilometer of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes.
• About 95 per cent of India’s trade by volume and 65 per cent by value is done through maritime transport facilitated by ports.

Hence both statements are correct.