Daily Current Affairs MCQ - January 3, 2022 - CLAT MCQ

• The White Revolution in India was the brainchild of Dr Verghese Kurein. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Under him, many important institutions were established like the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).
• The bedrock of the revolution has been the village milk producers' cooperatives. Their major role during Operation Flood was seen as engines of growth in milk production.
• The policy has also favoured the entry of multinational dairy corporations into the Indian dairy sector, through joint ventures: mergers and acquisitions. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• Quantum Technology is based on the principles of Quantum mechanics that was developed in the early 20^th century to describe nature at the scale of atoms and elementary particles.
• Applications:
  • Secure Communication: China recently demonstrated secure quantum communication links between terrestrial stations and satellites.
    • This area is significant to satellites, military and cyber security among others as it promises unimaginably fast computing and safe, unhackable satellite communication to its users.
  • Research: It can help in solving some of the fundamental questions in physics related to gravity, black holes etc.
    • Similarly, the quantum initiative could give a big boost to the Genome India project.
  • Disaster Management: Tsunamis, drought, earthquakes and floods may become more predictable with quantum applications.
    • The collection of data regarding climate change can be streamlined in a better way through quantum technology.
  • Pharmaceutical: Quantum computing could reduce the time frame of the discovery of new molecules and related processes to a few days from the present 10-year slog that scientists put in.
  • Augmenting Industrial revolution 4.0: Quantum computing is an integral part of Industrial revolution 4.0.
    • Success in it will help in Strategic initiatives aimed at leveraging other Industrial revolution 4.0 technologies like the Internet-of-Things, machine learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence across sectors will further help in laying the foundation of the Knowledge economy.
• Hence, option D is correct.

• Pangolins are scaly anteater mammals and they have large, protective keratin scales covering their skin. They are the only known mammals with this feature. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • It uses these scales as armour to defend itself against predators by rolling into a ball when threatened.
  • Insectivore- Pangolins are nocturnal, and their diet consists of mainly ants and termites, which they capture using their long tongues.
• Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) and the Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) are found in India.
  • The Indian Pangolin is widely distributed in India, except the arid region, high Himalayas and the North-East. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
  • The species is also found in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
• Conservation Status:
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
    • Chinese Pangolin is ‘critically endangered’
  • CITES: Appendix I
• Hence, option B is correct.

Director General VS Pathania, took over as the 24th Chief of Indian Coast Guard on 31 Dec 21. He is an alumnus of the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and National Defence College, New Delhi.

• It is an armed force that protects India's maritime interests and enforces maritime law, with jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
• It was formally established in 1978 by the Coast Guard Act, 1978 as an independent Armed force of India.
• It operates under the Ministry of Defence.
• The organization is headed by the Director General Indian Coast Guard (DGICG).
• Coast Guard Headquarters (CGHQ) is located at New Delhi.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Finance Ministry has decided to extend the benefit of reduced performance security of three percent till 31st March 2023 for all Central Government's tenders and contracts.

• Ministry has reduced quantum of Performance Security from five to 10 percent to three percent of value of contract.
• The Ministry said, this relief will help the industries to deploy additional resources in project execution. Timely and economical project execution by industry is vital for high-speed development of infrastructure as envisaged through the National Infrastructure Pipeline.
• Industry bodies including construction, manufacturing, and services have represented the need to extend the benefit of reduction in Performance Security.
• Hence both statements are correct.

GST Council decides to retain status quo on GST rate on textile to 5%.

• Textiles Ministry has said that the existing rates of five per cent in textiles sector will continue beyond 1st of January, 2022.
• Earlier, the Department of Revenue had notified Goods and Services Tax at 12 per cent on Man-made fibres, fabrics and apparel on 18th November this year, which was to come into force from 1st of January.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Sahitya Akademi has announced its annual Sahitya Akademi Awards in 20 languages.

• Seven books of poetry, two novels, five short stories, two plays, one biography, one autobiography, one critique and one Epic Poetry have won the Sahitya Akademi Awards 2021.
• Awards in Gujrati, Maithili, Manipuri and Urdu languages will be announced at a later date.
• Assamese writers Anuradha Sarma Pujari and Namita Gokhale have won the award in the novel category.
• Awardees for Poetry category include Mwdai Gahai in Bodo, Sanjiv Verenkar in Konkani, Hrushikesh Mallick in Odia and Vindeshwari Prasad in Telegu.
• Every year since its inception in 1954, the Sahitya Akademi Award prizes to the most outstanding books of literary merit published in any of the major Indian languages recognised by the Akademi.
• The award amount is now Rs.1,00,000. The first Awards were given in 1955.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

A recent religious conclave held in Haridwar witnessed inflammatory and provocative speeches by proponents of Hindutva, many of them leaders of religious organisations. Political parties and concerned citizens have termed these as ‘hate speech’ and demanded legal action against those involved in the propagation of hate and violence.

• There is no specific legal definition of ‘hate speech’. In general, hate speech is considered a limitation on free speech that seeks to prevent or bar speech that exposes a person or a group or section of society to hate, violence, ridicule or indignity.
• Provisions in law criminalise speeches, writings, actions, signs and representations that foment violence and spread disharmony between communities and groups and these are understood to refer to ‘hate speech’.
• Sections 153A and 505 of the Indian Penal Code are generally taken to be the main penal provisions that deal with inflammatory speeches and expressions that seek to punish ‘hate speech’.
• Under Section 153A, ‘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”.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

AMRUT Mission (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation)

• It was launched in June 2015
• It comes under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Hence, statement 1 is NOT correct.
• Components:
  • Capacity building, reform implementation, water supply, sewerage and septage management, storm water drainage, urban transport and development of green spaces and parks.
  • The reforms aim at improving delivery of citizen services, bringing down the cost of delivery, improving financial health, augmenting resources and enhancing transparency. It also includes replacement of street lights with LED lights.
• Purpose:
  • To ensure that every household has access to a tap with the assured supply of water and a sewerage connection. Hence,statement 2 is correct.
  • The Priority zone of the Mission is water supply followed by sewerage.
  • To increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (e.g. parks).
  • To reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (e.g. walking and cycling).

• GST Taxation: The GST became applicable from 1st July 2017 after the enactment of the 101st Constitution Amendment Act, 2016.
  • With GST, a large number of central and state indirect taxes merged into a single tax.
• Compensation Cess:
• The states are guaranteed compensation for any revenue shortfall below 14% growth (base year 2015-16) for the first five years ending 2022.
  • GST compensation is paid out of Compensation Cess every two months by the Centre to states. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The compensation cess was specified by the GST (Compensation to States) Act, 2017.
• All the taxpayers, except those who export specific notified goods and those who have opted for GST composition scheme, are liable to collect and remit the GST compensation cess to the central government. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Compensation Cess Fund: The GST Act states that the cess collected and the amount as may be recommended by the GST Council would be credited to the fund.