Daily Current Affairs MCQ - March 10, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

The Centre must increase the "meagre" pensions provided for poor senior citizens, widows and disabled people, said the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development in its report submitted to the Lok Sabha.

• The Committee observed that under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), meagre amount of assistance ranging from ₹200 to ₹500 per month is provided under the different components of this Scheme.

• The panel had previously urged the increase of these miniscule pensions in its reports on the Department of Rural Development's (DoRD) demand for grants in 2019-20 and 2020-21.

• The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Government of India that provides financial assistance to the elderly, widows and persons with disabilities in the form of social pensions.

• The scheme is administered by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

• The National Assistance Program consists of five sub-schemes:

• Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)

• Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)

• Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)

• National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)

• Annapurna Scheme

Google is celebrating the 89th birthday of renowned Indian professor and scientist Udupi Ramachandra Rao, remembered by many as "India's Satellite Man." The doodle features a sketch of Professor Rao with a background of the Earth and shooting stars.

• Udupi Ramachandra Rao (1932 – 2017) was an Indian space scientist and chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation.

• He supervised the 1975 launch of India's first satellite --"Aryabhata"-one of over 20 satellites he developed that transformed much of rural India by advancing communication and meteorological services.

• He developed rocket technology such as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which has launched over 250 satellites.

• He was also the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Physical Research Laboratory at Ahmedabad and Nehru Planetarium at Bengaluru and chancellor of the Indian Institute for Space Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram.

• Rao was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 1976, and Padma Vibhushan in 2017.

• He was inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, Washington in 2013. With this he became the first Indian to be inducted.

• He was also to be inducted in International Astronautics Federation (IAF) in 2016. He was also the first Indian again to achieve such a feat.

There has been over 72% increase in the number of persons arrested under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities [Prevention] Act) in 2019 compared to year 2015, data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the Lok Sabha show.

• As many as 1,948 persons were arrested under the UAPA in 1,226 cases registered across the country in 2019. From 2015 till 2018, the cases registered under the Act annually stood at 897, 922, 901 and 1,182 respectively, while the number of arrests was 1,128, 999, 1,554 and 1,421.

• In 2019, the highest number of such cases were registered in Manipur (306), followed by Tamil Nadu (270), Jammu & Kashmir (255), Jharkhand (105) and Assam (87) cases.

• The highest number of arrests in the same year were made in Uttar Pradesh (498), followed by Manipur (386), Tamil Nadu (308), Jammu & Kashmir (227) and Jharkhand (202).

• The government had declared 42 organisations as terrorist organisations and listed their names in the First Schedule of the UAPA

• Only 2.2 % of cases registered under the UAPA between 2016-2019 ended in convictions by court.

• Cases under the UAPA are investigated by the State police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

• Under the UAPA, getting bail is rare and the investigating agency has up to 180 days to file a charge sheet.

The Supreme Court asked the government to explain why it had not set up an "independent environment regulator" to oversee green clearances.

• The top court had ordered the setting up of a national environment regulatory body to ensure independent oversight of green clearances way back in July 2011 in Lafarge Umiam Mining Private Limited v. Union of India, commonly known as the 'Lafarge mining case'.

• In 2011, the court had asked the Centre to appoint a national regulator for appraising projects, enforcing environmental conditions for approvals and to impose penalties on polluters.

• The court had made it clear that till such mechanism was put in place, the Environment Ministry (MoEF) "should prepare a panel of accredited institutions from which alone the project proponent should obtain the Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and, that too, on the Terms of Reference to be formulated by the MoEF".

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 'Maitri Setu' between India and Bangladesh

• The bridge 'Maitri Setu' has been built over Feni river which flows between Indian boundary in Tripura State and Bangladesh.

• The 1.9 Km long bridge joins Sabroom (in Tripura) with Ramgarh (in Bangladesh).

• The name 'Maitri Setu' symbolises growing bilateral relations and friendly ties between India and Bangladesh.

• The construction was taken up by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd at a project cost of Rs 133 crore.

• With this bridge, Tripura is set to become the 'Gateway of North East' with access to Chittagong Port of Bangladesh, which is just 80 km from Sabroom.

• PM Modi also laid the foundation stone for setting up an Integrated Check Post at Sabroom.

NITI Aayog and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) India released a new report 'Mobilising Electric Vehicle Financing in India'.

• It highlights the role of finance in the India's transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and analyses that the transition will require a cumulative capital investment of USD 266 billion (Rs 19.7 lakh crore) in EVs, charging infrastructure, and batteries over the next decade.

• The report also identifies a market size of USD 50 billion (Rs 3.7 lakh crore) for the financing of EVs in 2030—about 80% of the current size of India's retail vehicle finance industry, worth USD 60 billion (Rs 4.5 lakh crore) today.

• End-users currently face several challenges, such as high interest rates, high insurance rates, and low loan-to-value ratios.

• To address these challenges, NITI Aayog and RMI have identified a toolkit of 10 solutions that financial institutions such as banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), as well as the industry and government can adopt in catalysing the required capital.

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has achieved an important milestone in the development of Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) System by proving the land-based prototype on 8 March 2021.

• The system is being developed by Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) of DRDO.

• AIP has a force multiplier effect on lethality of a diesel electric submarine as it enhances the submerged endurance of the boat, several folds. Fuel cell-based AIP has merits in performance compared to other technologies.

• While there are different types of AIP systems being pursued internationally, fuel cell-based AIP of NMRL is unique as the hydrogen is generated onboard.

• The technology has been successfully developed with the support of industry partners L&T and Thermax. It has now reached the stage of maturity for fitment into target vessels.

• Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO, Indian Navy and Industry for the achievement.

A contract for construction & delivery of Eleven Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile (ACTCM) Barges has been concluded with M/s Suryadipta Projects Private Limited, Thane, an MSME on 05 March 2021.

• The Ammunition Cum Torpedo Cum Missile Barges will be inducted in Indian Navy to undertake the mission needs for embarking/ disembarking Ammunition, Torpedo & Missile etc.

• These barges will be built under the Classification Rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).

• Delivery of Barges is scheduled to commence from May 22.

• The project adds another milestone to the Atmanirbhar Bharat & Make in India initiative of the Government of India.

Union Minister of Agriculture informed Lok Sabha about the Agriculture Voltage Technology.

• Agri-voltaic system of 105 KW capacity was developed by ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur.

• This technology can increase the income of farmers by generation of electricity and growing of cash crops simultaneously on the same piece of land.

• Under component-I of KUSUM (Kisan Urja Suraksha Utthan Mahabhiyan) scheme, there is a provision for installation of agri-voltaic system in farmers' fields with a capacity ranging from 500 KW to 2 MW.

• Moreover, National Solar Energy Federation of India (NSEFI) has also documented 13 operational agri-voltaic systems in the country managed by different solar PV functionaries and public Institutes.

Finance Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday presented a ₹69,000 crore 'Deshbhakti Budget' for the 2021-22 fiscal, replete with provisions seeking to inspire patriotism in the run-up to the 75th Independence Day, free COVID-19 vaccination, and a vision for "India at 2047".

• The theme of the Delhi government's 2021-22 budget is 'deshbhakti' or patriotism.

• This will entail placing 500 national flags across the city, like the one in Connaught Place. Rs 45 crore have been set aside for this head.

• Additionally, Rs 10 crore each have been set aside for programmes and events on the lives and contribution of Bhagat Singh and BR Ambedkar.

• Following Initiatives have also been clubbed under this particular head

  • Starting a youth mentorship programme for underprivileged students,

  • arranging free Yoga camps for small groups of people,

  • starting a Delhi armed forces academy to prepare children for recruitment in the armed forces, and

  • giving Rs 1 crore to families of police officials and defence personnel who die in the line of duty

• Last year Delhi government also announced the deskbhakti curriculum.

• He also announced that the Delhi government aims to bid for hosting the 2048 Olympic Games.