Daily Current Affairs MCQ- March 16, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt (CGSSD) extended upto 31.03.2023.

• Government announced creation of ‘Distressed Assets Fund- - Subordinate Debt for Stressed MSMEs’ on 13th May, 2020, under the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package.
• Accordingly, a scheme viz. ‘Credit Guarantee Scheme for Subordinate Debt’ was launched in June, 2020 to provide credit facility through lending institutions to the promoters of stressed MSMEs viz. SMA-2 and NPA accounts who are eligible for restructuring as per RBI guidelines on the books of the Lending institutions. Initially the scheme was upto 31.03.2021.
• In order to keep the avenues of assistance to stressed MSME Units open, the Government had earlier extended this scheme upto 31.03.2022.
• Now, on the basis of the requests received from the stakeholders of the scheme, the Government has decided to further extend this scheme till 31.03.2023.

Hence both statements are correct.

The term Sanskritisation was Coined and popularised by M.N. Srinivas, an eminent social anthropologist in his book Religion and Society Among the Coorgs of South India (Oxford, 1952).

• Sanskritisation refers to a change in the hierarchical caste system when certain castes that are ranked low in the caste hierarchy are able to elevate and enhance their position by adopting and emulating the socio-cultural beliefs, values, habits, customs and rituals of castes that are ranked higher than them.
• Based on his ethnographic research in Rampura village in Karnataka, Srinivas produced a detailed explanation of the phenomenon of Sanskritisation in ‘A Note on Sanskritisation and Westernisation (Far Eastern Quarterly, 1956)’.
• Initially, ‘Sanskritisation’ referred to the lower castes’ adoption of the “Brahmanical” ways of life.
• But gradually, the process also involved the adoption of the practices and rites of the locally dominant caste in a particular region, which included non-Brahmin castes which were politically powerful, socio-economically influential and ritually higher in the local caste hierarchy.

The rise of anti-caste politics

• Unlike the Sanskritisation model that reifies the unequal and differential caste relations that upholds the Hindu caste order and advances the interests of the ‘caste privileged’, the discourse of anti-caste/casteless socio-politics emphasises the destruction of the caste system and all the other undemocratic/inegalitarian values, customs and institutions associated with it.
• Indian society continues to witness movements of both the types – Sanskritisation as well as anti-caste struggles. Each of these processes requires a separate and also integrated study and analysis, taking into consideration socio-economic, cultural and political factors.

Hence both statements are correct.

The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of India has declined by 10 points, says a special bulletin released by the Registrar-General of India.

• It has declined from 113 in 2016-18 to 103 in 2017-19, an 8.8% decline.
• The country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in the MMR from 130 in 2014-16, 122 in 2015-17 and 113 in 2016-18 to 103 in 2017-19, said the release issued on Monday.
• With this persistent decline, India is on the verge of achieving the National Health Policy (NHP) target of 100 per lakh live births by 2020 and certainly on the track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 70 per lakh live births by 2030.
• The number of States that have achieved the Sustainable Development Goal target has now risen from five to seven — Kerala (30), Maharashtra (38), Telangana (56), Tamil Nadu (58), Andhra Pradesh (58), Jharkhand (61), and Gujarat (70).
• There are now nine States that have achieved the MMR target set by the National Health Policy, which includes the above seven States and Karnataka (83) and Haryana (96).
• Uttarakhand (101), West Bengal (109), Punjab (114), Bihar (130), Odisha (136) and Rajasthan (141) have MMR between 100 and 150, while Chhattisgarh (160), Madhya Pradesh (163), Uttar Pradesh (167) and Assam (205) have the ratio above 150.
• Encouraging achievement has been reported by Uttar Pradesh, which has shown the highest decline of 30 points, Rajasthan (23), Bihar (19), Punjab (15) and Odisha (14).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) allowed microfinance institutions to fix interest rates on loans, with a caveat that the rates should not be usurious.

• In revised guidelines that will take effect on April 1, the RBI tweaked the definition of a microfinance loan to indicate a collateral-free loan given to a household with annual income of up to ₹3 lakh.
• Earlier, the upper limits were ₹1.2 lakh for rural borrowers and ₹2 lakh for urban borrowers.
• As per the revised norms, regulated entities (REs) should put in place a Board-approved policy regarding pricing of microfinance loans, a ceiling on interest rate and all other charges applicable to microfinance loans.
• The revision of the income cap to ₹3 lakh will expand the market opportunity and interest rate cap removal will promote risk-based underwriting.
• This reflects the confidence shown by the central bank in the ability of MFIs to responsibly cater to the bottom of the pyramid.

Hence both statements are correct.

• The Gangetic Dolphin (Platanista gangetica gangetica) was officially discovered in 1801.
• They live in the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh.
  • The Ganges river dolphin can only live in freshwater and is essentially blind. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • They hunt by emitting ultrasonic sounds, which bounces off of fish and other prey, enabling them to “see” an image in their mind. They are also called ‘susu’.
• The global population of the species is estimated at 4,000, and nearly 80% found in the Indian subcontinent.
• It is a reliable indicator of the health of the entire river ecosystem. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Man-Portable Air-Defence Systems (MANPADS):

• MANPADS are short-range, lightweight and portable surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by individuals or small groups to destroy aircraft or helicopters. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• They help shield troops from aerial attacks and are most effective in targeting low-flying aircrafts. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
  • MANPATs or Man-Portable Anti-Tank Systems work in a similar manner but are used to destroy or incapacitate military tanks.
• MANPADS have a maximum range of 8 kilometres and can engage targets at altitudes of 4.5 km.
• The first MANPADS were introduced by the United States and Soviet Union in the 1960s. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

India added a record 10 Gigawatt (GW) of solar energy to its cumulative installed capacity in 2021. This has been the highest 12-month capacity addition, recording nearly a 200% year-on-year growth.

• India has now surpassed 50 GW of cumulative installed solar capacity, as on 28 February 2022.
• This is a milestone in India’s journey towards generating 500 GW from renewable energy by 2030, of which 300 GW is expected to come from solar power.
• India’s capacity additions rank the country fifth in solar power deployment, contributing nearly 6.5% to the global cumulative capacity of 709.68 GW.
• However, there are some areas of concern to highlight.
• First, of the 50 GW installed solar capacity, an overwhelming 42 GW comes from ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and only 6.48 GW comes from roof top solar (RTS); and 1.48 GW from off-grid solar PV.
• Despite significant growth in the installed solar capacity, the contribution of solar energy to the country’s power generation has not grown at the same pace. In 2019-20, for instance, solar power contributed only 3.6% (50 billion units) of India’s total power generation of 1390 BU.

Hence both statements are correct.

On the eve of the 65th birthday of late Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Bipin Rawat, the Indian Army has instituted a Chair of Excellence in his memory at the United Service Institution of India (USI).

• The formal announcement was made by Gen. Manoj Naravane, Chief of Army Staff and Officiating Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, at a ceremony organised at South Block.
• The aim of the proposed Chair of Excellence will be to conduct research on strategic issues of significance pertaining to the armed forces.
• The Chair will be open to veterans of the three Services and civilians having expertise in the field of national security and military affairs.
• Gen. Naravane also handed over a cheque for ₹5 lakh to Maj. Gen. B.K. Sharma (retd), Director, USI, which will be paid as honorarium to the nominated Chair of Excellence.

United Service Institution of India (USI)

• United Service Institution of India (USI) is a national security and defence services think tank based in New Delhi.
• It was founded in 1870 by a soldier scholar, Colonel (later Major General) Sir Charles MacGregor.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Farmers’ debts increased 53% over the past six years, the Union Finance Ministry told the Rajya Sabha.

• In 2020-21, outstanding agricultural loans for scheduled commercial banks amounted to more than ₹18.4 lakh crore, in comparison to ₹12 lakh crore in 2015-16, with the number of farmers’ accounts holding such debts also growing from 6.9 crore to more than 10 crore.
• The data, sourced from the RBI, was presented to the Rajya Sabha. The growth of farmers’ debt burden is highest in Maharashtra, a whopping 116% increase in the outstanding amounts due over the six-year period.
• In absolute terms as well, Maharashtra farmers owe the highest amount of ₹5.5 lakh crore by way of agricultural loans. Incidentally, the State also consistently has the largest number of farmer suicides, as recorded by the National Crime Records Bureau.
• Other States which saw significant increase in farmers’ debt burden include Odisha (76%), Tamil Nadu (68%), Andhra Pradesh (65%) and Gujarat (64%). Only a few States bucked the trend, with Karnataka posting a 37% drop and Punjab a modest 4.5% drop.

Steps by centre

• The Minister of State Bhagwat Karad said the Centre had not implemented any loan waivers over the past six years, nor was any such proposal under consideration.
• Instead, he listed various initiatives taken to reduce the debt burden, including interest subvention schemes, collateral free agricultural loans for small farmers and income support and farm insurance schemes, noting that efforts had been made to bring farmers into the fold of institutional credit rather than leaving them at the mercy of informal loans.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. along with International Center for Automotive Technology (ICAT) are conducting a Pilot project to study and evaluate the world’s most advanced Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Toyota Mirai which runs on hydrogen, on Indian roads and climatic conditions.

• This would be a first of its kind project in the country aimed at spreading awareness about Hydrogen, FCEV technology and disseminating its benefits to support hydrogen-based society for India.
• Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari would be inaugurating this pilot project and also demonstrating Toyota Mirai FCEV on 16th March’2022 in New Delhi.

Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV)

• Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) is an electric vehicle that uses a fuel cell, sometimes in combination with a small battery or supercapacitor, to power its onboard electric motor.
• Fuel cells in vehicles generate electricity generally using oxygen from the air and compressed hydrogen. Most fuel cell vehicles are classified as zero-emissions vehicles that emit only water and heat.

Hence both statements are correct.