Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 25, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare recently notified a committee to promote zero-budget based farming and to make the MSP more effective and transparent.

• MSP is a form of market intervention (a policy decision not enforceable by law) by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices during bumper production years.
• These are announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (Chaired by the Prime Minister of India).
• The recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops forms the basis of these announcements.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

A total of 1,63,370 Indians relinquished Indian Citizenship in 2021 and received citizenship from other countries, a trend noted highest since 2019.

• The number of Indians who relinquished Indian Citizenship in 2019 and 2020 are 1,44,017; 85,256 respectively. A maximum of 78,284 Indians relinquished Indian Citizenship and received citizenship of the USA followed by 23,533 who took citizenship in Australia; 21,597 in Canada; and 14,637 in the UK in 2021.
• Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai on Tuesday shared the data with the Lok Sabha that mentions "the number of Indians who relinquished Indian Citizenship in 2019, 2020, 2021 are 1,44,017; 85,256; and 1,63,370 respectively".
• Asked about the reasons given by these persons for renouncing Indian citizenship, Rai said "individuals renounced Indian citizenship for reasons personal to them".
• The data provided by the Minister mentions that there are 103 countries where Indians relinquished Indian citizenship.

Hence both statements are correct.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port has become the first 100 per cent Landlord Major Port of India having all berths being operated on PPP model.

• Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, this project will improve the utilization in crane and berth productivity of the terminal.
• The total handling of JNPT will increase to 1.8 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) from the present handling capacity of 1.5 million TEUs in 2020-21.
• The Minister said terminal will also be handling Ro-Ro vessels which will not only lower the logistics cost and reduce transit time but will also contribute in reducing congestion on roads and promoting towards clean environment.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Amendment Bill, 2022 was moved today in the Rajya Sabha amid din.

• The bill seeks to amend the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005.
• The 2005 Act prohibits unlawful activities such as manufacturing, transport, or transfer related to weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.
• Weapons of mass destruction are biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. The bill bars persons from financing any prohibited activity related to weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.
• The house could not take up discussion on the bill due to the opposition's protest over the inflation and GST hike.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Department of Commerce has notified a new Rule - Work from Home in Special Economic Zones Rules, 2006 across all Special Economic Zones.

• The notification was issued on demand from the industry for making a provision for a country-wide uniform Work From Home policy across all Special Economic Zones.
• As per the new notification, Work from Home may be extended to maximum 50 percent of total employees including contractual employees of the unit.
• There is flexibility granted to Development Commissioner of Special Economic Zones to approve a higher number of employees for any bona-fide reason to be recorded in writing. Work From Home is now allowed for a maximum period of one year.
• However, it may be further extended for a period of one year at a time by the Development Commissioner at the request of units.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) stated at the 18th All-India Legal Services meet organised by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) that political opposition translating into hostility is not a sign of a healthy democracy.

National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):

• NALSA has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
• It was established under Article 39 A of Indian constitution.
• It aims to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organise Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
• Currently, Justice N. V. Ramana, the Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief of NALSA.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, 10 (Ten) in-orbit operational communication satellites have been transferred from Government of India to M/s. New Space India Ltd (NSIL), a CPSE under Department of Space.

• Communication satellites viz. GSAT-8, GSAT-10, GSAT-12R (CMS-01), GSAT-14, GSAT-15, GSAT-16, GSAT-17, GSAT-18, GSAT-30 and GSAT-31 have been transferred at a written down value of Rs 4697.60 crores against issue of equity to Government of India, with 01.04.2021 as the effective date of transfer.
• The Board of NSIL is authorized to price the transponder capacity as per the global trends. NSIL shall carry out the activities related to offering and allocation of capacity, as per the guidelines to be adopted by its Board.
• The transfer of operational satellites is part of the Space Sector reforms, aimed at strengthening the role of NSIL in order to enhance the nation’s share in global space economy.
• The Minister also informed that the Government has taken several steps to increase India’s share in global space market, through the reforms undertaken in 2020, which seek to augment the space sector in the country with greater participation of Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs).
• The Indian National Space Promotion & Authorization Centre [IN-SPACe] has been created as a single window agency to promote, handhold and authorize the activities of NGEs in the sector, thus providing them with a level playing field.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India and Namibia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for reintroduction of cheetahs into the historical range in India.

• First batch of eight cheetahs comprising four male and as many female cheetahs are expected to arrive in India before Independence Day.
• The cheetahs will be released in Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
• India plans to introduce 8-10 cheetahs every year with a total 50 from Namibia, South Africa and other African countries over the next five years.
• Under the MoU, both the countries will also collaborate in areas of climate change, environmental governance, environmental impact assessments, pollution and waste management.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

NITI Aayog Releases Report on Digital Banks.

• NITI Aayog’s report makes a case and offers a template and roadmap for a licensing and regulatory regime for digital banks. It focuses on avoiding any regulatory or policy arbitrage and offers a level playing field to incumbents as well as competitors.
• Recommendations: The report recommends a carefully calibrated approach, comprising the following steps -
  • Issue of a restricted digital bank licence (to a given applicant) (the license would be restricted in terms of volume/value of customers serviced and the like).
  • Enlistment (of the licensee) in a regulatory sandbox framework enacted by the Reserve Bank of India.
  • Issue of a ‘full-scale’ digital bank licence (contingent on satisfactory performance of the licensee in the regulatory sandbox, including salient, prudential and technological risk management).

Hence both statements are correct.

The Supreme Court accepted the report of the Banthia Commission and directed the Maharashtra State Election Commission to hold elections as per this report.

• With this, the way for political reservation for candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes in the Local Bodies' Elections in the state has been cleared.
• Apart from this, the top court has also asked to take steps to hold the stalled elections in the state urgently. It has been ordered to announce the Election Schedule in the next two weeks.
• The Jayantkumar Banthia Commission, in its report, recommended that OBCs should be given up to 27 percent reservation in local bodies. As the court accepted this report, OBCs will get 27 percent political reservation in local self-government elections in the state.

Hence both statements are correct.