Daily Current Affairs Quiz: June 24,2021

 ANSWER: A

Why in news ?

Recently, a special court in Mumbai granted bail to an accused of sexually assaulting a minor as he was suffering from Peter Pan Syndrome (PPS).

• A syndrome is a combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

About:

• PPS is a psychological condition that is used to describe an adult who is socially immature.
• People who develop similar behaviours of living life carefree, finding responsibilities challenging in adulthood, and basically never growing up suffer from PPS.
• The term was coined by psychologist Dan Kiley to explain the behaviour of such men who ‘refuse to grow’ and behave their age in 1983.
  • Dan Kiley got the idea of PPS after noticing Peter Pan, a fictional character created by Scottish novelist James Matthew Barrie.
  • Peter Pan was a care-free young boy, who never grew up.
• While the WHO (World Health Organization) does not recognise Peter Pan Syndrome as a health disorder, many experts believe it is a mental health condition that can affect one’s quality of life.

Symptoms:

• PPS hasn’t officially been diagnosed as a health disorder, there are no clearly-defined symptoms or characteristics or even reasons which cause it.
• However, it could affect one’s daily routine, relationships, work ethic, and result in attitudinal changes.

 ANSWER: D

Why in news ?

The Ministry of Culture (MoC) and Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for ‘Cooperation in Development of National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC)’ at Lothal, Gujarat.

About:

• NMHC will be developed in Lothal region of Gujarat.
• It would be developed as an international tourist destination, where the maritime heritage of India from ancient to modern times would be showcased.
  • The idea is to create an edutainment (education with entertainment) approach for this destination that would be of great interest for the visitors.
• It is going to cover an area of 400 acres, with structures such as Heritage Theme Park, National Maritime Heritage Museum, Lighthouse Museum, Maritime Institute, eco-resorts, and more.
• There will also be many pavilions where all coastal states in India and union territories can showcase their artifacts and maritime heritage.
• The unique feature of NMHC is the recreation of ancient Lothal city, which is one of the prominent cities of the ancient Indus valley civilization.

ANSWER: C

Why in news ?

Recently, the Union Minister for Labour and Employment has said that India is making collective efforts to reduce gender gaps in labour force participation.

• He was delivering the Ministerial Address on Declaration and Employment Working Group Priorities at G20 Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting.

G20

• It is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
• The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world’s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.
• Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union.

ANSWER: D

Why in news ?

Recently, the 60^th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty was celebrated.

• The Antarctic treaty remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent.
• It is also the foundation of a rules-based international order for a continent without a permanent population.

About:

• The Antarctic Treaty was signed between 12 countries in Washington on 1^stDecember 1959 for making the Antarctic Continent a demilitarized zone to be preserved for scientific research only.
  • The twelve original signatories are Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the UK and the US.
• It entered into force in 1961 and has since been acceded by many other nations.
• Antarctica is defined as all of the land and ice shelves south of 60°S latitude.
  • Recently, an enormous iceberg ‘A-76‘ has calved from the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf, lying in the Weddell Sea, in Antarctica.

Members:

• Currently it has 54 parties. India became a member of this treaty in 1983.

Headquarters:

• Buenos Aires, Argentina.

ANSWER: B

Why in news ?

For the first time, an electoral trust (under Electoral Trust Scheme, 2013) has declared donation through electoral bonds and hasn’t revealed the names of the political parties that received the money, citing anonymity guaranteed under the electoral bond scheme.

• According to the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), this “practice is against the spirit of the Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013 and the Income Tax Rules, 1962 which make it mandatory for trusts to furnish each and every detail about the donor contributing to the trust.
  • If Electoral trusts start adopting this precedent of donating through bonds, it will be a complete situation of unfair practices i.e. total anonymity, unchecked and unlimited funding, free flow of black money circulation, corruption, foreign funding, corporate donations and related conflict of interest etc.

About the Electoral Trust Scheme:

• Electoral Trust is a non-profit organization formed in India for orderly receiving of the contributions from any person.
• Electoral Trusts are relatively new in India and are part of the ever-growing electoral restructurings in the country.
• Electoral Trusts Scheme, 2013 was notified by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).
  • The provisions related to the electoral trust are under Income-tax Act, 1961 and Income tax rules-1962.

Objective:

• It lays down a procedure for grant of approval to an electoral trust which will receive voluntary contributions and distribute the same to the political parties.
• A political party registered under section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 shall be an eligible political party and an electoral trust shall distribute funds only to the eligible political parties.

ANSWER: C

Why in news ?

Indian states were able to borrow an extra Rs. 1.06 lakh crore in 2020-21 (FY21) due to the Reform Linked Borrowing window.

• This was announced to provide an additional leeway to states in order to cope with the adverse effects of Covid-19 pandemic on the economy.

About:

• This was a nudge, incentivising the States to adopt progressive policies to avail additional funds.
• In October 2020, the Central government had linked permission for additional borrowing of 1% of their GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) to implementation of four critical reforms, which are:
  • Implementation of One Nation One Ration Card System,
  • Ease of doing business reform,
  • Urban Local body/ utility reforms and
  • Power Sector reforms.

Under this reforms-linked borrowing window, states were to get access to funds of up to Rs 2.14 lakh crore on completion of all the four reforms.

• For states completing three of the four reforms, the Centre would provide additional funds assistance of Rs. 2,000 crore for capital expenditure.
• For FY 2021-22, the net borrowing ceiling for states has been fixed at 4% of the projected GSDP (about Rs 8.46 lakh crore), based on recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.

ANSWER: D

Why in news ?

Recently, UN body has endorsed a multinational project called “Committee on Earth Observation Satellites Coastal Observations, Applications, Services, and Tools (CEOS COAST)”.

About CEOS COAST

• CEOS COAST programme is co-led by ISRO and NOAA from US.
• This programme aims to improve accuracy of coastal data on the basis of satellite and land-based observations.
• It also seeks to foster trust and collaboration among scientists.
• This pilot projects are uniquely capable of using Earth Observation technologies to meet 17 UN-designated sustainable development goals for Ocean Decade initiative.
• Themes of these projects are disaster risk reduction & coastal resilience among continental shorelines & small island nations.

About National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is an American scientific agency working under the United States Department of Commerce. It focuses on conditions of oceans, major waterways, and atmosphere. It warns about the dangerous weather, charts seas and guides on use & protection of ocean & coastal resources. It also conducts research to provide understanding and improve stewardship of environment.

 ANSWER: C

Why in news ?

India and Bhutan have jointly launched the “Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB)” on June 23, 2021.

Tax Inspectors without Borders (TIWB)

• TIWB is a joint initiative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
• TIWB seeks to provide support to the developing countries to help them strengthen national tax administrations by building audit capacity.
• It complements the efforts of international community to strengthen cooperation on tax matters & contribute to domestic tax mobilisation efforts.

Aim of TIWB

TIWB programme aims to strengthen tax administrations among developing countries by transferring technical know-how and skills to their tax auditors and by sharing general audit practices & dissemination of knowledge products with them.

ANSWER: C

Why in news ?

United Nations Public Service Day is observed on June 23, to recognise value and virtue of public service to community.

About:

• The day emphasizes on the importance of public service in advancement phase.
• It recognises work of public servants & encourages young people to undertake careers in public sector.
• Background

United Nations Public Service Day is celebrated on June 23 every year. The day was designated by United Nations General Assembly’s resolution to “celebrate the value and virtue of public service to community”.

Theme of the day

This day was observed under the theme “Innovating the Future Public Service: New Government Models for a New Era to Reach Sustainable Development Goals” in 2021.