Daily Current Affairs Quiz: November 04, 2022

ANSWER: A

• The University Grants Commissionhas written to vice-chancellors and principals of all universities and colleges in this regard following recommendations of a committee constituted last year by the education ministry to promote Indian languages. All higher education institutions in India must observe a ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Divas’ on December 11 every year to create “language harmony” and develop a conducive environment for learning Indian languages.

What is the proposal of the committee?

• The committee has proposed to observe December 11 as ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Diwas’ or ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Utsav’ on the birth anniversary of poet Subramania Bharati, a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry who penned songs to kindle patriotism during the Independence movement.
• The commission also shared a concept note of the proposal with the universities, according to which universities and colleges will organise competitions, games, exhibitions and other activities to mark the day. They will also be felicitating students who know multiple languages or those who can read the scripts of major Indian languages.
• The central government has been making efforts to promote Indian languages. It is soon going to establish 22 bhasha kendras (language centres) to promote Indian languages as enshrined in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.

ANSWER: C

• West African country, Ghanaassumes the rotating monthly Presidency of the United Nations Security Council. During the month of November 2022, Ghana shall preside over the meetings of the Council (adoptions, debates and consultations) and, under its authority, shall represent the Security Council in its capacity as an organ of the United Nations.

About the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council:

• In its capacity as President of the UN Security Council, Ghana is focusing on enhancing Global Peace and Security for Sustainable and Inclusive Development, particularly on the continent of Africa.
• This will be by fully addressing underlying causes and drivers of conflict linked to the growing youth bulge, poverty, climate change and the absence of resilient institutions.
• Ghana rejoined the UN Security Council onJanuary 1, 2022. It is the third time Ghana is holding a non­ permanent seat on the Council.
• Ghana was first given the opportunity to serve on the council from 1962 to 1963, and was back for the period of January 2006 – December 2007.

Composition of UN Security Council

• The UN Security Council is composed of 15 members, including five permanent member states– China, France, Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Kingdom – and 10 non-permanent member states, which are elected by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
• Ten non-permanent members are elected to the UNSC every year for a two-year term.
• The 10 non-permanent seats are distributed among the regions of the world: five seats for African and Asian countries (three are for Africa and two for Asia), one for Eastern European countries, two for Latin American and Caribbean countries, and the remaining two for Western European and other countries.
• The Africa and Asia Pacific group takes turns every two years to put up an Arab candidate.

ANSWER: D

• In Kerala, the 15th edition of the Urban Mobility India Conference & Expo opens in Kochi tomorrow. Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will jointly inaugurate the three-day conference.
• Senior officers from the central and state governments, policymakers, Managing Directors of Metro Rail Companies, Chief Executives of transport undertakings, and international experts are participating in the conference.
• The meet will focus on the theme, ‘Azadi @ 75 — Sustainable Aatmanirbhar Urban Mobility’.
• The event lays strong emphasis on building capabilities at the state and city level to address problems associated with urban transport.
• It will also focus on designing and implementing efficient, high-quality transport system in cities.
• It will also focus on laying down guidelines for developing equitable and sustainable urban transport systems for all sections of the society.

ANSWER: C

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved ₹51,875 crore subsidy for phosphatic & potassic fertilisers for the rabi season.
• “This will enable smooth availability of all P&K fertilizers to the farmers during Rabi 2022-23 (October-March) at the subsidized / affordable prices of fertilizers and support the agriculture sector. The volatility in the international prices of fertilizers and raw materials has been primarily absorbed by the Union Government,” said a, official release.
• The subsidy on P&K fertilisers, which includes support for indigenous fertiliser through freight subsidy, will be provided based on the nutrient based subsidy rates approved by the CCEA to ensure smooth availability of these fertilisers to the farmers at affordable prices.

The nutrient based subsidy scheme:

• The nutrient based subsidy scheme is being implemented since April 2010.
• Under the NBS policy, a fixed rate of subsidy (in ₹per Kg basis) is announced on nutrients namely Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P), Potash (K) and Sulphur (S) by the government on annual basis.
• The per kilogram subsidy rates on the nutrients are converted into per tonne subsidy on the various P&K fertilisers covered under the policy.
• Government is making available fertilizers, namely Urea and 25 grades for P&K fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices through fertilizer manufacturers/importers. The subsidy on P&K fertilizers is being governed by NBS Scheme w.e.f. 01.04.2010.
• In view of steep increase in the international prices of fertilizers & inputs i.e. Urea, DAP, MOP and Sulphur, Government has decided to absorb the increased prices by increasing subsidy on P&K fertilizers including DAP.

ANSWER: C

• Rajasthan has launched an Enterprise Promotion scheme-2023 to ensure effective participation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the industrial development of the state.
• The Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Rajasthan Dalit, Tribal Enterprise Promotion Scheme-2022 will play an effective role and the objectives of this scheme is to ensure effective participation of SC and ST in the development of non-agricultural sectors (manufacturing, service and trade) of the state, said Industries Minister Shakuntala Rawat.
• Rawat further said that it will also help in the development of skill and entrepreneurship for the deprived and weaker sections of the society and  prevent the migration to the cities by creating self-employment opportunities for the educated youths of the targeted classes.
• This scheme provides entrepreneurs with a 9% interest subsidy on loans up to Rs 25 lakh and a 7% interest subsidy on loans up to Rs 5 crore, as well as a provision for margin money of up to 25% of the project cost up to Rs 25 lakh, the Minister said.
• As a result, investors from Scheduled Castes and Tribes will be encouraged to establish new industries and conduct business in the service sector, she added.
• Under the scheme, an incubation centre costing Rs 100 crore will be set up in collaboration with DICCI and CII, in which all necessary residential training facilities will be provided to the youth of these categories, including setting up, and operating an enterprise.
• The rate of reservation payable to these categories of entrepreneurs in RIICO industrial areas has also been increased from 5 to 6 percent. Apart from this, the prescribed limit of plots to be allotted has been increased from 2000 square metres to 4000 square meters.
• According the Minister, in the Rajasthan Investment Promotion Scheme 2019, the minimum investment limit for thrust sectors has been increased to 50 percent for these entrepreneurs, so that more and more enterprises can benefit.
• Apart from all this, all types of guidance and cooperation will be provided by the Industries Department to such entrepreneurs before and during the establishment of the industry. For this, the application process will be made easy, transparent, and online. In the next 5 years, a loan of about Rs 1200 crore will be made available to the entrepreneurs.
• A resident of Rajasthan origin who belongs to the Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe category and is above 18 years of age at the time of application.

ANSWER: D

• Renowned women’s rights activist Ela Bhatt, the founder of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), died due to age-related issues.
• Bhatt (89), a Padma Bhushan recipient, was a pioneer in the field of women’s empowerment and had received international recognition due to her work.
• Bhatt is mainly known for her work through the Self-Employed Women’s Association or SEWA, a trade union of women working in the unorganised sector, which now has two million members.
• Bhatt was born in Ahmedabad on September 7, 1933. After a short stint as a college teacher, she joined the legal department of the Textile Labour Association (TLA), one of the oldest unions of textile workers in Ahmedabad, in the 1960s.

ANSWER: C

• Microsoft Corp said it would extend technology support for Ukraine free of charge through 2023, as Russia’s invasion of the country drags on.
• Microsoft said it would provide additional technology aid of nearly $100 million, bringing its total support for Ukraine to more than $400 million since the crisis started in February.
• A number of companies across Europe and North America have mobilized in offering aid to Ukrainian authorities and people.
• Earlier in June, Microsoft also said it was making substantial cuts to its business in Russia, joining a list of companies that had reduced their exposure or pulled out of the country in response to the invasion.

ANSWER: A

• The first ‘The International Day for Biosphere Reserves’, celebrated on November 3, 2022.
• The UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) was formed in 1971.
• WNBR covers internationally designated protected areas, known as biosphere reserves, which are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature (e.g. encourage sustainable development).
• They are created under the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB).

About the biosphere reserves:

• All biosphere reserves are internationally recognised sites on land, at the coast, or in the oceans.

There are 738 biosphere reserves in 134 countries, including 22 transboundary sites. They are distributed as follows:

• 90 sites in 33 countries in Africa
• 36 sites in 14 countries in the Arab States
• 172 sites in 24 countries in Asia and the Pacific
• 308 sites in 41 countries in Europe and North America
• 132 sites in 22 countries Latin America and the Caribbean.

India has 12 internationally recognised BRs. They are as follows:

• Nilgiri
• Gulf of Mannar
• Sunderban
• Nanda Devi
• Nokrek
• Pachmarhi
• Similipal
• Achanakmar-Amarkantak
• Great Nicobar
• Agasthyamala
• Khangchendzonga
• Panna

Nomination & approval of biosphere reserves:

• Governments alone decide which areas to nominate.
• Before approval by UNESCO, the sites are externally examined.
• If approved, they will be managed based on a plan, reinforced by credibility checks while remaining under the sovereignty of their national government.

ANSWER: D

• A wreath laying ceremony was held by the Indian Army in the honour of Major Somnath, PVC (Posthumous), at Saviours of Kashmir War Memorial located at Srinagar International Airport.
• Major Somnath of the 4th Battalion, the Kumaon Regiment led ‘D’ Company of his battalion at Budgam against the raiders approaching Srinagar from North on November 3, 1947.
• Despite being heavily outnumbered and coming under heavy fire, ‘D’ Company under his leadership foiled the enemy’s advance towards Srinagar airfield during the crucial hours.
• In this decisive battle of 1947, Major Somnath along with one Junior Commissioned Officer and 20 other ranks made the supreme sacrifice, defending the motherland against all odds.
• For his ultimate courage, leadership and dedication, Major Somnath was conferred with the country’s first and highest war time gallantry award – the Param Vir Chakra – posthumously.
• On behalf of Lt General ADS Aujla, General Officer Commanding, Chinar Corps, Colonel Manoram Yadav, Officiating Commandant, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre, laid the wreath at the Saviours of Kashmir War Memorial as a mark of respect to Major Somnath.
• Somnath Sharma was born on January 31, 1923, in a military family.
• He was the native of Dadh village in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh.
• His father, Major General (retd) Amarnath Sharma, who headed the Army Medical Corps, set up a charitable dispensary in 1955 in memory of his son.

ANSWER: B

• A seven-member National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) team today visited the Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) for physical verification of the self-study report submitted by the university.
• The team, which is headed by Arun K Pujari and includes Santa Ram Joshi, Telagam Chetty Tripura Sundari, Vijaya Bhaskar Raju K, Ajitava Raychaudhuri, Balabhim Biradar and Krishnan Krishnan, is on a three-day visit to the HPU.
• It will evaluate the performance of the university on the basis of curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, e-governance, research and patents, and best teaching practices.
• The team inspected Sanskrit, English, History, Visual Arts, Commerce, Tribal Studies, Journalism, Vocational Studies, Geography, Bio-technology, Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Hindi and Sociology departments. The assessment is based on 70 per cent self-study report and 30 per cent physical evaluation.
• After a drop in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) last year, the HPU management had issued instructions to all the departments to fill the gaps and rectify the shortcomings to improve NAAC grading from A to A+.
• One of the reasons for which the HPU was awarded Grade A was to become the first university in the country in implementing the semester system under Rashtriya Uchchattar Shiksha Abhiyan. However, the state government and the university has reverted back to the annual examination system, creating several problems for the students and other stakeholders.

Performance criteria

• The team will evaluate the performance on the basis of curriculum, faculty, infrastructure, e-governance, research and patents, etc
• After a drop in the NIRF rank last year, the HPU instructed its departments to rectify gaps to improve grading from A to A+