Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 14.02.22

Q1. A single window portal, PARIVESH, was launched in 2018 for

a. Monitoring forest cover across country in real time
b. Early warning system for forest fire
c. Urban planning and design tool
d. Green Clearances

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

Green Clearances
A single window portal, PARIVESH, for all green clearances was launched in 2018. It has been instrumental in reducing the time required for approvals significantly. The scope of this portal will now be expanded, to provide information to the applicants. Based on the location of units, information about specific approvals will be provided. It will enable application for all four approvals through a single form, and tracking of the process through Centralised Processing Centre-Green (CPC-Green).

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

1. This will facilitate reforms for people to live and work closer to mass transit systems
2. The Central Government’s financial support for mass transit projects and AMRUT scheme will be leveraged for facilitating TOD

Which of the above is/are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

Urban Planning Support to States
For urban capacity building, support will be provided to the states. Modernization of building bye laws, Town Planning Schemes (TPS), and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) will be implemented. This will facilitate reforms for people to live and work closer to mass transit systems. The Central Government’s financial support for mass transit projects and AMRUT scheme will be leveraged for formulation of action plans and their implementation for facilitating TOD and TPS by the states.

Q3. Consider the following statements

1. Battery Swapping Policy will improve efficiency in the EV ecosystem
2. Lithium ion batteries can be used in EV

Which of the above is/are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

Battery Swapping Policy
Considering the constraint of space in urban areas for setting up charging stations at scale, a battery swapping policy will be brought out and interoperability standards will be formulated. The private sector will be encouraged to develop sustainable and innovative business models for ‘Battery or Energy as a Service’. This will improve efficiency in the EV ecosystem.
A Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery is a type of rechargeable battery used in electric vehicles and a number of portable electronics. They have a higher energy density than typical lead-acid or nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries.

Q4. Consider the following statements about the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)

1. USOF ensures that there is universal non-discriminatory access to quality ICT services at economically efficient prices to people in rural and remote areas
2. It is a non-lapsable fund
3. It has statutory support under Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003

Which of the above is/are correct?

a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer : d

Why is the Question ?

Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
1. USOF ensures that there is universal non-discriminatory access to quality ICT (Information and Communications Technology) services at economically efficient prices to people in rural and remote areas.
2. It was created under the Ministry of Communications in 2002.
3. It is a non-lapsable fund, i.e. the unspent amount under a targeted financial year does not lapse and is accrued for next years’ spending.

4. All credits to this fund require parliamentary approval and it has statutory support under Indian Telegraph (Amendment) Act, 2003.
Budget 2022-2023
To enable affordable broadband and mobile service proliferation in rural and remote areas, five per cent of annual collections under the Universal Service Obligation Fund will be allocated. This will promote R&D and commercialization of technologies and solutions
Our vision is that all villages and their residents should have the same access to e-services, communication facilities, and digital resources as urban areas and their residents. The contracts for laying optical fibre in all villages, including remote areas, will be awarded under the Bharatnet project through PPP in 2022-23. Completion is expected in 2025. Measures will be taken to enable better and more efficient use of the optical fibre.

Q5. 5G refers to the 5th generation mobile network. When rolled out, it will represent a quantum leap over the current 4G mobile networks. Devices connected to 5G, can have a response time that is 200 times faster than humans. 5G also comes with substantially more capacity and hence will enable more connected devices without issues of network congestion. Which of the following is/are probable uses of 5G technology?

1. Mass deployment of autonomous cars
2. Drones for delivery
3. Robotic surgery
4. Precision agriculture
5. Industrial automation

Select the correct answer from codes given below

a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
c. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
d. 2, 3 and 4 only

Answer : c

Why is the Question ?

All are possible uses of 5G technology.
5G refers to the 5th generation mobile network. When rolled out, it will represent a quantum leap over the current 4G mobile networks. If successfully implemented, it can deliver 10 times faster internet and more than 10 times improvement in latency (the time difference between sending and receiving messages) over 4G. Ultimately 5G is expected to reduce latency to 1 millisecond (one-thousandth of a second). Human reaction time is around 200-250 milliseconds. Hypothetically devices connected to 5G, can have a response time that is 200 times faster than humans. 5G also comes with substantially more capacity and hence will enable more connected devices without issues of network congestion.
5G has potential to unleash a whole range of services and capabilities that are not possible today in terms of scale and precision — mass deployment of autonomous cars, using drones for delivery, remote healthcare (even for critical cases and robotic surgery), precision agriculture (real-time management of crops and fields), virtual reality and industrial automation. This is expected to pave the way for a whole new world of connected devices communicating with each other.