Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 19-07-2022

Q1. Which of the following country is not member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation?

1. Russia
2. China
3. India
4. Afghanistan

Answer (d)

Explanation:

• Iran and Belarus could soon become the newest members of the China and Russia-backed Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
• Founded in June 2001, it was built on the ‘Shanghai Five’, the grouping which consisted of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
• They came together in the post-Soviet era in 1996, in order to work on regional security, reduction of border troops and They endowed particular focus on ‘conflict resolution’, given its early success between China and Russia, and then within the Central Asian Republics.
• The grouping comprises eight member states — India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and The SCO also has four observer states — Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia — of which Iran and Belarus are now moving towards full membership.

  

Success so far:

• Some of their prominent outcomes in this arena entail an ‘Agreement on Confidence-Building in the Military Field Along the Border Areas’ (in 1996) between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which led to an agreement on the mutual reduction of military forces on their common borders in 1997. It would also pitch in to help the Central Asian countries resolve some of their boundary disputes.
• The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (RATS-SCO) is a permanent body of the SCO and is intended to facilitate coordination and interaction between the   SCO   member   states   in   the   fight   against         terrorism, extremism and separatism.

Relevant to India:

• India acquired the observer status in the grouping in 2005 and was admitted as a full member in 2017.
• Through the years, the SCO hosts have encouraged members to use the platform to discuss differences with other members on the sidelines.

Q2. Recently Marburg virus outbreak was seen in

1. Africa
2. South Asia
3. West Asia
4. Europe

Answer (a)

Explanation:

• Ghana has officially confirmed two cases of the Marburg virus, a highly infectious disease similar to Ebola.
• The disease, a very infectious hemorrhagic fever in the same family as Ebola, is spread to people by fruit bats and transmitted among people through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected people and surfaces.
• There have been a dozen major Marburg outbreaks since 1967, mostly in southern and eastern Fatality rates have varied from 24% to 88% in past outbreaks depending on the virus strain and case management, according to the WHO.

Q3. Consider the following statements

1. India’s cooperative sector is the world’s largest
2. Amul, Lijjat Papad and IFFCO are examples of cooperatives

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (c)

Explanation:

India’s cooperative sector is the world’s largest

• Cooperatives are essentially collectives of small producers who pull in their resources to achieve scale and collective bargaining power in markets.
• While there are some iconic cooperative businesses in the country, such as the dairy giant, Amul, papad-maker Lijjat Papad and the fertiliser major IFFCO, the sector in many areas is hobbled by inefficiencies and opaque patronage systems.
• India’s cooperative sector is the world’s largest, with over 900,000 societies with a membership of about 290 million people, according to data from the National Cooperative Union of India.

Q4. Consider the following statements about Transgenders

1. Third gender got recognition from Supreme Court of India Navtej singh Johar case
2. According to Census 2011 their population is around 5 lakhs
3. Indian Census has never recognized third gender till census 2011
4. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) act 2019 provides reservation under OBC category for transgender

Which of the above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3
3. 1, 2 and 4
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer (b)

Explanation:

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) act 2019 makes all the stakeholders responsive and accountable for upholding the principles underlying the Act. It will bring greater accountability on the part of the Central Government and State Governments/Union Territories Administrations for issues concerning Transgender persons. The Act will benefit a large number of transgender persons, mitigate the stigma, discrimination and abuse against this marginalized section and bring them into the mainstream of society. It will lead to greater inclusiveness and will make the transgender persons productive members of the society. There is no explicit provision for reservation, though state can provide.

Third gender got recognition in National Legal Services Authority vs Union of India (NALSA) judgment. Indian Census has never recognized third gender i.e. Transgender while collecting census data for years. But in 2011, data of Transgender's were collected with details related to their employment, Literacy and Caste. In India, total population of transgender is around 4.88 Lakh as per 2011 census. The data of Transgender has been clubbed inside "Males" in the primary data released by Census Department. For educational purpose, separate data of Transgender has been curved out from that. Literacy among transgender is 56% according to census.

Q5. The National Investigation Agency has a mandate to investigate offences in which of the following category?

1. Explosive substances
2. Human trafficking
3. Manufacturing and sale of prohibited arms
4. Cyber terrorism
5. Offences related to counterfeit currency

Select the correct answer from the codes given below

1. 2, 3 and 4 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1, 2 and 3 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Answer (d)

Explanation:

National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Act, 2019

• NIA empowered with extra territorial jurisdiction for investigation of terrorism related offences taking place outside India, in which Indian property/citizens are victims
• Special Courts: The Act allows the central government to constitute Special Courts for the trial of scheduled offences.
• Scheduled offences: The schedule to the Act specifies a list of offences which are to be investigated and prosecuted by the These include offences under Acts such as the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
• The mandate of NIA is expanded by inclusion of new offences explosive substances, human trafficking, manufacturing/sale of prohibited arms, offences related to counterfeit currency and cyber terrorism, to its Schedule