Today’s Current Affairs | UPSC Exam Free Notes | Daily Current Affairs Quiz

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Today’s Current Affairs | UPSC Exam Free Notes | Daily Current Affairs Quiz

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The Central Pollution Control Board of India is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
2. SAFAR is a national initiative introduced by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

CPCB is a statutory organization, was constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Further, CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981,
(i) to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution, and
(ii) to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control, or abate air pollution in the country.
The National Air Monitoring Programme (NAMP) has been established with objectives to determine the present air quality status and trends and to control and regulate pollution from industries and other sources to meet the air quality standards. It also provides background air quality data needed for industrial siting and town planning.

SAFAR

SAFAR envisages a research-based management system where strategies of air pollution mitigation go hand in hand with the nation’s economic development to target a win-win scenario.
Through SAFAR know the City Air Quality- Overall city pollution and Location-specific Air Quality– A relative contribution of different environments in a city
Under the scheme “Metropolitan Advisories for Cities for Sports, Tourism (Metropolitan Air Quality and Weather Services), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India, has introduced a major national initiative, “System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research” known as “SAFAR” for greater metropolitan cities of India to provide location-specific information on air quality in near real-time and its forecast 1-3 days in advance for the first time in India.
The SAFAR system is developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, along with ESSO partner institutions namely the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF).

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the Government of India.
2. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram are protected by the Inner Line.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

What is Inner Line?

A concept drawn by colonial rulers, the Inner Line separated the tribal-populated hill areas in the Northeast from the plains.
To enter and stay for any period in these areas, Indian citizens from other areas need an Inner Line Permit (ILP).
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram are protected by the Inner Line, and lately, Manipur was added.
The concept originates from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act (BEFR), 1873.

Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Psittacosis is an uncommon disease that is usually transmitted to humans from birds.
2.Psittacosis is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia psittaci.
3.Psittacosis is treated with antibiotics for a period of up to two weeks.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Psittacosis:

Psittacosis is a systemic disease that can cause an atypical pneumonia when it infects the lungs.
Psittacosis is also known as avian chlamydiosis, ornithosis, and parrot fever.
This disease is caused by the zoonotic bacterium Chlamydia psittaci, which is transmitted to humans primarily from birds.
Although all birds are susceptible, pet birds and poultry are most frequently involved in transmission to humans.
C. psittaci can be transmitted to humans by direct contact with the animals, avian nasal discharges, infectious avian fecal material, or even inhalation of feather dust. Person-to-person transmission has not been demonstrated

Who is at risk?

People most at risk of infection with psittacosis include bird owners and/or breeders, pet shop employees, and persons whose occupation places them at risk for exposure (e.g. employees in poultry slaughtering and processing plants, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, laboratory workers, workers in avian quarantine stations, taxidermists, farmers, wildlife rehabilitators and zoo workers). Lawn mowing and gardening have also been associated with psittacosis during outbreaks.

Q. Consider the following statements:
1. The National Technical Board on Nutrition, set up by the ministry of agriculture.
2. National Nutrition Mission is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).
3. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

The three top committees are:

The National Nutrition Council (NNC), headed by NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar and including 12 Union Ministers and five Chief Ministers on a rotational basis;
the Executive Committee (EC) of the National Nutrition Mission headed by the Secretary of the Women and Child Development Ministry Ram Mohan Mishra; and
the National Technical Board on Nutrition (NTBN), headed by Member, NITI Aayog, V.K. Paul.

What is the National Nutrition Council?

The National Nutrition Council was created by Presidential Decree 491 (1974) as the country’s highest policy-making and coordinating body on nutrition.
The NNC Governing Board is the collegial body that is chaired by the Secretary of Health. The Board is composed of ten government organizations (DOH, DA, DILG, DepED, DSWD, DTI, DOLE, DOST, DBM and NEDA) represented by their secretaries, and three representatives from the private sector who are appointed by the President for a two-year term with possible reappointment.

National Nutrition Mission

The government is implementing several schemes and programs under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country.
Malnutrition is not a direct cause of death but contributes to mortality and morbidity by reducing resistance to infections.
There are a number of causes of death of children such as prematurity, low birth weight, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, non-communicable diseases, birth asphyxia & birth trauma, injuries, congenital anomalies, acute bacterial sepsis and severe infections, etc.

POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)

POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) is a flagship programme of the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Government of India, which ensures convergence with various programmes i.e., Anganwadi Services, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) of MWCD Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), National Health Mission (NHM), Swachh-Bharat Mission, Public Distribution System (PDS), Department Food & Public Distribution, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Rural Health Mission (NHM).
It is being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and infant mortality by promoting institutional delivery among pregnant women.
The scheme is under implementation in all states and Union Territories (UTs), with a special focus on the Low Performing States (LPS).

National Technical Board Of Nutrition (NTBN)

As per the mandate of the Government of India, MoWCD has constituted the National Technical Board of Nutrition (NTBN) under the Chairmanship of Dr. V.K Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, to provide technical, responsive and evidence-based recommendations on the policy-relevant issues in concerning Nutrition for women and children.

NTBN was formulated with the following objectives:

To make technical recommendations on the policy-relevant issues concerning Nutrition for women and children.
To advise the States/UTs on preventive measures (including behaviour change) and management of SAM children.
To coordinate the collation, synthesis of existing scientific and operational research, identify research gaps and make technical recommendations for the research agenda.
To provide technical guidance on the design of nutrition surveys proposed by States/UTs, other sectors and institutions and their coherence with ongoing National Health and other surveys.
Formulation of India-specific growth indicators including stunting.
Any other issue which may be referred to the Board by the MWCD.

Q. Consider the following statements about the fiscal deficit:
1. The difference between total revenue and total expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal deficit.
2. It is an indication of the total borrowings needed by the government.
3. Fiscal deficit is calculated both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Fiscal Deficit in India

India’s fiscal deficit for the year ending in March is likely to exceed 7% of gross domestic product, three sources told Reuters, as revenue collections suffered from a lockdown and restrictions to rein in the spread of COVID-19.
The difference between total revenue and total expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal deficit. It is an indication of the total borrowings needed by the government. While calculating the total revenue, borrowings are not included.
The gross fiscal deficit (GFD) is the excess of total expenditure including loans net of recovery over revenue receipts (including external grants) and non-debt capital receipts. The net fiscal deficit is the gross fiscal deficit less net lending of the Central government.
Generally, fiscal deficit takes place either due to revenue deficit or a major hike in capital expenditure. Capital expenditure is incurred to create long-term assets such as factories, buildings, and other development.
A deficit is usually financed through borrowing from either the central bank of the country or raising money from capital markets by issuing different instruments like treasury bills and bonds.

Today’s Current Affairs | UPSC Exam Free Notes | Daily Current Affairs Quiz

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