UPSC 2023: Weekly GK and Current Affairs Quiz Sep 03 - Sep 09

• Every Census in independent India from 1951 to 2011 has published data on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, but not on other castes.
• Census till 1931 published the caste data.
• The responsibility of conducting the decennial Census rests with the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• The Ministry of Rural Development commenced the Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011, in rural areas and in urban areas it was carried out by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
• Its objectives were:
  • To enable households to be ranked based on their Socio-Economic status.
  • To make available authentic information that will enable caste-wise population enumeration of the country.
  • To make available authentic information regarding the socio-economic condition, and education status of various castes and sections of the population.

• The Malabar Exercise involves simulated war games.
• It includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers through maritime interdiction operations, anti-submarine warfare, diving salvage operations, amphibious operations, counter-piracy operations, cross–deck helicopter landings and anti-air warfare operations.
• Malabar Exercise started off in 1992 as a bilateral naval exercise between Indian and US navies.
• In 2015, Japan joined the exercise Malabar making it a trilateral naval exercise.
• In 2020, the Australian Navy joined the Malabar Exercise making it a quadrilateral naval exercise. Earlier, Australia joined the exercise in 2007.

• UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is an international organisation working for saving lives, safeguarding the rights and providing a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.
• The Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1950 in the wake of the mass displacements caused due to the Second World War in Europe.
• The High Commissioner reports annually to the General Assembly.
• The work of the High Commissioner shall be of an entirely non-political character.

Read more on United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 

• The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was concluded on 5th March 1931 and is also known as the Delhi Pact.
• Solution by Viceroy Irwin – proposed Congress to suspend civil disobedience movement and participate in the Second Round Table Conference.
• It included the withdrawal of Ordinances promulgated in connection with the Civil Disobedience Movement.
• Gandhiji demanded the release of political prisoners not convicted of violence from jails.

The Yuktdhara portal is an online repository of assets created under various national rural development programmes such as MGNREGA, Integrated Watershed Management Programme, etc.

Read more at PIB Summary & Analysis for 23rd August 2021.

• Chakmas and Hajongs came to India in the 1960s from Bangladesh (East Pakistan) after being displaced due to the submergence of their land due to the construction of the Kaptai dam.
• Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists and Hajongs are Hindus.
• They are both not identified as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).

SARTHAQ, developed by the Department of School Education and Literacy, is an indicative and suggestive implementation plan for school education. It will help in the implementation of the National Education Policy in the country.

• India signed an Inter-Governmental Agreement with Russia for the supply of Krivak stealth frigates in 2016.
• Two Krivak class stealth ships are being built with technology transfer from Russia by Goa Shipyard Ltd. (GSL) under ‘Make in India’.
• 6 Krivak class frigates have been inducted into the Indian Navy under the Talwar class and the Teg class.

• Financial Stability and Development Council was set up in 2010.
• It is headed by the Union Finance Minister.
• It falls under the Department of Economic Affairs.
• It monitors macroprudential supervision of the economy.

• Union Minister of Environment of India recently held a conversation with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC), Mr. John Kerry, to discuss Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue (CAFMD) Track under India-US Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership.
• This partnership is expected to mobilize finance and speed clean energy deployment.

• Global Manufacturing Risk Index, 2021 brought out by real estate consultant Cushman & Wakefield has ranked India as the second-most sought-after manufacturing destination globally.
  • The first spot is occupied by China.
• The index assessed the most advantageous locations for manufacturing among 47 countries.
• The rankings are determined based on four parameters: the country’s capability to restart manufacturing, business environment, operating costs, and the risks.
  • Operating cost competitiveness has been India’s biggest strength in the assessment.

• Nidhi company is a type of company in the Indian non-banking finance sector, recognized under section 406 of the Companies Act, 2013. They are also known as Permanent Fund, Benefit Funds, Mutual Benefit Funds and Mutual Benefit Company.
• Its core business involves lending and borrowing money between its members or shareholders.
• Nidhi companies are governed by Nidhi Rules, 2014. They are incorporated in the nature of Public Limited company.
• No RBI approval is necessary to register the company, as RBI has specifically exempted this category of NBFC in India to comply with its core provisions such as registration with RBI, etc. Hence, Nidhi company does not require a license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to operate.

• Lebanon opens out to the Mediterranean Sea to the West.
• It borders Israel and Syria and not Jordan. It does not border the West Bank area, it is Jordan that borders the West Bank area.

A transcriptome is the full range of messenger RNA or mRNA molecules expressed by an organism. The term “transcriptome” can also be used to describe the array of mRNA transcripts produced in a particular cell or tissue type.

• The Union Ministry of Labour has launched the National Database of Unorganised workers (E-Shram) portal.
• The E-Shram portal will maintain a database of workers in the country’s unorganised sector.
• Unorganised workers, BOCW Workers, SHG members, domestic workers, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, street vendors, rickshaw-pullers, brick-kiln workers, agricultural labourers, MGNREGA workers, fishermen, shopkeepers and small retailers can register on the website.
• The new E-Shram portal will help in accessing social security schemes available for the unorganised workers.
• The workers who register on the portal will get an e-SHRAM card which will have a 12 digit unique number. This card is aimed at the integration of the Centre’s social security schemes. The Universal Account Number on the e-Shram card will be acceptable across the country.

• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced the Startup Accelerator for Product Innovation, Development & Growth (SAMRIDH) programme, which aims to help growing startups in India.
• The SAMRIDH programme will focus on accelerating 300 start-ups by providing customer connect, investor connect, and international immersion in the next three years. Also, an investment of up to ₹ 40 lakh to the start-up based on the current valuation and growth stage of the Start-Up will be provided through selected startup accelerators. It will also facilitate equal matching investment by the accelerator/investor. The programme aims to further the Indian start-up growth which has seen the emergence of 63 Unicorns and is now the third-largest Unicorn hub globally with a total valuation of 168 Bn USD.

• The Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power plant located in Armenia. It is one of the few remaining nuclear reactors of its kind that were built without primary containment structures.
• Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is the largest nuclear power station in India, situated in Kudankulam in the Tirunelveli district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

• The Securities and Exchange Board of India was constituted on April 12, 1988, as a non-statutory body through an Administrative Resolution of the Government for dealing with all matters relating to the development and regulation of the securities market and investor protection and to advise the Government on all these matters. SEBI was given statutory status and powers through an Ordinance promulgated on January 30, 1992. SEBI was established as a statutory body on February 21, 1992. The Ordinance was replaced by an Act of Parliament on April 4, 1992.
• Persons aggrieved by an order of Adjudicating Officer passed under the SEBI Act cannot file an appeal directly at the Supreme Court but can prefer an appeal to Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT). If not satisfied by the order of the SAT, he/she can approach the Supreme Court.
• SEBI has the power to freeze the bank accounts of a violator.

• The barasingha, also called swamp deer, is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent.
• The swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii), the state animal of Madhya Pradesh, is seeing a revival in the Kanha National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) after having been perilously close to extinction for a long time.

• The right to be left alone and the right to be forgotten are components of the right to privacy.
• The right to silence/freedom of silence is a legal principle that guarantees any individual the right to refuse to answer questions from law enforcement officers or court officials. This can be the right to avoid self-incrimination or the right to remain silent when questioned. Art 20(3) of the Indian Constitution provides the right against self-incrimination. It gives the accused the right to remain silent even during interrogation.

• The world-famous Sambhar Salt Lake is located in the state of Rajasthan about 80 km southwest of Jaipur.
• Sambhar Lake is the country’s largest inland saline water body.
• It is surrounded by the Aravali hills on all sides.
• Sambhar Lake is a wetland of ‘international importance’ under the Ramsar Convention.
• The lake is known for being a habitat for a large number of migratory species during the winter season. It includes species like flamingoes, pelicans and waterfowls among others.

• The Universal Postal Union is a United Nations specialized agency and the postal sector’s primary forum for international cooperation.
• It was established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874.
• UPU’s headquarters is located in Bern, Switzerland.
• The International Telecommunication Union (founded in 1865) is the first and oldest international organization—being established employing a treaty, and creating a permanent secretariat, with global membership.

• With a view to provide an impetus to the drone industry in India, the government has tried to simplify provisions related to drone manufacturing and operation in India. The recently published Drone Rules, 2021 introduces the following changes with the aim of facilitating a business-friendly regulatory regime.
  • The total number of forms that were to be filled has been reduced.
  • The need for a security clearance prior to issuance of a registration or licence has been done away with.
  • Foreign ownership of Indian drone related firms has been allowed.

• On November 1, 1858, Lord Canning announced Queen Victoria’s proclamation to “the Princes, Chiefs and Peoples of India,” which unveiled the future policy of British Rule in India.
• It announced that the queen had assumed the government of India and henceforth the Indian administration would be under the British crown.
  • In the wake of the Indian rebellion of 1857, the British government effectively abolished the East India Company in 1858.
• It announced perpetual support for “native princes” and promised no further intention to annex Indian States. It also claimed non-intervention in matters of religious belief or worship within British India.

• Ten Degree Channel separates the Nicobar Islands from the Andaman Islands.
• Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve is included in the list of Man and Biosphere Program of UNESCO.
• Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is an intergovernmental scientific program, launched in 1971 by UNESCO that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.

The Battle of Jamrud was fought between the Emirate of Afghanistan and the Sikh Empire in 1837. It was the last effort made by Emir Dost Mohammad Khan to recapture the former Afghan winter capital of Peshawar.

• The oil and gas industry is usually divided into three major components: upstream, midstream and downstream.
• The upstream industry includes searching for potential underground or underwater crude oil and natural gas fields, drilling exploratory wells, and subsequently drilling and operating the wells that recover and bring the crude oil or raw natural gas to the surface. The upstream is sometimes known as the exploration and production (E&P) sector.
• The midstream sector involves the transportation (by pipeline, rail, barge, oil tanker or truck), storage, and wholesale marketing of crude or refined petroleum products.
• Downstream operations are oil and gas processes that occur after the production phase to the point of sale. This sector of the oil and gas industry—the final step in the production process—is represented by refiners of petroleum crude oil and natural gas processors, who bring usable products to end-users and consumers. They are closest to the customers.

A black hole is a celestial body of extreme density and high gravitational pull that does not reflect or emit radiation. It is a body in space that does not allow any radiation to come out. This is due to its High Density.

• The nation’s current account is its imports, exports, net income, asset income, and direct transfers.
• It consists of Balance of Trade and Balance of Invisibles.