Current Affairs Questions

Explanation :

• PM Kisan SAMPADA Yojana(PMKSY) is a Central Sector Scheme aiming to create modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet.
• It is an umbrella scheme with its period coterminous with the cycle of 14^th Finance Commission.

Objectives

• Creation of modern infrastructure for food processing mega food parks/ clusters and individual units
• To create effective backward and forward linkages - linking farmers, processors and markets
• To create robust supply chain infrastructure for perishables

Seven Components of PMKSY

• Mega Food Parks
• Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure
• Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing/ Preservation Capacities (Unit Scheme)
• Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters
• Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages
• Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure
• Human Resources and Institutions

Explanation :

• The Indian Air Force (IAF) and Royal Air Force (RAF) of United Kingdom, jointly commenced the fifth edition of Ex Indradhanush at Air Force Station Hindan on 24^thFebruary,2020.
• The focus of this edition of the exercise is 'Base Defence and Force Protection'.
• This theme is of significance considering the recent threats to military establishments from terror elements.
• The exercise started in 2006 and has held four editions so far.
• Ex Indradhanush provides a platform for the IAF and RAF to share and jointly validate strategies and tactics to counter terror threats to their installations.

Explanation :

• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction-2015-2030 is a global agreement to reduce and prevent disaster risks across the globe.
• The Framework was adopted at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai, Japan, on March 18, 2015.
• It aims to achieve the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries over the next 15 years.
• It sets four specific priorities for action:
  • -Understanding disaster risk;
  • -Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk;
  • -Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience;
  • -Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to "Build Back Better" in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Explanation :

• Also called as pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, H1N1 is a subtype of influenza A virus (a communicable viral disease), which causes upper, and potentially, lower respiratory tract infections in the host it infects.
• Symptoms of H1N1 includes fever, chills and sore throat; and is similar to seasonal influenza but has been characterised by higher fatality rates among healthy young adults and higher incidence of viral pneumonia.
• It spreads from person to person, either by touching the affected person or inhaling.
• The first outbreak of H1N1 was witnessed by the world in 2009 and soon declared as ‘Pandemic’ by the World Health Organisation.

Explanation :

• The International Judicial Conference-2020, organized by the Supreme Court of India, was held from 21st-23rd February, 2020 in New Delhi, under the theme- Judiciary and the Changing World.
• The Conference discussed the changes being introduced by the Government of India to bring Gender Equality in recruiting women in military services, selection process of fighter pilots, freedom of women to work in mines at night.
• The Conference also focused on the need for technology to deliver rapid justice.

Explanation :

• The Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), also known commonly as the Pacific Ridley Sea Turtle, is a species of turtle in the family Cheloniidae.
• The turtle is named for the generally greenish color of its skin and shell, or carapace. It is closely related to the Kemp’s Ridley, with the primary distinction being that Olive Ridleys are found only in warmer waters, including the Southern Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• Olive and Kemp’s Ridleys are the smallest of the sea turtles, weighing up to 100 pounds and reaching only about 2 feet in shell length.
• These turtles are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada.
• The Olive Ridley is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), and is listed in Appendix I of CITES.

Explanation :

• Mahadayi River rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district. Flowing westward, it enters Goa from Sattari taluk of North Goa district.
• A number of streams join the flow of the river to form the Mandovi which is one of two major rivers that flow through Goa.
• It joins the Arabian Sea at Panaji.
• The Mahadayi River, also spelt Mhadei or Mahadeyi, stretches 111-km. Over two-thirds of the river’s stretch lies in Goa (76km).
• Mapusa River is an important tributary of Mandovi.
• Dudhsagar Falls and Varapoha Falls are important falls located on Mandovi River.

Explanation :

• Launched in 2016, SPMRM follows the vision of - Development of a cluster of villages that preserve and nurture the essence of rural community life with focus on equity and inclusiveness without compromising with the facilities perceived to be essentially urban in nature, thus creating a cluster of "Rurban Villages".
• The objective is to stimulate local economic development, enhance basic services, and create well planned Rurban clusters.
• Substantial part of the works identified for development in the clusters is focused on provision of basic and economic amenities.
• Provision of basic amenities in a cluster typically comprise; provision of 24/7 Water Supply to all households, Solid and Liquid Waste Management facilities at the household and cluster level, provision of Inter and Intra village roads within the cluster, adequate Street Lights and Public Transport facilities using green technologies.
• Provision of Economic Amenities in a cluster comprise various thematic areas in the sectors of Agri Services and Processing, Tourism, and Skill Development to promote Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.

Explanation :

• Three Indian species –the mainland Asian elephant, Great Indian Bustard and the Bengal Florican were selected for priority bio-diversity conservation at the United Nations summit for conservation of migratory species of wild animals.
• All the three animals were included in the ‘Appendix I’ of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of wild animals (CMS). The announcement was made at the 13th Conference of Parties (COP) of the CMS being hosted by India, in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from February 17-22, 2020.

Significance

• Inclusion in the 'Appendix I’ is for ‘migratory species threatened with extinction’ would lead to push for greater habitat protection, prohibition against poaching and facilitation of their movement in the regions and countries that are part of these species ranges.

Explanation :

• On 20^th February, 2020, the two hill states of northeast, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, celebrated their 32nd Statehood Day.

Mizoram

• Mizoram being a mountainous region was a district off Assam till 1972. It became a state with the implementation of North-Eastern Reorganization Act, 1972. It became the 23rd Indian state on February 20, 1987.

Arunachal Pradesh

• The state was called the North-East Frontier Agency. Later in 1975, an elected Legislative Assembly was constituted. After the Reorganization Act, 1972, Arunachal Pradesh remained as a Union Territory. It became a state in 1987.