Daily UPSC Prelims Current Affairs – February 9, 2023 [Mock Test]
February 25, 2023 February 25, 2023
1. Which of the following bodies is responsible for:
- Taking punitive actions under the Environment Protection Act.
- The appraisal of activities that involve the large-scale use of hazardous microbes and recombinants in research from the point of view of the environment.
- Proposals regarding the use of living modified organism that comes in the risk category III and above in the import/manufacture of recombinant pharma products
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] NITI Aayog
[B] Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
[C] Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
[D] Central Pollution Control Board
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee]
Notes:- The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), is responsible for the assessment of proposals related to the release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment, including experimental field trials.
- GEAC or people authorised by it have the power to take punitive actions under the Environment Protection Act.
- It is responsible for the appraisal of activities that involve the large-scale use of hazardous microbes and recombinants in research and industrial production from the point of view of the environment.
- The body also looks into proposals regarding the use of living modified organism that comes in the risk category III and above in the import/manufacture of recombinant pharma products, or where the end-product of the recombinant pharma product is a modified living organism.
- The approval of the GEAC is mandatory before genetically modified organisms and products derived from them can be used commercially.
2. Arrange the following blue flag beaches in India from North to South:
- Shivrajpur
- Ghogla
- Kovalam
- Rushikonda
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] 1, 2, 3, 4
[B] 2, 1, 4, 3
[C] 1, 2, 4, 3
[D] 1, 3, 2, 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1, 2, 4, 3]
Notes:- Blue Flag certification is a globally recognized eco-label accorded by Foundation for Environment Education in Denmark (FEE). The water bodies are given this label if the stringent criteria are maintained.
- The Indian beaches on the list, according to the FEE site, are Shivrajpur in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district; Ghogla beach in Diu; Kasarkod (Uttara Kannada) and Padubidri (Udupi) in Karnataka; Kappad (Kozhikode) in Kerala; Eden beach in Puducherry; Kovalam (Chennai) in Tamil Nadu; Rushikonda (Visakhapatnam) in Andhra Pradesh; Golden beach in Puri, Odisha; and Radhanagar Swarajdeep in Andaman and Nicobar. The two newest beaches are Minicoy Thundi beach and Kadmat beach, both in Lakshadweep.
3. Which of the following statements with respect to the Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is/are correct?
- It is a scheme for loans up to 50 lakhs to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.
- The nodal ministry for the implementation of the scheme is the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Choose the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 & 2
[D] Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Neither 1 nor 2]
Notes:- Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a scheme launched on April 8, 2015, for providing loans up to 10 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises.
- These loans are classified as MUDRA loans under PMMY. These loans are given by Commercial Banks, RRBs, Small Finance Banks, MFIs, and NBFCs.
- Under the aegis of PMMY, MUDRA has created three products namely ‘Shishu’, ‘Kishore’, and ‘Tarun’ to signify the stage of growth/development and funding needs of the beneficiary micro unit/entrepreneur and also provide a reference point for the next phase of graduation/growth.
- Shishu: Providing coverage for loans up to Rs. 50000
- Kishore: Loans beyond Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 5 lakh are covered.
- Tarun: covers loans up to Rs. 10 lakh.
- The Union Ministry of Finance implements it.
