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Daily Current Affairs Prelims Quiz - 17-10-2020 - (Online Prelims Test)

1) Consider the following statements with respect to Project STARS

  1. The Project envisions improving the overall monitoring and measurement activities in the Indian School Education System through interventions in all the States and UTs of India.
  2. It would be implemented as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.
  3. The project will be financially supported by the World Bank.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : c
  • The Union Cabinet has recently approved the implementation of the STARS project with a total project cost of Rs 5718 crore with the financial support of World Bank amounting to US $ 500 million (approximately Rs. 3700 crore).

Project STARS (Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States)

  • STARS project would be implemented as a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme under Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education. (MOE)
  • The union cabinet also approved the setting up and support to the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH as an independent and autonomous institution under Department of School Education and Literacy, MOE.
  • The project covers 6 States namely Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha.
  • The identified States will be supported tor various interventions for improving the quality of education.
  • The Project envisions improving the overall monitoring and measurement activities in the Indian School Education System through interventions in selected states.
  • The project shifts focus from the provision of inputs and maintaining of outputs to actual outcomes by linking the receipt and disbursement of funds to these outcomes. 
  • The STARS project also aims to focus on initiatives of PM e-Vidya, Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission and National Curricular and Pedagogical Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.

2) Consider the following statements with respect to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 

  1. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
  2. It was founded in 1970 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.      

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : a
  • On the occasion of 75th Anniversary of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on 16th October 2020, Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi released a commemorative coin of Rs 75 denomination to mark the long-standing relation of India with FAO.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

  • It is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
  • It was founded in October 1945 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy.
  • It maintains regional and field offices around the world, operating in over 130 countries.
  • The journey of FAO in making the vulnerable classes and masses stronger, economically and nutritionally, has been unparalleled.

India and FAO

  • India has had a historic association with FAO.
  • Indian Civil Service Officer Dr. Binay Ranjan Sen was the Director General of FAO during 1956-1967. 
  • The World Food Programme, which has won the Nobel Peace Prize 2020, was established during his time.
  • India’s proposals for the International Year of Pulses in 2016 and the International Year of Millets 2023 have also been endorsed by FAO.

3) SCALE India App was launched recently by which of the following Ministries?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : d
  • In an endeavour to provide a single platform to integrate quality assurance across all its services, the Leather Sector Skill Council (LSSC) has recently announced the launch of Skill Certification Assessment for Leather Employees (SCALE) India android app.

SCALE India App

  • It is an initiative which aims to provide a one-stop solution for the skilling, learning, assessment and employment needs of the leather and leather products industry.
  • The platform caters to the need of all the stakeholders of the skilling and employment ecosystem namely – candidate/trainee, employer, employee, assessor and trainer - all at one place.
  • The services are accessible through the web and android application that virtually works on any smart handheld device, desktop/laptop, smartphones, tablets or phablets.
  • Apart from providing end to end quality assurance across training, assessment, and certification services, the app will also help employers engage with other stakeholders seamlessly and provide a marketplace for human capital for the leather industry.

Leather Sector Skill Council (LSSC)

  • Operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), LSSC is committed to strengthen its digital capabilities on quality assurance across training delivery, monitoring, assessments, verification and linkages to ASEEM portal.
  • It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to meet the demand for skilled workforce in the leather industry in India.
  • LSSC was set up in 2012 as one of the key sector skill councils approved by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

4) MACS 6478, often seen in the news recently, is?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : a
  • A new wheat variety called MACS 6478, developed by the Scientists of Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has doubled the crop yield for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra.
  • The chapati from the flour of this wheat also scores high on quality.
  • The newly developed common wheat or bread wheat, also called high yielding Aestivum, matures in 110 days and is resistant to most races of leaf and stem rust.

Fugaku

  • Fugaku is the world's fastest supercomputer, being deployed in the fight against the coronavirus.
  • Japan's Fugaku supercomputer claimed the top spot carrying out 2.8 times more calculations per second than an IBM machine in the US, called Summit.

5) Which of the following has been recently notified as National Authority for Ships Recycling?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : b
  • Central Government has recently notified the Directorate General of Shipping as National Authority for Recycling of Ships under the section 3 of the Recycling of Ships Act, 2019.
  • As an apex body, DG Shipping is authorized to administer, supervise and monitor all activities relating to Ship Recycling.
  • DG Shipping will look after the sustainable development of the Ship Recycling industry, monitoring the compliance to environment-friendly norms and safety and health measures for the stakeholders working in the ship recycling industry.
  • DG Shipping will be the final authority for the various approvals required by the Ship-Recycling yard owners and State Governments.
  • Under Ship Recycling Act, 2019, India has acceded to Hong Kong Convention for Ship Recycling under International Maritime Organization (IMO).
  • DG Shipping is a representative of India in IMO and all the conventions of IMO are being enforced by DG Shipping.
  • National Authority of Ship Recycling will be set up in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
  • The location of the office will benefit the Ship Recycling yard owners situated in Alang, Gujarat which is home of Asia’s largest ship breaking and ship recycling industry in the world.
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