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Daily Current Affairs Prelims Quiz 20-05-2023 (Online Prelims Test)

1) Consider the following statements with respect to Strengthening Teaching-Learning and Results for States (STARS) Program

  1. It aims to strengthen Vocational Education and School-to-Work Transition.
  2. It is a central sector scheme aligned with objectives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
  3. It is a World Bank aided project under the Ministry of Education.

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

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : b

Ministry of Education and World Bank organized a workshop on School-to-Work Transition under the STARS Program in Mumbai.

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

  • Aim – To strengthen Vocational Education and School-to-Work Transition.
  • Agency – Ministry of Education and World Bank.
  • It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
  • It is carved out of Samagra Shiksha, with a focus on those elements of the scheme that will most directly support school education enhancement.
  • 6 STARS States - Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
  • A broad-based strategy was proposed with focus on
    • Vocational education,
    • Industry tie-ups,
    • Integrating vocational studies with school curricula and
    • Modifying the existing school syllabus to meet industry demands and make students job ready after class 12th.
  • The overall focus and components of the STARS project are aligned with objectives of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
  • The program supports the National Assessment Centre, PARAKH

PARAKH

  • Performance Assessment, Review, and Analysis of Knowledge for Holistic Development (PARAKH).
  • It has been launched as part of implementing National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
  • Aim - Build students confidence and motivate them to make progress in personal and professional career.
  • Develop new learning programs that matches with the student's interest and their skill sets.

2) Consider the following statements with respect to Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

  1. It is a not-for-profit company incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013.
  2. It aims to promote open networks for all aspects of exchange of goods and services over digital networks.
  3. Unlike the current platform centric model, it works based on network centric model.

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

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : d

Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

  • It is a not-for-profit company incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013, manages and operates the ONDC Network.
  • Aim - It aims to promote open networks for all aspects of exchange of goods and services over digital networks.
  • Unlike current platform centric model, it works based on network centric model.
  • It is based on open-sourced methodology independent of any specific platform.
  • It aims to create a level playing field for e-commerce behemoths such as Amazon, Flipkart, and offline traders.
  • It is to create new opportunities, curb digital monopolies and by supporting MSME and small traders and help them get on online platforms.
  • Agency - It is an initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • The platform will also be compliant with the Information Technology Act, 2000.

3) Under the recent RBI Framework for green deposits, which of the following sectors are eligible for Green Deposits?

  1. Renewable Energy
  2. Sustainable Water
  3. Nuclear power
  4. Pollution Prevention and Control
  5. Fossil fuels

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : b

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) came up with a regulatory framework for banks to accept green deposits from customers

Green Deposits

  • A green deposit is a fixed-term deposit for investors looking to invest in environmentally friendly projects.
  • Green deposits are vary from the regular deposits only on that banks promise to earmark the money to be used towards environment-friendly projects.
  • Banks will have to come up with a set of rules or policies approved by their respective Boards that need to be followed while investing green deposits from customers.

Sectors eligible for green deposits

  • Renewable Energy,
  • Clean Transportation,
  • Pollution Prevention and Control,
  • Green Building,
  • Sustainable Water,
  • Wastewater Management, and others.

Sectors ineligible for green deposits

  • Fossil fuels,
  • Nuclear power,
  • Tobacco, etc,.
  • Banks - HSBC and HDFC have launched green deposits in India for corporates as well as individuals.

4) Match the following Drying Lakes with their respective Regions

        Drying Lakes                                                    Regions

  1. Aral Sea                                 -                     Central Asia
  2. Xinkai Lake                             -                    Middle East
  3. Dead Sea                                -                    Eastern Asia
  4. Toshka Lakes                          -                    Northeastern Africa

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : c

A recent study shows that more than half of the world's large lakes are drying up.

Aral Sea                                                   

  • It is a saltwater lake located in Central Asia.
  • It shares the boundary between Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the south.
  • It has shrinked in its area and volume that began in the second half of the 20th century.Aral sea

Dead Sea                                                 

  • It is a salt lake between Israel and Jordan in southwestern Asia.
  • Jordan River is the main source of water for this lake.
  • It diverted its flow from mid-2010 so the lake is getting drier.

dead sea

Xinkai Lake                                               

  • It is located in Eastern Asia.
  • It is a freshwater lake is located in northern Inner Mongolia near the Russian border.

Toshka Lakes                                             

  • It is located in north–eastern corner of Africa, a hyper arid area in the Western Egyptian Desert.
  • This lake is diminishing with low Nile discharges and appeared again with the Lake Nasser high flood.

5) Operation Karuna recently seen in news is related to?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : b

India launches Operation Karuna to assist cyclone-hit Myanmar

Operation Karuna

  • It is an Indian Mission to assist Myanmar which has been devastated by Cyclone Mocha.
  • It is an operation done by Indian Navy.
  • Materials were brought by INS Shivalik, INS Kamorta and INS Savitri and INS Gharial.

Cyclone Mocha

  • It formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal, intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm.
  • It made landfall on the Myanmar coast near Sittwe and Cox’s Bazar (Bangladesh).
  • The India Meteorological Department (IMD) categorised Cycloe Mocha as an ‘Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm’.
  • Yemen suggested the name Mocha supposed to be pronounced as Mokha.
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