Current Affairs Quiz Today – 15th Jan 2021

ANS: (B) 2 only

Explanation

Cereals Exports of India

• India is one of the largest producers as well as exporter of cereal products in the world. The important cereals are – wheat, paddy, sorghum, millet (Bajra), barley and maize.
• Previously in 2008, India had imposed a ban on export of rice and wheat etc. to meet domestic needs.
  • Owing to huge demand in the global market and country’s surplus production, India allowed limited amounts of export of the commodity.
• Rice (including Basmati and Non Basmati) occupy the major share in India’s total cereals export with 95.7% in 2019-20.
  • Whereas, other cereals including wheat represent only 4.3% share in total cereals exported from India during the year 2019-20. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• Major Export Destinations (2019-20) of Wheat : Nepal, Bangladesh, UAE, Somalia.
• Major Export Destinations (2019-20) of Non Basmati rice: Nepal, Benin, UAE, Somalia. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Major Export Destinations (2019-20) of Basmati Rice: Iran, Saudi Arab, Iraq, UAE.

ANS: (A) 1 only

Explanation:

• PMFBY aims to provide a comprehensive insurance cover against failure of the crop thus helping in stabilising the income of the farmers.
• The scheme is compulsory for loanee farmers availing Crop Loan /KCC account for notified crops and voluntary for other others. The scheme is being administered by Ministry of Agriculture.
• PMFBY to PMFBY 2.0:
  • Completely Voluntary: It has been decided to make enrolment 100% voluntary for all farmers from 2020 Kharif.
  • Limit to Central Subsidy: The Cabinet has decided to cap the Centre’s premium subsidy under these schemes for premium rates up to 30% for unirrigated areas/crops and 25% for irrigated areas/crops.
  • More Flexibility to States: The government has given the flexibility to states/UTs to implement PMFBY and given them the option to select any number of additional risk covers/features like prevented sowing, localised calamity, mid-season adversity, and post-harvest losses.
  • Penalising the Pendency: In the revamped PMFBY, a provision has been incorporated wherein if states don’t release their share before March 31 for the Kharif season and September 30 for rabi, they would not be allowed to participate in the scheme in subsequent seasons.
  • Investing in ICE Activities: Insurance companies have to now spend 0.5% of the total premium collected on information, education and communication (IEC) activities.

ANS: (B) 2 only

Explanation

• The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • It was launched in 2006 and includes 199 different passports.
• Top Rank Holders:
  • Japan continues to hold the number one position on the index, with passport holders able to access 191 destinations around the world visa-free.
  • Singapore is in second place (with a score of 190) and South Korea ties with Germany in third place (with a score of 189). Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• Bottom Rank Holders:
  • Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan continue to be the countries with the worst passport to hold with a passport score of 29, 28 and 26 respectively.
• India’s Performance:
  • India ranks 85^th, with a visa-free score of 58.
  • The Indian passport ranked higher in both 2020 (84^th) and 2019 (82^nd)

ANS: (C) Both 1 and 2

Explanation

• Recently, archaeologists have discovered the world’s oldest known cave art which is a life-sized picture of a wild pig that was painted at least 45,500 years ago in Indonesia. The picture was found in the Leang Tedongnge cave in a remote valley on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Hence, statement 1 and 2 are correct.

ANS: (C) Both 1 and 2

Explanation

• The United States of America (USA) Constitution states that the President can be removed for conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanour.
• Three USA Presidents, Trump in 2019, Bill Clinton in 1998 and Andrew Johnson in 1868, previously were impeached by the House of representatives but acquitted by the Senate. Thus, no USA President ever has been removed from office through impeachment. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• In India, the President can be removed only for ‘violation of the Constitution’ and the Constitution does not define the meaning of the phrase ‘violation of the Constitution’.
• The impeachment charges can be initiated by either House of Parliament – Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. Hence, statement 2 is correct.