Current Affairs Quiz Today – 11th Feb 2021

ANS: (B) INS Vikrant

Explanation:

• The first-ever aircraft carrier warship of India was INS Vikrant.
• It was decommissioned in 1997.
• INS Vikrant aircraft carrier was bought from the UK, it was first named HMS Hercules and renamed after its sale to India.

ANS: (D) None of the above

ANS: (C) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

• Gaganyaan is a mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Under the Gaganyaan schedule:
  • Three flights will be sent into orbit.
  • There will be two unmanned flights and one human spaceflight.
• The human space flight programme will have three Indian astronauts, including a woman. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• GSLV Mk III, also called the LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3,) the three-stage heavy lift launch vehicle, will be used to launch Gaganyaan as it has the necessary payload capability. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• The mission will help in enhancement of science and technology levels in the country and help inspire youth.
  • Gaganyaan will involve numerous agencies, laboratories, disciplines, industries and departments.
  • Recently, the Government has announced a new organisation, IN-SPACe, part of reforms to increase private participation in the space sector. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

ANS: (A) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

• The Union Budget 2021 has announced the privatisation of two public sector banks and one general insurance company in the upcoming fiscal 2021-22.
• Many committees had proposed bringing down the government stake in public banks below 51%:
• Narasimham Committee, 1998
  • The merger of major banks which will have a ‘multiplier effect’ on the industry.
  • Improve the strength of the Indian banking system the committee recommended to raise capital adequacy norms.
  • Review of functions of boards to adopt a professional corporate strategy to check the imbalance between government control over the banks in the form of management and ownership, and bank autonomy.
• PJ Nayak Committee, 2014
  • Conversion of PSBs into Companies as per the Companies Act.
  • Formation of a Bank Investment Company (BIC) under the Companies Act and transfer of shares by the central government in PSBs to the BIC.
  • BIC should be given the controlling power of boards of PSBs.
  • Proportionate voting rights to all shareholders and reduction of government shareholding to 40%.
• Abhijit Sen Committee (2002) is related to the Long Term Food Policy of India.
• The Abhijit Sen committee (2007) was formed to study the impact, if any, on futures trading on agricultural commodity prices (not banking reforms).
• Hence, option A is correct.