Current Affais Quiz , 06 Nov 2018

1) The National Sample Survey Organisation comes under the aegis of

a) Ministry of Labour and Employment
b) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation
c) Ministry of Human Resource Development
d) Ministry of Home Affairs

Answer: b
• The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), formerly called the National Sample Survey Organisation is the largest organisation in India conducting periodic socio-economic surveys. It is under the Ministry of Statistics of the Indian government. Set up in 1950, the employees of the NSSO are from the Indian Statistical Service (appointed through the UPSC) and the Subordinate Statistical Service (appointed through the Staff Selection Commission). The NSSO conducts large-scale sample surveys throughout India. It is headed by a Director General.
• The four divisions of the NSSO are:
• Survey Design and Research Division – responsible for technical planning of surveys, formulation of concepts and definitions, sampling design, designing of inquiry schedules, drawing up of tabulation plan, analysis and presentation of survey results. HQ in Kolkata.
• Field Operations Division – responsible for the collection of primary data for the surveys undertaken by NSSO. HQ in Delhi/Faridabad.
• Data Processing Division – responsible for sample selection, software development, processing, validation and tabulation of the data collected through surveys. HQ in Kolkata.
• Co-ordination & Publication Division – Coordinates all the various departments and divisions in the NSSO; also publishes its annual journal. Located in Delhi.

2) The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is also referred to as the

a) Iran deal
b) Afghanistan deal
c) Palestine deal
d) Syria deal

Answer: a
• The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) known commonly as the Iran deal, is an international agreement on the nuclear program of Iran reached in Vienna on 14 July 2015 between Iran, the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council—China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States—plus Germany),and the European Union.
• India is one of eight countries to receive temporary exemptions from U.S. sanctions on Iran.
• U.S have decided to issue temporary allotments to a handful of countries, responsible to the specific circumstances and to ensure a well-supplied oil market.
• The U.S. will be granting these exemptions to China, India, Italy, Greece, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey.

3) India has recently been elected to the council of which of the following organisations for a period from 2019-2022?

a) World Trade Organisation
b) International Telecommunication Union
c) Food and Agricultural Organisation
d) International Atomic Energy Agency

Answer: b
• India has been elected as a Member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
• India has been elected as a Member of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Council for another 4-year term (2019-2022.
• The elections to the Council were held during the ongoing ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2018 at Dubai, UAE.
• By securing 165 votes, India ranked third among the 13 countries elected to the Council from the Asia-Australasia region, and eighth among the 48 countries elected to the Council globally.
• The ITU has 193memberstates who elect representatives to the Council.
• Significance:
o India has been an active member of the ITU since 1869, earnestly supporting the development and propagation of telecom in the global community of nation.
o The country has been a regular member of the ITU Council since 1952, and has played an important role in harmonizing the contributions of member States from the region, always respecting the principles of equality and consensus-building.
International Telecommunication Union:
• The International Telecommunication Union originally the International Telegraph Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for issues that concern information and communication technology.
• promotes international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, works to ITU coordinates that shared global use of the radio spectrum improve telecommunication infrastructure in the developing world.
• ITU is active in areas such as :
o Broadband internet.
o Latest generation wireless technology.
o Aeronautical and maritime navigation.
o Radio astronomy.
o Satellite based meteorology.

4) Montreal Protocol is a global agreement to phase out the production and consumption of

a) Persistent Organic Pollutants
b) Chemical weapons
c) Mercury
d) Ozone depleting substances

Answer: d
Montreal Protocol:
• The Montreal Protocol, finalized in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS).
• The stratospheric ozone layer filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation, which is associated with an increased prevalence of skin cancer and cataracts, reduced agricultural productivity, and disruption of marine ecosystems.
• The United States ratified the Montreal Protocol in 1988 and has joined four subsequent amendments.
• The United States has been a leader within the Protocol throughout its existence, and has taken strong domestic action to phase out the production and consumption of ODS such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons.
• The Montreal Protocol has proven to be innovative and successful, and is the first treaty to achieve universal ratification by all countries in the world.
• Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol:
o On October 15, 2016, Parties to the Montreal Protocol adopted the Kigali amendment to phase down production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) worldwide.
o HFCs are widely used alternatives to ozone depleting substances such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), already controlled under the Protocol.
o It calls on all countries to gradually phase down their production and consumption of HFCs in the coming decades using the flexible, innovative, and effective approaches the Montreal Protocol has used for three decades.

5) Which ones of the following states is not a part of Ganga Gram scheme?

a) Uttar Pradesh
b) West Bengal
c) Uttarakhand
d) Assam

Answer: d
• Ganga Gram is a concept to transform the villages on the bank of river Ganga into ideal villages with emphasis on Open Defecation Free, Solid and Liquid Waste Management, Water Conservation, Ground Water Recharge, modern crematorium, tree plantation, organic and medicinal plants.
• After declaration of all 4465 Ganga Bank villages as ODF, the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation is working in the direction of sustaining the ODF status of this area.