Current Affairs Quiz , 05 Dec 2018

1) Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in which of the following cities?

a) Lisbon
b) Abu Dhabi
c) Katowice
d) Seville

Answer: c
• The 24th meeting of Conference of Parties (COP-24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held at Katowice, Poland.
• COP-24 is very significant as it is expected to finalise guidelines for implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted in 2016.
• Significance:
o India strongly supports the objective of the Paris Agreement to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
o India considers it important from the point of view of eradicating poverty and caring for the poor and the marginalised.
o The Agreement also focuses on developing country parties’ need to adapt to adverse impacts of climate change, in a manner that it does not put an additional burden on them.
o During the COP-24, India would like to emphasise its concern for climate change and reaffirm its commitments to finalisation of the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP).
• Gaps in adaptation and mitigation:
o Significant gaps in pre-2020 climate efforts exist not only in mitigation but also in adaptation and support to developing countries. in adaptation and mitigation of climatic efforts.
o These implementation gaps will present an additional burden to developing countries in the post-2020 period.
o Therefore, the key concern for India is to ensure that no undue burden is shifted onto developing countries in the post-2020 period.
o Champions of Earth award:
• United Nations’ highest environmental honour, UNEP “Champions of the Earth” award was conferred on Indian Prime Minister in the policy leadership category for his pioneering work in championing the ISA and for his unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.
o Indian Pavilion at COP 24:
• On the sidelines of COP-24, India will be setting up a Pavilion to create awareness about India’s positive climate actions in various sectors of the economy.
• The theme of this year’s India Pavilion is ‘One World One Sun One Grid’ as highlighted by our Hon’ble Prime Minister during the first assembly of the International Solar Alliance.
• India Pavilion will strive to become an ideal platform for the exchange of innovative ideas for the world to come together and take action.

2) The India Water Impact Summit 2018 was held in which of the following cities?

a) Chennai
b) Jaipur
c) New Delhi
d) Bangalore

Answer: c
India Water Impact Summit 2018:
• The India Water Impact Summit is an annual event where stakeholders get together to discuss, debate and develop model solutions for some of the biggest water related problems in the country.
• The discussions this year will be on rejuvenation of the Ganga River Basin.
• There will be multi-country dialogue on the subject, with showcasing of technological innovations, research, policy frameworks and funding models from India and abroad.
• A number of Indian Central Government Ministries as well as all key decision makers responsible for delivering the rejuvenation of the Ganga will also be present at the Summit.
• Summit will focus on three key aspects:
o Spotlight on 5 states:
• Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and Bihar. The objective is to showcase the efforts and works going on within the respective states.
o Ganga Financing Forum:
• The 2018 Summit also introduces the inaugural Ganga Financing Forum that will bring a number of institutions to a common knowledge, information and partnership platform.
• The Hybrid Annuity Model has redefined the economic landscape of water and waste-water treatment in India.
• All tenders have been successfully bid out and financial closures being achieved.
o Technology and Innovation:
• Implementation of the pilot/demonstration programme known as the Environment Technology Verification (ETV) process.
• This will for addressing the problems prevalent in the provide an opportunity to technology and innovation companies from around the world to showcase their solutions river basin.

3) The International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is celebrated annually on

a) December 3rd
b) November 25th
c) July 1st
d) January 5th

Answer: a
• International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is held annually on 3rd December each year.
• IDPwD is a United Nations sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally.
• It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
• The 2018 theme: Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.

4) The Global Nutrition Report is published by among the following organisations?

a) World Bank
b) World Health Organisation
c) International Food Policy Research Institute
d) World Economic Forum

Answer: b
Global Nutrition Report 2018:
• According to the Global Nutrition Report 2018 Of 141 countries, 41 (28 per cent) are affected by all three forms of malnutrition stunting among children, anaemia and obesity among women.
• The report finds 22.2 per cent, or 150.8 million, children (those up to five years) to be stunted; 7.5 per cent (50.5 million) to be wasted and 5.6 per cent (38.3 million) to be overweight.
• There has been a significant decrease in stunting from 32.6 per cent a year ago, but the report finds “there are significant disparities in progress at the subnational level.
• While it has decreased to 9.6 per cent among Latin American and Carribean children, the proportion remains high in Asia (23.2 per cent) and in Africa (30.3 per cent).
• The report terms progress in addressing underweight and anaemia among women as “extremely slow”. Anaemia, in fact, has risen slightly from the turn of the century to 32.8 per cent.
• Instances of being overweight (those with a body mass index of 25 and above) and obese (BMI of 30 and above) are on the rise. Obesity is more common among women (15.1 per cent) than men (11.1 per cent).
India’s stance:
• Based on the facts for Global Nutrition Report 2018 an estimated 46.6 million who have low height for age live in India.
• A quarter of the children display wasting (that is, low weight for height) as well.
• District-level data show high and very high levels of stunting mainly in central and northern India (more than 30% and 40%, respectively), but less than 20% in almost the entire south.
Role of social institutions:
o Social institutions can work to improve nutrition and children’s welfare in free societies, and the absence of hunger enables people to develop their capabilities.
• Improved nutritional policies:
o Governments should acknowledge the linkages and commit themselves to improved nutritional policies.
• Awareness generation:
o More awareness generation is required in schemes such as Anganwadi Services scheme, which incorporates the Integrated Child Development Services, caters to children up to age six, and to pregnant and lactating women.
• Rigorous periodic review and targeted interventions:
o If the schemes and policies which are intended to boost nutritional standards not worked well in several States, it must be subjected to a rigorous review and targeted interventions for supplementary nutrition made.

5) The Mangdechhu hydroelectric project is developed in which of the following countries in collaboration with India?

a) Nepal
b) Myanmar
c) Bhutan
d) China

Answer: c
Mangdecchu Hydroelectric Project:
• The Mangdechhu hydroelectric project is a 720MW run-of-river power plant being built on the Mangdechhu River in Trongsa Dzongkhag District of central Bhutan.
• Mangdechhu Hydroelectric Project Authority (MHPA), which is constituted by the Indian Government and the Royal Government of Bhutan, is developing the project.
• Mangdechhu is one of the ten hydroelectric projects planned under the Royal Government of Bhutan’s initiative to generate 10,000MW hydropower by 2020 with support from the Government of India.
• Most of the electricity generated by the Mangdechhu hydropower project will be used to meet the energy requirements of Bhutan and the surplus electricity will be exported to India.
• The produced electricity will be transmitted to the Jigmeling substation in Bhutan by means of two 80km-long 400kV double-circuit transmission lines.
• Electricity to the Indian grid is proposed to be transmitted from Jigmeling to Salakati or Siliguri.
• Significance:
o The cooperation in the hydropower sector was a sign of strength of the time-tested ties between the two countries.
o Commissioning of the project will mark a highpoint in bilateral ties between the two countries.