30 November 2022

Q1. Generation AI (artificial intelligence) is the initiative of:

1. Global Artificial Intelligence network
2. UNICEF
3. International Telecommunication Union
4. World Bank Group

• Solution:

(B)

• UNICEF’s Generation AI initiative is currently working with the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and other stakeholders to realiae the potential of AI for children in a safe and transparent way.

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding Convention on the Rights of the Child:

• It is a legally-binding international agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child.
• Governments are required to meet children’s basic needs and help them reach their full potential.

Which of the above statements is/are correct:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Solution:

(C)

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is a legally-binding international agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.
• Under the terms of the convention, governments are required to meet children’s basic needs and help them reach their full potential.
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child urges all public and private actors to act in the best interests of the child, across all their developmental activities and provision of services.

Q3. Contributing to one world, one health: a strategic framework for reducing risks of infectious diseases at the animal–human–ecosystems interface, is a global initiative of:

1. Food and Agriculture Organization
2. World Health Organization
3. United Nations Environment Programme
4. All of the above

• Solution:

(D)

• India’s ‘One Health’ vision derives its blueprint from the agreement between the tripartite-plus alliance comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) — a global initiative supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank under the overarching goal of contributing to ‘One World, One Health’.

Q4. Consider the following statements regarding the principle of non-refoulement under international human rights law:

• The principle of non-refoulment guarantees that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel and inhuman treatment.

• This principle applies to all migrants at all times, irrespective of migration status.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

• Solution:

(D)

• Under international human rights law, the principle of non-refoulement guarantees that no one should be returned to a country where they would face torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and other irreparable harm.
• This principle applies to all migrants at all times, irrespective of migration status.

Q5.  Recently Prime minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh. Consider the following statements regarding Kushinagar.

1. It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where it is believed that Gautam Buddha delivered his last sermon.
2. The present Kushinagar is identified with Kushinara, the capital of Mallas which was one of the sixteen mahajanpads of the 6th century BCE.
3. Kushinagar is among the few places in India where Buddha is depicted in reclining form.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1, 2
2. 2 only
3. 2, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

C – EXPLANATION

Kushinagar is a town in the Kushinagar district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

It is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Buddhists believe Gautam Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana after his death.

The present Kushinagar is identified with Kusavati (in the pre-Buddha period) and Kushinara (in the post-Buddha period).

Kushinara was the capital of Mallas which was one of the sixteen mahajanpads of the 6th century BCE. Kushinagar is among the few places in India where Buddha is depicted in reclining form. Buddha delivered his last sermon at Vaishali.

Q6. Kangri, a traditional heater comprising earthenware in a wicker basket, has been mainly used in

1. New Delhi
2. Nagaland
3. Jammu and Kashmir
4. Kerala

C – EXPLANATION

Kangris: A traditional portable and movable heater that Kashmiris keep in their warm woollen cloak to keep themselves warm in the frosty winters.

Q7. Consider the following statements regarding Sattras of Assam.

1. Sattras are monastic institutions created as part of the 16th century Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement started by Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva.
2. During the Ahom reign, most of the Sattras across Assam were destroyed.
3. These Sattras were established as centres of religious, social and cultural reforms.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 1 only
4. 1, 2, 3

B – EXPLANATION

Sattras are monastic institutions created as part of the 16th century Neo-Vaishnavite reformist movement started by Vaishnavite saint-reformer Srimanta Sankaradeva (1449-1596).

As the saint travelled across Assam, spreading his teachings and propagating an egalitarian society, these Sattras/Thans were established as centres of religious, social and cultural reforms in the 16th century.

Today, Sattras are spread across the state, promulgating Sankardeva’s unique “worship through art” approach with music (borgeet), dance (xattriya) and theatre (bhauna). During the Ahom reign, the Sattras received a lot of donations in the form of land or money from the kings.

Q8. Consider the following statements.

1. The Central Government sets a minimum support price (MSP) for various crops every year based on a formula that takes into account both paid-out costs (A2) such as seeds, fertilizers and pesticides as well as the imputed value of unpaid family labour (FL).
2. There is currently no statutory backing for the MSP, nor any law mandates their enforcement. 3. The Central Government procures almost all the wheat and rice crops throughout the country at MSP rates.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 1, 2
3. 1, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

B – EXPLANATION

The Central Government sets a minimum support price (MSP) for 23 crops every year, based on a formula of one-and-a-half times production costs. This takes into account both paid-out costs (A2) such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fuel, irrigation, hired workers and leased-in land, as well as the imputed value of unpaid family labour (FL).

Farm unions are demanding that a comprehensive cost calculation (C2) must also include capital assets and the rentals and interest forgone on owned land as recommended by the National Commission for Farmers. There is currently no statutory backing for these prices, nor any law mandating their enforcement.

The government only procures about a third of wheat and rice crops at MSP rates (of which half is bought in Punjab and Haryana alone), and 10%-20% of select pulses and oilseeds.

Q9. How can the Government ensure that the food crops are procured at the guaranteed minimum support price (MSP)?

1. Forcing private traders or processors to pay MSP
2. Government undertaking procurement at MSP through its agencies such as the Food  Corporation of India (FCI).
3. Price deficiency payments.

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 2
2. 1, 3
3. 2, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

D – EXPLANATION

The unions want the government to enact legislation conferring mandatory status to MSP, rather than just being an indicative or desired price. How can that entitlement be implemented? There are basically three ways.

The first is by forcing private traders or processors to pay MSP. This is already applicable in sugarcane.

The second is by the government undertaking procurement at MSP through its agencies such as the Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) and Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).

The third route for guaranteeing MSP is via price deficiency payments Under it, the government neither directly purchases nor forces the private industry to pay MSP.  Instead, it allows all sales by farmers to take place at the prevailing market prices. o Farmers are simply paid the difference between the government’s MSP and the average market price for the particular crop during the harvesting season.

Q10. Consider the following statements regarding Precision agriculture:

1. Precision agriculture is the ‘right-input’ at the ‘right-time’ in the ‘right-amount’ at the ‘right-place’ and in the ‘right-manner’ for improving agricultural productivity and conserving natural resources.
2. Precision agriculture requires huge amounts of Environmental data collation through technological intervention for better farming techniques.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

C – EXPLANATION

Precision agriculture is basically the ‘right-input’ at the ‘right-time’ in the ‘right-amount’ at the ‘right-place’ and in the ‘right-manner’ for improving productivity, conserving natural resources and avoiding any ecological or social tribulations.

Today, precision agriculture is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI). IoT, satellite imagery, drones, Web-GIS frameworks, Big Data, cloud and machine learning are expected to improve global agricultural productivity in the near future.

But to arrive at these desired results, huge amounts of data collation is required. Environmental data, through technological intervention, has already fuelled better farming techniques in developed countries.

Sensors and analysis tools can boost crop yield. In order to do this, environmental data is collected in the geospatial format to measure quantifiable variables like weather, soil moisture, volumetric soil temperature, fertiliser rates, water run-off, agrochemicals movement and rain.