Daily MCQs 9 September

Q 1. With reference to National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), consider the following statements:

1. The Institute is under administrative control of the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

2. It functions as the nodal agency in the country for disease surveillance facilitating prevention and control of communicable diseases.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only

B. 2 only

C. Both 1 and 2

D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (C)

Recently, the union Health minister virtually laid the foundation stone for National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) branches in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh. 

Statement 1 is correct: The Institute is under administrative control of the Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. The Director, an officer of the Public Health sub-cadre of Central Health Service, is the administrative and technical head of the Institute. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), formerly National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) had its origin as Central Malaria Bureau, established at Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh) in 1909 and following expansion was renamed in 1927 as the Malaria Survey of India. 

The organization was shifted to Delhi in 1938 and called as the Malaria Institute of India (MII). In year 2009, NICD transforms into National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) with a larger mandate of controlling emerging and re-emerging diseases.

Functions:

Statement 2 is correct: It functions as the nodal agency in the country for disease surveillance facilitating prevention and control of communicable diseases. In coordination with the State Governments, NCDC has the capacity and capability for disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and rapid response to contain and combat outbreaks. 

Entomological expertise is made available by a separate division dealing with entomology and vector management. NCDC also deals with Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), an emerging area of concern with far-reaching consequences. NCDC also provides referral diagnostic support, capacity building and technical support to States/UTs in the country.

The mandate of the Institute broadly covers three areas viz. services, trained health manpower development and research.

Q 2.  Which of the following committee is set up by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to review the current pricing formula for domestically produced gas?

A. Kirit Parikh committee

B. Rangarajan Committee

C. Goswami committee

D. Indrajit Gupta Committee

Answer: (A)

Option (A) is correct: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has set up a committee under noted energy expert Kirit Parikh to review the current pricing formula for domestically produced gas. 

Local gas prices are at a record high due to the surge in global prices because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and are expected to rise further. 

Gas is priced under APM (Administered Price Mechanism), which is set by the Government. Under this system, the oil and gas sector is controlled at four stages viz. production, refining, distribution and marketing.

Q 3. Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Qimingxing-50, or Morning Star-50” often mentioned in the news?

A. A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.

B. A spacecraft lands on another planet, after making several orbital motions.

C. Fully solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle.

D. A spacecraft moves along a comet at the same speed and places a probe on its surface.

Answer: (C)

Option (C) is correct: China’s first fully solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle, Qimingxing-50, or Morning Star-50, has successfully completed its maiden test flight with all onboard systems functioning optimally. With a wingspan of 164-ft, a drone is a large machine powered entirely by solar panels. The high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAV can stay airborne for long durations. Named the Qimingxing-50, or Morning Star-50, this drone flies above 20-km altitude where there is stable airflow with no clouds. This helps these drones to make maximum use of solar equipment to stay functional for extended durations. In fact, the drone’s chief designer told South China Morning Post that it can operate without a break for months, even years.

Q 4. Kushiyara and Surma are the distributary of which of the following river?

A. Barak River

B. Teesta River

C. Brahmaputra River

D. Manjira River

Answer: (A)

India and Bangladesh signed an interim water sharing agreement for the Kushiyara river, the first such pact between them in over 25 years.

Option (A) is correct: Kushiyara River is a distributary river in Bangladesh and Assam. It forms on the India-Bangladesh border as a branch of the Barak River when the Barak separates into the Kushiyara and Surma. The waters of the Kushiyara originate in the state of Nagaland and pick up tributaries from Manipur, Mizoram and Assam.

Q 5. What is the purpose of ‘PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India?

1. To enable famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India.

2. to upgrade and strengthen the selected existing schools in India.

3. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 2 only

B. 3 only

C. 1 and 2 only

D. 2 and 3 only

Answer: (A)

On the occasion of Teacher’s Day on 5th September, Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister approved a new centrally sponsored scheme – PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India).

Option (A) is correct:

‘PM SHRI Schools (PM ScHools for Rising India)

• It is a centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation and development of more than 14500 Schools across the country. It aims at strengthening the selected existing schools from amongst schools managed by Central Government/ State/ UT Government/ local bodies.

Significance:

• It will showcase all components of the National Education Policy 2020 and act as exemplar schools and also offer mentorship to other schools in their vicinity. The aim of these schools will not only be qualitative teaching, learning and cognitive development, but also creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with key 21st century skills.
• Pedagogy adopted in these schools will be more experiential, holistic, integrated, play/toy-based, inquiry-driven, discovery-oriented, learner-centred, discussion-based, flexible and enjoyable. Focus will be on achieving proficiency in learning outcomes of every child in every grade.
• Assessment at all levels will be based on conceptual understanding and application of knowledge to real life situations and will be competency-based. These schools will be equipped with modern infrastructure including labs, smart classrooms, libraries, sports equipment, art room etc. which is inclusive and accessible.
• These schools shall also be developed as green schools with water conservation, waste recycling, energy-efficient infrastructure and integration of organic lifestyle in curriculum.