Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs)
• Statement 2 and 3 are wrong and statement 1 is correct.
• Many members of eight different Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) got infected in the second wave of Covid-19 in Odisha. The infected PVTGs include the Bonda tribe of Malkangiri hills and Dongaria Kondh tribe of Niyamgiri hills. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Tribal Groups in Odisha: €
o According to the 2011 Census, Odisha’s share of the country’s total tribal population was 9%. €
o The Tribals constitute 22.85% of the State’s population. In terms of numbers of its tribal population, Odisha occupies the third position in India. Hence statement 2 is wrong. €
o Of the 62 tribal groups residing in Odisha, 13 are recognised as PVTGs.
o The 13 PVTGs in Odisha are: Bonda, Birhor, Chuktia Bhunjia, Didayi, Dungaria Kandha, Hill Kharia, Juang, Kutia Kondh, Lanjia Saora, Lodha, Mankirdia, Paudi Bhuyan and Saora.
o Among the 75 listed PVTG’s the highest number are found in Odisha. Hence statement 3 is correct.

MLA-LAD Scheme

• Statement 2 and 3 are correct and statement 1 is wrong.
• Recently, Rajasthan Government has approved a proposal to provide Rs. 3 crore each from the MLA Local Area Development (LAD) Fund to mobilise resources for Covid-19 Vaccination of the people in the age group of 18 to 44 years.
• It is the States’ version of a central government scheme – Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD). €
• The objective of this scheme is to create local need based infrastructure, to create assets of public utility and to remove regional imbalances in development.
• This scheme is implemented in rural areas as well as urban areas of a state. Hence statement 1 is wrong.€
• MLAs do not receive any money under this scheme. The government transfers it directly to the respective local authorities. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The legislators can only recommend works in their constituencies based on a set of guidelines. Amounts per MLA varies across the states. Hence statement 3 is correct.

SVAMITVA Scheme

• Statement 1 is correct and statement 2 and 3 are wrong.
• SVAMITVA stands for Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas.
• Launch: It is a center sector scheme which was launched nationally on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day on 24th April 2021. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Aim: To provide an integrated property validation solution for rural India.
• This would provide the ‘record of rights’ to village household owners possessing houses in inhabited rural areas in villages. It will cover around 6.62 Lakh villages of the entire country during 2021-2025.
• Objectives: €
  • To bring financial stability to the citizens in rural India by enabling them to use their property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits. €
  • Creation of accurate land records for rural planning. €
  • Determination of property tax. Hence statement 2 is correct. €
  • Creation of survey infrastructure and GIS (Geographic Information System) maps that can be leveraged by any department for their use. €
  • To support in preparation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) by making use of GIS maps. €
  • To reduce property related disputes and legal cases
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR). Hence statement 3 is correct.

Freedom of Press in India

• Statement 1 and 2 are correct and statement 3 is wrong.
• Freedom of press is not expressly protected by Indian legal system but it is impliedly protected under article 19(1)(a) of the constitution. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• In 1950, the Supreme Court in Romesh Thappar v. State of Madras observed that freedom of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organizations.
• However, Freedom of press is also not absolute. It faces certain restrictions under Article 19(2), which are as follows- Matters related to interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Related Rankings/Findings:
  • India has been ranked 142nd out of 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index, 2021, published by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) or Reporters Without Borders. €
  • Reports such as ‘Freedom in the World 2021 (Freedom House, US)’, ‘ 2020 Human Rights Report (US State Department)’, ‘Autocratisation Goes Viral (V-Dem Institute, Sweden)’ have all highlighted intimidation of journalists in India.

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana

• Both statements are wrong.
• Recently, thirteen states have started distributing foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY).
• PMGKAY is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19.
• Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance. Hence statement is wrong.€
• The scheme aimed at providing each person who is covered under the National Food Security Act 2013 with an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidised foodgrain already provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Hence statement 2 is wrong.€
• The new version of the PMGKAY lacks one of its important components which was there in 2020 PMGKAY i:e free-of-cost 1 kg pulses per month to each household covered under the NFSA.

National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA)

• Statement 2 is wrong and statement 1 is correct.
• Constitution: NFRA was constituted in 2018 by the Government of India under section 132 (1) of the Companies Act, 2013. It is an audit regulator.
• Powers: It can undertake investigation related to the following class of companies and bodies corporate called Public Interest Entities:
  • Companies whose securities are listed on any stock exchange in India or outside India.
  • Unlisted public companies having paid-up capital of not less than Rs. 500 crores or having annual turnover of not less than Rs. 1,000 crores or having, in aggregate, outstanding loans, debentures and deposits of not less than Rs. 500 crores as on the 31st March of immediately preceding financial year.
  • Insurance companies, banking companies, companies engaged in the generation or supply of electricity. Hence statement 2 is wrong.€
• Its account is monitored by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India. Hence statement 1 is correct.

Vitamin C

• Statement 1 and 2 are wrong and statement 3 is correct.
• Rickets in children causes due to vitamin D hence statement 3 is wrong.
• Vitamins are organic compounds, found in natural foods which are required for normal growth and maintenance of the body.
• Both humans and animals require vitamins for their growth.
• Vitamins are of two types:
  • Fat-soluble – which are dissolved in fatwa
  • Water-soluble – which are dissolved in water
• Vitamin C- solubility Water source-Fresh fruits, black currant, broccoli, goat milk and chestnuts
• Deficiency- Scurvy results from a deficiency of vitamin C.

World’s oldest water

The world’s oldest water, which is locked deep within the Earth’s crust, just got even older. The liquid was discovered deep down in a mine in Canada in and is about 1.5 billion years old.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

• Statement 2 and 3 are correct and statement 1 is wrong.
• ECOWAS is attempting to mediate to solve the crisis in Mali. Hence statement 1 is wrong.
• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is attempting to mediate to solve the crisis in Mali.
• Since 1960, when Mali gained independence from France, there have been five coups — and only one peaceful transition from one democratically elected president to another.
• It is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa.
• Established in 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• The goal of ECOWAS is to achieve “collective self-sufficiency” for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc by building a full economic and trading union.
• It also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• ECOWAS includes two sub-regional blocs:
  • The West African Economic and Monetary Union is an organization of eight, mainly French-speaking states.
  • The West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), established in 2000, comprises six mainly English-speaking countries.

Rishi ganga river

• Statement 1 is wrong and statement 2 and 3 are correct.
• It is a river in the Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Hence statement 1 is wrong.
• Source: It springs from the Uttari Nanda Devi Glacier on the Nanda Devi mountain. It is also fed from the Dakshini Nanda Devi Glacier. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Continuing through the Nanda Devi National Park, it flows into the Dhauliganga River near the village Rini. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Answer (d)

CALI

• Statement 1 and 3 are wrong and statement 2 is correct.
• Recently, protests erupted in Cali and other cities in April over a proposed reform that would have lowered the threshold at which salaries are taxed.
• The government argued that the move was key to mitigating economic difficulties but many Colombians feared they could slip into poverty as a result.
• The tax plan was withdrawn but anti-government sentiment saw the protests grow to cover police violence, poverty and Colombia’s health crisis.
• No gold mines found hence statement 3 is wrong.
• Cali is the second-largest city in Colombia by area and the third most populous. Hence statement 1 is wrong.
• It is the only major Colombian city with access to the Pacific Coast. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Cali is located in the Cauca Valley to the west of the Cauca River.

PM Cares Fund for Children

• The scheme has been launched for support & empowerment of Covid affected children. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Eligibility: All children who have lost both parents or surviving parent or legal guardian/adoptive parents due to Covid 19 will be supported under the scheme.
• Features of the scheme:
• Fixed Deposit in the name of the child: A corpus of Rs 10 lakh for each child when he or she reaches 18 years of age.
• School Education: For children under 10 years, admission will be given in the nearest Kendriya Vidyalaya or in a private school as a day scholar.
• School Education for children between 11-18 years: The child will be given admission in any Central Government residential school such as Sainik School, Navodaya Vidyalaya etc.
• Support for Higher Education: The child will be assisted in obtaining an education loan for Professional courses /Higher Education in India as per the existing Education Loan norms.
• Health Insurance: All children will be enrolled as a beneficiary under Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PM-JAY) with a health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakhs. Hence statement 3 is correct.

‘Bell of Faith ‘ Scheme

• Statement 1 and 3 are correct and statement 2 is wrong.
• The ‘Bell of Faith’ scheme will now be implemented for senior citizens staying alone in villages. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Previously, this scheme was successfully implemented in a number of urban households in Kerala.
• It is a safety project conceived under Kerala’s Community Policing Scheme. Hence statement 2 is wrong.
• It will help elderly citizens attract the attention of their neighbours using a loud, remote-controlled alarm in emergencies.
• It has been under implementation in Kerala since 2018.
• It sets an example for community participation to ensure the well-being and safety of the elderly. It can be of great support for the aged during the COVID-19 pandemic as many live in fear for their health. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Kaziranga National Park

• Statement 1,2 and 3 ae correct and statement 4 is wrong.
• Recently, the Assam government has approved a proposal to increase the firepower of the guards of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and provide commando training to them. These measures are aimed at preventing poaching.
• It is a national park in Assam. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Formed in 1908 on the recommendation of Mary Curzon, the park is located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots – Golaghat and Nagaon district.
• Kaziranga is crisscrossed by four main rivers — Brahmaputra, Diphlu, Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri. Hence statement 4 is wrong.
• It hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses.
• It is a World Heritage Site. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It is also recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• Much of the focus of conservation efforts in Kaziranga are focused on the ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.

YUVA scheme

• Statement 1 and 2 are wrong and statement 3 and 4 are correct.
• Ministry Of Education has launched YUVA to Mentor Young Authors. Hence statement 1 is wrong.
• The scheme seeks to mentor authors under the age of 30 and train them to promote reading, writing and book culture in the country, and project India and Indian writings globally. Hence statement 2 is wrong.
• A consolidated scholarship of Rs. 50,000 per month for a period of six months per author will be paid under the YUVA Scheme
• YUVA is a part of India@75 Project (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav). Hence statement 3 is correct.
• The National Book Trust, India under the Ministry of Education is the Implementing Agency. Hence statement 4 is correct.

About Savarkar and his contributions:

• All the statements are correct.
• Born on May 28, 1883 in Bhagur, a city in Maharashtra’s Nashik.
• He was against foreign goods and propagated the idea of Swadeshi. In 1905, he burnt all the foreign goods in a bonfire on Dussehra.
• Social reforms:
  • He championed atheism and rationality and also disapproved orthodox Hindu belief. In fact, he even dismissed cow worship as superstitious. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • He also worked on abolishment of untouchability in Ratnagiri. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Organizations he was associated with:
  • Vinayak Savarkar was a president of Hindu Mahasabha from 1937 to 1943. When congress ministries offered resignation on 22nd Oct 1939, Hindu mahasabha under his leadership cooperated with Muslim league to form government in provinces like Sindh, Bengal and NWFP.
  • In Pune, Savarkar founded the “Abhinav Bharat Society”. Hence statement 3 is correct.
  • He was also involved in the Swadeshi movement and later joined Tilak’s Swaraj Party. His instigating patriotic speeches and activities incensed the British Government. As a result, the British Government withdrew his B.A. degree.

Monoclonal Antibody Therapies

• All statements are correct.
• The Apollo Hospital in Delhi has started an “antibody cocktail treatment” for COVID-19 patients, who have mild symptoms and comorbidities. It comprises neutralizing monoclonal antibodies
• They are artificially created antibodies that aim to aid the body’s natural immune system. Hence statement 1 and 2 are correct.
• They target a specific antigen — a protein from the pathogen that induces immune response.
• Monoclonal antibodies can be created in the lab by exposing white blood cells to a particular antigen.
• To increase the quantity of antibodies produced, a single white blood cell is cloned, which in turn is used to create identical copies of the antibodies.
• In the case of Covid-19, scientists usually work with the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which facilitates the entry of the virus into the host cell.
• In a healthy body, the immune system is able to create antibodies — tiny Y-shaped proteins in our blood that recognize microbial enemies and bind to them, signaling the immune system to then launch an attack on the pathogen.
• However, for people whose immune systems are unable to make sufficient amounts of these antibodies, scientists provide a helping hand- using monoclonal antibodies. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Jayanti

• Statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is wrong.
• It was found in the Kurra caves of Chhattisgarh in April 2021 by a team of zoologists. Hence statement 2 is wrong.
• Jayanti has become the twelfth subgenus, or species, of cricket identified under the genus Arachnomimus Saussure, 1987.
• It was named Jayanti after Professor Jayant Biswas, one of the leading cave explorers in the country, who assisted the team.
• Interestingly, males of the new Jayanti subgenus cannot produce sound and their females don’t have ears. Hece statement 1 is correct.
• Arachnomimus is the genus name given by Swiss Entomologist Henri Louis Frédéric de Saussure in 1878 to crickets that resembled spiders.

Bhitarnika National Park

• Statements 2 and 3 are correct and statement 1 is wrong.
• Cyclone Yaas fells hundreds of trees in Bhitarkanika, hit on fauna being assessed.
• Bhitarkanika National Park, located in Odisha, is famous for its mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine crocodiles, and countless creeks.
• It is India’s second-largest mangrove forest. The Bhitarkanika is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Hence statement 1 is wrong.
• Bhitarkanika is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Mahanadi river systems.
• Bhitarkanika is home to a wide range of fauna, including 3,000 spotted deer, bird species and other species such as wild boars, jackal, hyenas, jungle cat, fishing cats, water monitor lizards, rhesus macaques, common languor, Indian civet cat and hare.
• The area was designated a national park in September 1998 and as a Ramsar site by UNESCO in August 2002. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• It is said to house 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975. Hence statement 3 is correct.

Blackbucks

• Statement 1 is correct and statement 2 and 3 are wrong.
• Odisha’s blackbuck population has doubled in the last six years, according to figures from the latest population census released recently by the chief conservator of forest (wildlife). Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Blackbucks are found only in the Ganjam district in the southern part of the state.
• The blackbuck is known in Odisha and Ganjam as Krushnasara Mruga.
• Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is known worldwide for their conservation efforts to blackbuck and Chinkara. Hence statement 2 is wrong.
• It is a state animal of Andhra Pradesh, Haryana & Punjab.
• The blackbuck is a Schedule-1 animal according to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 1992) and is considered as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the Red Data Book. Hence statement 3 is wrong.