UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 31st May 2021

Solution (a)

The Blackbuck is native to India and Nepal. It inhibits grassy plains and lightly forested areas with perennial water sources. The blackbuck is a Schedule I animal according to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (amended in 1992) and is considered as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the IUCN Red Data Book.

Recently, according to figures from the latest population census, Odisha’s blackbuck population has doubled in the last six years. Blackbucks are found only in the Ganjam district in the southern part of Odisha, which is where the census was carried out. The people of Ganjam had been enthusiastically protecting the animal like the Bishnois of western Rajasthan and the Vala Rajputs of Saurashtra.

Article Link: Odisha’s blackbucks double in 6 years, reveals census

Solution (c)

The Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine regions (kiliat) of Ethiopia. It is the homeland of the Tigrayan, Irob and Kunama people. It is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, the Amhara Region to the south and the Afar Region to the east and south east.

Recently, with increased atrocities from Ethiopia in Tigray region, USA has imposed restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia.

Article Link: Ethiopia Tigray crisis: Warnings of genocide and famine

Solution (d)

The Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) was formulated in 1993. Initially the scheme was under the control of the Ministry of Rural Development and Planning. In 1994, the scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

The scheme enables the Members of Parliament (MPs) to recommend development works in their constituencies with emphasis on the creation of durable community assts based on the locally felt need. Durable assets of National importance and community needs like drinking water, primary education, public health, sanitation and road etc. can be taken up. Hence there is no restrictions that project to be taken should lie within the subject domain as per seventh schedule.

Article Link: Revive MPLAD scheme in its true spirit and release funds, Om Birla urged

Solution (d)

The Bodoland Territorial Region is an autonomous region in Assam. It is made up of four districts on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River. It includes the districts of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa and Udalgiri.

The Bodoland Territorial Region is administered by an elected body known as the Bodoland Territorial Council which came into existence under the terms of a peace agreement signed in February 2003. It functions under the provision of the sixth schedule of the Constitution.

Recently, Assam Government set up Bodoland Department for faster development of Bodoland Territorial Region.

Article Link: Assam creates Bodoland Department

Solution (c)

The Provision Coverage Ratio is a measure of the funds set aside by banks to cover bad loans. A higher provision coverage ratio means the bank is protecting itself better against its bad loans.

A decline in the ratio means that provisions have not been made to the extent of the rise in bad loans. 

In a recent report by RBI the Provision Coverage Ratio (PCR) of banks improved from 66.6% in March 2020 to 75.5% by December 2020, Because of prudent provisioning by banks above regulatory prescriptions on accounts availing moratorium and undergoing restructuring.

Article Link: RBI Annual Report: Asset quality of banks needs to be closely monitored, warns RBI