UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 3rd JULY 2021

Solution (a)

Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 is released by International Telecommunication Union. GCI assessment is done on the basis of performance on five parameters of cybersecurity:

• Legal measures 
• Technical measures
• Organisational measures
• Capacity development
• Cooperation

The performance is then aggregated into an overall score.

As per the ranking, India has moved up by 37 places to rank as the tenth best country in the world in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020. India was ranked ahead of China (No. 33) and Pakistan (No. 79) in global cybersecurity ranking of countries. India has also secured the fourth position in the Asia Pacific region, underlining its commitment to cybersecurity.

The US topped the chart, followed by the UK and Saudi Arabia tied on the second position, while Estonia was ranked third in the index.

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India. It is the nodal agency to deal with cyber security threats like hacking and phishing. It strengthens security-related defence of the Indian Internet domain.

The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for all matters related to information and communication technologies. It was established in 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union and is an integral part of United Nations.

Article Link: India ranks among top 10 in ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Index

Solution (c)

Together, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA) form the World Bank, which provides financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries.

IBRD is the world’s largest development bank. It provides loans, guarantees, advisory services, and risk management products to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries. India is a founding member of IBRD.

IDA was established with the signing of agreements between 15 countries. 173 countries are its members. Around 52 nations are donor countries. The main objective of the IDA is to provide grants and concessional loans to the world’s poorest countries. IDA funds are highly concessional or interest-free loans and grants aimed at improving living conditions of the poorest.

IBRD funds infrastructure projects in middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries at interest rates higher than those provided by IDA but lower than those offered by other commercial lending agencies.

India is currently classified as a “blend” country — defined as one in transition from lower middle-income to middle-income — and is creditworthy for lending from both IDA and IBRD.

Article Link: World Bank approves $500 million loan to support India’s informal working class amid pandemic

Solution (d)

GST is known as the Goods and Services Tax. It is an indirect tax which has replaced many indirect taxes in India such as the excise duty, VAT, services tax, etc. Under the GST regime, the tax is levied at every point of sale. In the case of intra-state sales, Central GST and State GST are charged. 

GST has helped in reducing the cascading effect of indirect tax considerably. Also, multiplicity of compliances under various indirect taxes has been reduced. Hence, introduction of GST in India has brought in efficiencies in indirect tax compliance, incidence and reduced the number of indirect tax authorities that a taxpayer needed to interact with.

The smooth and efficient administration of Goods and Services tax requires co-operation and coordination between the centre and the states. In order to facilitate this consultation process, the amendment provided for the establishment of Goods and Services Tax Council or the GST Council.

The Council is a joint forum of the centre and the states and consists of the following members:

• The Union Finance Minister as the Chairperson
• The Union Minister of State in-charge of Revenue or Finance
• The Minister in-charge of Finance or Taxation or any other Minister nominated by each state government

Article Link: Four years of GST: The good, bad and ugly

Solution (b)

iLEAP (Innovative leadership for entrepreneurial agility and profitability) is an initiative of Atal Innovation Mission(AIM) in partnership with Startup Réseau and Visa.

The objective of the initiative is to invite technology start-ups across a broad range of functions and have them present their solutions to the corporate leadership and innovation team for enabling market access and industry partnerships.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is Government of India’s flagship initiative to create and promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the length and breadth of our country. AIM’s objective is to develop new programmes and policies for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy, provide platforms and collaboration opportunities for different stakeholders, and create an umbrella structure to oversee the innovation & entrepreneurship ecosystem of the country.

Article Link: Atal Innovation Mission concludes first fintech cohort of ‘AIM-iLEAP’ as major step to accelerate Tech Start-ups across India

Solution (c)

Kalbelia dance is a folk dance of Rajasthan state of India. It is well known by other names like ‘Sapera Dance’ or ‘Snake Charmer Dance’. 

Kalbelia dance is particularly performed by a Rajasthani tribe called ‘Kalbelia’. 

The popularity of this dance is so much worldwide that Rajasthan’s Kalbelia dance and songs are now in UNESCO’s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from the year 2010. 

In Kalbelia dance, males play various traditional instruments and females perform the dance. Kalbelia dance is one of the most sensuous dance among all Rajasthani dances.

Article Link: How Indian traditional and folk artistes are adapting online to survive the pandemic