UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 22nd September 2021

Solution (b)

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana  (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme for skill training of youth implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

Under this Scheme, Training and Assessment fees are completely paid by the Government.

Skill training is done based on the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) and industry led standards.

In line with the scheme objectives, the scheme is applicable to any candidate of Indian nationality who:

• an unemployed youth, college / school dropout
• Has a verifiable identity proof – Aadhaar / Voter id and a bank account.

PMKVY 3.0 was launched in January 2021 envisages training of eight lakh candidates over a scheme period of 2020-2021 with an outlay of Rs. 948.90 crore. It will be more trainee- and learner-centric. The focus is on bridging the demand-supply gap by promoting skill development in areas of new-age and Industry 4.0 job roles. It will be a propagator of vocational education at an early level for youth to capitalize on industry-linked opportunities.

Article Link: Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana (RKVY), a program under the aegis of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), launched

Solution (c)

The Humboldt Current, also called the Peru Current, is a cold, low-salinity ocean current that flows north along the western coast of South America.

It flows north from Antarctica along the west coast of South America, bringing nutrient rich water to the Galapagos Islands and helping to sustain the islands rich biodiversity.

The Humboldt Current is a highly productive ecosystem. It is the most productive eastern boundary current system. It accounts for roughly 18-20% of the total worldwide marine fish catch. The species are mostly pelagic: sardines, anchovies and jack mackerel.

The Humboldt has a considerable cooling influence on the climate of Chile, Peru and Ecuador. It is also largely responsible for the aridity of Atacama Desert in northern Chile and coastal areas of Peru and also of the aridity of southern Ecuador.

Article Link: How are Humboldts different from other penguins?

Solution (d)

Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is a pan India Central Sector Scheme called Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. 

The objective of the scheme is to provide a medium – long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.

Benefits:

• All loans under this financing facility have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crore. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of seven years.
• Further, credit guarantee coverage is available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to Rs. 2 crore. The fee for this coverage is paid by the Government.
• In case of FPOs the credit guarantee may be availed from the facility created under FPO promotion scheme of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DACFW).
• Moratorium for repayment under this financing facility may vary subject to minimum of 6 months and maximum of 2 years.

Intended beneficiary:

Under the scheme, Rs. One Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans to Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), Marketing Cooperative Societies, Farmer Producers Organizations (FPOs), Self Help Group (SHG), Farmers, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, Aggregation Infrastructure Providers and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public Private Partnership Project.

Article Link: How agri infra fund is strengthening primary agri co-op societies

Solution (c)

Helina is a third-generation, Lock on Before Launch (LOBL) fire and forget class anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system. 

It has all- weather day and night operational capabilities. 

It can defeat battle tanks with conventional and explosive reactive armour (ERA). 

It can engage targets both in direct hit mode as well as top attack mode.

Article Link: Anti-tank missile completes all trials

Solution (c)

Millets are often known as ‘Superfood’  and ‘nutri-cereals’.

The three major millet crops currently growing in India are jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet) and ragi (finger millet). 

Along with that, India grows a rich array of bio-genetically diverse and indigenous varieties of “small millets” like kodo, kutki, chenna and sanwa. 

Major producers include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

High in dietary fibre, millets are a powerhouse of nutrients including iron, folate, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous, copper, vitamins and antioxidants. They are not only important for the healthy growth and development of children but have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes in adults.

Usually grown by small and poor farmers on dry, low-fertile, mountainous, tribal and rain-fed areas, millets are good for the soil, have shorter cultivation cycles and require less cost-intensive cultivation. These unique features make millets suited for and resilient to India’s varied agro-climatic conditions. Moreover, unlike rice and wheat, millets are not water or input-intensive, making them a sustainable strategy for addressing climate change and building resilient agri-food systems.

Article Link: India becoming destination country for healthy foods like millets: Tomar at G-20 agri meet