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

Solution (b)

Irrigation in India includes a network of major and minor canals from Indian rivers; groundwater well based systems, tanks, and other rainwater harvesting projects for agricultural activities.

Around 70 per cent of food production is done with the help of irrigation wells.

The UNESCO World Water Development Report, 2018 states that India is the largest extractor of groundwater in the world.

Uttar Pradesh has the largest area of 93-84 lakh hectares under well irrigation which accounts for about 28-19 per cent of the well irrigated area of India. This is followed by Rajasthan (10-44%), Punjab (8-65%), Madhya Pradesh (7-97%), and Gujarat (7-34%) Bihar (6-29%), Andhra Pradesh (5-87%), Maharashtra (5-75%), Haryana (4-41%), Tamil Nadu (4-35%), West Bengal (4 19%) and Karnataka (3.06%).

In India, construction of irrigation wells does not require any clearance and no records are maintained of abandoned wells.

Article Link: Conserving groundwater: Role of women crucial in bringing about significant change

Solution (d)

Loan Guarantee Scheme for COVID-affected Sectors (LGSCAS):

• The scheme is aimed at boosting medical infrastructure in the country, specifically targeting underserved areas. 
• The scheme was approved by the government in June 2021.
• Banks would provide loans for building healthcare infrastructure in non-metro cities and smaller towns at a maximum interest rate of 7.95%.
• LGSCAS provides a guarantee of 50% for brownfield projects and 75% to greenfield projects for loans sanctioned up to Rs.100 crore, set up at urban or rural locations other than 8 Metropolitan Tier 1 cities (Class X cities).
• For aspirational districts, the guarantee cover for both brownfield expansion and greenfield projects is 75%.
• The Scheme is applicable to all eligible loans sanctioned up to 31.03.2022, or till an amount of Rs. 50,000 crore is sanctioned, whichever is earlier.
• The LGSCAS will become a path-breaking scheme as it can be collaborated and it can work in conjunction with other ongoing interventions in the healthcare sector.

Article link: Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman says improvement in health infrastructure will lead to confidence in revival of economy

Solution (d)

GDP measures the value of goods and services produced within a country’s borders, by citizens and non-citizens alike.

GDP provides an economic snapshot of a country, used to estimate the size of an economy and growth rate.

GDP is a key tool to guide policy-makers, investors, and businesses in strategic decision-making.

Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Real GDP both quantify the total value of all goods produced in a country in a year. 

However, real GDP is adjusted for inflation, while nominal GDP isn’t. Hence when nominal GDP is adjusted for inflation real GDP is obtained.

Real GDP is almost always slightly lower than its equivalent nominal figure. In most circumstances, the real GDP (and real GDP per capita) shows a more accurate picture of a country’s economic performance since it can be more easily compared to past figures. Thus, we can deduce whether a country really is better or worse off year over year.

Article Link: India’s GDP growth accelerates to 20.1% in Q1FY22 on low base

Solution (c)

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-year-old school pupils’ scholastic performance on mathematics, science, and reading.

It was first performed in 2000 and then repeated every three years. Its aim is to provide comparable data with a view to enabling countries to improve their education policies and outcomes. It measures problem solving and cognition.

In India the field trial of PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) is scheduled to be held from September 15 to 18 in 38 schools.

PISA will help to come out of the learning loss that has occurred due to the pandemic.

It would lead to recognition and acceptability of Indian students and prepare them for the global economy in the 21st century.

Article Link: Field trial of PISA to be held in 38 schools from Sept 15 to 18

Solution (b)

Five minute yoga protocol has been developed by the Ministry of Ayush.

The five-minute protocol intends to introduce people at the workplace to yoga. It promotes the idea of a break of five minutes from the work schedule to practice yoga to refresh, de-stress and re-focus.

It intends to introduce people at workplace to yoga and promotes the idea of a break of five minutes from work schedule to practice yoga.

Article Link: Ayush Ministry prepares 5-minute yoga protocol for professionals, develops ‘Y-Break’ app