UPSC Quiz – 2021 : IASbaba’s Daily Current Affairs Quiz 17th December 2021

Solution (a)

A genetic diversity study by a group of scientists of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Animal Genetics and Breeding (CASAGB) under the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) has established that the native Vilwadri cattle of Thrissur district is genetically divergent from the rest of the cattle population in the State.

The native cattle breed of Kerala — Vechur, along with Kasaragod and Vilwadri cattle — separated into distinct populations with more genetic distance from others

The Vilwadri cattle are found in the Thiruvilwamala area on the Palakkad-Thrissur border. The cattle are humped like other indigenous cattle of the State but they are bigger with longer horns compared to others. Indigenous breeds are disease-resistant and can withstand high temperatures.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/vilwadri-cattle-established-as-genetically-divergent/article37253337.ece

Solution (c)

Between 2018 and 2020 about 2054 cases were registered for killing or illegal trafficking of wild animals in India. In the three years about 3836 accused were arrested for the crime. The number of cases registered in the year 2018 was 648 and 1099 persons were arrested, followed by 805 cases and 1506 arrests in 2019 and 601 cases and 1231 arrests in 2020. The data was made available on the basis of cases registered by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and State Forest and Police Authorities in the past three years.

Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has conducted a number of species-specific enforcement operations with coordination of State Enforcement Agencies

Operation “Save Kurma” – focus on the poaching, transportation and illegal trade of live turtles and tortoises

Operation Turtshield- was taken up to tackle the illegal trade of live turtles 

Operation “Lesknow” – gain attention of enforcement agencies towards the illegal wildlife trade in lesser-known species of wildlife

Operation Clean Art” – drag attention of enforcement agencies towards illegal wildlife trade in Mongoose hair brushes

Operation Softgold” – tackle Shahtoosh Shawl (made from Chiru wool) illegal trade and to spread awareness among the weavers and traders engaged in this trade

Operation Birbil” to curb illegal trade in wild cat and wild bird species 

Operation Wildnet” – aimed to draw the attention of the enforcement agencies within the country to focus their attention on the ever increasing illegal wildlife trade over internet using social media platforms.

“Operation Freefly” – illegal trade of live birds 

“Operation Wetmark” to ensure prohibition of sale of meat of wild animals in wet markets across the country

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/2054-cases-registered-for-killing-trafficking-of-wild-animals/article37934115.ece

Solution (c)

According to the report, nearly 80 per cent of the funds for the scheme have been used for its advertising and not on sectoral interventions such as in health and education for women

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme, launched to address the decline in Child Sex Ratio and related issues of empowerment of girls, is implemented by states with 100% central assistance. It is a tri-ministerial scheme with the Women and Child Development Ministry as the nodal ministry. The other two ministries involved are Health and Family Welfare and Education (Department of School Education and Literacy).

The Beti Bachao scheme was launched in January 2015 with the aim to address sex selective abortion and the declining child sex ratio which was at 918 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2011. The programme is being implemented across 405 districts in the country.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/beti-bachao-beti-padhao-whopping-80-of-funds-spent-on-media-campaigns-says-parliamentary-committee/article37922778.ece

Solution (a)

The ‘State of the Education Report for India 2021: No Teacher, No Class ’ was launched by UNESCO New Delhi on the occasion of World Teacher’s Day, 5 October 2021, with over 400 attendees, including representatives from the government, civil society, academia, partners and youth.

Published annually, this third edition of the State of Education Report of India, focused on the theme of teachers, teaching and teacher education, underscores that the work of teaching is complex. It attempts to provide an understanding of key aspects of the teaching profession, provides a profile of nearly 9.7 million teaching workforce, as well as the challenges of their intricate teaching routine and their professional development.

This publication is the annual flagship report of UNESCO New Delhi and it is based on extensive research. 

Only 19% schools across India have access to internet: UNESCO report

The teaching workforce has a deficit of over 1 million teachers and the need is likely to grow, given the shortages of teachers in certain education levels and subjects such as early childhood education, special education, physical education, music, arts, and curricular streams of vocational education.

UNESCO said contractual rather than regular teachers’ jobs ‘presents further complexity’ and the problem is equally alarming in both private and government schools. 

At least 16% of the schools in Goa and Telangana were managed by just one teacher

The overall proportion of teachers in private schools who report working with no job contract is alarmingly high at 69%

In the government sector, the overall number of school teachers with contracts of more than three years’ duration is high at 67%

Half of India’s 9.43 million school teachers are women. 

Article Link:

https://indianexpress.com/article/education/foundational-learning-took-a-hit-amid-covid-only-19-schools-have-access-to-internet-unseco-report-7553799/

Solution (a)

Successful tests of Pinaka Extended Range (ER) multi-barrel rocket launcher system

Pinaka is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. The system has a maximum range of 40 km for Mark-I and 60 km for Mark-I enhanced version and can fire a salvo of 12 HE rockets in 44 seconds. The system is mounted on a Tatra truck for mobility. Pinaka saw service during the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising enemy positions on the mountain tops. It has since been inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers

The Pinaka-ER is the upgraded version of earlier version which has been in service with the Army for the last decade.

The Pinaka is in the process of further improvement. Israel Military Industries teamed up with DRDO to implement its Trajectory Correction System (TCS) on the Pinaka, for further improvement of its CEP.

Article Link:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pinaka-extended-range-rocket-system-successfully-tested-drdo/article37932502.ece