Solution (d)

Explanation:

About The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE)

The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) came into being on August 3, 1954 under the direct charge of the Prime Minister through a Presidential Order. According to the Resolution constituting the AEC, the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Atomic Energy is ex-officio Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.  

DAE has been engaged in the development of nuclear power technology, applications of radiation technologies in the fields of agriculture, medicine, industry and basic research.

DAE comprises five research centres, three industrial organizations, five public sector undertakings and three service organizations. It has under its aegis two boards for promoting and funding extra-mural research in nuclear and allied fields, mathematics and a national institute (deemed university).

It also supports eight institutes of international repute engaged in research in basic sciences, astronomy, astrophysics, cancer research and education. It also has in its fold an educational society that provides educational facilities for children of DAE employees.   

Article reference: DAE plans to rope in private agencies for Nuclear Medicine

Solution (a)

Explanation:  

Statement 1: Currently, 100 per cent overseas investments are permitted in the defence industry — 74 per cent is allowed under the automatic route but beyond that, government approval is required. (Till now 49% of FDI was allowed under automatic route). (So, Statement 1 is correct.)

Statement 2: SRIJAN portal 

• Pursuant to Atmanirbhar Bharat announcement, Department of Defence Production has developed an indigenization portal, srijandefence.gov.in, as ‘opportunities for Make in India’ in Defence, which will give information on items that can be taken up for indigenization by the private sector. 
• On this portal, DPSUs/OFB/SHQs can display their items which they have been importing or are going to import which the Indian Industry can design, develop and manufacture as per their capability or through joint venture with OEMs.
• The Indian Industry will be able to show their interest. The concerned DPSUs/OFB/SHQs, based on their requirement of the items and their guidelines & procedures will interact with the Indian industry for indigenization.
• So, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Statement 3: Chetak Helicopter is made under a licensing arrangement between French aircraft company Sud Aviation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The majority of these were acquired for military purposes with the Indian Armed Forces, who have used them to perform various mission roles, including training, transport, CASEVAC (casualty evacuation), communications and liaison roles. By 2017, the Chetak was reportedly serving as the most widely used IAF helicopter for training, light utility and light attack roles. (So, Statement 3 is incorrect)

Article reference: Indigenous Aircraft and Submarines

Solution (c)

Explanation: 

Statement 1: The FCRA was enacted in 1976 in order to maintain strict control over voluntary organisations and political associations that received foreign funding. In the year 1984, an amendment was made to the act requiring all the Non-Governmental Organisations to register them with the Home Ministry. In 2010, the act was repealed and a new act with strict provisions was enacted.

Statement 2: Since the Act is internal security legislation, despite being a law related to financial legislation, it falls into the purview of Home Ministry and not the Reserve Bank of India. (Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect)

Statement 3:  The Salient Features of FCRA, 2010

• A provision was made for the cancellation of registrations of NGOs if the Home Ministry believes that the organisation is political and not neutral.

• The registration certificate granted to the NGOs under the 2010 act came with five-year validity. So renewal of registration should be once in 5 years, and not in one year.

• A provision was inserted stating that the asset of the person who has become defunct needs to be disposed off in a manner stated by the government.
• A separate account needs to be maintained by the organisations to deposit the Foreign Contributions received and no other funds except for Foreign Contributions shall be deposited in that account.
• Every bank would be obligated to report to the prescribed authority, the amount of foreign remittances received and other related details such as the source, manner of receipt etc.

Article Link: NGO’S With FCRA Clearance

Solution (b)

Explanation:

Statement 1: The Prime Minister of India launched CDRI during his speech at the UN Climate Action Summit on 23 September 2019. The Prime Minister had initially announced India’s intention to work with partner countries and key stakeholders to form a coalition working towards the goal of improving the disaster resilience of infrastructure at the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in November 2016 in New Delhi. (So, Statement 1 is incorrect)

Statement 2: As of March, 2021, CDRI has 22 countries as its member.

Statement 3:  The term “infrastructure” is meant to include major economic, physical infrastructure (energy, telecommunication, roads, railways, airports, etc.), social infrastructure (schools, hospitals, etc.), and ecological infrastructure (natural waterways, waste management, etc.). In its initial phase, the CDRI will prioritize sectors where it can have the greatest multiplier effect. 

The scope of “disasters” includes those emanating from natural hazards as well as man-made hazards. In practice, while looking at the resilience of a particular infrastructure system, the emphasis would depend on its risk exposure to different kinds of hazards, whether natural or man-made. 

Basics of CDRI

• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is an international coalition of countries, United Nations (UN) agencies, multilateral development banks, the private sector, and academic institutions that aims to promote disaster-resilient infrastructure. 
• Its objective is to promote research and knowledge sharing in the fields of infrastructure risk management, standards, financing, and recovery mechanisms. 
• CDRI’s initial focus is on developing disaster-resilience in ecological, social, and economic infrastructure. 
• It aims to achieve substantial changes in member countries’ policy frameworks and future infrastructure investments, along with a major decrease in the economic losses suffered due to disasters.

Article link: Shared climate vision on visit agenda with friend PM Modi: Boris Johnson

Solution (d)

Explanation 

About World Air Quality Report 2020

• World Air Quality Report, 2020 has been released globally by IQAir (Swiss Organization). 
• As per the report, India is the third most polluted country in the world .
• New Delhi was the world’s most polluted capital for the third straight year in 2020, based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM2.5.
• India was home to 35 of the world’s 50 most polluted cities. Prolonged exposure to PM2.5 can lead to deadly diseases, including cancer and cardiac problems.
• In 2020, New Delhi’s average annual concentration of PM2.5 in a cubic meter of air was 84.1, the study said, more than double the level of Beijing, which averaged 37.5 during the year, making it the 14th most polluted city in the world.
• Air pollution caused an estimated 54,000 premature deaths in New Delhi in 2020.

Article link: New Delhi is world’s most polluted capital for third straight year: IQAir study