Solution (b)

Explanation:

The Indian Navy aims to procure new nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSN) under Project 75 Alpha. The Government of India approved the construction of six of such submarines in February 2015. These will be designed by the Navy’s in-house Directorate of Naval Design and indigenously built in the Shipbuilding Centre at Visakhapatnam. Since India is a traditional user of Russian nuclear submarines (with INS Chakra on lease) the new domestically built submarines would be third class of SSN operated by Indian navy after leased Charlie I and Akula II-class submarines.

Article reference: Navy inducts third Scorpene submarine Karanj

Solution (c)

Explanation:

About CISF

• CISF is an armed force of the Union established under an Act of Parliament, “Central Industrial Security Force Act, 1968 (50 of 1968)”.
• In the year 1969, the strength of the force established with the help of 3129 personnel, was increased to 1, 41,421 as of 2020.
• CISF has 12 reserve battalions, 08 training institutes and 63 other formations.
• According to the mandate, CISF provides security to the premises staff along with the security of property and establishments.
• CISF is providing security to the strategic establishment, including the Department of Space, the Department of Atomic Energy, the Airports, the Delhi Metro, the ports, the historical monuments and the basic areas of Indian economy such as petroleum and natural gas, electricity, coal, steel and mining.
• CISF is providing protection to some private sector units and important government buildings in Delhi.
• Presently, CISF is also providing security to the protected persons classified as Z Plus, Z, X, Y.
• CISF is the only force with a customized and dedicated fire wing.
• CISF is a compensatory cost force.

Article reference: PM Modi greets CISF on its raising day 

Solution (b)

Explanation: 

Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) 

• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an apex Indian governmental body created in 1964 to address governmental corruption. 

• In 2003, the Parliament enacted a law conferring statutory status on the CVC. 

• It has the status of an autonomous body, free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India, advising various authorities in central Government organizations in planning, executing, reviewing and reforming their vigilance work.
• It was set up by the Government of India Resolution on 11 February 1964, on the recommendations of the Committee on Prevention of Corruption, headed by Shri K. Santhanam Committee, to advise and guide Central Government agencies in the field of vigilance. (So, Statement 1 is incorrect)
• Nittoor Srinivasa Rau, was selected as the first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of India.

The Annual Report of the CVC not only gives the details of the work done by it but also brings out the system failures which lead to corruption in various Departments/Organisations, system improvements; various preventive measures and cases in which the commission’s advises were ignored etc.

The Commission shall consist of:

• A Central Vigilance Commissioner – Chairperson;
• Not more than two Vigilance Commissioners – Members.

The Central Vigilance Commissioner and the Vigilance Commissioners shall be appointed by the President on recommendation of a Committee consisting of the Prime Minister (Chairperson), the Minister of home affairs (Member) and the Leader of the Opposition in the House of the People.(Lok Sabha) (So, Statement 3 is incorrect)

Article link: CVC gets 27,590 corruption complaints in 2020: Government

Solution (a)

Explanation:

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi (PMSSN) as a single non-lapsable reserve fund for share of Health from the proceeds of Health and Education Cess levied under Section 136-b of Finance Act, 2007.

Salient features of the PMSSN

1. A non-lapsable reserve fund for Health in the Public Account;
2. Proceeds of share of health in the Health and Education Cess will be credited into PMSSN;
3. Accruals into the PMSSN will be utilized for the flagship schemes of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare namely,

• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
• Ayushman Bharat – Health and Wellness Centres (AB-HWCs)
• National Health Mission
• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
• Emergency & disaster preparedness and responses during health emergencies
• Any future programme/scheme that targets to achieve progress towards SDGs and the targets set out in the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017.

1. Administration and maintenance of the PMSSN is entrusted to Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (Hence, Statement 2 is incorrect); and
2. In any financial year, the expenditure on such schemes of the MoHFW would be initially incurred from the PMSSN and thereafter, from Gross Budgetary Support (GBS).

Benefits:

The major benefit will be: enhanced access to universal & affordable health care through availability of earmarked resources, while ensuring that the amount does not lapse at the end of financial year.

Article link: Cabinet approves creation of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Nidhi

Solution (c)

Vulpia myuros is an annual grass species of the genus Vulpia. It was probably originally native to Eurasia, but it can now be found nearly worldwide as a naturalized species.

In the western Ghats, it forms dense, even swards of fine, hair-like stems in recently disturbed habitats, such as 3-10-year-old pulverised fuel ash. It is typically displaced by perennial grasses after about a decade.

Article link: Invasive species prove a tough challenge in the Nilgiris