Solution (c)

Explanation:

Basics about Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)  

• APEDA is an apex body authorised under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India established to promote the export of agricultural commodities and processed food products.
• APEDA was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act passed by the Parliament in December 1985. 
• It has its headquarters at New Delhi and has set up five Regional Offices at Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Guwahati along with 13 virtual offices.
• APEDA provides comprehensive export service and links Indian exporter to the global market. Additionally, it provides referral services and suggests suitable partners for a joint venture.
• It has marked its presence in almost all Agro potential states in India to provide services to the Agri export community.

Article reference: Manipur CM Shri N Biren Singh lauds APEDA’s role in organizing buyer seller meet for local entrepreneurs in Imphal

Solution (d)

Explanation:

Cities Innovation Exchange 

City Innovation Exchange was launched by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

Designed on the philosophy of ‘everyone is an innovator’, the platform will bring together Citizen Organisations-Academia- Businesses- Government to co-create for the future of Urban India in a transparent and sustainable manner. The Smart Cities Mission will partner and effectively collaborate with Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission, AGNIi and other initiatives in the Indian Innovation ecosystem.

Built on the concept of ‘open innovation’, the platform will help in the flow of ideas ‘outside in and inside out’, enhancing the skills and capacity required to deliver smart urban governance. Through interaction with the Academia and Businesses/Start-ups, the platform will benefit cities in the transfer of ideas from ‘labs’ to real environment. Similarly, by helping urban governments interact with citizens, the platform will ensure adoption of tested solutions that will be impactful and sustainable.   

The platform in due time will help our cities in adopting solutions that will enhance the quality of life for its residents and significantly improve the Ease of Doing Business. 

The Platform has more than 400 start-ups, 100 smart cities, more than 150 challenges statements and over 215 solutions at the time of launch. 

Article reference: City Innovation Exchange (CiX) Launched for Fostering Innovation in Urban Ecosystem

Solution (b)

Explanation

Supreme Court in M. Nagaraj vs. Union of India (2006) validated parliament’s decision to extend reservations for SCs and STs to include promotions with three conditions: 

1. State has to provide proof for the backwardness of the class benefitting from the reservation.
2. State has to collect quantifiable data showing inadequacy of representation of that class in public employment
3. State has to show how reservations in promotions would further administrative efficiency. 

Supreme Court in Jarnail Singh v. Lachhmi Narain Gupta (2018) held that the government need not collect quantifiable data to demonstrate backwardness of public employees belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (SC/STs) to provide reservations for them in promotions.

So now, Government need to follow just two conditions except quantifiable data for backwardness under Nagraj Case (2006)

Article link: Ignoring merit in public job selection violation of Constitution: Supreme Court 

Solution (c)

Basics 

Multiple drug resistance (MDR)

Multiple drug resistance is antimicrobial resistance shown by a species of microorganism to at least one antimicrobial drug in three or more antimicrobial categories. Antimicrobial categories are classifications of antimicrobial agents based on their mode of action and specific to target organisms. The MDR types most threatening to public health are MDR bacteria that resist multiple antibiotics; other types include MDR viruses, parasites (resistant to multiple antifungal, antiviral, and ant parasitic drugs of a wide chemical variety). 

Causes of Multi-Drug Resistance

• Inappropriate Use – Selection of resistant microorganisms is exacerbated by inappropriate use of antimicrobials. 
• Inadequate Diagnostics 
• Hospital Use – Heavier use of antimicrobials in critically ill patients can worsen the problem by selecting for antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms. 
• Agricultural Use
• Scientists also believe that the practice of adding antibiotics to agricultural feed promotes drug resistance. 
• Constant use of Over the counter drugs  – may lead to inappropriate composition of drug, which promotes multi-drug resistance.

Article link: Global travellers exposed to a greater burden of multidrug-resistant bacteria: study

Solution (d)

Cremanthodium indicum, plant species which generally flowers from July to August, is endemic to Penga-Teng Tso Lake of Tawang district, has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

The alpine plant species is assessed as critically endangered, according to the IUCN guidelines.

It is a perennial herb and stands 16–24 cm tall. Cremanthodium indica grows in boggy soil among mosses along the banks of alpine lake. The new species belongs to the family of Himalayan sunflower. 

 Article link: New alpine plant species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh