UPSC QUIZ 15.03.2024

Explanation:

• Recently, the Indian government notified the rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019, paving the way for its implementation after over 4 years since its passage by Parliament in December 2019.
• The CAA, 2019 is an Indian legislation that provides a path to Indian citizenship for migrants belonging to six religious minorities: Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

What are the Rules Issued by the Government Concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act

• Historical Context: The government has previously taken steps to address the plight of refugees, including amendments to the Citizenship Rules in 2004 and notifications in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018.
• CAA Rules 2024: The application process for citizenship under CAA has been made under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Applicants need to prove their country of origin, religion, date of entry into India, and knowledge of an Indian language to qualify for Indian citizenship.

Explanation:

• Union Cooperation Minister inaugurated an umbrella organisation for urban cooperative banks (UCB) - the National Urban Cooperative Finance and Development Corporation Limited (NUCFDC).

Urban Cooperative Banks

• Cooperative banks are financial institutions that are owned and operated by their members, who are also the bank's customers.
• In order to support the financial needs of a community such as a village or a specific community, people come together to pool resources and provide banking services such as loans.
• In India, they are registered under the Cooperative Societies Act of the State concerned or the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
• Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) refers to primary cooperative banks located in urban and semi-urban areas.

Explanation:

• Cabinet Committee on Security approved a project with an outlay of Rs 15,000 crore to design and develop Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, India's fifth generation fighter multirole jet.
• Indian Air Force light combat aircraft during an operational training flight in Rajasthan The process of a court of inquiry has been started to investigate the reasons for the crash of aircraft (LCA) Tejas.

Fifth generation fighter aircraft

• Fifth generation (5G) combat aircraft are aircraft capable of operating in highly contested battlefields, in the presence of the most advanced air and land based threats, in real-time and anticipated.
• The 5G fighter aircraft has stealth capabilities and is capable of flying at supersonic speeds without the aid of afterburner.
• Features such as multi-spectral low-observable design, self-protection, radar jamming capabilities and integrated avionics of 5G combat aircraft differentiate them from fourth generation (4G) combat aircraft.

Explanation:

• Union Minister of Science and Technology inaugurated the first of its kind ‘National Speed Breeding Crop Facility’, ‘DBT Speedy Seeds’ at National Institute of Agri-Food Biotechnology, Mohali.
• This facility will be used to develop new varieties like wheat, rice, soybean, pea, tomato etc. using precisely controlled environment to achieve more than four generations of a crop per year.
• This facility will help agricultural and biotechnology researchers in developing better crop varieties, plant breeders and farmers in adopting varieties with better yield and nutritional properties.
• This facility will cater to the needs of all states of India but will be especially useful for North Indian states, such as Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• NABI is the first agri-food biotechnology institute, established in India on 18 February 2010.
• NABI has made significant contribution in 'Atal Jai Anushandhan Biotech Mission, PoshanAbhiyaan and Biotech Farmer Hub for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana etc.

Explanation:

• The Karnataka government has announced a ban on the use of harmful coloring agents in popular food items like cotton candy and gobimanchurian.
• The ban targets rhodamine B in cotton candy and bans the use of tartrazine in Cabbage Manchurian.
• Rhodamine B is a chemical compound commonly used in synthetic dyes for dyeing silk, jute, leather, cotton and wool, as well as in the cosmetic and plastic industries.
• Tartrazine is a bright yellow azo dye that is more stable as well as a cheaper alternative to natural food colors.
• According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, no coloring matter should be added to food unless permitted by the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.