Current Affairs Quiz 16 June 2023

Correct Answer : C

Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS):
Objective:
• The objective of the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) is to enhance the supply of food grains, specifically wheat, during the lean season and moderate open market prices, especially in deficit regions.

Process:
• The Food Corporation of India (FCI) conducts weekly auctions through e-auctions in the open market to sell surplus stocks of wheat and rice.
• The auctions are conducted using the platform of the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange Limited (NCDEX).
• State Governments and Union Territory Administrations have the option to participate in the e-auction if they require wheat and rice outside the Targeted Public Distribution Scheme (TPDS) and Other Welfare Schemes (OWS).

Reserve Price and Bidding:
• The government sets a reserve price for the auction.
• Bidders participating in the tenders floated by the FCI cannot quote a price less than the reserve price.

Types of OMSS Schemes:
The present form of OMSS consists of three schemes:
• Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction.
• Sale of wheat to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction by dedicated movement.
• Sale of Raw Rice Grade ‘A’ to bulk consumers/private traders through e-auction.

Answer: A
About Atal Bhujal Yojana:

• The Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABHY) is a central sector scheme worth Rs.6,000 crore for sustainable management of groundwater with community participation.
• It envisages people’s participation through the formation of ‘Water User Associations’, water budgeting, preparation & implementation of Gram-panchayat-wise water security plans, etc.
• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti
• The scheme is being funded by the Government of India and the World Bank on 50:50 basis.
• The identified over-exploited and water-stressed areas for the implementation of the scheme are Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• The States have been selected according to the degree of groundwater exploitation and degradation, established legal and regulatory instruments, institutional readiness, and experience in implementing initiatives related to groundwater management.

Answer: D) Madhya Pradesh

Correct Answer : C

Landfall of a Cyclone
• Landfall refers to the event when a tropical cyclone transitions from being over water to moving onto land.
• According to the IMD (Indian Meteorological Department), landfall occurs when the center or eye of the cyclone crosses the coast.

The Eye of a Cyclone:
• The eye of a cyclone is a region at the center of the storm characterized by relatively calm weather.
• It has circular or oval shape and features light winds, clear or partly cloudy skies, and reduced precipitation.
• The size of the eye can vary significantly, ranging from a few kilometers to over 50 kilometers (30 miles) in diameter for larger cyclones.

During Landfall:
• Prior to landfall, the outer bands of the cyclone may have already reached the coast, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge.
• Landfall marks the official moment when the cyclone reaches the land.

Difference from “Direct Hit”:
• It’s important to distinguish landfall from a “direct hit.”
• A direct hit refers to a situation where the core of high winds, known as the eyewall, comes onshore, but the center of the storm may remain offshore.

Answer: A