Current Affairs Quiz 31 October 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

Ans. C

Hostile Activity Watch Kernel (HAWK) System
HAWK is a cloud-based Information Management System designed to oversee interconnected databases related to wildlife crime, wildlife criminals, and wildlife mortality.

Objective
• Wildlife Protection: The system is aimed at helping officials analyze information, gather actionable intelligence, and take measures to prevent wildlife crimes and combat Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT).

Key Features
• Real-Time Connectivity: HAWK connects the entire state forest department in real-time, and access is controlled through varying access levels.
• ERP Model: It operates as a comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) model, using both mobile and desktop interfaces to manage data.
• Modular Structure: HAWK is divided into various modules, interconnected with standalone functions. This allows the system to scale up or down to accommodate the specific needs of each state’s forest department and adapt to changes in procedures and regional languages.
• Data Security: All data managed by HAWK is secured using government and industry-standard security measures.

Development and Implementation
• Origin: The development of HAWK began in 2017 in the state of Kerala through collaboration between the Kerala Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of India.
• Official Implementation: The system was officially launched in Kerala in 2019, and it has since become the official system for the state’s forest department.
• Expansion: In 2022, a customized version of HAWK was initiated in Karnataka in partnership with the ICT cell of the Karnataka Forest Department, and it is currently being implemented statewide.

Ans. D
• The Brus are spread across Tripura, Mizoram and parts of southern Assam are the most populous tribe in Tripura.
• Also known as Reangs in the state, they are ethnically different from the Mizos, with their own distinct language and dialect and form one of the 21 scheduled tribes of Tripura. In Mizoram, they are largely restricted to Mamit and Kolasib districts.
Over two decades ago, they were targeted by the Young Mizo Association (YMA), Mizo Zirwlai Pawl (MZP), and a few ethnic social organisations of Mizoram who demanded that the Bru be excluded from electoral rolls in the state.