#1. Consider the following statements regarding satellite Ravana-1: 1. It is Sri Lanka’s first satellite designed and developed by local engineers. 2. It has been successfully launched into orbit from the International Space Station. Which of the above statements is/are correct?Answer (c) Sri Lanka’s first satellite ‘Ravana-1′, designed and developed by two local engineers, was successfully launched into orbit from the International Space Station. It was launched along with two other BIRDS 3 satellites from Japan and Nepal. The satellite was deployed using the JAXA (Japanese Aerospace and Exploration Agency) owned Kibo experiment module. Raavana-1 is expected to fulfil five missions including the capturing of pictures of Sri Lanka and surrounding regions, active attitude stabilization which ensures that satellite’s attitude is stable under the influence of external talks. About BIRDS Projects: It is a cross-border interdisciplinary satellite project for non-space faring countries supported by Japan. It is first step towards creating an indigenous space program by designing, building, operating, testing and launching first satellite for participating nations. BIRDS 3 project involves students from Sri Lanka, Nepal and Japan. #2. Consider the following statements about ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)’. 1. UNCCD is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development issues to the land agenda. 2. UNCCD follows bottom-up approach and encourages participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. 3. It assists countries in the mobilization of financial resources to address desertification, land degradation and drought. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?Answer (a) Established in 1994, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the only legally binding international agreement linking environment and development issues to the land agenda. The Convention’s 197 parties work together to improve the living conditions for people in drylands, to maintain and restore land and soil productivity, and to mitigate the effects of drought. The UNCCD is particularly committed to a bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating desertification and land degradation. The Global Mechanism (GM) was established under Article 21 of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) to assist countries in the mobilization of financial resources to implement the Convention and address desertification, land degradation and drought. #3. Consider the following statements regarding the Financial Action Task Force (FATF): 1. It is an inter-governmental body with headquarters in Paris, France. 2. Saudi Arabia became the first Arab country to get FATF membership. 3. Two regional organisations namely Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and European Commission (EC) are the permanent member of FATF. Which of the above statements is/are correct?Answer (d) About FATF An inter-governmental body established in 1989. Headquarter – Paris, France The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. 39 Members of the FATF – 37 member jurisdictions and 2 regional organisations (GCC and EC) India is member of FATF. Saudi Arabia has become the first Arab country to be granted full membership of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The kingdom’s accession came as the global money laundering watchdog celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first meeting held in Paris in 1989. In 2015, Saudi Arabia joined FATF as an Observer member. Saudi Arabia had been a founding member of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) arm of FATF group since November 2004. Its full membership came after it was reported the kingdom had made “tangible progress” and for its efforts in implementing the FATF’s guidelines. #4. Election to the office of the Speaker of Lokasabha was held recently. In this context consider the following statements. 1. By convention, the Speaker of Loksabha gives up the membership of his/her political party. 2. G V Mavalankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha. 3. Other than the election of the first Speaker, every other Lok Sabha Speaker has been elected unanimously. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?Answer (b) Recently, Om Birla was unanimously elected as the presiding officer of the 17th Lok Sabha. G V Mavalankar was the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha. In Britain, by convention, political parties do not field a candidate against the Speaker at the time of general elections. And the Speaker can continue in office, until deciding otherwise. The promise of continuity in office for many terms is used to ensure the Speaker’s impartiality and by convention, the Speaker also gives up the membership of his/her political party. But there is no such convention in India. Other than the election of Mavalankar, every other Lok Sabha Speaker has been elected unanimously. #5. Which of the following countries has become the first country in the Gulf to launch the new anti-money laundering platform 'goAML'?Answer (c) The UAE has become the first country in the Gulf to launch a new reporting platform developed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to curb organised crimes. The UAE’s Financial Intelligence Unit has launched the new anti-money laundering platform ‘goAML’. |
