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1. Consider the following statements with respect to Question Hour of Parliamentary Proceedings.
1. The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is termed as Question hour.
2. A starred question requires an oral answer and hence supplementary questions can follow.
3. The matters of public importance and of urgent character are considered under Short notice questions.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statement is incorrect regarding this?
(a) It involves reduced or zero tariffs for eligible products exported by beneficiary countries.
(b) GSP is the United States’ trade preference programme designed to promote economic growth by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries.
(c) US recently terminated India’s designation as a beneficiary developing nation under the key GSP trade programme.
(d) None of the above
3. Consider the following statements regarding World Health Organization (WHO).
1. WHO, the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.
2. It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
4. Consider the following statements regarding Facial recognition system (FRS).
1. The accuracy of FRS is much higher than iris and fingerprint recognition.
2. FRS recognizes a person by analyzing patterns based on the person’s facial appearance and shape.
3. FRS is increasingly being used for validating identity, auto-tagging digital photos and for targeted advertising.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
15. Consider the following statements with respect to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
1. FSSAI has been mandated by the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.
2. FSSAI has recently introduced the scheme of Food Safety Mitra (FSM) through which it plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level.
3. FSSAI issued the Orange Book.
4. Repurpose Cooking Oil (RUCO) is the initiative of FSSAI to collect and convert used cooking oil into bio-fuel.
5. FSSAI works under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
(b) 1, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
1.Answer-d
Explanation
Question Hour
The first hour of every parliamentary sitting is termed as Question hour. It is mentioned in the Rules of Procedure of the House. During this time, the members ask questions and the ministers usually give answers.
Starred Questions- These are distinguished by an asterisk. It requires an oral answer and hence supplementary questions can follow. The list of these questions is printed in green colour.
Unstarred Questions- It requires a written answer and hence, supplementary questions cannot follow. The list of these questions is printed in white colour.
Short Notice Questions- The matters of public importance and of urgent character are considered under this type of questions. It is asked by giving a notice of less than ten days. It is answered orally. The list of these questions is printed in light pink colour.
In addition to the ministers, the questions can also be asked to the private members.
Question to private members- These questions are mentioned under Rule 40 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. A question may be addressed to a private member if the subject matter of the question relates to some bill, resolution for which that member is responsible. The list of these questions is printed in yellow colour.
2.Answer-d
Explanation-
The GSP is a U.S. trade program designed to promote economic growth in the developing world. GSP was instituted in 1976 by the Trade Act of 1974. It provides preferential duty-free entry for up to 4,800 products from more than 120 designated beneficiary countries and territories. It was extended to India in 1976, under which India is able to export about 2,000 product lines to the U.S. under zero tariff.
The GSP, the largest and oldest US trade preference programme, is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries. GSP involves reduced/zero tariffs of eligible products exported by beneficiary countries to the markets of GSP-providing countries. India has been the biggest beneficiary of the GSP regime and accounted for over a quarter of the goods that got duty-free access into the US in 2017.
US recently terminated India’s designation as a beneficiary developing nation under the key GSP trade programme. to enter the United States duty-free. The reason behind this move is that India has not assured the United States that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets.
3.Answer-c
Explanation-
World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations’ specialized agency for Health was founded in 1948.
Its headquarters are situated in Geneva, Switzerland. There are 194 Member States, 150 country offices, six regional offices and headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with its member states usually through the Ministries of Health.
The WHO provides leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
It began functioning on April 7, 1948 – a date now being celebrated every year as World Health Day.
World Health Assembly – It is the supreme decision making body of WHO, attending by delegations from all member states
Membership and Associate Membership
Members of the United Nations may become Members of the Organization. Territories or groups of territories which are not responsible for the conduct of their international relations may be admitted as Associate Members by the Health Assembly.
4.Answer-a
Explanation-
A FRS is a technology capable of identifying or verifying a person from a digital image or a video frame from a video source. They work by comparing selected facial features from given image with faces within a database. It is also described as a Biometric Artificial Intelligence based application that can uniquely identify a person by analyzing patterns based on the person’s facial textures and shape.
Although the accuracy of FRS as a biometric technology is lower than iris recognition and fingerprint recognition, it is widely adopted due to its contactless and non-invasive process
It is increasingly being used for everything: from unlocking your phone to validating your identity, from auto-tagging digital photos to finding missing persons, and from targeted advertising to law enforcement.
5.Answer-a
Explanation-
FSSAI, which is in the process of overhauling the labelling regulations for packaged food products, has begun a nutrient threshold study to assess the current market scenario.
The draft regulations propose colour-coded labelling to enable consumers to identify products that are high in Fat, Salt and Sugar (HFSS) products. FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. FSSAI issues Orange Book for ensuring safe and nutritious food at workplace, an n initiative to launch ‘SNF@Workplace’ (Safe and Nutritious Food at Workplace).
FSSAI has been mandated by the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 which extends to the whole of India.
The Orange Book serves as guide for general practices recommended for ensuring safe and nutritious food at workplace.
FSSAI has recently introduced the scheme of Food Safety Mitra (FSM) through which it plans to engage motivated individuals with the food safety ecosystem at ground level. A FSM is an individual professional certified by FSSAI who assists in compliances related to FSS Act, Rules & Regulations with three avatars – Digital Mitra, Trainer Mitra and Hygiene Mitra depending upon their respective roles and responsibilities. The FSM scheme will support small and medium scale food businesses to comply with the food safety laws and facilitate licensing and registration, hygiene ratings and training. Apart from strengthening food safety, this scheme would also create new employment opportunities for youth, particularly with food and nutrition background. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare also launches ‘Eat Right Jacket’ and ‘Eat Right Jhola’ on World Food Day 2019.
FSSAI has launched the Repurpose Cooking Oil (RUCO) initiative to collect and convert used cooking oil into bio-fuel.
FSSAI initiated Project BHOG (Blissful Hygienic Offering to God) for Food Safety in Places of Worship.