UPSC EXAM QUIZ 15.07.2024

Explanation:

• Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister has approved India's right to sign the Biodiversity Agreement beyond national jurisdiction.
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India will lead the implementation of the BBNJ Agreement in the country.
• The objective of this treaty, which was signed last year, is to reduce pollution and conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and other marine resources in marine waters.

High Seas

• According to the 1958 Geneva Convention on the High Seas, parts of the sea that are not included in the territorial waters or the internal waters of a country are known as the high seas.
• It is the area beyond a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (that extends up to 200 nautical miles from the coastline) and till where a nation has jurisdiction over living and non-living resources.
• No country is responsible for the management and protection of resources on the high seas.

Explanation:

• World Health Organization (WHO) has published the fifth milestone report on progress towards global trans fat elimination, covering the period from 2018–2023.
• In another development, a study was published in the Lancet Global Health journal that indicates almost 50% of adults in India engaged in insufficient levels of physical activity in 2022.

Key Highlights of the WHO Report on Trans Fat

• Industrially produced TFA is identified as a major contributor to heart disease. TFA offers no nutritional benefits and is detrimental to public health.
• In 2018, WHO set a target to eliminate TFA from the global food supply by the end of 2023. Even though the target has not been fully met, there has been remarkable progress made and sustained elimination would be achieved by 2025.

Explanation:

• Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced the Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index) for March 2024.The Financial Inclusion Index is a measure to measure the extent of financial inclusion across the country.
• In India, the Financial Inclusion Index has increased from 60.1 points in March 2023 to 64.2 in March 2024.

Historical Progress of Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index)

• The Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index), launched by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 17, 2021, helps measure the progress in ensuring access to financial services, timely credit and affordability for vulnerable groups in the country. Objective and Construction of Financial Inclusion Index (FI-Index)
• The Financial Inclusion Index has a value ranging from 0 to 100, with 0 indicating complete financial exclusion while 100 indicating full financial inclusion.
• The index is based on the contribution of sub-indices to indicate the depth of financial inclusion. The index indicates significant progress in India's financial inclusion which can help promote financial inclusion in the country.

Explanation:

• The Union Finance Ministry has approved the proposal to increase the EPF annual interest rate to 8.25% from 8.15%.
• The rate revision decision will benefit millions of EPF members across the country.
• Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has also informed that the revised EPF interest rates have been disbursed to retiring members as part of their final PF settlements.
• The rate of interest for EPF members is not declared quarterly.
• EPFO has also informed that 23,04,516 claims have been settled by disbursing an amount of Rs. 9260,40,35,488 to the members.
• Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) is responsible for the regulation and management of provident funds in India.
• On October 1, 2014, the Government of India launched a Universal Account Number for employees covered by EPFO.

Explanation:

• Assam Forest Department and conservationists have documented the first photographic evidence of Mainland Serow (Capricornis sumatrensis thar) in Raimona National Park in western Assam.
• Mainland Serow is a mammal that looks like a cross between a goat and an antelope.
• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mainland Serows are found in areas with an altitude of 200-3000 metres.
• The animal is also found in Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary across the Indo-Bhutan border and Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan.
• The three other species of this animal are the Japanese Serow, Red Serow (found in eastern India, Bangladesh and Myanmar) and Taiwanese or Formosan Serow.