Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018 (Pdf Download)

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Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

1. Which state government had launched ‘Saubhagya Yojana’, aimed at providing electricity to all the villages across the state?
1. Bihar
2. Gujarat
3. Assam
4. Jharkhand
5. Odisha

Answer – 4. Jharkhand

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation :Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das launched ‘Saubhagya Yojana’, aimed at providing electricity to all the 29376 villages across the state. Currently, 17.64 lakh households in Jharkhand do not have electricity supply. Under ‘Saubhagya Yojana’, all such households will get 24X7 electricity supply by December 2018. Jharkhand State Government is also putting efforts to provide electricity to cottage industries and agriculture. Under this scheme, above poverty line (APL) families would get electricity connection by paying Rs 500 (Rs 50 each month for 10 months).

2. Uttarayan festival is celebrated in which state?
1. Gujarat
2. Rajasthan
3. Uttar Pradesh
4. Punjab
5. Haryana

Answer – 1. Gujarat

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Gujarat Animal Husbandry department has banned all voluntary animal care and NGOs working under ‘Karuna Abhiyan’ to function in residential areas during the 2018 Uttarayan festival. Usage of abrasive thread for flying kites during Uttarayan festival injures a lot of birds. To prevent such injuries around 40 organisations have been working to treat birds, mainly at time of this festival. These organisations function under the Ahmedabad forest department. Now, the Gujarat government has banned these organisations to function in residential areas during Uttarayan, because of high bird flu outbreak in January 2017 and a Gujarat High Court order issued in 2017. Two animal shelters – Asha Foundation and Jeev Daya Charitable Trust have been permitted to carry out follow-up of injured birds after treatment at seven care centres in Ahmedabad.

3.Which country has developed a new underwater surveillance network which will help its submarines to accurately track target vessels and will protect its interests in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea?
1. China
2. India
3. Pakistan
4. Srilanka
5. None of these

Answer – 1. China

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : China has developed a new underwater surveillance network which will help its submarines to accurately track target vessels and will protect its interests in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea. This surveillance network works by acquiring information about the underwater environment (water temperature, salinity etc.), streaming acquired information to intelligence centres and providing actionable information to Chinese navy which will use it for tracking, navigation and positioning. Information is acquired through satellites, surface vessels, underwater gliders and by deploying buoys in South China Sea and the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The acquired information is streamed to three intelligence centres — in the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, the southern province of Guangdong, and a joint facility in South Asia. These centres will process and analyse the acquired information and will transmit it to Chinese Navy. The network has been developed by South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

4. Name the voting method by which the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017, was passed in the Rajya Sabha?
1. Secret Ballot
2. Recording of votes by distribution of slips
3. Physical count of Members in their places
4. Casting Vote
5. None of these

Answer – 5. None of these

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Amendment) Bill, 2017, was passed in the Rajya Sabha by voice vote. This bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in August, 2017. The bill seeks to increase NABARD’s authorised capital to Rs 30000 crore from the current level of Rs. 5000 crore. Besides, Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) 0.4 percent equity in NABARD will be transferred to Central Government. Consequentially, 100 percent equity of NABARD will now be with government.

5. Which State’s Chief Minister had directed the state irrigation department to implement the integrated solar-based micro irrigation scheme in all its districts?
1. Punjab
2. Haryana
3. Gujarat
4. Karnataka
5. Maharashtra

Answer – 2. Haryana

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar directed the state irrigation department to implement the integrated solar-based micro irrigation scheme in all districts of Haryana. Mr. Khattar has constituted a committee headed by Haryana Renewable Energy Development Agency (HAREDA) chairman to form a strategy to execute this scheme. Currently, solar-based micro irrigation scheme is
being implemented on pilot basis across 13 districts of Haryana at a cost of Rs 24.65 crore. This scheme will save electricity and water and will thereby prove to be economical for farmers.

6. In which country, a new endangered flowering plant species named ‘Primula Zhui’ has been discovered by its scientists?
1. India
2. Russia
3. Canada
4. Australia
5. China

Answer – 5. China

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : A new endangered flowering plant species named ‘Primula Zhui’ has been discovered by scientists in Yunnan Province of China. Primula Zhui is known in Chinese as Zhu Hua Baochun. It has been named after Zhu Hua, a Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) researcher. This belongs to the Primulaceae family, also known as primrose family. This has been declared as a critically endangered species as per the classification by the World Conservation Union.

7. To encourage the Jute sectors, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), gave approval for mandatory packaging of __ and ____in the jute material for the Jute Year 2017-18 (from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018)?
1. Foodgrains and Vegetables
2. Foodgrains and Meat
3. Foodgrains and Sugar
4. Foodgrains and Stationaries
5. Foodgrains and Sweets

Answer – 3. Foodgrains and Sugar

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave approval for mandatory packaging of foodgrains and sugar in the jute material for the Jute Year 2017-18 (from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018). This decision would sustain demand for jute and will thereby support the livelihood of the workers and farmers dependent on this sector. Livelihood of huge number of farmers and workers located in the Eastern and North Eastern regions of India, particularly in West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura is dependent on Jute sector. The extension for mandatory Jute material packaging has been granted under the Jute Packaging Material (JPM) Act, 1987.

8. Name the web portals that have been launched by Ministry of Women and Child Development to track missing and found children?
1. ‘Track-the-Child’ and ‘Khoya-Paya’
2. ‘TrackingChild’ and ‘Khoyaa-Payaa’
3. ‘ChildTracking’ and ‘Khoya-Paya’
4. ‘TrackChild’ and ‘Khoya-Paya’
5. ‘TrackTheChild’ and ‘Khoya-Paya’

Answer – 4. ‘TrackChild’ and ‘Khoya-Paya’

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : ‘TrackChild’ and ‘Khoya-Paya’ web portals have been launched by Ministry of Women and Child Development to track missing and found children. The ‘TrackChild’ web portal has been launched in joint association with stakeholders like Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Ministry of Railways, State Governments, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, National Legal Services Authority, etc. The ‘Khoya-Paya’ has been developed as a citizen corner on the ‘TrackChild’ portal. Apart from these portals the Ministry of Women and Child Development also provides support for children in trouble through the dedicated toll free number – 1098. Also, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been created to trace missing children. It has been distributed to all the states and union territories.

9. Supreme Court of India stayed which state’s High Court order to put an end to 85% pictorial warnings on packets of cigarettes and other tobacco products because they would infringe tobacco manufacturers’ fundamental right to do business?
1. Karnataka
2. Kerala
3. Odisha
4. Gujarat
5. Maharashtra

Answer – 1. Karnataka

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Supreme Court of India stayed a Karnataka High Court order quashing 85% pictorial warnings on packets of cigarettes and other tobacco products.On December 15, 2017, Karnataka High Court had struck down the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2014 which mandated 85% pictorial warning on tobacco products packaging space.A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud stated that it was “unimpressed” with the submissions of the Tobacco Institute of India (TII) asserting that the stay would infringe tobacco manufacturers’ fundamental right to do business.The bench is of the opinion that health of citizens should be accorded highest priority. In context of this news, it is to be noted that as per a report by World Health Organisation (WHO), pictorial warnings prove to be very effective especially in creating awareness among illiterate consumers.

10. Which two organizations had agreed to collaborate for accelerating action to curb environmental health risks?
1. Earth System Governance Project (ESGP) and World Health Organisation (WHO)
2. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Health Organisation (WHO)
3. Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and World Health Organisation (WHO)
4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and World Health Organisation (WHO)
5. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Health Organisation (WHO)

Answer – 2.United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Health Organisation (WHO)

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Health Organisation (WHO) agreed to collaborate for accelerating action to curb environmental health risks. The agreement was signed between Erik Solheim, head of UNEP and TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO. It is to be noted that environmental health risks cause an estimated 12 million deaths every year, mostly in developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. As per the agreement, both the entities will put joint efforts for combating air pollution, improve coordination on waste and chemicals management, addressing problems of climate change and anti-microbial resistance, improving water quality and issues related to food and nutrition.

11. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has refused to permit captive breeding of which animal, whose underfur is used to make shahtoosh shawls?
1. Chiru
2. Eland
3. Kudu
4. Nyala
5. Waterbuck

Answer – 1. Chiru

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : The Ministry of Environment and Forests has refused to permit captive breeding of Chiru (Tibetan Antelope) whose underfur is used to make shahtoosh shawls. The Ministry of Environment and Forests refused the suggestion to carry out captive breeding of Chiru stating that, it will not help in conservation and will not provide raw material for weavers as they have to be killed in order to collect the wool. Chiru has been declared as ‘Near Threatened’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2017. Chiru has been hunted down for its underfur for a long time. The fur is transported to Srinagar to make shawls. The shahtoosh shawls’ sale and ownership is already banned in India and in several other countries.

12. In which year, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare has launched Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) programme, with an objective to ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India?
1. 2000
2. 2005
3. 2010
4. 2016
5. 2017

Answer – 4. 2016

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : J P Nadda, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare has stated that antenatal check-ups under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) has crossed one crore mark. PMSMA programme was launched in 2016 with an objective to ensure comprehensive and quality antenatal checkups to pregnant women across India. Under this programme, quality antenatal checkups are provided to pregnant women on the 9th of every month at PMSAM sites. On this day, pregnant women visiting the sites are appropriately examined and investigated by an obstetrician/physician. PMSMA has been successful in reaching out to the difficult and remote areas of
India, as out of the 1 crore checkups, more than 25 lakh check-ups were conducted in high priority districts identified by the Union Health Ministry for focussed attention.

13. Which year was declared as the ‘national year of millets’ by the Central Government?
1. 2015
2. 2016
3. 2017
4. 2018
5. 2019

Answer – 4. 2018

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Central Government will be declaring 2018 as the ‘national year of millets’. Request for declaring 2018 as the ‘national year of millets’ has been made by Karnataka. It is to be noted that Karnataka is India’s leader in the millet sector. The objective behind this decision is to increase awareness about health benefits of Millets. This awareness will lead to higher demand for drought-resistant varieties of millets, which in turn will help poor and marginal farmers to fetch better prices. In terms of nutritional value, millets are superior to wheat and rice as it contains higher level of protein with more balanced amino acid profile, crude fibre and minerals.

14. How many crore are funded for Irrigation Projects by the Union Water Resources Ministry for 26 projects in India?
1. Rs 964.9 crore
2. Rs 934.7 crore
3. Rs 834.7 crore
4. Rs 734.7 crore
5. Rs 634.7 crore

Answer – 4. Rs 734.7 crore

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Last week, Union Water Resources Ministry released central assistance amounting to Rs 734.7 crore for 26 irrigation projects. Out of the total amount Rs. 734.7 crore, Rs 246.9 crore is for nine prioritised projects under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) works. Remaining Rs 487.80 crore is to be utilised for Command Area Development (CAD) works for 17 projects. It is to be noted that during financial year 2017-18, central assistance amounting to Rs 1152.52 crore has been released for 26 priority projects under the AIBP so far. Besides, Rs. 3318.85 crore has been released as state share from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) for 24 priority projects under the AIBP.

15. What is the rank of India in Environmental Performance Index 2018?
1. 177th
2. 180th
3. 182nd
4. 185th
5. 188th

Answer – 1. 177th

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : India has ranked 177th among 180 countries on Environmental Performance Index 2018. This marks a drop from 141st position in 2016. The Index was released on January 23, 2018, the first day of World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. The EPI report outlined that countries such as India, China and Pakistan which scored badly in air quality category are facing public health crisis that need urgent attention. Decline in India’s rank as compared to 2016 can be attributed to the quality of data and the broadening the base of parameters. However, Indian Government’s ‘Ujjwala Yojana’ got a special mention in the report. Switzerland topped the index followed by France and Denmark at No.2 and No. 3 respectively. Data from international organisations like World Bank and the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation has also been taken into consideration for compiling EPI 2018.

16. Which state government announced that, it has banned the sale of tobacco at stores that sell Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) items?
1. Gujarat
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Maharashtra
5. Telangana

Answer – 4. Maharashtra

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Maharashtra government announced that, it has banned the sale of tobacco at stores that sell Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) items. The ban has been implemented to prevent youngsters getting addicted to tobacco products. The Central government had insisted state governments to ban the sale of tobacco at shops which sell chocolates, chips and other edible items Maharashtra has become the first state to implement this ban. It had issued a notification regarding this ban on 9th January 2018. Shops found out selling both tobacco and FMCG products will be punished. Also, their licence will be cancelled, with up to six months imprisonment, and fine.

17. Which State Cabinet launched ‘Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna Grameen’, a new scheme to construct houses in rural areas?
1. Karnataka
2. Uttar Pradesh
3. Punjab
4. Jharkhand
5. Rajasthan

Answer –2. Uttar Pradesh

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : Uttar Pradesh State Cabinet launched ‘Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna Grameen’, a new scheme to construct houses in rural areas. Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana Gramin is for those who have not been covered under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna and those who are not beneficiaries of any other government housing schemes. Under this scheme, Rs 1.30 lakh financial aid (for constructing houses) will be given to people residing in Naxal-affected areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rs 1.20 lakh to selected beneficiaries. Beneficiaries under this scheme also includes those families, who have been affected with Kala Azar or Japanese Encephalitis and those who belong to Vantangia or Musahar tribes and do
not have houses or are living in “Kuchcha” houses. Uttar Pradesh State Government has already identified about 25000 beneficiaries for this scheme.

18. Which state hosted the 4th ASEAN-INDIA Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry?
1. Assam
2. Manipur
3. New Delhi
4. Mizoram
5. Sikkim

Answer – 3. New Delhi

Agriculture Current Affairs January 2018

Explanation : 4th ASEAN-INDIA Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry was held in New Delhi on January 12, 2018. Abbreviation ASEAN stands for Association of SouthEast Asian Nations. The Meeting was Co-chaired by Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India and Grisada Boonrach, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand. Objective of the meeting was to promote joint research for development of technologies for increasing production and productivity of crops, livestock, fisheries, and natural resources management in the ASEAN region. Discussions during the meeting also focused on enhancing cooperation on exchange of expertise to promote resilience in food security and to address the price volatility of food supplies in the region. 5th ASEAN-India Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry will be held in Brunei Darussalam in 2019.

19. Which country hosted the 10th Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2018?
1. Russia
2. Norway
3.Germany
4. Netherlands
5. Japan

Answer – 3. Germany