Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 10 June 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Recently seen in news, the ‘Mekedatu project’ is being built across which one of the following rivers?

1. Krishna
2. Cauvery
3. Godavari
4. Mahanadi

Explanation:

• Option (2) is correct: Mekedatu Project envisions a reservoir near Ontigondlu, about 1.5 km from Mekedatu in Ramanagara district of south Karnataka at the confluence of the Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers. The reservoir project aims to provide supply of 4.75 TMCF water to Bengaluru and its surrounding areas, besides generating 400 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Cauvery is the third largest river of southern India. In ancient Sangam Literature, the river was also called Ponni. The Cauvery basin spreads across the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. It is one of the seven holy rivers of India.

Q) Which of the following factors influence the onset of southwest monsoon?

1. Intense high-pressure formation over the Tibetan Plateau
2. Subtropical jet stream
3. Presence of Tropical easterly jet
4. Movement of Inter-tropical Convergence Zone
5. Formation of low-pressure cell in the south of the Indian Ocean

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only
2. 2, 3 and 4 only
3. 1, 4 and 5 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Explanation:

• Option (2) is correct: Monsoons refer to a system of winds in the tropical regions under which the direction of winds is reversed completely between the summer and the winter seasons. Under this system, the winds blow from land to sea in winter and from sea to land in summer. The primary cause of monsoons is the difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea. The position of the Sun with reference to the Earth oscillates from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn, thus, the low pressure region created by solar heating also changes latitude. Factors Influencing the Onset of Southwest Monsoon:
• Intense low-pressure formation over the Tibetan Plateau
• The permanent high-pressure cell in the South of the Indian Ocean
• Subtropical jet stream (Jet streams are bands of strong wind that generally blow from west to east all across the globe)
• African Easterly jet (Tropical easterly jet)
• Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ

Q) Consider the following statements about Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):

1. It aims to enhance the adoption of precision irrigation technologies.
2. PMKSY is supervised and monitored by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
3. A dedicated Micro Irrigation Fund has been established by the NITI Aayog under PMKSY.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched in 2015 and is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, providing central grants to the State Governments for specific activities (90:10 for NE states & 75:25 for rest). It has been conceived amalgamating ongoing schemes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR,RD&GR), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) of Department of Land Resources (DoLR) and the On Farm Water Management (OFWM) of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DAC). Main objectives of PMKSY are as follows:
• To achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level
• Expand cultivable area under assured irrigation.
• Improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water.
• Enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water-saving technologies.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana is supervised and monitored by an Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister with Union Ministers from concerned Ministries. A National Executive Committee (NEC) will be constituted under the Chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation, allocation of resources, inter-ministerial coordination, monitoring & performance assessment, addressing administrative issues etc.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) aims for financial support to irrigation projects. The inclusion criteria have been relaxed for projects under tribal and drought-prone areas. Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) aims for the enhancement of physical access on the farm and the expansion of cultivable areas under assured irrigation. Watershed Development is implemented by the Department of Land Resources. It focuses on the development of rainfed areas towards soil and water conservation, regeneration of groundwater, arresting runoff and promoting extension activities related to water harvesting and management. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) is implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. The dedicated Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF) is with NABARD under PMKSY.

Q) With reference to ‘Chinook Helicopters’, consider the following statements:

1. It is commonly used for humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
2. It is indigenously manufactured by the Defense Research and Development Organization.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is incorrect: Recently, Indian Airforce has started using Chinook helicopters to help the Border Roads Organization (BRO) restore the twin paths to the Amarnath cave shrine. Chinook Helicopters is developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and manufactured by Boeing Vertol (later known as Boeing Rotorcraft Systems). Chinooks have a unique twin engine, tandem rotor design. The Chinook is a multi-role, vertical-lift platform, which is used for transporting troops, artillery, equipment and fuel. It is also used for humanitarian and disaster relief operations and in missions such as transportation of relief supplies and mass evacuation of refugees. It can lift very heavy weights. It has multiple doors to load cargo and three external ventral cargo hooks to carry suspended loads. Apart from Lockheed C-130 Hercules, it is the only cargo aircraft designed in 1960 that is being manufactured and used in active service.
• Source:

Q) Consider the following statements about India and Nepal relations:

1. The Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline for transporting petroleum products is being developed between two countries.
2. The joint military exercise ‘Surya Kiran’ is held between India and Nepal.
3. The ‘Solu Corridor’ was developed by India to help with power transmission to remote districts in Nepal.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: India is the largest trading partner of Nepal. In FY 2021-22, Nepal constituted 2.34% of India’s exports. And exports from India constitute almost 22% of Nepal’s GDP. India is the largest source of FDI in Nepal. Indian firms engaged in manufacturing, services (banking, insurance, dry port), power sector and tourism industries etc. Motihari-Amlekhgunj pipeline carries petroleum products from Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal. India and Nepal have had a Power Exchange Agreement since 1971 for meeting the power requirements in the border areas. Nepal also invited Indian companies to invest in the West Seti hydropower project in Nepal.
• Statement 2 is correct: India provides assistance to the Nepalese Army in its modernization through the provision of equipment and training. The Gorkha Regiments of the Indian Army are raised partly by recruiting from hill districts of Nepal. Joint military exercise Surya Kiran is regularly held between India and Nepal.
• Statement 3 is correct: Nepal being a land-locked country, needs freedom of transit. India provides transit for almost the entire third country trade of Nepal. A 35-km cross-border railway line linking Jaynagarin Bihar toKurtha in Nepal flagged off. India has also handed over the Solu Corridor, a 90-km, 132 kV power transmission line which will help bring electricity to several remote districts in northeastern Nepal. Nepal has signed a MoU with India for Kathmandu-Raxaul railway link.

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