Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 12 May 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Recently seen in news, the ‘Sahel’ region is located in which one of the following countries?

1. Nigeria
2. Saudi Arabia
3. Mongolia
4. Afghanistan

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 11 May April 2023

Explanation:

• Option (1) is correct: The ongoing fighting in Sudan is forcing thousands to flee and creating a dangerous security situation in the Sahel region. Sahel is the vast semi-arid region of Africa separating the Sahara Desert to the north and tropical savannas to the south. The name is derived from the Arabic term for “coast, shore”; this is explained as being used in a figurative sense in reference to the southern edge of the vast Sahara. The political region of the Sahel, as defined by the United Nations strategy (UNISS), covers 10 countries, these are Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Nigeria. It extends from the Atlantic Ocean the west to the Red Sea in the east. It is a transitional ecoregion of semi-arid grasslands, savannas, steppes, and thorn shrublands. The residents of the region are semi-nomads, farmers and livestock raisers who practice a system of transhumance. The Sahel has a tropical semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh). It is typically hot, sunny, dry and windy. Although it has abundant human and natural resources, offering tremendous potential for rapid growth, there are deep-rooted challenges-environmental, political and security— that may affect the prosperity and peace of the Sahel.

Q) With reference to nuclear energy, consider the following statements:

1. The centrifugal force is used in the nuclear enrichment of uranium isotopes.
2. The Fast Breeder Reactor utilizes a mix of plutonium-239 and uranium-238 fuel.
3. While low-enriched uranium is typically used for nuclear weapons, high-enriched uranium is used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct but statement 3 is incorrect: Natural uranium consists of two different isotopes – nearly 99% U-238 and only around 0.7% of U-235. U-235 is a fissile material that can sustain a chain reaction in a nuclear reactor. Enrichment process increases the proportion of U-235 through the process of isotope separation (U-238 is separated from U-235). The most common method of enrichment is through the use of centrifuges, which spin at high speeds to create a centrifugal force that separates the isotopes based on their weight. For nuclear weapons, enrichment is required up to 90% or more which is known as weapons-grade uranium. Low-enriched uranium, which typically has a 3-5% concentration of U-235, can be used to produce fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.
• Statement 2 is correct: The second stage of India’s nuclear program involves the use of Fast Breeder Reactor (FBR) fuelled by a mix of plutonium-239 and uranium-238. These reactors generate more plutonium-239 than they consume and can also convert thorium into uranium-233, which can be used as fuel in the third stage.

Q) Consider the following statements about National Human Rights Commission (NHRC):

1. The NHRC is a constitutional body that is responsible for the protection of rights related to the life and liberty of an individual.
2. The members of the NHRC hold office for a term of three years and can be removed by the President of India.
3. The NHRC can take suo motu cognizance of a complaint and investigate accordingly.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: National Human Rights Commission of India (NHRC), is a statutory body established in 1993, under the provisions of The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. It is responsible for the protection and promotion of “rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants”.
• Statement 2 is correct: National Human Rights Commission is a multi-member body consisting of a chairperson, five full-time Members and seven deemed Members. A person who has been the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the Supreme Court can become a chairman. They hold office for a term of three years or until they attain the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. The President can remove them from the office under specific circumstances.
• Statement 3 is correct: National Human Rights Commission can investigate complaints or failure of any public official regarding the rights violation, either suo moto or after receiving a petition. Recently, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognisance of media reports about absence of an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), mandated by the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, 2013.

Q) With reference to the Anti-defection law, consider the following statements:

1. If any independently elected member of the House joins any political party he gets disqualified under the anti-defection law.
2. The Speaker has to decide the matter related to defection within a month.
3. The decision of the speaker under this law is subject to judicial review.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 and 3 are correct: Also known as anti-defection law, tenth schedule in the constitution was added by the 52nd Constitutional Amendment in 1985. The schedule contains provisions related to disqualification of members of Parliament (MPs) and State Legislatures on grounds of defection. Under the Tenth Schedule of the constitution, the speaker of the House has been given powers to disqualify members on the basis of ‘defection’. However, the decision of the speaker is subject to judicial review. Conditions to determine defection under Tenth schedule are:
• If an elected member voluntarily gives up the membership of his political party.
• If the elected member votes or abstains from voting, contrary to any direction issued by his political party.
• If any independently elected member of the House joins any political party.
• If any nominated member of the House joins any political party after the expiry of six months.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: As per the 1985 Anti-defection Act, a ‘split’ by one-third of the elected members of a political party was considered a ‘merger’. However, the 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this and now requires the support of at least two-thirds of the members of a party to escape anti-defection law. The law does not provide a timeframe within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case. Delivering its verdict on the Maharashtra crisis, the Supreme Court recently said that the Speaker must decide on the disqualification petitions within a reasonable period.

Q) Consider the following statements about the Chham Dance:

1. The Vajrayana form of Buddhism is associated with this dance form.
2. It is a masked dance and is considered as an act of cleansing evil forces.
3. Both Kagyed and Pangtoed Chham are performed in the state of Sikkim.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 and 2 are correct: The Yogachara School of Buddhism was founded in Kashmir in the 4th century by Asanga and Vasubandhu. This developed into the sophisticated Vajrayana form of Buddhism, which incorporated the Cham dance. From Ladakh to Mongolia, the Cham is the deepest form of meditation of the Lamas. The purpose of this meditation is for the Lama (priest) to be able to free himself entirely from his own ephemeral personality. It was started in the eighth century by Padmasambhava (who introduced Tantric Buddhism to Tibet), to subjugate the local demons that were obstructing the building of the first monastery in Tibet, Samye. It is an elaborate masked and costumed dance. It is considered an act of cleansing evil forces. It is unique to Tibetan Buddhism and an important cultural tradition.
• Statement 3 is correct: Kagyed Chaam is one of the most popular chaams of Sikkim, it attracts a lot of tourists too. It symbolises the victory of good over evil leading to peace and prosperity. Also known as the Black Hat dance, performances include dramatization of stories from Buddhist mythologies. Pangtoed Chaam is performed during the Pang Lhabsol festival, organised in honour of the Sikkim’s guardian deity Mt Kanchendzonga. Often seen as a warrior dance, it is said that the third Chogyal (ruler) of Sikkim, Chagdor Namgyal introduced this dance form.

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