Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 13 October 2022

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2022

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for Northeast Region (PM-DevINE)

1. It was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the Northeastern Region (NER)
2. The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of Northeastern Region (MDoNER).
3. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the funding ration of 90:10 between the Centre and the corresponding State.

Select the correct statements using the code below

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

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 12 October 2022

Explanation:

About PM-DevINE

• About
  • It was announced in the Union Budget 2022-23 to address development gaps in the Northeastern Region (NER). (Statement 1 is correct)
  • PM-DevINE will lead to creation of infrastructure, support industries, social development projects and create livelihood activities for youth and women, thus leading to employment generation.
• Need for the scheme:
  • As per the NER District SDG Index and Dashboard 2021-22 (prepared by NITI Aayog, UNDP and MDoNER), Basic Minimum Services (BMS) are well below the national average and there are critical development gaps in the NER.
  • PM-DevINE was announced to address these BMS shortfalls and development gaps.
• Type: It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% central funding. (Statement 3 is not correct)
• Implementing agency: The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) through North Eastern Council or Central Ministries/ agencies. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Outlay: The Scheme will have an outlay of Rs.6,600 crore for the four year period from 2022-23 to 2025-26 (remaining years of 15th Finance Commission period).

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the official languages in India

1. According to Article 343, the official language of the Indian Union shall be Hindi in the Devanagari script.
2. Also, until Parliament provides otherwise, English will be the language used in Supreme Court. High Courts will use English and the official language of the respective state in their proceedings.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

Official Language of India:

• Language of union: According to Article 343, the official language of the Indian Union shall be Hindi in the Devanagari script.  (Statement 1 is correct)
  • The numerals form to be used for the official purpose of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
• Language of states: Under Article 345, the Legislature of a State may adopt any one or more of the languages as the Language or Languages to be used for official purposes of that State.
• Language of judiciary: Until Parliament provides otherwise, English will be the language used in Supreme Court and High courts. (Statement 2 is not correct)
  • Authoritative texts of bills, acts, orders, ordinances, regulations etc. at central and state levels will be in English.

Q) Which of the following statement regarding the Interpol is not correct?

1. International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) is an inter-governmental organization comprising of 195 member countries.
2. The Interpol general secretariat coordinates the day-to-day activities of the organization. Its headquarters is located in Lyon, France.
3. A National Central Bureau (NCB) in each member country is the central point of contact for both the general secretariat and the other NCBs around the world.
4. All of the above

Explanation:

What is Interpol?

• International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) is an inter-governmental organisation comprising of 195 member countries. (Statement 1 is correct)
• Interpol helps police forces in all member countries to better coordinate their actions by enabling them to share and access data on crimes and criminals, and offers a range of technical and operational support.
• The Interpol general secretariat coordinates the day-to-day activities of the organisation. Its headquarters is located in Lyon, France, with a global complex for innovation in Singapore. (Statement 2 is correct)
• Point of contact: A National Central Bureau (NCB) in each member country is the central point of contact for both the general secretariat and the other NCBs around the world. The NCB is located in the ministry handling law and order. (Statement 3 is correct)

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the monsoon withdrawal in India

1. Monsoon withdrawal begins with the cessation of rainfall activity over northwest India for five straight days.
2. Low pressure is established in the lower troposphere and a marked reduction in moisture content.
3. Withdrawal starts from the last State where monsoon reaches, which is Rajasthan.

Which of these statements are correct?

1. All of the above
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 and 3 only
4. 1 and 2 only

Explanation:

What is the monsoon withdrawal?

• Monsoon withdrawal begins with the cessation of rainfall activity over northwest India for five straight days, an anticyclone establishing itself in the lower troposphere and a marked reduction in moisture content. (Statement 1 is correct/ Statement 2 is not correct)
• Withdrawal starts from the last State where monsoon reaches, which is Rajasthan. (Statement 3 is correct)
• Withdrawal season continues from mid-September to almost end of October. It is then replaced by the retreating, or northeast monsoon in November

Q) Consider the following statements regarding Coal Gasification

1. Coal gasification is a process in which coal is fully oxidized to form a fuel gas.
2. It involves circulating gasification agents (air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide) into coal.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Explanation:

Coal Gasification:

• Coal gasification is a process in which coal is partially oxidised to form a fuel gas. (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• It involves circulating gasification agents (air, oxygen, steam or carbon dioxide) into coal. The product gases are used for processing and utilization.  (Statement 2 is correct)

Q) Syngas is used in producing fertilizers, fuels, solvent, and synthetic materials. It is a mixture of –

1. Carbon monoxide (CO)
2. Hydrogen (H2)
3. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
4. Methane (CH4)
5. Water vapour (H2O)

Select the correct answer from the code below.

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 2, 3 and 4 only
3. 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
4. All of the above

Explanation:

Syngas:

• It is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour (H2O).
• Syngas can be used in producing fertilizers, fuels, solvent and synthetic materials.

Q) Recently, the Indian Lunar Mission Chandrayaan – 2 discovered with of the following elements in abundance on moon?

1. Nitrogen
2. Phosphorus
3. Sodium
4. All of the above

Explanation:

Context: India’s Chandrayaan-2 has located and mapped an abundance of Sodium on Moon.

More on the News

• The discovery was made using large area X-ray spectrometer, CLASS (Chandrayaan-2 large area soft X-ray spectrometer). CLASS provides clean signatures of the sodium line.
• Two types of sodium atoms have been discovered; the one that are loosely bound on the surface and those that are part of the minerals.
• External agents such as solar radiation is responsible for liberating the loosely bound atoms more easily thus acting as a source of the atoms in the lunar exosphere.

Q) Recently, India’s first Slender Loris Sanctuary has been declared in which of the following States?

1. Kerala
2. Karnataka
3. Andhra Pradesh
4. Tamil Nadu

Explanation:

Context: Tamil Nadu has declared Kadavur Reserve Forest as India’s first Slender Loris Sanctuary.

More on the News

• A total of 11,806 hectares in the forest areas of the Karur and Dindigul districts will be merged to form the Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary.

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the protection status of the Slender Loris

1. It is critically endangered according to the IUCN Red List
2. It has the same level of protection as that of the Tiger under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

Which of these statements are not correct?

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

Explanation:

About Slender Loris

• About:
  • They are small nocturnal mammals which are arboreal in nature as they spend most of their life on trees.
  • The species acts as a biological predator of pests in agricultural crops and benefits farmers.
• Species: There are two species of Slender Loris, the Red Slender Loris and the Grey Slender Loris.
• Habitat:
  • Commonly found in the tropical scrub and deciduous forests as well as the dense hedgerow plantations bordering farmlands.
  • The Red Slender Loris is found in Sri Lanka while the Gray Slender Loris is found in Sri Lanka and India.
• Threats
  • Destruction of habitat
  • Threat from poachers due to the misplaced belief that these animals have magical and medicinal powers.
  • Electrocution of live wires and road accidents.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN: Endangered (Statement 1 is not correct)
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (Statement 2 is correct as the Tiger also is under Sch. I)
  • CITES: Appendix II

Q) Consider the following statements regarding Vande Bharat Trains

1. They can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph, reducing journey time by 25% to 45%.
2. They operate with two locomotives on both ends based on a propulsion system called distributed traction power technology.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Explanation:

What are Vande Bharat Trains?

• They are indigenously designed and manufactured, intercity, EMU trains operated by the Indian Railways.
• The first Vande Bharat was manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, as part of the ‘Make in India’ programme, at a cost of about Rs. 100 crore.
• Features of Vande Bharat Trains:
  • They can achieve a maximum speed of 160 kmph, reducing journey time by 25% to 45%. (Statement 1 is correct)
  • They operate without a locomotive and are based on a propulsion system called distributed traction power technology, by which each car of the train set is powered. (Statement 2 is not correct)
  • Intelligent braking system with power regeneration for better energy efficiency thereby making it cost, energy and environment efficient.
  • Passenger amenities including on-board Wi-Fi entertainment, GPS-based passenger information system, CCTVs, automatic doors in all coaches, rotating chairs and bio-vacuum type toilets like in aircraft.
  • Equipped with Indigenous train protection system KAVACH.

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 14 October 2022

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