Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 14 October 2022

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2022

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding lead poisoning:

1. Lead poisoning is a type of metal poisoning that result in increase in lead concentration in the body.
2. Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have the highest average blood lead levels (BLL) among Indian states.
3. The major source of lead pollution in India is through drinking water.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 13 October 2022

Explanation:

•  A report by the central government has found that India bears the world’s highest health and economic burden due to lead (Pb) poisoning. Lead poisoning is a type of metal poisoning that result in increase in lead concentration in the body. Statement 1 is correct.

Findings of the Report

• Brought out by: The report was jointly prepared by government think tank Niti Aayog and the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).
• Affected states: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh have the highest average blood lead levels (BLL) among Indian states.
• Statement 2 is correct.
• These states account for 40 per cent of India’s population suffering from poor health indicators.
• Average lead levels: The average BLL for India is 4.9 μg / dl for children less than two years old. Some 23 states have an average BLL that is above five microgram per decilitre (μg / dl).

Sources of lead poisoning:

The major source of lead pollution was vehicular emission. However, use of lead in petrol was phased out in 2000. Statement 3 is not correct.

• Battery recycling, lead mining, smelting, welding, soldering and automobile repatriating are other main sources.
• Adulterated spices (turmeric), cosmetics (sindoor), paints, pesticides, toys and traditional medicines have traces of lead.
• Drinking water supplied through lead pipes or lead soldered pipes may contain lead.
• Pottery glaze on cookware and serving dishes makes up a significant source of lead exposure for children and adults.

Q2. ‘Living Planet Report’ is published by:

1. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
2. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
3. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
4. None of the above

Explanation:

• The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has published the ‘Living Planet Report 2022’.
• The Report is published every 2 years by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) since 1998.
• It is a comprehensive study of the trends in global biodiversity and the health of the planet. It tracks changes in the relative abundance of wild species populations across the globe.

Q3. Consider the following statements regarding Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

1. It is an instant real-time payment system developed by SEBI.
2. The system powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Explanation:

About Unified Payments Interface (UPI)

• It is an instant real-time payment system developed by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). So Statement 1 is not correct .
• NPCI launched Unified Payments Interface (UPI) with member banks in 2016.
• It facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer (P2P) and person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions.
• The system powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood. So, Statement 2 is

Important features of UPI

• Immediate money transfer through mobile device round the clock 24*7 and 365 days.
• Single mobile application for accessing different bank accounts.
• Single Click 2 Factor Authentication – Aligned with the Regulatory guidelines, yet provides for a very strong feature of seamless single click payment.
• Virtual address of the customer for Pull & Push provides for incremental security with the customer not required to enter the details such as Card no, Account number; IFSC etc.
• Merchant Payment with Single Application or In-App Payments.
• Raising Complaint from Mobile App directly.

Q4.  Consider the following statements regarding National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI):

1. It is an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
2. It is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
3. It has been incorporated as a “Not for Profit” Company under Section 8 of Companies Act 2013.

Which of the above is/are not correct?

Select the correct answer from the code below

1. 1 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. None of the above
4. 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

About National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)

• It is an umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India. So Statement 1 is
• It is an initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007. So Statement 2 is
• It has been incorporated as a “Not for Profit” Company under Section 8 of Companies Act 2013. So Statement 3 is
• NPCI is the firm that handles RuPay payments infrastructure, i.e. similar to Visa and MasterCard.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding a split verdict:

1. A split verdict is delivered when the Bench cannot decide a case, either by a unanimous decision or by a majority verdict.
2. Split verdicts may happen when the Bench has an even or an odd number of judges.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

What is a Split Verdict?

• A split verdict is delivered when the Bench cannot decide a case, either by a unanimous decision or by a majority verdict. So Statement 1 is
• Split verdicts are possible only when the Bench has an even number of judges. So Statement 2 is not correct.
• This is the main reason why judges usually sit in Benches of odd numbers (three, five, seven, etc.) for important cases.
• Post-split verdicts:
  • In case of a split verdict, the case is referred to a larger bench. The larger Bench can either be a three-judge Bench of the High Court, or an appeal can be placed before the Supreme Court for a larger bench.

Q6. Which among the following article of the Indian Constitution relates to the “freedom against attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions”?

1. Article 25
2. Article 26
3. Article 27
4. Article 28

Explanation:

Freedom of Religion:

• Right to freedom of religion is a fundamental right enshrined in the constitution to not only individuals but also religious groups in India.
• However, these freedoms are subject to public order, health, and morality.
• Article 25 (Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion):
  • It guarantees the freedom of conscience, the freedom to profess, practice, and propagate religion to all citizens.
• Article 26 (Freedom to manage religious affairs):
  • Every religious denomination has the rights such as:
  • The right to form and maintain religious and charitable institutions.
  • The right to manage its own religious affairs.
  • The right to acquire the immovable and movable property.
  • The right to administer properties according to the law.
• Article 27 (Freedom against payment of taxes for promotion of any particular religion)
  • It prohibits states from imposing taxes for the promotion and/or maintenance of any particular religion/religious denomination.
• Article 28 (Freedom against attendance at religious instruction or religious worship in certain educational institutions):
  • No religious instructions are allowed to be given in any educational institution wholly maintained out of State funds.
  • Educational institutions administered by the State but set up under any endowment or trust mandating religious instruction shall be exempt from the above clause.
  • Educational institution recognized by the State or receiving State aid shall not force an individual to participate in any religious activity.

Q7. Recently in news, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) is under which of these ministries?

1. Ministry of Science and Technology
2. Ministry of Telecommunication
3. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
4. Ministry of Finance

Explanation:

CERT-In:

• The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) was set up in 2004 under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
• It functions under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Functions:
  • It is the nodal agency dealing with cybersecurity-related threats such as hacking and phishing.
  • It is responsible for providing security to Indian Internet domain.
  • CERT-In collects, analyses and disseminates information related to cyber incidents.
  • It forecasts and warns against cyber threats and suggests emergency measures to handle cyber security-related incidents.

Q8. Exercise Prasthan is an offshore security exercise conducted in the:

1. Krishna Godavari Basin Offshore Development Area (ODA).
2. Indo-Pacific.
3. Mumbai High
4. None of the above.

Explanation:

• The offshore security exercise, ‘Prasthan’ was conducted in the Krishna Godavari Basin Offshore Development Area (ODA).

About the Exercise

• The two-day exercise was conducted under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command. It is conducted every six months.
• Objective: The objective of the exercise was to ensure offshore security and integrate the efforts of all maritime stakeholders involved in offshore defence.

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding the Namdapha National Park:

1. Namdapha is known as the home of three large cats — tiger, leopard and clouded leopard.
2. The Lisu tribal people can be found living within the boundaries of the National Park.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

Namdapha National Park

• The national park is located in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, near the border with Myanmar.
• The park is located between the Dapha bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range. The Noa Dihing River that originates at the Chaukan Pass passes through the National Park.
• Namdapha is known as the home of three large cats — tiger, leopard and clouded leopard. The critically endangered Namdapha flying squirrel is endemic to the park. So Statement 1 is
  • The park also has large number of the Hoolock Gibbons, India’s only “ape” species.
• The Lisu tribal people can be found living within the boundaries of the National Park. So Statement 2 is

Q10. Which among the following statements on Purple Revolution is not correct?

1. It was launched by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology through the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Aroma Mission.
2. It aimed at increasing lavender cultivation in Arunachal Pradesh.
3. It will help in providing means of livelihood to budding farmers and agri-entrepreneurs and give a boost to Start-Up India campaign and promote a spirit of entrepreneurship in the region.
4. None of the above.

Explanation:

• As per the government of India, the ‘Purple Revolution’ from Jammu and Kashmir offers attractive start-up avenues.

What is ‘Purple Revolution’?

• About: The Purple or Lavender Revolution was launched by the Union Ministry of Science & Technology through the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) Aroma Mission.
• Aim: It aimed at increasing lavender cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Focus: The mission’s focus was to take advantage of the geographical conditions and increase the homegrown market along with farmers’ income.
• Provisions: Under the mission, first-time farmers were given free lavender saplings, while those who had cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.
• Significance: It will help in providing means of livelihood to budding farmers and agri-entrepreneurs and give a boost to Start-Up India campaign and promote a spirit of entrepreneurship in the region.

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 15 October 2022

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