Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Which one of the following statements is not correct with respect to Bioluminescence?

It is produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism.
In this process, less than 20 percent of light generates heat.
It occurs due to the presence of dinoflagellates.
It is mainly found in freshwater habitats.

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 14 April 2023

Explanation:

Option (1) is correct: Bioluminescence is light produced by a chemical reaction within a living organism. Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence, which is simply the term for a chemical reaction where light is produced. (Bioluminescence is chemiluminescence that takes place inside a living organism.)
Option (2) is correct: Recently, a stretch of the beach at Bheemili near Visakhapatnam glows due to bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is a “cold light means less than 20% of the light generates thermal radiation or heat.
Option (3) is correct: Bioluminescence occurs due to the presence of single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates that produce light when they are disturbed. The chemical reaction that results in bioluminescence requires two unique chemicals: luciferin and either luciferase or photoprotein. Luciferin is the compound that actually produces light. In a chemical reaction, luciferin is called the substrate. The bioluminescent color (yellow in fireflies, greenish in lanternfish) is a result of the arrangement of luciferin molecules.
Option (4) is incorrect: Most bioluminescent organisms are found in the ocean. These bioluminescent marine species include fish, bacteria, and jellies. Some bioluminescent organisms, including fireflies and fungi, are found on land. There are almost no bioluminescent organisms native to freshwater habitats.

Q) Consider the following statements about Nuclear energy:

The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor uses thorium as the nuclear fuel.
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is a joint venture between India and France.
Nuclear energy currently accounts for around 10 percent of India’s total electricity generation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Advanced Heavy Water Reactor (AHWR) is a next-generation nuclear reactor that uses thorium as fuel, making it an attractive option for India’s abundant thorium reserves. Currently, there are 23 nuclear reactors in operation in India, with a total installed capacity of 6,780 MW. These reactors are located in various parts of the country, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. In addition to these operational reactors, there are several more reactors under construction, which are expected to add around 8,000 MW of nuclear power capacity. Recently Germany has decided to shut down its last three nuclear reactors to accomplish its goal of nuclear phase-out; this move has reignited the debate on the risks and benefits of nuclear power.
Statement 2 and 3 are incorrect: India has several ongoing and planned nuclear energy projects. One notable project is the construction of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which is a joint venture between India and Russia. The plant currently has two operational reactors, with two more under construction. When completed, the plant is expected to have a total capacity of 6,000 MW. Nuclear energy currently accounts for around 3% of India’s total electricity generation. The majority of India’s electricity comes from thermal power plants, which burn coal and other fossil fuels. India has been operating nuclear power plants for several decades.

Q) With reference to ‘NISAR’ satellite, consider the following statements:

It is a low-earth orbit observatory, which is a joint venture of ISRO and NASA.
It can also provide information about crop growth and soil moisture.
It uses both L-band and S-band synthetic aperture radar to produce extremely high-resolution images.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: NISAR is one of its kind joint collaboration between the space agency of India’s ISRO and the USA’s NASA. It is one of the world’s most expensive Earth imaging satellite. NISAR is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory and will map the entire globe in 12 days. The launch of NISAR is expected to take in January 2024 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre into a near-polar orbit.
Statement 2 is correct: Scientists would be able to collect information with the help of satellite for around three years. NISAR will help in creating a data bank that will contain all the necessary information related to Earth’s surface changes, natural hazards, and ecosystem disturbances. The observations of the planet’s forest and agriculture regions will improve scientist’s knowledge of carbon exchange between the atmosphere and plant communities, reducing uncertainties in models for future climate. It will help in improving agriculture management and food security by providing information about crop growth, soil moisture, and land-use changes. It will help in understanding climate change, improve risk management in case of natural disasters, help in infrastructure monitoring, and impact of climate change.
Statement 3 is correct: The synthetic aperture radar is highly sophisticated equipment used to produce extremely high-resolution images. It can penetrate clouds and darkness, to allow NISAR collect data at day and night all throughout the year. NISAR satellite is a two-frequency RADAR, an L-band 24 centimetre RADAR and S-band 13 centimeter. ISRO is building S-band and the latter is built by NASA. Apart from the L-band, NASA is providing the radar reflector antenna, the deployable boom, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers, a solid-state recorder, and a payload data subsystem. ISRO will be providing the spacecraft bus, the launch vehicle, and associated launch services and satellite mission operations.

Q) Consider the following statements about ‘Lokayukta’:

The term of office of Lokayukta is five years, and he is eligible for reappointment for a second term.
The members of the state legislatures are also included in the purview of Lokayukta in the states of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Lokayukta has the power to recommend the transfer of the public servant connected with an allegation of corruption.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
3 only

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption authority or ombudsman at state level which deals with corruption and mal-administration complaints made by the general public. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for the establishment of Lokpal at the center; and Lokayuktas at the state levels to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries, and for related matters. The term of office fixed for Lokayukta in majority of states, is of five years duration or 70 years (Himachal Pradesh) of age, whichever is earlier; and the Lokayukta is not eligible for reappointment for a second term. Recently, A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court has held that the Lok Ayukta cannot investigate matters relating to the selection of candidates by political parties for contesting elections.
Statement 2 is correct: At the state level, there is no uniformity in case of the jurisdiction of Lokayukta. The Chief Minister is included within the jurisdiction of Lokayukta in Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, while s/he is excluded from the purview of Lokayukta in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. Ministers and higher civil servants are included in the purview of Lokayukta in majority of states. However, the Maharashtra has also included former ministers and civil servants. Members of the state legislatures are included in the purview of Lokayukta in Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Statement 3 is correct: Under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, the Lokayukta has been provided with the following powers:
Supervisory powers, that is, powers of superintendence over and to give direction regarding matters referred for preliminary inquiry or investigation;
Power of Search and seizure;
Power of civil court in certain cases;
Power to utilize services of officers of the State Government;
Power of provisional attachment of assets;
Power related to confiscation of assets, proceeds, receipts and benefits arisen or procured by means of corruption, in special circumstances;
Power to recommend transfer or suspension of public servant connected with allegation of corruption.

Q) With reference to ‘World Food Programme’ (WFP), consider the following statements:

WFP is entirely funded by voluntary donations from the governments of the world.
WFP was founded jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the United Nations General Assembly.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect but statement 2 is correct: India has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) for humanitarian food assistance. World Food Programme (WFP) was founded in 1961 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Its headquarters is in Rome, Italy. It is funded by voluntary donations principally from governments of the world, and also from corporations and private donors. It is an international organization that works in the field of hunger alleviation and food security. Most of their work is concentrated in conflict-affected countries. It has won the 2020 Nobel Prize for Peace, for its work in the field of combating hunger and ‘its efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict’. It works in over 80 countries to bring life-saving food to people displaced by conflict and made destitute by disasters. WFP has been functioning in India since 1963. It supports the Government of India in its various food safety initiatives.