Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 15 October 2022

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2022

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the Global Hunger Index

1. It is an annual report jointly published by United Nations Food Programme.
2. GHI considers four indicators – Undernourishment, stunting, wasting and mortality to arrive at a score.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 14 October 2022

Explanation:

What is the Global Hunger Index (GHI)?

• About:
  • It is an annual report jointly published by two European NGOs, Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. (Statement 1 is not correct)
  • It was first published in 2006. It is published every October. The 2022 edition marks the 17th edition of the GHI.
• Objective: To comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels.

How the GHI Is Calculated?

• Each country’s GHI score is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators: (Statement 2 is correct)
  • Undernourishment: the share of the population with insufficient caloric intake.
  • Child stunting: the share of children under age five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition.
  • Child wasting: the share of children under age five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition.
  • Child mortality: the share of children who die before their fifth birthday, partly reflecting the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments.

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the LEADS Report

1. The States are ranked based on their logistics ecosystem.
2. It is released by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
3. States are classified into three categories – Large States, Small States and Union Territories.

Which of these statements are not correct?

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

Explanation:

Context: The Union Minister for commerce and industry has released the LEADS (Logistics Ease Across Different States) 2022 report. (Statement 2 is not correct)

About LEADS report ranking:

• The States are ranked on the basis of their logistics ecosystem. (Statement 1 is correct)
• It highlights the key logistics-related challenges faced by the stakeholders and includes suggestive recommendations.
  • The ranking indicates the efficiency of logistical services necessary for promoting exports and economic growth.
• Comparison: States are classified under four categories viz coastal states, hinterland/landlocked states, north-eastern states, and Union Territories. (Statement 3 is not correct)
• Ranking: Unlike previous times, states are clubbed into categories such as achievers, fast movers and aspirers based on their performance.

Q) Recently in news, the Logistics Performance Index is developed by –

1. World Economic Forum
2. World Bank
3. UN – ESCAP
4. None of the above

Explanation:

Logistics Performance Index (LPI):

• Developed by World Bank Group, the index is an interactive benchmarking tool that helps countries identify the challenges and opportunities they face in their performance on trade logistics, and measures to be taken to improve their performance.
• Ranking criteria:
  • Efficiency of the clearance by border control agencies, including customs.
  • Quality of trade and transport related infrastructure
  • Ease of arranging competitively priced shipments.
  • Competence and quality of logistics services
  • Ability to track and trace consignments.
  • Timeliness of shipments in reaching destinations within scheduled time.

Q) Recently in news, the Whanganui River is located in which of the following countries?

1. New Zealand
2. Australia
3. Phillipines
4. Indonesia

Explanation:

New Zealand’s Whanganui river: First in the world to be given legal status

• In 2017, The New Zealand parliament passed the Whanganui River Claims Settlement Bill, which granted legal personhood to river Whanganui and its surrounding ecosystem, in North Island.

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the INS Arihant

1. INS Arihant is India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile capable submarine.
2. The Arihant class submarines are reported to be based on the Akula-class submarine of Russian Navy.

Which of these statements is correct?

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

Explanation:

INS Arihant:

• INS Arihant is India’s nuclear-powered ballistic missile capable submarine and was commissioned in 2016. (Statement 1 is correct)
• It was the first of the planned five in the class of submarines designed and constructed as a part of Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project of Indian Navy.
• Technology: The Arihant class submarines are reported to be based on the Akula-class submarine of Russian Navy. It is powered by an 83 MW pressurized light-water reactor with enriched uranium fuel. (Statement 2 is correct)

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs)

1. It is a family of indigenously developed Submarine Missiles. They are also referred to as K-family missiles, codenamed after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
2. Under SLBM, missiles of various ranges have been developed including K-15 also called Sagarika. It has a range of at least 3500 km.
3. India has also developed and tested the K-4 missiles from the same family, having a range of 750 km.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Explanation:

Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs):

• It is a family of indigenously developed Submarine Missiles. They are also referred to as K-family missiles, codenamed after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. (Statement 1 is correct)
• Under SLBM, missiles of various ranges have been developed including K-15 also called Sagarika. It has a range of at least 750 km. (Statement 2 is not correct)
• India has also developed and tested the K-4 missiles from the same family, having a range of 3,500 km. (Statement 3 is not correct)

Q) Recently in news, the term Torrefaction relates to which of the following?

1. Solid Waste Management
2. Plastic Recycling
3. Biomass Management
4. None of the above

Explanation:

Pelletisation and Torrefaction:

• Pelletisation is a process of molding biomass into dense pellets.
• Torrefaction is a process in which a biomass is heated in oxygen-deficient environment to completely remove moisture.
• The product of torrefaction is costlier as its energy content is much higher and theoretically substitutes for more coal in a power plant.
• Significance: These processes can save coal as well as reduce carbon emissions, which would have been emitted in case the straw were burnt in the fields.

Q) An Ethiopian delegation visited India to study the Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) and to understand their operational know-how. Which of the following states has operationalized RBKs?

1. Maharashtra
2. Chhattisgarh
3. Telangana
4. Andhra Pradesh

Explanation:

What are Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs)?

• They are first-of-its-kind seeds-to-sales, single-window service centres for farmers set up by the state government of Andhra Pradesh.
• These multi-functional kiosks with digital Aadhar authentication equipment act as a one-stop solution for all requirements and grievances of farmers in the state.

Q) Consider the following statements regarding the Next-Gen Launch Vehicle (NGLV)

1. It is a cost-efficient, four-stage to orbit, reusable heavy-lift vehicle.
2. It is to have a payload capability of ten tonnes to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).
3. It will feature semi-cryogenic propulsion (refined kerosene as fuel with liquid oxygen for the booster stages, which is cheaper and efficient.

Which of these statements are correct?

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

Explanation:

What is the New-Gen Launch Vehicle (NGLV)?

• About: It is a cost-efficient, three-stage to orbit, reusable heavy-lift vehicle (Statement 1 is not correct) with a payload capability of ten tonnes to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). (Statement 2 is correct)
• Features:
  • It will feature semi-cryogenic propulsion (refined kerosene as fuel with liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidizer) for the booster stages, which is cheaper and efficient. (Statement 3 is correct)
  • Its design will be simple and robust which allows bulk manufacturing, modularity in systems, sub-systems and stages and minimal turnaround time.
• Uses: Potential uses will be in the areas of launching communication satellites, deep space missions, future human spaceflight and cargo missions.

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 17 October 2022

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