Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Which one of the following countries is not a member of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership?

Explanation:

Option (2) is incorrect: Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a free trade agreement (FTA) between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. It was signed in March 2018. It succeeded the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after the United States withdrew from the TPP in 2017. All 11 countries of CPTPP are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The United Kingdom is the first new member and first European nation to join the bloc since it was created in 2018. The rights and obligations under the CPTPP fall into two categories:
Rules: For example, on how countries should make new food safety regulations or whether they can ban the transfer of data to other CPTPP member These are the same for all CPTPP parties (including any new members that may join).
Market Access: How far each CPTPP member will cut its tariffs, open up its services markets, liberalise visa conditions for business travellers, etc.

Q) Consider the following statements about online gaming:

A GST of 18 percent is levied on the value of the bets placed in online gaming.
A foreign online gaming site that provides real-money games in India have to register under Indian law.
The online gaming platforms also come under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The GST council at its 50th meeting agreed to impose 28 percent GST on the full value of online gaming, horse racing and casinos. The uniform levy of 28 per cent tax will be applicable on
the face value of the chips purchased in the case of casinos,
the full value of the bets placed with bookmaker/totalisator in the case of horse racing, and
The full value of the bets placed in case of online gaming.
Statement 2 and 3 are correct: Any online gaming platform (domestic or foreign) offering real money online games to users of India will have to be a legal entity incorporated under Indian law. The Prevention of Money Laundering Act of 2002 will treat these platforms as “reporting entities.” These platforms will be required to notify the Financial Intelligence Unit India of any suspicious transactions. India’s gaming market is expected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2022 to a whopping $5 billion by 2025, growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28-30 percent. The number of gamers in the country is expected to expand from 420 million in 2022 to hit 500 million by 2025.

Q) With reference to Coral reefs, consider the following statements:

The zooxanthellae provide minerals and carbon dioxide to the corals.
An increase in the pH of ocean water reduces the rate of calcification in coral polyps.
Increasing oceanic temperatures contribute towards increasing the incidence of coral diseases.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Corals have a symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae. The zooxanthellae provide essential nutrients such as amino acids and sugars to the corals, while receiving minerals and carbon dioxide in return.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Ocean acidification (OA) is the gradual decrease in the pH of the Earth’s oceans due to the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The lower pH of ocean water affects the growth and survival of coral reefs by reducing calcification rates in reef-building organisms that is, coral polyps.
Statement 3 is correct: As global warming continues, the frequency and severity of bleaching events will increase, making it harder for coral reefs to recover from these disturbances. As global warming continues, the frequency and severity of bleaching events will increase, making it harder for coral reefs to recover from these disturbances. High temperatures can also increase the incidence and severity of coral diseases. High temperatures can cause certain coral species to become more dominant or extinct, altering the composition of coral communities.

Q) Consider the following statements about CRISPR-Cas9 technology:

CRISPR is a DNA sequence found in the genome of prokaryotic organisms.
It allows the addition and removal of genetic material at particular locations in the genome.
This technology can be used to alter the genes of trees to reduce their lignin content.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) are short DNA sequences found in the genome of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria, which are reminders of previous bacteriophage (viruses) attacks that the bacteria successfully defended against.
Statement 2 is correct: Genome editing (also called gene editing) is a group of technologies that give scientists the ability to change an organism’s DNA. These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome. Several approaches to genome editing have been developed. A well-known one is called CRISPR. The CRISPR system has generated a lot of excitement in the scientific community because it is faster, cheaper, more accurate, and more efficient than other genome editing methods.
Statement 3 is correct: Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR on poplar trees, researchers at North Carolina State University modified some of the genes that produce the chemicals that eventually form lignin. Using seven gene-editing strategies, each modifying three to six genes, they were able to reduce lignin content up to 35% compared with a non edited poplar tree when measured after 6 months of growth.

Q) With reference to Kuhls, consider the following statements:

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Kuhls are traditional irrigation systems that have been used in the Himalayan region for centuries. They are a form of surface water harvesting, which means that they collect water from natural streams and channels and divert it to agricultural fields. Kuhls are typically community-managed, and they are an important part of the cultural and economic fabric of the Himalayan region.
Statement 2 is correct: Kuhls are a sustainable form of irrigation, as they do not require the use of fossil fuels or other energy sources. They are relatively low-cost to construct and maintain. They are very efficient at delivering water to agricultural fields. They can help to improve soil quality and crop yields. They can also help to reduce soil erosion and flooding.