Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Recently seen in news, the ‘INDUS-X’ is best related to which one of the following?

Explanation:

Option (4) is correct: The US Department of Defence (DoD) and the Ministry of Defense have launched the India-US Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) under the Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). INDUS-X seeks to expand the strategic technology partnership and defence industrial cooperation between the two countries. Academic and startup programming partnerships with universities and collaboration of startups with defence majors’ supply chains. Possible public-private partnerships, such as innovation, testing, and certification labs and centres for defence startup collaboration. A joint innovation fund will be set up for which private investors will be engaged to garner support for investment in defence and dual-use startups. There shall be easing regulations for cross-border development and trade as well as standardization of Indo-US certifications for technology startups.

Q) Consider the following statements about Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS):

The CCUS technologies can help remove carbon dioxide from the flue gas.
The carbon dioxide captured using CCUS can also be stored in saline aquifers.
Refrigerants can be made from carbon dioxide that has been extracted using CCUS methods.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 3 are correct: Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) encompasses methods and technologies to remove CO2 from the flue gas and from the atmosphere, followed by recycling the CO2 for utilization and determining safe and permanent storage options. CO2 captured using CCUS technologies are converted into fuel (methane and methanol), refrigerants and building materials.
Statement 2 is correct: Green urea can be produced from the captured CO2 and green hydrogen, from renewable energy based electrolysis of water. Captured CO2 is utilized in Food & Beverages applications such as carbonated drinks, dry ice, and modified atmosphere packing. Captured CO2 can be utilized for producing building materials through concrete curing and aggregate formation. The options for the geological storage of CO2 include EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery), ECBMR (Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery) and permanent storage options like saline aquifers and basalt storage.

Q) With reference to National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), consider the following statements:

It is a non-statutory body that provides summary resolution of consumer disputes.
The NCDRC is headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India.
It can also impose a fine on a hospital for negligence and unethical practices.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect but statement 2 is correct: National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) is a quasi-judicial commission in India which was set up in 1988 under the Consumer Protection Act of 1986. The objective of the Commission as well as the respective state commissions and district fora is to provide speedy, economical and summary resolution of consumer complaints or disputes. The Commission is headed by a sitting or a retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India or a sitting or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court.
Statement 3 is correct: A West Delhi-based hospital has been fined by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) for negligence and unethical practices in vitro fertilisation procedure (IVF). The NCDRC has ruled that there is a need to make it mandatory for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) centres to issue DNA profiling of babies born through ART procedures.

Q) Consider the following statements about Matsya 6000:

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 and 3 are incorrect: Matsya 6000 is a manned underwater submersible vehicle capable of taking three humans to a depth of 6,000 m. MATSYA 6000 is being developed for the exploration of deep sea resources like minerals. MATSYA 6000 vehicle is being designed and developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai under Ministry of Earth Sciences
Statement 2 is correct: It is made up of 2.1 meter diameter Titanium Alloy Personnel Sphere. Titanium is being preferred as choice of material as it is stronger than steel but many times lighter, a key criteria to ensure that the submersible can resurface with relative ease from the depths of the open ocean. It has an endurance of 12 hours under normal operation and 96 hours in case of emergency for human safety. It also has syntactic foam, a flotation device that would rise to the top and help determine the physical location of the submersible, even if it was unable to resurface. The communication system that will be used in Matsya-6000 is the ultra-short baseline acoustic positioning system (USBL).

Q) With reference to higher education in India, consider the following statements:

The Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan is a centrally sponsored programme that offers strategic funding to all state higher education institutions.
According to the All India Survey on Higher Education 2020–2021, there has only been a 4 percent increase in the percentage of female enrolment in total student enrolment.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) that aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions. Education Quality Upgradation and Inclusion Programme (EQUIP) is a five-year vision plan to improve the quality and accessibility of higher education over the next five years (2019-2024).
Statement 2 is correct: As per All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2020-2021, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan are top 6 States in terms of number of students enrolled. Percentage of female enrolment to total enrolment has increased by 4%.