Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 25 January 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Which one of the following statements is not correct about ‘INS Vagir’?

1. It is an indigenously developed aircraft carrier.
2. It is capable of both anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.
3. It is developed under Project-75 of the Indian Navy.
4. It can be deployed both near the shore as well as in mid-ocean.

Explanation:

• Option (1) is incorrect: Recently, Indian Navy commissioned the fifth Kalvari-class submarine INS Vagir. INS Vagir gets its name from the erstwhile Vagir, a submarine which served the Navy between 1973 and 2001. Vagir has been named after a Sand Fish, a predatory marine species.
• Option (2) is correct: INS Vagir will boost the Indian Navy’s capability to further India’s maritime interests and is capable of undertaking diverse missions including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, mine laying and surveillance missions
• Option (3) is correct: INS Vagir is among the six submarines being built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, in collaboration with the French M/s Naval Group under Project 75. Under this $3 billion Project-75 (P-75) programme, six submarines of Scorpene design were to be indigenously built.
• Option (4) is correct: INS Vagir can be deployed both closer to the shore as well as mid-ocean. Four of these submarines have already been commissioned into the Navy.

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is an endocrine disorder that causes infertility in females.
2. Yellow Band Disease is caused by a virus that affects the lungs of infected people.
3. Both Yellow Band Disease and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome can be cured by medication.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder which is characterized by chronic anovulation. Irregular periods, hirsutism, and weight gain are the common symptoms of PCOS. It is the most prevailing female endocrine disorder and the pre-eminent cause of infertility. Risk factors that contribute to the development of PCOS include genetics, neuroendocrine system, sedentary lifestyle, diet, and obesity.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Yellow Band Disease is a coral disease that attacks colonies of coral at a time when coral is already under stress from pollution, overfishing, and climate change. It is a bacterial disease which disturbs the symbiotic relations of corals causing them to die. The disease spreads over coral, causing discoloured bands of pale-yellow or white lesions along the surface of an infected coral colony. It is killing coral over vast stretches of the sea floor in the beautiful Samsae San Island in eastern Thailand.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: There are synthetic drugs such as metformin and oral contraceptive pills are available for treatment of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) but their side effects cause concern. There is no known cure for the disease and is non-reversible unlike coral bleaching.

Q) Consider the following statements about Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK):

1. RBKs are set up by the central government in rain-fed regions to disseminate agriculture-related information.
2. Farmers can even sell their produce in the RBKs at the prevailing Minimum Support Price.
3. RBK scheme recently received a United Nations Award from the Center for Champion Awards of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBKs) have been set up to provide a one-stop solution to all the farmers’ needs at their doorstep in Andhra Pradesh, from 2020 with all trained staff and facilities. The RBKs are unique seeds-to-sales, single-window service centres for farmers that have been set up across the state. They are a one-stop solution to all farmers’ needs and grievances.
• Statement 2 is correct: Rythu Bharosa Kendra sell pre-tested quality seeds, certified fertilisers and animal feed. Farmers can purchase or hire farm equipment, and even sell their produce at the prevailing MSP in the RBKs. Also, agriculture and horticulture officials manning the RBKs also provide services like soil testing and make recommendations — on which crops to sow, and the quantity and type of fertiliser to be used. Further, the state government also pays crop insurance, procures grains and makes payments to farmers through the RBKs.
• Statement 3 incorrect: The RBKs have been responsible for elimination of spurious seeds and uncertified and dangerous fertilisers, which can cause crop damage and failures. As a result of its impact, the scheme was nominated for United Nations Award by the Centre for Champion Awards (CCA) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for its remarkable service to the farmers of Andhra Pradesh.

Q) With reference to the Western Disturbance in India, consider the following statements:

1. They are a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern which is driven by the westerlies.
2. It carries moisture in the upper layer of the atmosphere.
3. The western disturbances are embedded in the mid-latitude subtropical westerly jet stream.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Western Disturbances (WDs) are extratropical storms that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring sudden winter rain to the north-western parts of the Indian subcontinent. WDs originate in the Caspian Sea or the Mediterranean Sea as extra-tropical cyclones. They are a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern which is driven by the westerlies.
• Statement 2 is correct: They gradually travel across the middle-east from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan to enter the Indian sub-continent. This phenomenon usually carries moisture in the upper layer of the atmosphere, unlike their tropical counterparts where the moisture is carried in the lower layer of the atmosphere.
• Statement 3 is correct: The extra-tropical storms are a global phenomenon. They may happen during any season, not necessarily in monsoon. The western disturbances are embedded in the mid-latitude subtropical westerly jet stream. They travel at speeds up to 12 m/s (43 km/h; 27 mph).

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. Arjun’s Mark-1A is a new variant of Arjun Helicopter.
2. Akash is India’s first indigenously produced medium range Surface-to-Air missile that can engage multiple targets from multiple directions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Recently, Indian Army said that indigenously developed equipment like Arjun Tank, Nag Missile System, K9 Vajra, and Akash Weapon System under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan will be showcased during the Republic Day parade on the 26th of January at Kartavya Path. Arjun’s Mark-1A is a new variant of Arjun Tank designed to enhance fire power, mobility and survivability. The HELINA and Dhruvastra being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are third generation, Lock on Before Launch fire and forget Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGMs) meant for the indigenous ALH and the Light Combat Helicopter. Helina is the Army variant and Dhruvastra is the Air Force variant.
• Statement 2 is correct: Akash is India’s first indigenously produced medium range Surface-to-Air missile that can engage multiple targets from multiple directions. The all-weather missile can engage targets at a speed 2.5 times more than the speed of sound and can detect and destroy targets flying at low, medium and high altitudes. The Akash missile system has been designed and developed as part of India’s 30-year-old integrated guided-missile development programme (IGMDP) which also includes other missiles like .

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