Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 29 July 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Which of the following Statements is correct about Mangroves?

1. More than 50% mangrove forests in India are found in West Bengal.
2. They are salt-tolerant plants found globally along coastal regions.
3. Its root system absorbs oxygen directly from the coastal water.
4. They are considered blue carbon ecosystems.

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 28 July April 2023

Explanation:

• Option (4) is correct: West Bengal has announced the setting up of a ‘mangrove cell’ in the State, on the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. The state of West Bengal is home to about 40% of the mangrove forests in India. The Mangrove Cell will be a specialized body that will be solely dedicated for mangrove management and conservation. Mangroves are salt-tolerant plant communities found in tropical and subtropical intertidal regions. They are formed when there is intertidal flow and where adequate sediments are available for the trees to set down roots. The mangrove root system absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere. Mangroves have special roots for this purpose called pneumatophores (breathing roots) with pores through which oxygen enters the underground tissues. They are considered blue carbon ecosystems. Blue carbon refers to the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes.

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. Conjunctivitis be caused by viruses, bacteria or by allergies.
2. Conjunctivitis occurs only through direct hand-to-eye contact.
3. Both allergic and viral conjunctivitis are highly contagious, while bacterial conjunctivitis is not.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Explanation:

Mumbai has got 20% spike in Conjunctivitis cases; Delhi and other cities are also said to be affected.

• Statement 1 is correct but Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect: Conjunctivitis is often referred to casually as “pink eye”. Conjunctivitis is the swelling or inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin, transparent layer of tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria or by allergies. Both bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are highly contagious, while allergic conjunctivitis is not. It usually occurs through direct or indirect contact. Direct transmission happens through droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person or through hand-to-eye contact. Indirectly, it can spread via shared personal items like towels, makeup, pillows or contact lenses.

Q) Which of the following statements is not correct about Rabies:

1. It is a zoonotic disease.
2. It is caused by a virus.
3. Rabies is virtually 100% fatal.
4. It is not a vaccine-preventable disease.

Explanation:

As per information given by the Health Ministry in the Lok Sabha, Delhi recorded the highest number of deaths due to rabies in 2022.

• Option (4) is correct answer: Rabies is a zoonotic, viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It is caused by a virus. Rabies virus is an RNA virus in the Rhabdoviridae family. Rabies is most often transmitted to humans through the bite of a rabid animals like dogs. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system of mammals, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death. Rabies is virtually 100% fatal. In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans. Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease. Vaccinating dogs, including puppies, is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people because it stops the transmission at its source. Delhi has reported the highest number of deaths due to rabies in 2022 followed by West Bengal.

Q) Consider the following statements about International Olympic Committee (IOC):

1. It is an intergovernmental organization under United Nations.
2. The IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement.
3. Currently, Thomas Bach is serving as the ninth President of the IOC.

Which of the following 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:

International Olympic Committee’s President has formally invited 203 countries, except for Russia and Belarus, to participate in the Paris Olympics 2024.

• Statement 1 is incorrect but Statements 2 and 3 are correct: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is a not-for-profit independent international organisation that is committed to building a better world through sport. The IOC is the supreme authority of the Olympic Movement. It was created on 23 June 1894, just under two years before the first Olympic Games of the modern era in April 1896.The President represents the IOC and presides over all its activities. He is elected by the Session. Length of the President’s term of office is now fixed at eight years (entered into force 12 December 1999), renewable once for four years. Currently, Thomas Bach is serving as the ninth President of the IOC.

Q) Consider the following statements about the Finance Commission:

1. It is a Constitutionally mandated body.
2. It evaluate the state of finances of the Union and State Governments.
3. The Chairman and four other members are appointed by the Finance Minister.
4. The qualification of the commissioner and the other four members is determined by the President of India.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Explanation:

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct but Statements 3 and 4 are incorrect: The Finance Commission is a Constitutionally mandated body that is at the centre of fiscal federalism. According to the provisions of Article 280, the President of India constitutes the Finance Commission every five years or on time considered necessary by him. Its core responsibility is to evaluate the state of finances of the Union and State Governments, recommend the sharing of taxes between them, and lay down the principles determining the distribution of these taxes among States. The Finance Commission includes the Chairman and four other members appointed by the President itself. The qualification of the commissioner and the other four members is determined by the elected parliament and by formulating appropriate laws. The Finance Commission submits its report to the President of India, who then presents it to either house of Parliament for taking necessary action on the recommendation. However, Finance Commission reports are advisory in nature only hence it is not binding on the government. At present the 15th Finance Commission has been constituted for the period of 2021 – 2026 under the chairmanship of NK Singh.

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