Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 3 April 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Which of the following statements is not correct with respect to OPEC+ organization?

1. It determines how much oil the member states will produce.
2. OPEC+ controls over 50 percent of global oil supplies.
3. Brazil is one of the members of OPEC+.
4. It ensures fair return for investors of petroleum industry.

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 1 April 2023

Explanation:

• Option (1) is correct: In December of 2016, OPEC formed an alliance with other oil-exporting nations that were not a part of the organization, creating an entity that is commonly referred to as OPEC+, or OPEC Plus. The members usually meet every month to determine how much oil the member states will produce.
• Option (2) and (4) are correct: OPEC+ controls over50% of global oil supplies. The objective of the OPEC+ is to “coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries and ensure the stabilisation of oil markets in order to secure an efficient, economic and regular supply of petroleum to consumers, a steady income to producers and a fair return on capital for those investing in the petroleum industry.
• Option (3) is incorrect: It refers to a group of 23 oil-producing countries that includes 13 members of OPEC (Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, and Venezuela) and 10 other oil-producing countries (Russia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brunei, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, South Sudan and Sudan). Brazil is currently not a member of OPEC+.

Q) With reference to India-Japan relation, consider the following statements:

1. Japan is the largest official development assistance provider to India.
2. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and ISRO are collaborating on the NISAR mission.
3. India and Japan recently signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to increase bilateral trade.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Japan has been one of the largest investors in India, with over $35 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the past 20 years, primarily in sectors such as automobiles, electrical equipment, telecommunications, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Japan is the largest bilateral donor to India, providing Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) for major infrastructure projects like the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and the Ahmedabad-Mumbai High-Speed Rail Link. In response to the supply chain disruptions caused by Covid-19, India and Japan are collaborating with Australia on the Supply Chains Resilience Initiative (SCRI).
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Currently, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are collaborating on a joint lunar polar exploration (LUPEX) mission to send a lander and rover to the Moon’s South Pole by 2024. Additionally, the India-Japan Digital Partnership (I-JDP) was launched in 2018 to build upon the science and technology collaboration established in 1985 and focus on digital ICT technologies to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the digital sector. ‘India-Japan Emerging Technology and Innovation Fund’ was established in 2019, a fund-of-funds for emerging technology startups in Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning etc. NISAR is a joint Earth-observing mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO
• Statement 3 is incorrect: A Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been in place between India and Japan since 2011, which has contributed to an increase in bilateral trade. India and Japan have been collaborating with Germany and Brazil for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as part of the G4 or Group of Four. The 2+2 Dialogue, which includes discussions between the foreign and defence ministers of both nations, has led to an expansion of defence and strategic cooperation that extends beyond national boundaries. Additionally, the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) between India, the United States, Japan, and Australia is aimed at promoting a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

Q) Consider the following statements about ‘Thirra’ dance form:

1. It is a ritual dance performed in temples in the Rayalseema region.
2. The performers mostly belong to the Peruvannan caste.
3. The performers paint their face and wear loud clothing during the dance.

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 incorrect: Recently, ‘Nagaraja Thira’ was celebrated at the Sree Muchilottu temple at Kuthiravattom in Kozhikode. ‘Thira’, like Theyyam, is a dance that is part of a religious ritual. While the person participating in Theyyam is considered god, the person taking part in ‘Thira’ is considered as possessed by god. Thirra is a ritual dance performed in “Kaavu” (grove) & temples of the Malabar region in Kerala State, South India.
• Statement 2 is correct: The performers belong to the “Peruvannan” caste of, who are given prime importance in Thira. This art form is performed by the artists of malaya community. This art is performed during Utsavam (annual temple festival). Clan deities such as Bhagavathi, Shiva are worshipped in these forms. Thira brings the gods to life.
• Statement 3 is correct: The performers dress up with ceremonial facial paint and loud clothing and dance in front of the deity, the bhagavathi. The objective clearly is to bring a sense of awe to the proceedings. Each performer represents a particular deity and is sponsored by devotees as a prayer offering.

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. It is located in the lower reaches of the Satpura Range.
2. It has a tropical monsoonal climate with distinct monsoons, winters, and summers.
3. Tropically moist deciduous vegetation is found here.
4. Tigers, leopards, chitals, and sambars can be found here.

Which of the following tiger reserve is described in the statements given above?

1. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve
2. Satpura Tiger Reserve
3. Panna Tiger Reserve
4. Pench Tiger Reserve

Explanation:

• Option (4) is correct: Recently two orphaned Tiger cubs were recently shifted to Pench Tiger Reserve. Pench Tiger Reserve or Pench National Park spans over the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The reserve consists of the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park and the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary. The region derives its name from the Pench River, which flow through the reserve. The reserve is located in the lower reaches of the Satpura Range. The topography is characterized by small ridges and hills having steep slopes. It shows tropical moist deciduous vegetation. Teak is the most abundant plant species in the area. Apart from Tigers, Leopards, wolves, jackals, civets, Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chital and sambar can also be found. The reserve has a tropical monsoonal climate, with a distinct monsoon, winter and summer.

Q) With reference to ‘Kala-Azar’, consider the following statements:

1. It is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites.
2. It is found in almost all the north-eastern states of India.
3. Quinoline derivatives can be used to treat drug-resistant Kala-Azar.

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. 3 only

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Kala-azar is also known as visceral leishmaniasis or black fever or Dum-Dum fever. It is a vector borne (sandfly) neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasites of the genus leishmania that afflicts the world’s poorest populations in over 90 countries. It is transmitted by female sandfly – Phlebotomus argentipes.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: More than 95% of cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) are from India and other tropical countries, most importantly co-infection with HIV, which leads to an immune-compromised state. The four States endemic for kala-azar in India are: Bihar (33 districts), Jharkhand (4 districts), West Bengal (11 districts), and Uttar Pradesh (six districts).
• Statement 3 is correct: A recent research shows potential of the quinoline derivatives to treat drug-resistant leishmaniasis, also called kala-azar (black fever). Quinoline derivative is a potent inhibitor of an enzyme called topoisomerase 1 (LdTop1), which is essential for maintenance of DNA architecture in the parasites; this enzyme is distinct from the one found in humans. Poisoning of LdTop1 imparts a significant level of cytotoxicity to both the Leishmania parasites found in gut of sandfly vectors (promastigotes) as well as the form found in the infected humans (amastigotes). Novel derivative is a promising anti-leishmaniasis drug candidate to overcome the emerging cases of multidrug resistance and therapeutic failures

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