Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) With reference to Tigers, which of the following statements is correct?

Explanation:

Option (1) is correct: The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest living cat species and a member of the genus Panthera. It is an apex predator, considered a keystone species in their ecosystems. India, Nepal, China, Russia, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Sumatra (Indonesia), and Malaysia are the Tiger Range Countries.
Option (2) is incorrect: India’s tiger population increased to 3,682 in 2022, up from 2,967 in 2018, according to the latest government data released on International Tiger Day (July 29).
Options (3) and (4) are incorrect: According to the latest government data, the reserves with the most number of tigers were the Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, which reported 260 animals, followed by Bandipur (150), and Nagarhole (141), both in Karnataka. Moreover, in 2022, the highest number of tigers, 785, were reported to be in Madhya Pradesh, followed by Karnataka (563), Uttarakhand (560), and Maharashtra (444).

Q) Consider the following statements with respect to India-Japan relations:

India and Japan for the first time signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in 2014.
Japan supports India’s bid for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Japan is the largest bilateral donor to India, providing Japanese Official Development Assistance for major infrastructure projects.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 3 is correct: 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. 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. Furthermore, 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.
Statement 2 is correct: Following a temporary pause and economic sanctions on India after its nuclear tests in 1998, the country resumed its cooperation with Japan in the peaceful use of nuclear energy in 2017. Both nations signed an agreement that resulted in increased collaboration in energy security and clean energy, facilitated the commissioning of global nuclear reactors using Japanese components, and supported India’s bid for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Q) Digital Payments Index in India is released by which of the following?

Explanation:

Option (3) is correct: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) introduced the composite Digital Payments Index (RBI-DPI) in January 2021 with March 2018 as the base, to capture digitization of payments. The index has since been steadily rising, crossing the 300-point mark in September 2021. The RBI-DPI index has increased across all parameters driven by significant growth in payment infrastructure and payment performance across the country over the period (March22-March23). The increase in Index highlights the remarkable surge in digital payment adoption in India, predominantly propelled by the success of UPI. The RBI-DPI comprises five parameters to measure the deepening and penetration of digital payments. Of these parameters –
payment enablers account for 25 per cent of the index,
payment infrastructure – demand-side factors for 10 per cent,
payment infrastructure – supply-side factors for 15 per cent,
payment performance for 45 per cent,
whereas consumer centricity holds five per cent weightage.

Q) Consider the following statements about Cell-free DNA (CfDNA):

They are small DNA fragments found only in the bloodstream of human body.
The findings on CfDNA can be a useful data to understand human diseases.
CfDNA is used in the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers.
CfDNA has been used in screening foetuses for specific chromosomal abnormalities.

How many of the statements give above are correct?

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) refers to small DNA fragments found in the bloodstream and other bodily fluids, such as spinal fluid and urine. These fragments are derived from various sources, including the breakdown of cells, the release of DNA from damaged or dying cells, and the shedding of DNA by normal cells. The presence of cfDNA in bodily fluids is an indication of various processes that include physical injury, inflammation, and cancer. Researchers around the world are increasingly finding cfDNA to be a useful tool to understand human diseases and to use the knowledge to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis.
Statements 3 and 4 are correct: CfDNA has been used in screening foetuses for specific chromosomal abnormalities, an application known as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). CfDNA is also used in the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers. Also, by replicating the findings using cfDNA, researchers could find individuals who were at high risk of developing lung cancer.

Q) Consider the following statements about National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC):

It was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission.
It conducts assessment and accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions such as colleges, universities.
The President of India acts as a Chairman of the General Council of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Explanation:

G.Kannabiran, former Director in-charge of the National Institute of Technology, Tiruchi, has been appointed Director of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
Statement 1 and 2 are correct: National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission (UGC). It conducts assessment and accreditation of Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) such as colleges, universities or other recognised institutions to derive an understanding of the ‘Quality Status’ of the institution.
Statement 3 is incorrect:The NAAC functions through its General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC) comprising educational administrators, policy makers and senior academicians from a cross-section of Indian higher education system. The Chairperson of the UGC is the President of the GC of the NAAC. The Chairperson of the EC is an eminent academician nominated by the President of GC (NAAC). The Director is the academic and administrative head of NAAC and is the member-secretary of both the GC and the EC.