Daily Current Affairs for UPSC

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Recently seen in news, the ‘Pangong Lake’ is located in which one of the following State/Union Territory?

Sikkim
Ladakh
Arunachal Pradesh
Jammu and Kashmir

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 3 July April 2023

Explanation:

Option (2) is correct: Pangong Lake is an endorheic lake spanning eastern Ladakh and West Tibet situated at an elevation of 4,225 m (13,862 ft). An endorheic lake is a type of lake that does not have an outlet or a visible outflow of water. Three years after the violent clash between Indian and Chinese forces in Galwan valley, there has been increased infrastructural activity in the area around the Pangong Tso. Pangong Tso Lake is formed from the Tethys geosyncline. The Tethys geosyncline, also referred to as the Tethys Sea or Tethys Ocean, was a vast ancient oceanic basin that existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The Tethys geosyncline underwent subduction, giving rise to significant mountain systems such as the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Zagros Mountains. Pangong Lake is 134 km long and divided into five sublakes, called Pangong Tso, Tso Nyak, Rum Tso (twin lakes) and Nyak Tso. Approximately 50% of the length of the overall lake lies within Tibetin China, 40% in Ladakh, India and the remaining 10% is disputed and is a de facto buffer zone between India and China.

Q) Consider the following statements about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD):

SCD is an inherited red blood cell disorder that mainly affects haemoglobin.
At present, there is no effective treatment available for SCD.
The ‘National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission’ aims to eliminate SCD by 2050.

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

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Sickle cell disease is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that affect hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen through the body. Normally, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible enough to move easily through the blood vessels. In the sickle cell disease, the red blood cells are crescent- or “sickle”-shaped. These cells do not bend or move easily and can block blood flow to the rest of the body.
Statement 2 is incorrect: SCD can only be cured by bone marrowor stem cell transplantation. These transplants are normally reserved for children with severe SCD since they are hazardous and can have substantial adverse effects. In India, there are approximately 706 different tribal communities, which constitute 8.6% of the total population. Sickle cell disease is a serious health challenge in India’s tribal population. SCD is highly prevalence in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
Statement 3 is incorrect: “Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission 2047” has been launched by the PM of India for eradicating the sickle cell disease. National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission aims to address the pressing health challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among the tribal population. It shall eliminate sickle cell disease as a public health problem by 2047. The program is executed in a mission mode as part of the National Health Mission (NHM). Objectives of the mission are:
Provision of affordable and accessible care to all SCD patients.
To ensure quality of care for SCD patients.
To reduce the prevalence of SCD.

Q) With reference to Malaria, consider the following statements:

Plasmodium Vivaxis most prevalent cause of malaria on the African continent.
Currently malaria is a notifiable disease in all the states and union territories of India.
Malaria cases have declined by as much as by 80 percent since 2015.

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

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. It is preventable and curable. Malaria does not spread from person to person. Malaria mostly spreads to people through the bites of some infected female Anopheles Blood transfusion and contaminated needles may also transmit malaria. There are 5 Plasmodium parasite species that cause malaria in humans and 2 of these species-P. falciparum and P. vivax – pose the greatest threat. P. falciparum is most prevalent on the African continent. P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
Statement 2 is incorrect but statement 3 is correct: Currently malaria is a notifiable disease in 33 States and Union Territories in India. A notifiable disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities. The collation of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease and provides early warning of possible outbreaks. India was the only high-burden, high-impact country in the South- East Asia region to report a decline in malaria cases in 2020 as compared to 2019. India witnessed 85.1% decline in malaria cases and 83.36% decline in deaths during 2015-2022.

Q) Consider the following statements about Deep Sea Mining:

Deep-sea minerals can also be found beyond the continental shelf.
Cobalt-rich crusts form on seamounts and other volcanic features.
Various critical minerals are found in deep sea Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico.

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

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The deep sea is broadly defined as the ocean depth where light begins to fade, at an approximate depth of 200 metres or the point of transition from continental shelves to continental slopes. The deep sea is characterized by extremely high pressure, low temperatures, and darkness. Some of the notable features of the deep sea include underwater mountains and ridges, vast plains and canyons, hydrothermal vents, and cold seeps. Deep sea minerals are minerals that are found in the ocean floor, specifically in the deeper parts of the ocean, beyond the continental shelf.
Statement 2 is correct: Cobalt-rich crusts form on the seafloor, typically on seamounts and other volcanic features. They are composed of cobalt, nickel, iron, manganese, and other metals. Polymetallic nodules are small, rounded lumps of minerals that are found on the seafloor, usually on abyssal plains. They are composed of manganese, iron, nickel, copper, and cobalt. Seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) form around hydrothermal vents, where hot, mineral-rich fluids are released from the seafloor. SMS deposits are composed of copper, gold, silver, zinc, and other metals.
Statement 3 is correct: The Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Hawaii and Mexico is a potential hotbed for critical minerals. The basin in the central Indian Ocean and the seabed off the Cook Islands, Kiribati atolls and French Polynesia in the South Pacific are also of interest for potential extraction.

Q) With reference to Gallantry Awards, consider the following statements:

The ‘Mahavir Chakra’ is given for an outstanding act of self-sacrifice in the presence of the enemy.
The ‘Ashoka Chakra’ is awarded for bravery in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea, or in the air.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Ashoka Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some act of daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice otherwise than in the face of the enemy. It is circular in shape, one and three eighth inches in diameter with rims on both sides and will be of gold-gilt. On the obverse, it has embossed a replica of Ashoka’s Chakra in the centre surrounded by a lotus wreath. On it has embossed the words “Ashoka Chakra” both in Hindi and English, the two versions being separated by two lotus flowers. Officers of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army are eligible.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Mahavir Chakra is awarded for gallantry in the presence of the enemy on land, at sea or in the air. It is circular in shape and is made of standard silver and is embossed on the obverse a five-pointed heraldic star with the points of the star just touching the rim. The State emblem is embossed in the centrepiece. The star is polished and the centre piece is in gold gilt. On the reverse it has embossed Maha Vir Chakra both in Hindi and English with two lotus flowers between Hindi and English. Officers of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, of any of the Reserve Forces, of the Territorial Army are eligible.