Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 21st September 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Statement-I is accurate as the Naga King Chilli is indeed renowned for its extreme spiciness, with heat levels exceeding 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This statement is correct.
Statement-II correctly mentions that the Naga King Chilli was awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008, underlining its unique origin and importance in the global spice market. This statement provides additional context to the significance of the chilli. Statement-II explains the importance and recognition associated with the Naga King Chilli, complementing Statement-I. Thus, both statements are correct, and Statement-II further elucidates the value of the Naga King Chilli, making option A the correct choice.

1. Bio-RIDE Scheme - Correctly matched. The Bio-RIDE Scheme aims to promote bio-entrepreneurship and bio-manufacturing by merging Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) with Industrial & Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED).

2. White Revolution 2.0 - Correctly matched. White Revolution 2.0 aims to enhance the milk procurement capacity of dairy cooperatives by 50% in the next five years, targeting an increase from 660 lakh kg per day in 2023-24 to 1,007 lakh kg by 2028-29.

3. FCU under IT Rules 2021 - Correctly matched. The Fact Check Unit (FCU) under the amended IT Rules 2021 allowed the government to identify and flag "fake news" on social media concerning government business.

4. NDDB Pilot Project - Correctly matched. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) launched a pilot project in February 2023 to establish dairy cooperatives in uncovered gram panchayats across Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. This initiative now procures 15,000 liters of milk daily from approximately 2,500 farmers.

All four pairs are correctly matched based on the information provided.

1. The Naga king chilli, also known as Bhut Jolokia, has heat levels surpassing 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU): This statement is correct. The Naga king chilli is renowned for its extreme spiciness, and its heat levels indeed surpass 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU).

2. The Naga king chilli was awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2010: This statement is incorrect. The Naga king chilli was awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008, not 2010.

3. Cultivation of the Naga king chilli in Seiyhama village involves around 150 households with an annual harvest reaching approximately 14,000 kg: This statement is correct. In Seiyhama village, approximately 150 households engage in the cultivation of the Naga king chilli, with an annual harvest reaching around 14,000 kg.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3 only. Therefore, the correct option is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

The primary objective of the "Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme" is to foster advanced research and development in the field of biotechnology. This scheme aims to promote bio-entrepreneurship and bio-manufacturing, with a significant focus on merging biotechnology research and development with industrial and entrepreneurship development to encourage innovation and enhance India's standing in the biotechnology sector.

- Statement-I is correct as the Bio-RIDE Scheme indeed aims to promote bio-entrepreneurship and bio-manufacturing as per the provided details.
- Statement-II is also correct as the White Revolution 2.0 initiative seeks to enhance milk procurement capacity of dairy cooperatives and expand their network to new regions, aligning with the information given.
- However, Statement-II does not explain Statement-I directly. These are two separate initiatives in different sectors with distinct objectives, so they are correct independently but are not interconnected in a way that Statement-II explains Statement-I.

The Biotechnology Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development (Bio-RIDE) scheme has several key components and objectives.

- Statement 1: Correct. The scheme indeed aims to merge Biotechnology Research and Development (R&D) with Industrial & Entrepreneurship Development (I&ED), as one of its main components.

- Statement 2: Correct. One of the primary objectives of the Bio-RIDE scheme is to promote bio-manufacturing, which is a new element introduced in the program.

- Statement 3: Incorrect. While bio-pharma is one area of focus, the scheme does not exclusively focus on bio-pharma. It also includes other areas like synthetic biology, bio-plastics, agriculture, healthcare, bioenergy, and environmental sustainability.

Therefore, statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is not. The correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

Statement 1 is correct: The SKA project is indeed designed to operate within the frequency range of 50 MHz to 15.4 GHz. This wide range allows it to capture faint radio signals from various cosmic phenomena.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The telescope arrays are not exclusively in Australia. The SKA project is a global initiative with arrays located in both Australia and South Africa. SKA-Low, which operates at lower frequencies, is situated in Australia, while SKA-Mid, operating at higher frequencies, is located in South Africa.

Statement 3 is correct: One of the scientific objectives of the SKA project includes investigating phenomena such as dark matter and the potential for extraterrestrial life. The SKA aims to explore the universe's mysteries, including the 'Dark Ages' and the formation and evolution of galaxies.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3. Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

The Naga King Chilli Festival in Nagaland primarily aims to highlight the extreme spiciness and unique characteristics of the Naga king chilli, also known as Raja Mircha or Bhut Jolokia. This festival celebrates the significance of this chili variety, which is renowned for its high heat levels, exceeding 1 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). It serves as a platform to showcase the culinary and cultural importance of this chili in the region and beyond.

1. Naga King Chilli - Received a GI tag in 2008
This pair is correctly matched. The Naga King Chilli was awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2008.

2. Naga King Chilli - Heat levels surpassing 2 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
This pair is incorrectly matched. The Naga King Chilli has heat levels between 800,000 and 1,041,427 SHU, not surpassing 2 million SHU.

3. Naga King Chilli - Primarily cultivated in Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh
This pair is correctly matched. The Naga King Chilli is primarily cultivated in the Northeastern Indian states of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.

4. Naga King Chilli - Used traditionally to preserve food in Nagaland's hot and humid conditions
This pair is correctly matched. Traditionally, the Naga King Chilli is used to preserve food in Nagaland's hot and humid conditions.

Thus, three out of the four pairs are correctly matched.

The Pest-Control Pheromone Dispenser is primarily designed to interfere with pest mating cycles, thereby preventing infestations. It releases synthetic pheromones that imitate natural insect signals, attracting pests towards traps or disrupting their mating cycles. This sustainable device aims at managing infestations in agriculture by influencing pest behavior without the extensive use of chemical pesticides, promoting environmentally friendly and efficient pest control practices.