Daily Current Affairs MCQ- April 20, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

The Nodal Centre for Biological Invasions (NCBI) at the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has come out with a management plan to eradicate Senna spectabilis.

• It is nestled in the southern region of Western Ghats in the state of Kerala.
• It is drained by the rivers Mullayar and Periyar.
• Flora: tropical evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous forests and grasslands.
• Fauna: Tiger, Elephant, Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri Tahr etc.

Hence both statements are correct.

World Leprosy Day is observed on the last Sunday of January every year.

• It is a chronic infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.
• The disease predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves if left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities.
• Transmission: The bacteria are transmitted via droplets from the nose and mouth during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.
• The majority of annual new case detections are from South-East Asia.
• It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which still occurs in more than 120 countries, with more than 200 000 new cases reported each year.

Hence both statements are correct.

The recent World Health Organization (WHO) report said that Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) continue to disproportionately impact the most impoverished members of the international community.

• Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical infections which are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• They are caused by a variety of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa and parasitic worms (helminths).
• There are a diverse group of 20 diseases that are affecting more than 1 billion people who live in impoverished communities.
• They include Buruli ulcer, Chagas Dengue, Chikungunya, Echinococcosis; foodborne trematodes; human African trypanosomiasis; leishmaniasis; leprosy; Lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, etc.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Microsoft Research is helping preserve 'rare' Indian languages with its Project ELLORA in India. 

• Microsoft researchers under this project have been working toward creating digital ecosystems for Indian languages that do not have enough presence online.
• The main goal of the Project? To impact underserved communities through enabling language technology by creating economic opportunities, building technological skills, enhancing education and preserving local languages and cultures for future generations.
• Microsoft Research (MSR) has chosen to focus on three languages namely; Gondi, Mundari and Idu Mishmi.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Central government will soon start off the process to set up the Sixteenth Finance Commission, with the Finance Ministry likely to notify the terms of references for the Finance Commission.

About Finance Commission:

• What is it? It is constitutional body for giving recommendations on distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States and amongst the States themselves.
• Who constitutes? The Finance Commission is constituted by the President under article 280 of the Constitution.
• It is constituted at the end of every fifth year or earlier, as the deemed necessary by the President.
• Composition: It consists of a Chairman and four other members appointed by the President.
• Tenure of members: Every member will be in office for the time period as specified in the order of the President and is eligible for reappointment.
• Recommendations of the Finance Commission are not binding on the government.

Hence both statements are not correct.

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) recently said its exposure to the Adani Group was less than 1% of the total assets under management (AUM) at book value.

About Assets under management (AUM):

• What is it? AUM is the total market value of investments a financial institution (such as a bank, mutual fund, or hedge fund) owns or manages on behalf of its clients.
• AUM can be calculated in different ways, depending on the firm’s discretion.
• The calculation is done on the basis of either the total capital that the firm handles or calculating the Individual client’s money.
• AUM fluctuates daily reflecting the variable returns from stocks, mutual funds and change in prices of fixed investment.
• Importance of AUM:
• AUM helps to build the market value of the firm.
• It can be used as a market tool to attract potential new customers. The higher a firm's AUM is, the more likely people are to trust them and invest with them.
• A fund's management fees and expenses are often calculated as a percentage of AUM.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The D4 anti-drone system which was used for security during the Republic Day parade is one of the products to be showcased at Aero India 2023.

Key facts about D4 Drone system:

• What is it? The Drone Detect, Deter and Destroy system (D4S) is the first indigenously developed anti-drone system to be inducted into the Indian Armed Forces.
• It is developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).
• Purpose: To detect rogue drones that are likely to attack most vulnerable places.
• Features:
• D4 system can instantly detect and jam micro drones (Soft kill) and use a laser-based kill mechanism to terminate targets (Hard kill).
• It uses DRDO's RF/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to detect the frequency which is being used by the controller and the signals are then jammed.
• It can detect and jam micro-drones at a distance of up to 3 km.
• It can lase a target 1-1.25 km far depending on the wattage of the laser weapon.

Hence both statements are correct.

The campus of Mangalore University is home to three species that are listed as near-threatened on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, according to a nine-year study on the avifaunal variety of the area (IUCN).

• It is a large wader bird with a white body and bare black head and neck. Males and females look similar and both have greyish tail feathers. 
• These are called wader birds due to their adaptability to a wide variety of aquatic environments.
• They are found primarily around wetlands including agricultural fields and occasionally around coastal areas.
• It is found in South- and Southeast Asia from India to the west and as far east as Japan.
• Conservation status
• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened
• The Wildlife Protection Act 1972:Schedule-IV

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently a partial albino dhole (Cuon alpinus) has been photo-documented in Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary.

• It is extended over three districts, namely, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Ramanagara in Karnataka.
• The sanctuary provides a vital link between Bannerghatta National Park in the north and BRT Tiger Reserve and Male Mahadev Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in the south.
• The area is drained by three rivers, namely, Cauvery, Arkavathi and Shimsha.
• Flora: The forest is primarily of dry deciduous and scrub types, but a wide range of forest types including moist deciduous, semi-evergreen, evergreen, shola, riverine, Hardwicke forest, etc.
• Fauna: Important animals found in the sanctuary are tigers, elephants, leopards, bison, wild dog etc.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

During the recent Asian Water Bird Census (AWC) 2023, more than 340 birds of various species, were counted in the water bodies within the core area of the Kawal Tiger Reserve.

• Kawal Tiger Reserve is located in North Eastern part of Telangana (Old Adilabad district) having the Godavari river on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other side.
• Government of India declared Kawal wildlife sanctuary as Tiger Reserve in 2012.
• This sanctuary is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.
• It is a central Indian Tiger Landscape having – a southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
• Flora: It consists of predominantly teak and bamboo are found here.
• Fauna: Mammal species that have been sighted include tiger, leopard, Indian gaur, cheetal, sambar, nilgai etc.

Hence both statements are correct.