Daily Current Affairs MCQ- August 5, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, experts from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have stated in a new report that the Italian city of Venice should be added to a list of world heritage sites in danger.

• UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• It is specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
• The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
• The agency’s permanent headquarters are in Paris, France.
• Parent Organisation - United Nations Economic and Social Council
• Goal: The primary goals of UNESCO are to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture, and to promote sustainable development and intercultural dialogue.
• UNESCO believes that these areas are crucial for building a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world.

Hence both statements are correct.

According to a new study some people of African descent possess a CHD1L gene variant that likely controls human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

• The Chromodomain Helicase DNA Binding Protein 1 Like (CHD1L), which contains information to make proteins that allow the body to repair DNA damage. 
• A variant of the CHD1L gene, specifically present in the African population, has been linked to the reduced viral load (amount of HIV in the blood) of the most common and virulent type of HIV, called HIV-1 (more common and severe retrovirus compared to HIV-2).
• They analysed the DNA of almost 4,000 people of African ancestry living with HIV-1 and found a gene variant CHD1L on chromosome 1. 
• People carrying this variant had a low viral load. This lowers their risk of spreading the virus and slowing the progress of their own illness.
• The researchers said between 4 per cent and 13 per cent of people of African origin could be carrying this particular variant.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, astronomers have discovered a stunning, rare example of an "Einstein cross" splitting and magnifying light from the far depths of the universe.

• Einstein predicted the existence of these crosses back in 1915.
• Einstein's theory of general relativity describes the way massive objects warp the fabric of the universe, called space-time.
• The latest Einstein Cross has some interesting statistics.
• The main galaxy doing the lensing lies about 5.998 billion light-years away. The distant galaxy that it’s lensing is more than 11.179 billion light-years away.
• Thus, the foreground lensing galaxy is giving an amazing look at a galaxy in the early Universe.

What Makes an Einstein Cross?

• When a massive galaxy sits directly “in front of” a more distant background object (such as a galaxy or a quasar) the distribution of matter around that galaxy and its gravitational effect can “bend” the light from the object as it passes by. 
• In this case, Earth, the lensing galaxy and the quasar have aligned to perfectly duplicate the quasar’s light, arranging them along a so-called Einstein ring. 

What is Gravitational Lensing?

• It occurs when a massive celestial body, such as a galaxy cluster, causes a sufficient curvature of spacetime for the path of light around it to be visibly bent, as if by a lens.
• The body causing the light to curve is accordingly called a gravitational lens.
• An important consequence of this lensing distortion is magnification, allowing us to observe objects that would otherwise be too far away and too faint to be seen.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Two frontline Indian naval warships recently made a port call at Port Moresby as part of ongoing initiatives for enhancing maritime partnership and cooperation with Papua New Guinea.

About Papua New Guinea:

• Location:  It is an island country that lies in the southwestern Pacific.
• It includes the eastern half of New Guinea (the world’s second-largest island) and many small offshore islands.
• Neighbours:  Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south and Solomon Islands to the southeast.
• Capital: Port Moresby
• Terrain: It is mainly mountainous but has low-lying plains in southern New Guinea.
• The islands that constitute Papua New Guinea were settled over a period of 40,000 years by a mixture of peoples who are generally referred to as Melanesians.
• Language:
• English is the main language of government and commerce.
• In most everyday contexts, the most widely spoken language is Tok Pisin. 
• Linguistically, it is the world's most diverse country, with more than 800 languages.
• Religion: The majority of Papua New Guinea’s people are at least nominally Christian.
• Government:
• Papua New Guinea became self-governing on 1 December 1973 and achieved independence on 16 September 1975.
• The country is a constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth.
• The British monarch, represented by a governor-general, is the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government.

Hence both statements are not correct.

The Education Ministry recently launched the Study In India (SII) portal with a vision to promote Indian education to foreign students.

About Study in India (SII) portal:

• It is a dedicated website to provide information about Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in India.
• Aim: Establishing India as a global hub for education by welcoming students from diverse backgrounds.
• It will showcase the academic programmes in the HEIs covering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes as well courses in Indian Knowledge System (IKS) such as Yoga, Ayurveda, classical arts and more. 
• The portal will have information about the academic facilities, research support and related information available in the institutes.
• It will be a one-stop spot for student registration, the visa application process, choosing the desired courses and receiving offer letters from the institute.
• It will have the provision for students to apply in more than one institute or course of their choice.
• It will offer a streamlined and well-organised application processfor international students seeking higher education opportunities in India.

Study in India (SII) programme: 

• It is a flagship project launched by the education ministry in 2018.
• Aim: Endorse India as a prime education hub for international students by inviting them to pursue higher education in the country and explore valuable educational opportunities enabled by top Indian universities.

Hence both statements are correct.

Three private sector satellite makers are expected to send their earth observation satellites this fiscal, according to the sectoral regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).

About Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe):

• It is a single-window, independent, nodal agency that functions as an autonomous agency in the Department of Space (DOS).
• It is formed following the Space sector reforms to enable and facilitate the participation of private players.
• IN-SPACe is responsible to promote, enable authorize and supervise various space activities of non-governmental entities including
• building launch vehicles& satellites and providing space-based services;
• sharing space infrastructure and premises under the control of DOS/ISRO;
• and establishing of new space infrastructure and facilities;
• The agency acts as an interface between ISRO and Non-Governmental Entities (NGEs) and assesses how to utilize India's space resources better and increase space-based activities.
• It also assesses the needs and demands of private players, including educational and research institutions, and explores ways to accommodate these requirements in consultation with ISRO.
• Headquarters: Bopal, Ahmedabad.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the government of India has set a deadline for mandatory implementation of the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for pharmaceutical companies which were revised in 2018, bringing them on par with World Health Organisation standards.

• Good manufacturing practice (GMP) is a system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards.
• It is designed to minimize the risks involved in any pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated through testing the final product.
• It covers all aspects of production; from the starting materials, premises and equipment to the training and personal hygiene of staff.
• The GMP system was first incorporated in India in 1988 in Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945, and the last amendment was done in June 2005. WHO-GMP standards are now part of the revised Schedule M.
• There are around 10,500 manufacturing units in India out of which around 8,500 fall under Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) category.
• The country has about 2,000 units in MSME category in the country having WHO-GMP certification.

What are the new regulations?

• Companies with a turnover of over Rs 250 crore will have to implement the revised GMP within six months,
• Medium and small-scale enterprises with turnover of less than Rs 250 crore will have to implement it within a year.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the President of India inaugurated ‘Unmesha’ – International Literature Festival and ‘Utkarsh’ – Festival of Folk and Tribal Performing Arts at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

• These festivals were organised by Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi, respectively,with the purpose of celebrating inclusivity and cultural diversity.

About UNMESHA:

• It is India's most inclusive and Asia's largest literature festival in terms of the number of languages represented.
• More than 575 authors in 102 languages are expected to participate in over 75 events in 'Unmesha 2023', and writers from 13 countries will participate in the festival.
• This will be the second edition of 'Unmesha'. The first event was held in Shimla in June 2022.

What is UTKARSH festival?

• It showcases the folk and tribal Performing Arts
• It casts a spotlight on the treasure trove of India’s folk and tribal heritage, endowing these expressive art forms with a resplendent stage to captivate and enthral.
• A poignant tribute to the nation’s cultural legacy, ‘Utkarsh’ serves as a vital launchpad for traditional artists and performers to unfurl their artistry, safeguarding the priceless heritage of myriad communities.
• Amidst its vibrant canvas, ‘Utkarsh’ brings forth a vivid tableau of cultural diversity, nurturing an appreciation for indigenous arts and underscoring their intrinsic value in an increasingly interconnected world.

Key facts about Sangeet Natak Akademi

• It is the apex body in the field of performing arts in the country, was set up in 1953 for the preservation and promotion of the vast intangible heritage of India’s diverse culture expressed in forms of music, dance and drama.
• The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years.
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on practising artists.
• The Akademi also confers Fellowships on eminent artists and scholars of music, dance and drama; and has in 2006 instituted annual awards to young artists – the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

National Cooperative Development Corporation had earlier launched its own initiative named Sahakar– 22, during FY 2017-18.

• This initiative of NCDC included the following:
• FOCUS 222 – NCDC’s focused assistance for Cooperatives in 222 Districts (including 117 Aspirational Districts identified by NITI Aayog);
• PACS HUB – Transformation of PACS and other Coops as Apna Kisan Resource Centers;
• AENEC - Act East and North East Cooperatives;
• CEMtC - Centres of Excellence to Market through Cooperatives;
• SAHAKAR PRAGYA - Capacity Development through Laxmanrao Inamdar National Academy for Cooperative Research Development (LINAC).

Key Facts about NCDC

• The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) was established by an Act of Parliament in 1963 as a statutory Corporation.
• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Cooperation.
• Functions
• Planning, promoting and financing programmes for production, processing, marketing, storage, export and import of agricultural produce, food stuffs, certain other notified commodities e.g. fertilisers, insecticides, agricultural machinery, lac, soap, kerosene oil, textile, rubber etc.,
• Supply of consumer goods and collection, processing, marketing, storage and export of minor forest produce through cooperatives, besides income generating stream of activities such as poultry, dairy, fishery, sericulture, handloom etc.

Hence both statements are correct.

The genetic causes of Raynaud’s phenomenon was recently probed by researchers at Queen Mary University of London’s Precision Healthcare Research Institute (PHURI) and Berlin’s Berlin Institute of Health (BIH).

About Raynaud’s Phenomenon:

• It is a condition that causes the blood vessels in the extremities to narrow, restricting blood flow.
• The episodes or “attacks” usually affect the fingers and toes.
• In rare cases, attacks occur in other areas such as the ears or nose.
• An attack usually happens from exposure to cold or emotional stress.
• During a Raynaud’s attack, the arterioles and capillaries in your fingers and toes tighten more than they should.

Types of Raynaud’s:This condition is named for the French doctor who first identified it in 1862. You may hear it called by many names. There are two types:

• Primary Raynaud’s(or Raynaud’s disease):
• It happens without any other illness behind it.
• The symptoms are often mild.
• Secondary Raynaud’s (Raynaud’s syndrome, Raynaud’s phenomenon):
• It results from another illness.
• It’s often a condition that attacks your body’s connective tissues, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
• It’s less common, but it’s more likely to cause serious health problems. This can include things like skin sores and gangrene. These happen when cells and tissue in your toes and fingers die from lack of blood.
• In most people, lifestyle changes such as staying warm keep symptoms under control, but in severe cases, repeated attacks lead to skin sores or gangrene (death and decay of tissue).
• The treatment depends on how serious the condition is and whether it is the primary or secondary form.

Hence both statements are correct.