Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 17, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Union Minister for Environment Forest and Climate Change attended the Middle East Green Initiative Summit 2022 at COP 27 Egypt.

• The Middle East Green Initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions from regional hydrocarbon production by more than 60%.
• It also plans to plant 50 billion trees across the Middle East and restore an area equivalent to 200 million hectares of degraded land. The initiative will help reduce global carbon levels by 2.5%.
• The first Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) Summit was hosted by HRH Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister in Riyadh on 25 October 2021.
• It facilitated a first-of-its-kind regional dialogue on climate, with leaders in attendance from 28 countries agreeing to work together to tackle climate change.
• Saudi Arabia plans to rely on renewables for 50% of its electricity generation by 2030, , removing 44 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2035.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

President of India Presents National Florence Nightingale Awards 2021.

• The National Florence Nightingale Awards were instituted in the year 1973 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as a mark of recognition for the meritorious services rendered by nurses and nursing professionals to society.
• The award is given to outstanding Nursing personnel employed in central, State/UTs, Private, Missionary and Voluntary Organizations.

Florence Nightingale

• Florence Nightingale was an English social reformer, statistician and the founder of modern nursing.
• Nightingale came to prominence while serving as a manager and trainer of nurses during the Crimean War, in which she organised care for wounded soldiers at Constantinople.
• Her efforts to formalize nursing education led her to establish the first scientifically based nursing school—the Nightingale School of Nursing, at St. Thomas’ Hospital in London.

Hence both statements are correct.

The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu has greeted fellow-citizens on the eve of birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

• It will be observed as the 553rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is observed annually on the full moon date of the Kartik month or Kartik Purnima
• Guru Nanak (1469 – 1539), also referred to as Baba Nanak was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus.
• He was born on April 15, 1469 in Rai Bhoi di Talvandi, now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan.
• Guru Nanak Dev spread the message of ‘Ek Omkar’ which means that God is one and is present everywhere. 
• Guru Nanak Dev Ji believed one can connect to the almighty through sincere prayers. All his teachings are composed together to form the sacred book called Guru Granth Sahib - the central holy religious scripture of Sikhism.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Retired High Court Chief Justice Rituraj Awasthi has been appointed as the chairperson of the Law commission.

• The appointment comes after more than two years after the 22nd Law Commission was notified on February 24, 2020.
• Status: Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body and is constituted by a notification of the Government of India.
• Background:
  • The Charter Act 1833 which was enacted by the British Parliament provided for the establishment of a Law Commission for consolidation and codification of Indian Laws.
  • In 1835, Lord Macaulay was appointed as Chairman of the First Law Commission.
• Tenure: The tenure of Law Commission is for three years.
• Mandate:
  • The Law Commission shall, on a reference made to it by the Central Government or suo-motu, undertake research in law and review of existing laws in India for making reforms therein and enacting new legislations.
  • It shall also undertake studies and research for bringing reforms in the justice delivery systems for elimination of delay in procedures, speedy disposal of cases, reduction in cost of litigation etc.
• Composition & Eligibility: It has no fixed composition, no defined eligibility criteria for its chair and members, and no set functions.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Over 1 lakh welfare projects completed in mining areas under PMKKKY so far.

• The Ministry of Mines launched PMKKKY in 2015 for the welfare of areas and people affected by mining-related operations, using the funds generated by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs).
• Objectives
  • to implement various developmental and welfare projects in mining affected areas, complementing the existing ongoing schemes of State and Central Government;
  • to minimize/mitigate the adverse impacts, during and after mining, on the environment, health and socio-economics of people in mining districts; and
  • to ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas.
• Implementation:
  • It will be implemented by DMFs of the respective districts using the funds accruing to the DMF. The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015, mandated the setting up of DMFs in all districts in the country affected by mining related operations.
  • The Central Government has notified the rates of contribution payable by miners to the DMFs.
    • In case of all mining leases executed before 12th January, 2015 miners will have to contribute an amount equal to 30% of the royalty payable by them to the DMFs. If mining leases are granted after 12.01.2015, the rate of contribution would be 10% of the royalty payable.
• Utilisation of Funds:
  • At least 60% of PMKKKY funds to be utilized for High priority areas such as Drinking water supply, Health care, Education, Environment preservation etc.
  • Up to 40% of the PMKKKY to be utilized for other priority areas such as- Physical infrastructure,Irrigation, Energy and Watershed Development etc.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) said it will continue National Bio Energy Programme till 2025-26.

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) notified the National Bioenergy Programme on November 2, 2022.
• The Programme has been recommended for implementation in two Phases. The Phase-I of the Programme has been approved with a budget outlay of Rs. 858 crore.
• The programme will aid the use of huge surplus biomass, cattle dung, and industrial and urban biowaste available in the country for energy recovery.
• The National Bioenergy Programme will include the three Sub-schemes:
  • Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural Wastes /Residues) to support setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW to Power projects).
  • Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries) to support setting up of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse based power generation projects.
  • Biogas Programme to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Prime Minister will unveil the logo, theme and website of India’s G20 Presidency on 8th November 2022.

• G20 Presidency offers India an opportunity to contribute to the global agenda on pressing issues of international importance.
• What is G20? G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation representing around 85% of the global GDP, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population.
• Origin and Evolution:
  • The G20 was formed in 1999 in the backdrop of the financial crisis of the late 1990s that hit East Asia and Southeast Asia in particular. Its aim was to secure global financial stability by involving middle-income countries.
  • The first G20 Summit took place in 2008 in Washington DC, US.
• The members of the G20 are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
• Organizational Structure of G20
  • The G-20 operates without a permanent secretariat or staff.
  • The chair rotates annually among the members and is selected from a different regional grouping of countries.
  • The chair is part of a revolving three-member management group of past, present and future chairs referred to as the Troika.
• Working of G20: The preparatory process for the G20 Summit is conducted through the established Sherpa and Finance tracks that prepare and follow up on the issues and commitments adopted at the Summits.
  • The Sherpas’ Track focuses on non-economic and financial issues, such as development, anti-corruption and food security, while addressing internal aspects such as procedural rules of the G20 process.
  • The Finance Track focuses on economic and financial issues

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the air quality in Delhi remained in the very poor category on Air Quality Index (AQI).

• Launched by the central government in 2014 as part of the Swachh Bharat campaign, the AQI was to help simplify the common understanding of pollution.
• The AQI transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature and colour. The pollutants measured include PM 10, PM 2.5, Nitrogen Dioxide, Ozone, Carbon, etc.
• The colour-coded AQI index helps the public and the government understand the condition of the air and what subsequent measures are to be taken to combat the situation, based on its severity.
• Six categories of AQI:
  • ‘Good’ (0-50)
  • ‘Satisfactory’ (50-100)
  • ‘Moderately polluted’ (100-200)
  • ‘Poor’ (200-300)
  • ‘Very Poor’ (300-400)
  • ‘Severe’ (400-500)
•  Calculation of the index:
  • There are six or eight pollutants in the affected air and each of these pollutants is given a weight based on a formula. That weight depends on the kind of impact it has on human health.
  • The worst of these weights is given as composite air quality, so instead of giving six different numbers, and six different colours, it throws up one single colour, one single number to denote the overall impact. Monitoring stations across the country assess these levels.

Hence both statements are correct.

An Oxfam report titled, Carbon Billionaires: The investment emissions of the world’s richest people, has said the world’s richest people emit “unsustainable amounts of carbon,” as compared with an ordinary person.

• This report is based on the fact that every human on Earth has a carbon footprint, which can be divided into “personal consumption emissions, emissions through government spending and emissions linked to investments”.
• An analysis of the investments of 125 of the world’s richest billionaires was conducted by Oxfam International, and the report was published in November, 2022.
• It demonstrated that on average, billionaires are responsible for emitting “3 million tonnes” of carbon a year, which is, “more than a million times the average for someone in the bottom 90% of humanity”.
• It further found out that the 125 billionaires taken as a sample fund about 393 million tonnes of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) per year.
• This is equivalent to the “annual carbon emissions of France,” which is a nation of 67 million people. 
• In comparison, it said, “it would take 1.8 million cows to emit the same levels of CO2e as each of the 125 billionaires,” and “almost four million people would have to go vegan to offset the emissions of each of the billionaires”.

Importance:

• The report comes at a time when discussions to meet the globally agreed target of limiting the world’s temperature to below 1.5℃ is underway at COP 27 in Egypt and has significant implications for climate policymaking.
• It takes a critical look at the relationship between economic inequality and climate crisis.
• The idea is that since billionaires hold significant wealth and stakes in globally recognised corporations, they hold the power to influence the ways in which those corporations behave.
• As people from low and middle-income backgrounds do not exercise much control over their energy choices, the report says it is imperative for world leaders to ensure that “those who emit the most carbon also do the most to reduce those emissions”.
• The report suggests that a wealth tax on the richest could aid the urgent climate finance needs of developing countries and “raise hundreds of billions of dollars to help and protect those already suffering the impacts of catastrophic climate change”.

Hence both statements are correct.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference 2022 — COP27 — opened recently in Sharm el-Sheikh with the aim of ensuring full implementation of the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015. 

• Sharm el-Sheikh, often called just Sharm, is a resort town in Egypt, situated at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula where the Gulf of Aqaba joins the Red Sea.
• It is a major tourist centre in Egypt, and also, like Cancun in Mexico, a preferred venue for international conferences.

Selection of COP host

• The venue for the COP meeting rotates among the five UN-identified regions:
  • Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America and Caribbean, and Western Europe and Others.
• The countries in the region propose a candidate, and a host is usually decided at least two years in advance.
• If no country agrees to be the host, Bonn, where the UNFCCC secretariat is headquartered, steps in as host.
• The rotation cycle has not been followed very strictly.
• The first and second COPs were held in western Europe (Berlin and Geneva), and so were the fifth and sixth (Bonn and the Hague).
• After the 2012 COP in Doha, the event has not yet returned to Asia.
• Countries are sometimes not enthusiastic to host the event. This is mainly due to two reasons.
  • One, the host city incurs huge expenditure on the event, not all of which is reimbursed.
  • There are many thousands of participants, a large number of high-profile visits by international dignitaries, and frequent disruptions by protesters who come from all over the world — all of which stretch the city’s resources and are sometimes more trouble than they are worth.
  • Two, the host country, which presides over the conference, is expected to demonstrate leadership in taking steps to combat climate change.
  • This is the reason why countries like the US, China, or Russia, or even Japan, Australia, or Canada, are not keen to host COP.
  • Japan hosted the 1997 event that produced the Kyoto Protocol, but it was also the first country to walk out of it in 2011.
  • Australia, which too withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol, has never hosted the conference.
• India, the third largest emitter, hosted the 2002 COP in New Delhi, much before climate change became a big thing.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.