Daily Current Affairs MCQ- February 10, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

New research led by the Imperial College of London has found an intelligent knife (iKnife), which can be used to diagnose womb cancer within minutes.

Why in news?

• According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, womb or endometrial cancer is the 6th most commonly occurring cancer among people with uteruses.

How it works:

• The knife uses electric currents on biopsy tissue and then analyses the vapourised aerosols from the tissue in a mass spectrometer to give real-time information about activity in the tissue.
• The study noted that the knife reliably diagnosed endometrial cancer in tissue within seconds with an accuracy of 89%. This would greatly minimise the delays faced by patients who wait for a normal histopathological diagnosis.

Hence both statements are correct.

A recent detailed assessment of the survey conducted in the northern parts of Alappuzha, as part of the Asian Waterbird Census 2023 revealed that a shift in migration patterns of water birds appears to be taking place.

• In the recent survey, it is revealed that Duck species sighted in previous surveys were missing this time.
• The most shocking aspect was that duck species like Northern Shoveler, Common teal and Eurasian wigeon, sighted in the previous surveys, were missing this time around.

Key facts about the main birds which were sighted during the census

• Oriental darter
• It is mainly found in freshwater rivers and ponds.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Near Threat
• Cattle egret
  • Conservation status
  • IUCN: Least Concern
• Spot-billed Pelican
  • It breeds in southern Asia from southern Iran across India east to Indonesia.
  • Conservation status
  • IUCN: Near Threatened
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule IV

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare recently said that India is committed to eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027 in the National Symposium on India’s Roadmap to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

• The Lymphatic filariasis disease commonly known as elephantiasis is a neglected tropical disease. Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.
• This impairs the lymphatic system and can lead to the abnormal enlargement of body parts, causing pain, severe disability and social stigma. 
• It is caused by infection with parasites classified as nematodes (roundworms) of the family Filariodidea. There are 3 types of these thread-like filarial worms:
  • Wuchereria bancrofti, which is responsible for 90% of the cases.
  • Brugia malayi, which causes most of the remainder of the cases.
  • Brugia timori, which also causes the disease.

Global Initiatives to eradicate Lymphatic Filariasis

• WHO’s road map 2021−2030: sets global targets and milestones to prevent, control, eliminate or eradicate 20 diseases
• Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF): WHO established this to stop the transmission of infection by mass drug administration (MDA) of anthelmintics and to alleviate the suffering of people affected by the disease through morbidity management and disability prevention (MMDP).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Astronomers have recently detected in the stellar halo that represents the Milky Way's outer limits a group of stars more distant from Earth than any known within our own galaxy - almost halfway to a neighboring galaxy. What is a Galactic halo?

• Galactic halo is a nearly spherical volume of thinly scattered stars, globular clusters of stars, and tenuous gas observed surrounding spiral galaxies, including the Milky Way.
• Galactic halo is dominated by invisible dark matter, whose presence is only measurable through the gravity that it exerts.
• Only about 1% of a galaxy’s stellar mass resides in its halo, and due to this low luminosity, the observation of halos in other galaxies is extremely difficult.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

By studying juniper timbers, researchers from Cornell University & Cyprus Institute found that series of droughts may have precipitated Hittite empire's collapse.

About Hittites:

• Hittites, were members of an ancient Indo-European people who appeared in Anatolia (also known as Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey )at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BCE.
• The Hittite language was a member of the Anatolian branch of the Indo-European language family.
• The Hittite economy was based on agriculture, with the main crops being emmer wheat and barley.
• Although their civilization thrived during the Bronze Age, the Hittites were the forerunners of the Iron Age and were manufacturing iron artifacts from as early as the 14th century BCE.
• The Hittites were famous for their skill in building and using chariots.

Hittite empire:

• Between 1400 and 1200 B.C.E. the Hittites established one of the great empires of the ancient Middle East.
• The Hittite empire, with its capital at Bogazköy (also called as Hattusas), was the chief power and cultural force in Western Asia from 1400 to 1200 BC.
• The head of the Hittite state was the king, but other officials exercised independent authority over various branches of the government.
• After c. 1180 BCE, the empire came to an end during the Bronze Age collapse and splintered into several independent “Neo-Hittite” city-states, some of which survived until the 8th century BCE.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM) being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is set to be tested again with some changes suggested by the Army.

About Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile (QRSAM):

• QRSAM is a Short Range Surface to Air Missile system designed to protect moving armoured columns from aerial attacks.
• It was designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). 
• The entire weapon system is configured on highly mobile platforms and is capable of providing air defence on the move. 
• Range: 30 km
• It is propelled by Single Stage Solid Rocket Motor.
• It can engage 6 targets simultaneously. 

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested the throttling of Vikas, its workhorse launch-vehicle engine.

About Vikas Engine:

• VIKAS (an acronym for Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai) engine is a family of liquid-fuelled rocket engines conceptualized and designed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre of ISRO in the 1970s.
• The early productions involved imported French components, which were later replaced by domestically produced equivalents.
• These engines are deployed for ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) series of expendable launch vehicles for space launch use. 
• The fuel load of the Vikas engine is 40 tonnes for the PSLV, GSLV Mark I and II, and 55 tonnes for the GSLV Mark III.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has proposed a review of corporate governance norms for a high-value debt-listed entity.

• An entity which has listed its non-convertible debt securities on a recognised stock exchange and has an outstanding principal value of listed non-convertible debt securities of Rs. 500 Crore and above will be categorized as a ‘High-value debt listed entity’
• 'Non-Convertible Debentures (securities) are long-term financial instruments which acknowledge a debt obligation towards the issuer.
• The debentures which can't be converted into shares or equities are called non-convertible debentures (or NCDs).
• To compensate for this drawback of non-convertibility, lenders are usually given a higher rate of return compared to convertible debentures.
• In India, usually, these have to be issued with a minimum maturity of 90 days.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Supreme Court recently banned all construction activities in the core areas of tiger reserves national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

• It is located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand. This reserve encompasses the Patli Dun valley.
• The Ramganga, Sonanadi, Palain and Mandal, and Kosi rivers form the prominent hydrological resource for the Corbett.
• The core area of the reserve contains the Corbett National Park and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary is part of its buffer area.
• Flora: The trees which contribute to the Flora of Corbett consist of evergreen Sal and its combined trees, the Sheesham, and the Kanju found extensively on the ridges.
• Fauna: Tiger, Leopard, Elephant, Hog deer, spotted deer, Samber etc.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, eight projects under the National Industrial Corridor Development and Implementation Trust (NICDIT) have been sanctioned and approved by the Government of India.

• The NICDIT is the implementing agency of the National Industrial Corridor Programme.
• The Government of India is developing various Industrial Corridor Projects as part of the National Industrial Corridor Programme.
• The Industrial Corridors are envisaged to be implemented by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) in the form of a company set up under the Companies Act, 2013 as a joint venture between the central and the state governments.
• In 2016, the government approved the expansion of the scope of the existing DMIC-Project Implementation Trust Fund (PITF) and re-designated it as NICDIT.
• Nodal Ministry: Under the administrative control of the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Hence both statements are correct.