Daily Current Affairs MCQ- February 20, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Scientists recently detected water molecules on the surface of two asteroids for the first time ever, using the data from NASA's now-retired SOFIA airborne observatory.

About SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy):

• SOFIA was a telescope mounted on a Boeing 747 SP aircraft that studied infrared light, essentially heat, emitted by objects in the universe. 
• SOFIA is operated jointly by NASA and the German space agency.
• It is the world's largest airborne astronomical observatory, complementing NASA’s space telescopes as well as major Earth-based telescopes.
• The observatory, fitted with a 8.9-foot-wide (2.7 meter) telescope with a nearly 20-ton mirror, used a door in the side of the aircraft to peer at the sky. 
• Flying into the stratosphere at 38,000-45,000 feet put SOFIA above 99 percent of Earth’s infrared-blocking atmosphere, allowing astronomers to study the solar system and beyond in ways that are not possible with ground-based telescopes. 
• SOFIA could observe the universe in the widest range of infrared light.
• The airplane is capable of ten-hour flights, with flight paths chosen to keep ahead of the sunrise and maximize the amount of darkness.
• The observatory’s mobility allowed researchers to observe from almost anywhere in the world, and enabled studies of transient events that often take place over oceans, where there are no telescopes. 
• For example, astronomers on SOFIA studied eclipse-like events of Pluto, Saturn’s moon Titan, and Kuiper Belt Object MU69, the next flyby target for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft, to study the objects’ atmospheres and surroundings.
• The SOFIA project was prematurely ended in 2022 after operating for 12 years. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

At least 100 people living in miserable conditions within Kosi River embankments walked 250 kilometres in 12 days to reach Patna to press for their long-standing demand for rehabilitation.

About Kosi River:

• It is a transboundary river which flows through China, Nepal, and India.
• It is a prominent tributary of the Ganges.
• Origin: The river Kosi is formed by the confluence of three streams, namely the Sun Kosi, the Arun Kosi, and the Tamur Kosi, all of which have their origin in the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. 
• Course:
• About 30 miles (48 km) north of the Indian-Nepalese frontier, the Kosi is joined by several major tributaries and breaks southward through the Siwalik Hills at the narrow Chatra Gorge. 
• The river then emerges on the great plain of northern India in Bihar state on its way to the Ganges River, which it enters south of Purnea after a course of about 450 miles (724 km). 
• The Kosi drains an area of 74,500 sq.km, of which only 11,070 sq.km lie within Indian Territory. 
• The Kosi River valley is bounded by steep margins that disconnect it from the Yarlung Zangbo River to the north, the Mahananda River to the east, the Gandaki to the west, and the Ganga to the south.
• It is well known for its tendency to change course generally in westward direction. During the last 200 years, the river has shifted westwards for a distance of about 112 km and has laid waste large tracks of agricultural land.
• Kosi is known as the "sorrow of Bihar", as it has caused widespread human suffering in the past due to flooding and very frequent changes in course, when it flows from Nepal to Bihar.
• Tributaries: It has seven major tributaries: Sun Koshi, Tama Koshi or Tamba Koshi, Dudh Koshi, Indravati, Likhu, Arun, and Tamore or Tamar.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

What are Amphipods?

• Amphipod are any member of the invertebrate order Amphipoda (class Crustacea) inhabiting all parts of the sea, lakes, rivers, sand beaches, caves, and moist (warm) habitats on many tropical islands.
• Amphipods are a significant group in the marine ecosystem and play a vital role in the marine food chain.
• They range in size from a millimetre in length to the supergiant amphipod Alicella gigantea at 340 mm. 
• They can be found in all marine habitats (even the deepest ocean trenches, e.g., Hirondellea dubia), and have also colonised freshwater and terrestrial habitats.
• The generic diversity of amphipods is apparently higher in cool waters than in warm ones.
• They are important food for many fish, invertebrates, penguins, shore birds, small cetaceans, and pinnipeds.
• Most amphipods are active swimmers, propelled by three pairs of abdominal appendages. 
• They also serve as indicators for studying the impact of climate change and health of coastal ecosystems.

About New crustacean Species found in Orissa:

• It is a new species of marine amphipod-a shrimp-like crustacea of genus Parhyale.
• This genus is represented by 15 species globally, occupying both marine and brackish water environments.
• Features:
• It is brown in colour and around eight mm in length.
• It has 13 pairs of legs. The first pair of legs is used for capturing prey and feeding.
• It differs from all other 15 species by having a stout robust seta -a spine-like structure on the surface of the propodus of the male gnathopod (first pair of legs).

Hence option b is the correct answer.

About PM SVANidhi Scheme:

• The PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) was launched on June 01, 2020 for providing affordable Working Capital loans to street vendors to resume their livelihoods that have been adversely affected due to Covid-19 lockdown.
• Time duration: Initially It was until March 2022. After that it has been extended till December 2024.
• Eligibility: The Scheme is available for beneficiaries belonging to only those States/UTs which have notified Rules and Scheme under Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014.
• Benefits: A micro credit scheme, facilitating a working capital collateral free loan of Rs. 10,000, with subsequent loans of Rs. 20,000 and 50,000 with 7% interest subsidy.
• Implementation agency: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).
• Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

Under PM SVANidhi, significant achievements have already been made.

• Till now, the scheme has extended more than 80.42 lakh loans to 60.94 lakh street vendors amounting to 10678 Crore rupees.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

Recently, an exhibition by the Inherited Arts Forum, traces the artistic journey of the celebrated Mashe family and their effort in reviving the Warli painting.

• It is a style of tribal art created by the tribal people from the North Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra.
• This art form can be traced back to 10th century AD but was first discovered and appreciated for its distinctive style only in the early 1970s.
• It was traditionally practised by women of the Warli tribe called Suvasinis, who decorated the Lagn Chowk or the wedding square.
• Theme:
• Warli represents the daily routine of rural life, the relationship of the tribal people with nature, their gods, myths, traditions, customs, and festivities. 
• These rudimentary wall paintings use a set of basic geometric shapes: a circle, a triangle, and a square.
• The central motif in each ritual painting is the square, known as the "chauk" or "chaukat", mostly of two types known as Devchauk and Lagnachauk.
• One of the central aspects depicted in many Warli paintings is the tarpa dance. The tarpa, a trumpet-like instrument, is played in turns by different village men. Men and women entwine their hands and move in a circle around the tarpa player. 
• Painting technique and materials
• First design is selected.
• Without tracing design, it is directly drawn on paper or cloth.
• Cleverly modified bamboo sticks are used as paint brushes to create the paintings.
• The colours and materials used for the paintings are derived from nature like brown and orange from henna, indigo from dye, red from bricks and white from thick rice paste.

Hence both statements are correct.

Thousands of sardine fish have been surfacing near a beach in Goa for the past few days and experts said it’s a “rare” phenomenon known as ‘sardine run’.

• Shoals of the marine species are fluttering in shallow waters along the coast at Keri-Terekhol, about 40 km from Panaji.
• Reason: This marine event is “very rare” and it usually happens due to sudden changes in the temperature of sea surface water where sardines live.
• A drop or rise in sea surface temperature can induce migration of sardines in higher numbers and sometimes they get trapped in shallow waters 

Key facts about Sardine fish

• It belongs to the herring family, Clupeidae.
• The name sardine can also refer to the common herring (Clupea harengus) and to other small herrings or herringlike fishes when canned in oil.
• Habitat: They are found in saltwater oceans, seas, and other bodies of water throughout the world. 
• Distribution: Found all over the world from the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to the Mediterranean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the waters around South America.
• These are small, silvery, elongated fishes with a single short dorsal fin, no lateral line, and no scales on the head.
• They migrate along the coast and feeding on plankton.
• It is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the fresh image of a Royal Bengal Tiger, taken via trap cameras at the Neora Valley National Park in the hills of West Bengal, has confirmed the presence of the big cats at an altitude of 10,509 feet above sea level.

• It is located in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal.
• It is one of the richest biological zones in the entire Northeast.
• Boundaries
• It is contiguous with Sikkim and Bhutan at its northern and north-eastern boundaries respectively and links the Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim and the Toorsa Strict Reserve of Bhutan.
• The southern boundaries of the Park are adjoining to the forests of Jalpaiguri district which have connectivity with the Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gorumara National Park.
• The highest point of the park is Rachela Pass.
• It consists of the characteristics of all the three sub-regions, namely Himalayan Montane System, Indian Peninsular Sub-region and the Malayan sub-region.
• Four habitat types are recognised viz. Subtropical Mixed Broadleaf Forest, Lower Temperate Evergreen Forest,Upper Temperate Mixed Broadleaf Forest and Rhododendron Forest.
• Vegetation: Dry Mixed Forest, Wet Mixed Forest, Lauraceous Forest, Bak-Oak Forest, High level oak Forest, Coniferous Forest and Himalayas Moist Temperate Forest.
• Flora: The forest consists of mixed species like rhododendron, bamboo, oak, ferns, sal etc.
• Fauna: Red Panda, Himalayan Tahr, Himalayan Black Bear, Sambar, Barking Deer, Serow, Goral, Dhole and Gaur etc.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Recently, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change launched the National Transit Pass System (NTPS) pan-India.

• It is to facilitate the seamless transit of timber, bamboo, and other forest produce across the country.
• Currently, the transit permits are issued for transport of timber and forest produce based on state specific transit rules.
• The NTPS is envisioned as a "One Nation-One Pass" regime, which will enable seamless transit across the country.
• This initiative will streamline the issuance of timber transit permits by providing a unified, online mode for tree growers and farmers involved in agroforestry across the country, contributing to the ease of doing business.
• It offers seamless transit permits, managing records for both inter-state and intra-state transportation of timber, bamboo and other forest produce obtained from various sources like private lands, government owned forest and private depots.
• The QR coded transit permits generated under NTPS will allow check gates across various states to verify the validity of the permits and allow seamless transit.
• It is designed for user convenience, featuring desktop and mobile applications for easy registration and permit applications.
• Transit permits will be issued for tree species which are regulated, while the users can self-generate No Objection Certificates for exempted species.
• Presently, 25 States and Union Territories have embraced the unified permit system, streamlining interstate business operations for producers, farmers, and transporters.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Hence both statements are correct.

The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project, which is expected to be inaugurated early next year, has seen a cost escalation of Rs 2,192 crore or 14.9 per cent, according to information obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query recently.

About Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) Project:

• MTHL is a 21.8-kilometer, Road Bridge connecting the Indian city of Mumbai with Navi Mumbai, its satellite city.
• It is the longest sea bridge in India. The total length of MTHL Bridge is 21.8 km, of the length on the sea is 16.50 km and the land portion is 5.5 km.
• The bridge begins in Sewri, South Mumbai, and crosses Thane Creek north of Elephant Island, and will terminate at Chirle village, near Nhava Sheva.
• The foundation stone for the MTHL project was laid in December 2016.
• 85% of the MTHL project’s construction is being financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
• The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) manages the MTHL construction.
• Project Benefits:
• The MTHL Bridge gives faster connectivity with the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport, JNPT Port, Mumbai–Pune Expressway, and Mumbai–Goa Highway.
• On the Mumbai side, connectivity with the coastal road is planned through the Sewri Worli Elevated Connector project.
• Features:
• This concrete bridge will feature a 4 km steel span section in the middle to allow for ships to pass underneath.
• It also incorporates seven orthotropic steel deck (OSD) spans, ranging from 90m to 180m, a first-of-its-kind application in India.
• MTHL will feature an intelligence transport system (ITS) and the other amenities required for a marine bridge.
• The traffic conditions on the stretch will be monitored and managed from the traffic control centre with the help of CCTV cameras and related facilities installed on the stretch. 

Hence both statements are correct.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formed a three-member ad hoc committee to run the day-to-day affairs of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) recently. 

About Indian Olympic Association (IOA):

• The IOA is the governing body for the Olympic Movement and the Commonwealth Games in India.
• As an affiliated member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), and Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), the IOA administers various aspects of sports governance and athletes’ welfare in the country.
• IOA oversees the representation of athletes or teams participating in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and other international multi-sport competitions of the IOC, CGF, OCA, and ANOC.
• Beyond participation in the Games, the IOA has also established various initiatives with different stakeholders for the development of sports education and Olympic studies.
• IOA is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
• Foundation:
• It was established in 1927 with Sir Dorabji Tata and Dr. A.G. Noehren as the Founding President and Secretary General, respectively.
• It is registered as a Non-Profit Organisation under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. 
• Members:
• The members of the IOA include National Sports Federations (NSFs), State Olympic Associations, IOC Members, and other select multi-sport organisations.
• In accordance with the Olympic Charter, the membership NSFs mostly include NSFs that govern sports featured in the sports programme of the Summer Olympic Games, Winter Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
• Governance:
• It is currently governed by a 32-member Executive Council, headed by the President.
• The election for the Executive Council is held once in every four years.
• The working of the Executive Council is also assisted by different Standing Committees of the IOA that are constituted with experts in the subject-field to help in various aspects of governance. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.