Daily Current Affairs MCQ- February 25, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the Kamioka Liquid Scintillator Antineutrino Detector (KamLAND) experiment in Japan has found no evidence that neutrinos are their antiparticles.

• Neutrinos are mysterious particles, produced copiously in nuclear reactions in the Sun, stars, and elsewhere.
• They also "oscillate"-- meaning that different types of neutrinos change into one another.
• A neutrino is a fermion that interacts only via weak interaction and gravity.
• Probing oscillations of neutrinos and their relations with mass is crucial in studying the origin of the universe.
• Neutrinos are created by various radioactive decay; during a supernova, by cosmic rays striking atoms etc.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, four police personnel from Red Hills including a sub-inspector were suspended after an inquiry report found that they had let off a group of men who had smuggled into the city two orangutans.

• These are exclusively arboreal which means they live among the trees of tropical rainforests.
• According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), there are three species of orangutans: Bornean, Sumatran and Tapanuli.
• They feast on wild fruits like lychees, and figs, and slurp water from holes in trees.
• Orangutans can live up to 50 years, but they have a relatively low reproductive rate because females only give birth once every 5-10 years.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Critically Endangered

Hence both statements are not correct.

Recently, the Madhya Pradesh state government approached the supreme court seeking a stay on an Eastern River Canal Project execution.

• It is one of the tributaries of the Yamuna River and the most pollution-free river in India.
• It originates at the Singar Chouri peak on the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains.
• On its south, east and west, the basin is bounded by the Vindhyan mountain ranges and on the northwest by the Aravallis.
• The Hadauti plateau in Rajasthan occurs in the upper catchment of the Chambal River to the southeast of the Mewar Plains.
• Tributaries: Banas, Kali Sindh, Sipra, Parbati, etc.
• Major Dams on the River: Gandhi Sagar Dam, Rana Pratap Sagar Dam, Jawahar Sagar Dam.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, Union Home Minister addressed the 'Kol Janjati Mahakumbh' organized on the occasion of Shabri Mata Janm Jayanti at Satna, Madhya Pradesh.

• The Kol tribes belonged to the Proto-Australoid ethnic stratum.
• They consider themselves to be the descendants of Sahara Mata, a member of the Savaras of epic fame; she is known as the "mother of the Kol." 
• They are concentrated in the northern districts of Madhya Pradesh and Small Kol populations are also found in Orissa and Maharashtra.
• The Kol speak local dialects of Hindi and use the Devanagari script for writing.
• They celebrate the Jawara festival which appears to be an ancient Kol agricultural festival that later acquired some Hindu characteristics.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be operating the Baba Saheb Ambedkar Yatra tour package under the “Dekho Apna Desh” initiative.

• Nodal Ministry: The Ministry of Tourism .
• The scheme aims to promote tourism and encourage people to explore the rich cultural heritage and diversity of India.
• The scheme is intended to offer financial help to tourists travelling to different parts of India.
• The government has set aside a substantial budget for the implementation of this scheme, which will be used to promote travel and build out tourist infrastructure around the nation.
• Objectives: The scheme aims to increase domestic tourism in India and under this plan, around 50 destinations in the country will be developed and promoted to attract tourists.

Hence both statements are correct.

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently suspended Russia’s membership.

About Financial Action Task Force (FATF):

• FATF is an inter-governmental policy-making and standard-setting body dedicated to combating money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Objective: To establish international standards, and to develop and promote policies, both at national and international levels, to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
• It was established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris to develop policies against money laundering.
• In 2001 its mandate expanded to include terrorism financing.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• FATF members include 39 countries, including the United States, India, China, Saudi Arabia, Britain, Germany, France, and the EU as such.
• India became a member of FATF in 2010.
• What are FATF 'grey list' and 'blacklist'? FATF has 2 types of lists:
• Black List: Countries knowns as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs) are put on the blacklist. These countries support terror funding and money laundering activities. The FATF revises the blacklist regularly, adding or deleting entries.
• Grey List: Countries that are considered a safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering are put on the FATF grey list. This inclusion serves as a warning to the country that it may enter the blacklist.
• Three countries North Korea, Iran, and Myanmar are currently in FATF’s blacklist.

Hence both statements are not correct.

NSE Indices Ltd, a subsidiary of National Stock Exchange (NSE), recently launched the country's first-ever municipal bond index.

About Nifty India Municipal bond index :

• It is India’s first-ever municipal bond index.
• It was launched by NSE Indices Ltd, the subsidiary of India’s National Stock Exchange (NSE).
• The index tracks the performance of municipal bonds issued by Indian municipal corporations across maturities and has investment-grade credit ratings.
• The index includes municipal bonds issued as per the Securities Exchange Board of India Issue and Listing of Municipal Debt Securities Regulations, 2015.
• Presently, the index has 28 municipal bonds issued by 10 issuers, all having credit ratings in the AA category.
• The index constituents are assigned weights based on their outstanding amount.
• The index is computed using the total return methodology, including price and coupon returns.
• The index has a base date of January 01, 2021, and a base value of 1000.
• The index will be reviewed quarterly.
• It will act as a benchmark for passive funds, providing more investment choices to fixed-income investors and creating an impetus for asset managers to consider investing in such bonds

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Prime Minister recently gifted Meghalaya Stole and Nagaland Shawl to the German Chancellor, who is on a two-day visit to India.

About Nagaland shawls:

• These shawls are known for their vibrant colors, intricate designs, and the use of traditional weaving techniques, which have been passed down from generation to generation.
• One of the most striking features of the Naga shawl is the use of geometric and symbolic designs. 
• The designs are inspired by the tribe's myths, legends, and beliefs, with designs having specific meanings and significance.
• The Naga shawl is made from locally sourced materials such as cotton, silk, and wool. 
• The colors used in these shawls are symbolic. E.g., Red color symbolizes courage, while black represents mourning.
• The colors use natural dyes made from plants and roots.
• The shawls are often worn during festivals, ceremonies, and other special occasions as symbols of rank and lineage. They are also used as blankets, seat coverings, and even as bags.
• The shawls are known for their durability and can last for several generations.

Hence both statements are correct.

India recently asked the IMF and Financial Stability Board (FSB) to jointly prepare a technical paper on crypto assets.

About Financial Stability Board (FSB):

• FSB is an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system.
• It was established in April 2009 after the G20 Summit in London as the successor to the Financial Stability Forum.
• Mandate:
• To coordinate at the international level the work of national financial authorities and international standard-setting bodies and to develop and promote the implementation of effective regulatory, supervisory, and other financial sector policies.
• The FSB, working through its members, seeks to strengthen financial systems and increase the stability of international financial markets. 
• Headquarters: Basel, Switzerland.
• The board includes all G20 major economies.
• The FSB consists of 68 member institutions. It comprises several central banks, ministries of finance, and supervisory and regulatory authorities from 25 jurisdictions, as well as 10 international organizations and six Regional Consultative Groups (RCGs).
• Framework:
• The Plenary, which serves as the sole decision-making body.
• The Steering Committee, which takes forward operational work in between Plenary meetings.
• Three Standing Committees, each with specific but complementary responsibilities.
• The FSB’s decisions are not legally binding on its members.
• India and FSB: India is an active Member of the FSB, having three seats in its Plenary represented by Secretary (Dept of Economic Affairs), Deputy Governor-RBI, and Chairman-SEBI.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Seismologists at The Australian National University(ANU) recently documented the evidence of a distinct fifth layer of earth at the centremost part of Earth— the “innermost inner core”.

About Earth’s innermost inner core (IMIC):

• It is a 400-mile-wide (644-kilometer-wide) ball of metal.
• IMIC exists in a solid state as an alloy of iron and nickel because of the extreme pressure at the center of the Earth.
• Its temperature is estimated to be about 5,500-6,000 degrees (Celsius/9,930-10,830 Fahrenheit), similar to the sun's surface temperature.
• It has a distinct anisotropy, which is a property of a substance that allows it to take on different characteristics depending on the angle from which it’s approached.
• The concept of the innermost part of the inner core was first proposed in 2002 by seismologists from Harvard University— Miaki Ishii and Adam Dziewonski.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.