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

Recently, the Union Ministry of Education released report on Performance Grading Index 2.0 for States/UTs for the year 2021-22.

• It was first released for the year 2017-18 and so far it has been released up to the year 2020-21.
• It assesses the performance of school education system at the State/UT level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis.
• Aim of PGI 2.0: To propel States & UTs towards undertaking multi-pronged interventions that will bring about the much-desired optimal education outcomes covering all dimensions.
• The PGI 2.0 structure comprises of 1000 points across 73 indicators grouped into 2 categories viz., Outcomes and Governance Management (GM).
• These categories are further divided into 6 domains, viz., Learning Outcomes (LO), Access (A), Infrastructure & Facilities (IF), Equity (E), Governance Process (GP) & Teachers Education and Training (TE&T).
• The Index for 2021-22 classified the States/UTs into ten grades viz., highest achievable Grade is Daksh, which is for State/UT scoring more than 940 points out of total of 1000 points. 
• The lowest grade is Akanshi-3 which is for score up to 460. 
• Indicators of PGI 2.0 have been aligned to policy initiatives and interventions introduced post implementation of National Education policy (NEP) 2020 for proper tracking the progress. 
• The PGI 2.0 is expected to help States and UTs to pinpoint the gaps and accordingly prioritize areas for intervention to ensure that the school education system is robust at every level.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in collaboration with Bayer launched a unique industry visit initiative under Atal Tinkering labs at Bayer’s manufacturing facility in Vapi, Gujarat.

• It is the Government of India’s flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in the country and was set up in 2016.
• Objective: To create and promote an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country at school, university, research institutions, MSME and industry levels.
• All the initiatives of AIM are currently monitored and managed systematically using real-time MIS systems and dynamic dashboards.
• Implementing Agency: NITI Aayog
• AIM has multiple programs to encourage and support innovation in the country.
• Some of the components of AIM: Atal Tinkering Labs, Atal Incubation Centres, Atal New India Challenge, Mentor of Change Program, Atal Community Innovation Center and Atal Research & Innovation for Small Enterprises (ARISE)

What are Atal Tinkering Labs?

• Atal Tinkering Labs: These are state-of-the-art space established in a school with a goal to foster curiosity and innovation in young minds, between grade 6th to 12th across the country through tools and technologies such as Internet of Things, 3D printing, rapid prototyping tools, robotics etc.

Hence both statements are correct.

With a view to augmenting the local fish wealth, the Forest department is launching a project to plant chosen varieties of trees by the lakeside at the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR).

About Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR):

• Location: It is located in the Western Ghats of Kerala.
• It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978.
• It gets its name from the River Periyar which has its origin deep inside the reserve.
• Two main rivers, Pamba and Periyar drain the reserve.
• It is home to many tribal communities including the Mannans and the Palians.
• Terrain: Hilly and undulating with a maximum altitude of 2016 m.
• Vegetation: It consists of tropical evergreen, semi- evergreen and moist deciduous.
• Flora:
• There are more than 171 species of grasses.
• Important flora includes teak, mangoes, rosewood, jamun, jacarandas, terminalias, tamarind, royal ponciana, bamboo etc.
• Fauna:
• Includes Elephants, Wild Pigs, Sambar, Gaur, Mouse Deer, Dole or Barking Deer, Indian Wild Dog and Tiger.
• The major four species of primates are also found at Periyar - the rare lion-tailed macaque, the Nilgiri Langur, Gee's Golden Langur, Common Langur and Bonnet Macaque.
• It Is also being considered as the habitat of the elusive Nilgiri Tahr.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India recently joined the Champions Group of the Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG).

About Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG):

• The GCRG was set up by the UN Secretary-General in March 2022.
• Purpose: The 32-member Group ensures high-level political leadership to get ahead of the immense inter-connected challenges of food security, energy, and financing and implement a coordinated global response to the ongoing crises.
• It is overseen by the Champions Group comprising representatives of Bangladesh, Barbados, Denmark, Germany, Indonesia, and Senegal.
• The UN Deputy-Secretary-General leads the Steering Committee of the GCRG.

GCRG Task Team:

• Within the Group, three work streams on Food, Energy and Finance will collate data and generate analysis, policy recommendations and solutions to support decision-making and advocacy for consideration of the Steering Committee.
• These workstreams will remain flexible and responsive to opportunities that seek to resolve immediate crises and the vulnerabilities of people and countries.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Northern Railways recently said that around 95% work on the Katra-Banihal section of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project has been completed.

About Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) Project:

• The USBRL Project involves the construction of a railway line from Udhampur to Baramulla joining the Kashmir valley with the Indian Railways network.
• Aim: To connect Kashmir to the rest of the country and give a push to development in the Valley.
• Total Length:272 km
• The Project was declared as a “National Project” in 2002.
• The alignment of USBRL involves construction of a large number of Tunnels and Bridges in highly rugged and mountainous terrain with most difficult and complex Himalayan geology.
• This Project involves 38 Tunnels (combined length of 119 Km), the longest Tunnel (T-49) having a length of 12.75 Km and is the country's longest transportation tunnel.
• There are 927 nos. of Bridges (combined length of 13 Km). These bridges include the iconic Chenab Bridge (Overall length 1315 m, Arch span of 467 m and height of 359 m above Chenab river bed) which will be the highest railway bridge in the world.
• Indian railway's first cable-stayed bridge is also being constructed on Anji Khad.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

A 15-year-old boy in Kerala recently died due to a rare infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, or “brain-eating amoeba”.

About Naegleria fowleri:

• It is an amoeba (single-celled living organism) that lives in soil and warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs.
• It is commonly called the “brain-eating amoeba”.
• Naegleria fowleri is a heat-loving (thermophilic) organism, meaning it thrives in heat and likes warm water. It grows best at high temperatures up to 115°F (46°C) and can survive for short periods at even higher temperatures.
• How does it infect people?
• It infects people when water containing the amoeba enters the body through the nose.
• This typically happens when people go swimming, diving or when they put their heads under fresh water, like in lakes and rivers.
• The amoeba then travels up the nose to the brain, where it destroys the brain tissue and causes a devastating infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM).
• PAM is a very serious infection of the central nervous system that’s almost always fatal. The fatality rate is higher than 97% even with treatment.
• Cause of death:The infection destroys brain tissue, causing brain swelling and death.
• Naegleria fowleri infections may also happen when people use contaminated tap water to cleanse their noses during religious practices or rinse their sinuses (sending water up the nose).
• There is no evidence that Naegleria fowleri can spread through water vapor or aerosol droplets (such as shower mist or vapor from a humidifier).
• People cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water.
• Naegleria fowleri infection does not spread from person to person, nor does it manifest symptoms when contracted in other forms.
• Treatment:
• The US-based Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends treatment with a combination of drugs, often including amphotericin B, azithromycin, fluconazole, rifampin, miltefosine, and dexamethasone.
• These drugs have been used to treat patients who survived.

Hence both statements are correct

Recently, the Indian grey hornbill (Ocyceros birostris) was sighted by a bird enthusiast from the Nature and Wildlife Forums in Koodapakkam, near the Sankarabarani river in Puducherry.

• It is a common hornbill found on the Indian subcontinent.
• It is commonly sighted in pairs.
• These birds are known to be arboreal, i.e. spend most of their time on tall trees, but may descend for food and to collect mud pellets for nesting. 
• Appearance:
• It has grey feathers all over the body with a light grey or dull white belly.
• The horn is black or dark grey with a casque extending to the point of curvature of the horn.
• Unlike a lot of other birds, the male and female look similar
• It is one of the few hornbill species found in urban areas in many cities where they are able to make use of large trees in avenues.
• They play an essential role in the ecosystem as prime dispersers of seeds.
• Distribution: Indian subcontinent; found from north-east Pakistan and south Nepal east to north-west Bangladesh and south throughout most of India except in Assam.
• Conservation status

IUCN: Least Concern

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the Sun emitted X-class solar flares which disrupted radio communications over parts of the United States and the Pacific Ocean.

• What is it? These are magnetic plasma ejected at great speed from the solar surface.
• They occur during the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots (‘dark’ regions on the Sun that are cooler than the surrounding photosphere), and can last for a few minutes or hours.
• These flares can be divided into various categories based on their brightness in X-ray wavelengths
• There are five different classes of solar flares: A, B, C, M, and X.
• Each class is at least ten times more potent than the one before it.
• X-class flares are large and M-class are medium-sized flares typically result in brief radio blackouts that affect the Earth’s Polar Regions.
• C-class flares are slight and have little effect on the Earth.

Impact of Solar Flares on Earth

• The energy particles released by solar flares into space impact the ionosphere and radio communications at the Earth.
• They can even affect power grids and navigation signals and endanger astronauts and spacecraft.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Goods and Services Tax Network (GSTN) made the geocoding functionality live for all states and union territories.

About Geocoding:

• It converts an address or description of a location into geographic coordinates.
• It has been introduced to ensure the accuracy of address details in GSTN records and streamline the address location and verification process.
• GST Network has already geocoded 1.8 crore principal places of businesses.
• The functionality is available for normal, composition, SEZ units, SEZ developers, input service distributor and casual taxpayers who are active, cancelled, and suspended.
• This is a one-time activity and once submitted, revision in the address is not allowed.
• The functionality will not be visible to the taxpayers who have already geocoded their address through new registration or core amendment.

Key Facts about Goods and Services Tax Network

• It is a nonprofit non-government company registered under Section 8 of the Companies act, 2013. 
• It will provide shared IT infrastructure and service to both central and state governments including tax payers and other stakeholders.
• The private players hold 51% equity in the GSTN and the Centre and State governments together holds 49% equity in GSTN.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

More than 500 academics and intellectuals from across the world recently written to foreign ministers of the SAARC countries, and to its Secretary-General, over the recent suspension of four faculty members at the SAARC-administered South Asian University (SAU).

About South Asian University (SAU):

• SAU is an intergovernmental university funded by the governments of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.
• The University is currently functioning from Akbar Bhawan Campus in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi.
• It falls under the purview of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Its degrees are accredited in and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and its equivalents in all the eight SAARC countries.
• The university offers graduate and doctoral level courses.

What is SAARC?

• SAARC is an economic and political regional organisation of countries in South Asia set up in 1985.
• It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in its member states through increased intra-regional cooperation.
• The Secretariat of the Association was set up in Kathmandu, Nepal, on 17 January 1987.
• SAARC has eight member countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka).

Hence option d is the answer.