Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 7, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, Argentinian scientists have discovered a rather unusual frog named the Santa Fe frog.

• Scientific Name: Leptodactylus laticeps
• It is an extremely rare species found only in South American countries namely Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. 
• Threat: The frog is under threat as its habitat the Dry Chaco is cut down.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Near Threatened

Key Facts about Grana Chaco

• It is a lowland alluvial plain in interior south-central South America.
• It is bounded on the west by the Andes mountain ranges and on the east by the Paraguay and Paraná rivers.
• Physiography: It is a vast geosynclinal basin formed by subsidence (or downwarping) of the area between the Andean cordilleras on the west and the Brazilian Highlands on the east as it filled with alluvial debris from these two features.
• Climate: It is subject to climates that vary from tropical in the north to warm-temperate in the south.
• The Grana Chaco is a large expanse of forest and dusty plains straddling parts of Bolivia, Argentina, and Paraguay.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, secretary of Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances launched the third edition of the National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment (NeSDA) portal.

• NeSDA framework, launched in August 2018 was conceptualized with an overall objective to measure the depth and effectiveness of existing e-Governance service delivery mechanisms.
• The Department has successfully released 2 editions of NeSDA study, viz., NeSDA 2019 and NeSDA 2021.
• This framework is based on the Online Service Index (OSI) of UN eGovernment Survey.
• The framework covers six sectors, viz. Finance, Labour & Employment, Education, Local Government & Utilities, Social Welfare (including Agriculture & Health) and Environment (including Fire) sectors.
• Improvement in the country’s e-Governance landscape due to last 2 editions of NESDA study may be summarized in the following key take aways:
• Increase in e-Service Delivery
• Rise in use of Integrated / Centralized Portals for delivery of e-Services
• Improvement across assessment parameter scores
• The department undertakes NeSDA study biennially.
• This study assesses States, Union Territories (UTs), and focus Central Ministries on the effectiveness of e-Governance service delivery.
• NeSDA helps the respective governments improve their delivery of citizen centric services and shares best practices across the country for all States, UTs and Central Ministries to emulate.

Hence both statements are correct.

According to researchers from the Indian Institute of Science, the Indian Ocean harbors a colossal and enigmatic phenomenon known as the "Gravity Hole," may be the remnants of an ancient sea that vanished millions of years ago.

• The gravity hole is a region of the ocean where the effects of gravity are less than usual.
• It occurs at the bottom of the ocean where there are gravitational anomalies.
• Why it occurs? These anomalies are caused by variations in the gravitational pull of the Earth due to differences in the density of the materials that make up the Earth’s crust.
• The Indian Ocean is home to one of the most profound gravitational anomalies on Earth known as the Indian Ocean Geoid Low (IOGL).
• It was discovered in 1948 during a ship-based gravity survey by Dutch geophysicist Felix Andries Vening Meinesz.
• It is found in a large section of over three million sq. km in the Indian Ocean seafloor, located around 1,200 km southwest of India’s southern tip.
•  It is estimated to have formed approximately 20 million years ago.
• Researchers said that the IOGL comprises slabs from the Tethys Ocean, a long-lost sea that plunged into the depths of the planet millions of years ago. 
• The Tethys Ocean, which once separated the supercontinents of Gondwana and Laurasia is believed to have perturbed the African Large Low Shear Velocity province

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, in its upcoming meeting, is likely to discuss the scope of the budgetary support policy for the eligible manufacturing units operating in hilly areas, such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Northeast states.

What Exactly is the Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

• It is an indirect tax (not directly paid by customers to the government), that came into effect from 1 July 2017 through the implementation of the 101st Amendment to the Constitution of India by the Indian government.
• It has actually replaced various indirect taxes such as - service taxes, VAT, excise and others in the country.
• It is levied on the manufacturer or seller of goods and the providers of services.
• Types of GST: State Goods and Services Tax (SGST), Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST, on exports and imports).

What is the GST Council?

• Article 279A of the Indian Constitution gives power to the President of India to constitute a joint forum of the Centre and States called the GST Council, consisting of the -
• Union Finance Minister - Chairperson
• The Union Minister of State, in-charge of Revenue of finance - Member
• The Minister in-charge of finance or taxation or any other Minister nominated by each State Government - Members
• The GST Council is an apex committee to modify, reconcile or to make recommendations to the Union and the States on GST, like the goods and services that may be subjected or exempted from GST, model GST laws, etc.
• Decisions in the GST Council are taken by a majority of not less than three-fourth of weighted votes cast.
• Centre has one-third weightage of the total votes cast and all the states taken together have two-third of weightage of the total votes cast.
• All decisions taken by the GST Council have been arrived at through consensus.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) plans to raise capital through rights issue of equity shares as part of a government's plan to infuse capital into three state-owned fuel retailers to fund their net zero carbon emission projects.

• A rights issue is an invitation to existing shareholders to purchase additional new shares in the company.
• This type of issue gives existing shareholders securities called rights.
• With the rights, the shareholder can purchase new shares at a discount to the market price on a stated future date.
• The company is giving shareholders a chance to increase their exposure to the stock at a discount price.
• Until the date at which the new shares can be purchased, shareholders may trade the rights on the market the same way that they would trade ordinary shares.
• The rights issued to a shareholder have value, thus compensating current shareholders for the future dilution of their existing shares' value.
• Dilution occurs because a rights offering spreads a company’s net profit over a larger number of shares. Thus, the company’s earnings per share, or EPS, decreases as the allocated earnings result in share dilution.
• Why Issue a Rights Offering?
• Companies most commonly issue a rights offering to raise additional capital.
• A company may need extra capital to meet its current financial obligations.
• Troubled companies typically use rights issues to pay down debt, especially when they are unable to borrow more money.

Hence both statements are correct.

The European Union’s delegation in Israel Monday (May 8) cancelled its Europe Day diplomatic reception over the planned participation of far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, saying it “does not want to offer a platform to someone whose views contradict the values EU stands for”.

• Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or simply, Europe Day) is one of the most important days in the history of Europe.
• It was on May 8, 1945 (May 9 in Eastern Europe) that the surrender of the German armed forces was formally accepted, bringing an end to a war that had killed millions on battlefields, across bombarded cities and in brutal concentration camps.

End of the War in Europe

• World War II officially began in 1939, with Germany’s invasion of Poland drawing Britain into the War.
• While Germany enjoyed initial success, conquering much of Western Europe and making inroads in the East, the Luftwaffe’s failure in the Battle of Britain, Hitler’s doomed invasion of Soviet Russia, and the entry of the US into the conflict in 1941 would soon turn the tide.
• By 1945, Germany faced inevitable defeat.
• On the East, the Red Army marched towards Berlin with its enormous manpower and resource base.
• On the West, British, American and other allied troops hastened towards the German capital, after the successful D-Day landings on June 6, 1944.
• Germany’s biggest European ally Italy had collapsed and the Japanese were preparing for a lengthy campaign to defend their home islands, having lost most of the territory they had gained in the early years of the War.
• Thus, on April 30, 1945, as the Battle of Berlin raged on with both Soviets and Western Allies competing with each other to capture the city, German Fuhrer and Nazi Party supremo Adolf Hitler died by suicide.

Europe Day today:

• However, today, almost every European country marks V-E Day, in remembrance of a War which killed at least 40-50 million people in the continent (including the Soviet death toll). In some countries, Europe Day is a national holiday.
• People across Europe mark the day by flying national flags or white “peace” flags.
• In Russia and former Soviet countries, VE Day is marked with military parades and a display of the nation’s armed strength.
• In Germany, it is celebrated as a sombre occasion, a reminder of the path the country briefly took and a commemoration of the bravery and sacrifice of those within Germany who stood up to the Nazi regime.

Hence both statements are correct.

National e-Governance Division (NeGD), under its Capacity Building scheme, organised 36th CISO Deep-Dive training programme from 8th-12th May 2023 with 24 participants from Central Line Ministries and States/UTs at Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi.

• The five-day intensive training programme is designed for designated CISOs from Central and State/UT Governments, subordinate agencies/PSUs, including public sector banks and insurance companies, technical wings of police and security forces, CTOs and members of technical/PMU teams; also, officers responsible to observe security of IT systems in their respective organisations.
• The deep-dive training specifically aims at educating and enabling CISOs to understand cyber-attacks comprehensively and thoroughly, get necessary exposure in latest technologies of safeguard, and translate the benefits of a resilient e-infrastructure to individual organisations and citizens at large.
• The training also focuses on providing a holistic view of legal provisions, enabling CISOs to formulate policies in the domain of cyber security and build concrete cyber crisis management plans.
• Launched in 2018, the CISO training is the first-of-its-kind of partnership between the Government and industry consortium under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• Cyber Surakshit Bharat:
  • Cyber Surakshit Bharat is the initiative of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which was conceptualised with the mission to spread awareness about cyber-crime and build capacities of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and frontline IT officials, across all government departments, for ensuring adequate safety measures to combat the growing menace – Organisations need to defend their digital infrastructures and become future-ready in tackling cyber-attacks.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) will organise  the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM) in over 200 districts across the country on May 9, 2023.

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will be organising the Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela every month now on.
• It's objective is to connect the youth with more opportunities of on-ground training within corporates and further a chance to get employment.
• Individuals having a 5th-12th grade pass certificate, a skill training certificate, an ITI Diploma, or a graduate degree can apply for an interview across these trades/opportunities.
• The candidates will be given a choice of 500+ trades, including welders, electricians, housekeepers, beauticians, mechanics, and others.
• Candidates will also receive Apprenticeship certificates recognised by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET) at the end of their training period, which will give them industry recognition.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has recently paid homage to Gopal Krishna Gokhale on his birth anniversary.

• Indian National Congress (INC):
  • Gokhale became a member of the Indian National Congress in 1889. He was the leader of the moderate faction of the Congress party.
  • In 1905, he was elected president of the Indian National Congress (Benares Session).
  • He played a leading role in bringing about Morley-Minto Reforms, the beginning of constitutional reforms in India.
• Member in British India Legislature: In 1899, Gokhale was elected to the Bombay Legislative Council and in 1901 he was elected to the Imperial Council of the Governor-General of India.
• Servants of India Society: It was formed by him in Pune (Maharashtra) in 1905 to further the expansion of education in India. The Society organised mobile libraries, founded schools, and provided night classes for factory workers.
• Ranade Institute of Economics: In 1908, he founded the 'Ranade Institute of Economics'.
• Mentor to Gandhi: In his autobiography, Gandhi calls Gokhale his mentor and guide. In 1912, Gokhale visited South Africa at Gandhi's invitation. He received personal guidance from Gokhale, including a knowledge and understanding of India and the issues confronting common Indians.
• Hitavad: He launched the English weekly newspaper named The Hitavad (The people's paper) in 1911.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, Indian Navy – US Navy (IN – USN) Salvage and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) exercise, SALVEX was conducted from 26 Jun – 06 Jul 23 at Kochi. 

• Indian Navy – USA Navy have been participating in joint Salvage and EOD exercises since 2005.
• It is the Seventh edition of SALVEX.
• The exercise saw participation from both the navies which included the ships – INS Nireekshak and USNS Salvor in addition to Specialist Diving and EOD teams.
• It also saw conduct of joint training exercises towards enhancing interoperability, cohesiveness and gaining from best practices mutually in Maritime Salvage and EOD operations.
• The constructive engagements on operational terms enhanced the skill-sets of the Diving teams in a number of diverse disciplines such as mine detection and neutralisation, wreck location and salvage. 

Hence, option a is the correct answer.