Daily Current Affairs MCQ- June 3, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit under IT Rules of 2021.

• It was established in 2019.
• It was started with an objective of acting as a deterrent to creators and disseminators of fake news and misinformation. 
• It also provides people with an easy avenue to report suspicious and questionable information pertaining to the Government of India.
• It is mandated to counter misinformation on Government policies, initiatives and schemes either suo motu or under a reference via complaints.
• The FCU actively monitors, detects, and counters disinformation campaigns, ensuring that false information about the Government is promptly exposed and corrected.
• Organisation
• It is headed by a senior DG/ADG level officer of the Indian Information Service (IIS). The day-to-day operations of the Unit are handled by IIS officers at various levels.
• The Unit reports to the Principal Director General, PIB who functions as the Principal Spokesperson of the Government of India.
• Fact-Check Mechanism
• Users send requests over WhatsApp, email or a web portal. Each such request received is considered as a ‘Query’. Queries are segregated by the Unit based on their relevance to matters pertaining to Government of India.
• Only queries pertaining to Government of India are considered and taken up as Actionable Queries, while others are deemed not relevant for action.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

INS Tir and INS Sujata will participate in the forthcoming edition of India Mozambique Tanzania (IMT) Tri Lateral (TRILAT) Exercise.

• It is a joint maritime exercise scheduled from 21-29 Mar 24.
• The first edition of IMT TRILAT exercise conducted in Oct 22, saw participation of INS Tarkash with the Tanzanian and Mozambique Navies.
• The current edition of the exercise is planned in two phases. As part of the harbour phase scheduled from 21-24 Mar 24, Naval ships Tir and Sujata will engage with the respective Navies at the ports of Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Maputo (Mozambique).
• This phase would begin with a Planning Conference followed by conduct of joint harbour training activities like Damage Control, Fire Fighting, Visit Board Search and Seizure procedures, Medical Lectures, Casualty Evacuation and Diving operations.
• The sea phase of the exercise is covering practical aspects of countering asymmetric threats, Visit Board Search and Seizure procedures, boat handling, manoeuvres and firing exercise. A joint EEZ surveillance is also planned during the sea phase.
• The exercise will conclude with a joint debrief scheduled at Nacala (Mozambique).
• During the harbour stay, Indian Naval ships would be open for visitors and partake in sports & cultural exchanges with host Navies.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

The fourth edition of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Startup Forum was organized on 19th March 2024 in New Delhi.

• It is a platform for the stakeholders from the startup ecosystems from all SCO Member States to interact and collaborate.
• It aims to create multilateral cooperation and engagement for startups among the SCO Member States. This engagement will empower the local startup ecosystems in the SCO Member States.
• The following are the objectives of the engagement:
• Sharing of best practices to promote entrepreneurship and innovation to build knowledge-exchange systems.
• Bringing Corporates and Investors across to work closely with startups and provide local entrepreneurs with much-needed support and market access.
• Increasing scaling opportunities for startups by providing solutions in the field of social innovation and provide the Governments with a plethora of innovative solutions
• Facilitating cross-border incubation and acceleration programs that will enable the startups to explore international markets and get focused mentorship.
• India will host the second meeting of the Special Working Group for Startups and Innovation (SWG) in November 2024 and SCO Startup Forum 5.0 in January 2025.
• Previously, Startup India had organized various initiatives for SCO Member states including:
• SCO Startup Forum 1.0: The SCO Startup Forum in 2020 laid the foundation for multilateral cooperation and engagement for startups among the SCO Member States.
• SCO Startup Forum 2.0: The two-day Forum was held virtually in 2021 through a customized platform representing the Indian culture in augmented reality. SCO Startup Hub, a single point of contact for the SCO startup ecosystem, was launched in this forum.
• SCO Startup Forum 3.0: DPIIT organised the first ever physical SCO Startup Forum in 2023 for the SCO Member States. 
• 1st Meeting of the SWG: The first Meeting of the SCO Special Working Group on Startups and Innovation (SWG), permanently chaired by India, was organised on the theme ‘Growing from Roots’ in 2023.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Ae Watan Mere Watan movie was released recently which is based on the biography of Indian freedom fighter Usha Mehta.

• Usha Mehta was born in a village named Saras, near Surat in Gujarat in 1920.
• She was a true Gandhian at heart and was popularly known as Ushaben.
• At the age of eight in 1928, she participated in a protest march against the Simon Commission.
• On 14 August 1942, she and her associates established the Secret Congress Radio during Quit India Movement, a covert radio station that went on air on 27 August.
• It played a crucial role in keeping the freedom movement leaders connected with the public.

Setting up an underground station

• Background: At the advent of the War in 1939, the British had suspended all amateur radio licences across the Empire. Operators were supposed to turn in all equipment to the authorities, with severe punishment for those who failed to do so.
• Alongside Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, and Chandrakant Jhaveri were key figures in organising Congress Radio.
• Congress Radio case
• The trial of the five accused in the— Mehta, Babubhai Khakar, Vithalbhai Jhaveri, Chandrakant Jhaveri, and Nanak Gainchand Motwane (who sold key pieces of equipment to the team) — generated a lot of excitement in Bombay.
• Vithalbhai and Motwane were acquitted, Mehta, Babubhai, and Chandrakant received stern sentences.
• Usha Mehta was released from Pune’s Yerawada Jail in March 1946, and hailed in the nationalist media as “Radio-ben”.

Hence both statements are correct.

Scientists recently found a new way in which Ebola reproduces in the human body, identifying a potential target for drugs to prevent the viral disease.

About Ebola:

• Ebola virus disease (EVD, or Ebola) is a rare but severe illnessin humans.
• It is caused by several species of viruses from the genus Ebolavirus, that are found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
• It gets its name from the Ebola River, which is near one of the villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease first appeared.
• Transmission:
• Ebola isn’t as contagious as more common viruses like colds, influenza, or measles. 
• It spreads to people by contact with the skin or bodily fluids of an infected animal, like a monkey, chimp, or fruit bat.
• Then it moves from person to person in the same way. 
• Those who care for a sick person or bury someone who has died from the disease often get it.
• You can’t get Ebola from air, water, or food. A person who has Ebola but has no symptoms can’t spread the disease, either.
• There are occasional Ebola disease outbreaks in people, occurring primarily on the African continent.
• Symptoms:
• Symptoms of Ebola can start two to 21 days after being infected by the virus.
• Symptoms start out flu-like but can progress to severe vomiting, bleeding, and neurological (brain and nerve) issues.
• Treatment:
• There is no known treatment for Ebola, although experimental vaccines and therapeutics are being tested.
• Recovery seems to depend in part on how much virus a person was initially exposed to, how early treatment is started, and the patient's age and immune response. 
• Current therapy consists of maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance and the administration of blood and plasma to control bleeding.
• Mortality:
• Mortality rates for EVD range from 25 percent to 90 percent, with an average of 50 percent.
• Death usually occurs as a result of shock due to fluid loss rather than blood loss.

Hence both statements are correct.

MIT chemists have designed a sensor that detects tiny quantities of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals found in food packaging, nonstick cookware, and many other consumer products.

• These are a group of human-made chemicals that have been widely used in various industrial and commercial applications.
• They were first used in the 1940’s and are now in hundreds of products.
• Properties
• These compounds are also known as "forever chemicals" because they do not break down naturally.
• Chemically, individual PFAS can be very different. However, all have a carbon-fluorine bond, which is very strong and therefore, they do not degrade easily.
• These are known for their unique properties, such as high chemical stability and resistance to heat, grease, and water.
• Applications: These are used in stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, and fire-fighting foams.
• Impacts:
• The widespread use of PFAS has resulted in increasing levels of contamination of the air, water, and soil.
• Exposure to PFA attributes to variety of health risks including decreased fertility, developmental effects in children, interference with body hormones, increased cholesterol levels and increased risk of some cancers.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has announced the Revamped Pharmaceuticals Technology Upgradation Assistance (RPTUAS) Scheme.

• The objective is to offer "subsidies based on quality" reimbursement, aiding pharmaceutical companies in achieving revised Schedule M and WHO-GMP certifications.
• The revised guideline aims to support the pharmaceutical industry's up-gradation to the Revised Schedule-M & WHO-GMP standards, enhancing the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products manufactured in our country.
• Key Features of the Revised Scheme:
• Broadened Eligibility Criteria: Reflecting a more inclusive approach, eligibility for the PTUAS has been expanded beyond Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to include any pharmaceutical manufacturing unit with a turnover of less than 500 crores that requires technology and quality upgradation. Preference remains for MSMEs, supporting smaller players in achieving high-quality manufacturing standards.
• Flexible Financing Options: The scheme introduces more flexible financing options, emphasizing subsidies on reimbursement basis, over traditional credit-linked approach.
• Comprehensive Support for Compliance with New Standards: In alignment with revised Schedule-M and WHO-Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, the scheme now supports a broader range of technological upgrades. Eligible activities include improvements such as HVAC systems, water and steam utilities, testing laboratories etc.
• State Government Scheme Integration: The revised scheme allows integration with state government schemes, enabling units to benefit from additional top-up assistance. This collaborative approach aims to maximize support for the pharmaceutical industry in their technology upgradation efforts.
• The new benefit limit is based on turnover of the company. Units with less than Rs 5 crore turnover will get an incentive of 20 percent of investment under eligible activities.
• The units with turnover ranging from Rs 50 crore to less than Rs 250 crore will get an incentive of 15 percent of investment, while for those with turnover ranging from Rs 250 crore to less than Rs 500 crore, it will be 10 percent of investment under eligible expenses.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Prime Minister of India unveiled a 125-foot bronze statue of Ahom general Lachit Borphukan at his burial site in eastern Assam’s Jorhat district.

• He was a legendary army commander of the Ahom kingdom (1228-1826),
• He was known for his leadership in the 1671 ‘Battle of Saraighat’.
• He defeated the Mughal forces, led by Raja Ramsingh-I, in this battle, and thwarted a drawn-out attempt by them to take back Assam.
• He was chosen as one of the five Borphukans of the Ahom kingdom by king Charadhwaj Singha and given administrative, judicial, and military responsibilities. 
• Borphukan preferred guerrilla tactics which provided an edge to his smaller, but fast moving and capable forces.
• He was buried at the ‘maidam’ — burial grounds for Ahom royals and nobles — at Hollongapar, after passing away a year after the battle at the age of 49 due to illness.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) launched its 24th Center of Entrepreneurship (CoE) - "FinGlobe," dedicated to fostering innovation and growth in the financial technology sector, at STPI-Gandhinagar, GIFT City.

• It is a premier autonomous Science and Technology organization under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• It is engaged in promoting IT/ITES Industry, innovation, R&D, start-ups, product/IP creation in the field of emerging technologies like IoT, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Computer Vision, Robotics and Robotics Process Automation (RPA) etc.
• Objectives
• To promote the development and export of software and software services including Information Technology (I.T.) Enabled Services / Bio-IT.
• To provide statutory and other promotional services to the exporters by implementing Software Technology Park/ Electronics and Hardware Technology Park Schemes and other such schemes this may be formulated and entrusted by the Government from time to time.
• To provide data communication services including value added services to IT / IT Enabled Services related industries.
• To promote micro, small and medium entrepreneurs by creating conducive environment for entrepreneurship in the field of IT / IT Enabled Services.
• It has expanded its presence pan-India since its inception in 1991 with 3 centres to disperse tech-driven entrepreneurship to Tier-II/III cities.
• Today, STPI has 64 centres of which 56 centres are in Tier-II/III cities.
• Significance: These centres have been playing a pivotal role in boosting IT/ITeS/ESDM exports from the respective region, generating employment, and fostering startups to develop software products.

Hence both statements are correct.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) recently notified the Citizenship Amendment Rules, 2024 that would enable the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed by the Parliament in 2019.

About Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019:

• The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) amends the Citizenship Act of 1955 to provide a path to Indian citizenship for Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who migrated from neighbouring Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, before December 31, 2014.
• Under the CAA, migrants who entered India till December 31, 2014, and had suffered “religious persecution or fear or religious persecution” in their country of their origin would be made eligible for accelerated citizenship.
• It relaxed the residence requirement for naturalisation of these migrants from twelve years to just six.
• The cut-off date for citizenship is December 31, 2014, which means the applicant should have entered India on or before that date.
• The law exempts the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, including the tribal areas of Karbi Anglong in Assam, Garo Hills in Meghalaya, Chakma district in Mizoram, and Tribal areas district in Tripura.
• It also includes a provision for the cancellation of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration if the OCI cardholder violates any provision of the Citizenship Act or any other applicable law.

Hence both statements are correct.