Daily Current Affairs MCQ- March 13, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated the unique Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme amidst much enthusiasm at the Sector 7 sports complex, in Chandigarh.

• It is aimed at school children between nine and 18 years.
• The nation-wide scheme will have two main objectives:
• To hunt talent from every nook and corner of the country and
• To use sports as a tool to curb addiction towards drugs and other gadgetry distractions.
• KIRTI made a solid launch across 50 centres in India. Fifty thousand applicants are being assessed in the first phase across 10 sports, including athletics, boxing, wrestling, hockey, football and wrestling.
• KIRTI aims to conduct 20 lakh assessments across the country throughout the year to identify talent through notified Talent Assessment Centres.
• It wants to reach out to every block in the country and connect with those kids who want to play a sport but don’t know how.
• KIRTI’s athlete-centric programme is conspicuous by its transparent selection methodology based on Information Technology.
• Data analytics based on Artificial Intelligence is being used to predict the sporting acumen in an aspiring athlete.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has granted an exemption to the import of certain goods, including viscose staple fibre and numerous steel items, from quality control orders (QCOs) under the advance authorisation scheme.

• It is a government organization in India responsible for the formulation of exim guidelines and principles for indian importers and indian exporters of the country.
• Before 1991, DGFT was known as the Chief Controller of Imports & Exports (CCI&E).
• It is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and is headed by Director General of Foreign Trade.
• It has been assigned the role of "facilitator".
• It is responsible for implementing the Foreign Trade Policy or Exim Policy with the main objective of promoting Indian exports.
• The DGFT also issues scrips/authorization to exporters and monitors their corresponding obligations through a network of 24 regional offices. 
• Functions
• To implement the Exim Policy or Foreign Trade Policy of India by introducing various schemes and guidelines through its network of dgft regional offices thought-out the country.
• To Grant Exporter Importer Code Number to Indian Exporter and Importers. IEC Number is a unique 10 digit code required by the traders or manufacturers for the purpose of import and export in India.
• It permits or regulate Transit of Goods from India or to countries adjacent to India in accordance with the bilateral treaties between India and other countries.
• To promote trade with neighboring countries.
• To grant the permission of free export in Export Policy Schedule 2.
• Setting standard input-output norms is also controlled by the DGFT.
• Headquarter: New Delhi

Hence both statements are correct.

As the world rushes to make use of the latest wave of AI technologies, one piece of high-tech hardware has become a surprisingly hot commodity: the Graphics Processing Unit, or GPU.

• It is a computer chip that renders graphics and images by performing rapid mathematical calculations.
• GPUs are used for both professional and personal computing. Originally, GPUs were responsible for the rendering of 2D and 3D images, animations and video.
• Like a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a GPU is also a chip component in computing devices.
• One important difference, though, is that the GPU is specifically designed to handle and accelerate graphics workloads and display graphics content on a device such as a PC or smartphone.
• A typical modern CPU is made up of between 8 and 16 “cores”, each of which can process complex tasks in a sequential manner.
• GPUs, on the other hand, have thousands of relatively small cores, which are designed to all work at the same time (“in parallel”) to achieve fast overall processing.
• This makes them well suited for tasks that require a large number of simple operations which can be done at the same time, rather than one after another.

How does a GPU work?

• GPUs work by using a method called parallel processing, where multiple processors handle separate parts of a single task.
• A GPU will also have its own RAM to store the data it is processing. This RAM is designed specifically to hold the large amounts of information coming into the GPU for highly intensive graphics use cases.
• For graphics applications, the CPU sends instructions to the GPU for drawing the graphics content on screen.
• The GPU executes the instructions in parallel and at high speeds to display the content on the device -- a process known as the graphics or rendering pipeline.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Gorsam Kora festival, symbolised the enduring friendship between India and Bhutan commenced on 7th March and concluded on 10th March this year.

• It is held in Arunachal Pradesh’s Zeminthang Valley along the Nyanmjang Chu River.
• History
• This annual festival is held at Gorsam Chorten, a 93 feet tall Stupa, built during 13th century AD by a local monk- Lama Pradhar.
• This is also the place where the 14th Dalai Lama had his first rest after fleeing from Tibet in 1959.
• It features cultural performances and Buddhist rituals at the Gorsam Chorten, which is older than the Tawang Monastery.
• Many devotees including large number of Bhutanese nationals visit during Gorsam Kora festival to celebrate the virtuous occasion during the last day of the first month of the Lunar calendar.
• It attracted pilgrims and Lamas from Bhutan, Tawang, and neighbouring regions, epitomising the spirit of camaraderie and cultural exchange.
• The festival featured a diverse array of events, including enthralling performances by local cultural troupes and by the Indian army bands, martial performances like Mallakhamb and Zanjh Pathaka.

Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation recently released the Quick Estimates of the Index of Industrial Production (IIP) for January 2024, revealing a growth of 3.8 percent.

About Index of Industrial Production (IIP):

• It is one of the prime indicators of economic development for the measurement of trends in the behavior of industrial production over a period of time with reference to a chosen base year.
• IIP is a short-term indicator measuring industrial growth until the actual result of detailed industrial surveys become available.
• It indicates the relative change in physical production in the field of industries during a specified year as compared to the previous year.
• It is computed and published by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, on a monthly basis.
• Calculation:
• The IIP is a quantum index, the production of items is expressed in physical terms. However, the unit of reporting in respect of certain items like machinery, machine tools, shipbuilding, etc. is in value terms. 
• The IIP is compiled as a simple weighted arithmetic mean of production relatives by using Laspeyre’s formula. 
• In order to remove the effect of price rises from the index, the production figures of such items are deflated on the basis of Wholesale Price Indices (Base 2011-12), compiled by the Office of Economic Adviser, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, before the compilation of the index.
• Base Year:
• The base year is always given a value of 100.
• The current base year for the IIP series in India is 2011-12.
• So, if the current IIP reads as 116, it means that there has been 16% growth compared to the base year.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the redeveloped Kochrab Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, recently to mark the 94th anniversary of the Dandi March.

About Kochrab Ashram:

• It was the first ashram founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1915, following his return to India from South Africa.
• Location: It is located in Kochrab village, situated on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
• It was called Satyagraha Ashram based on his ideas of achieving India's independence from British rule through peaceful methods.
• Establishment:
• Gopal Krishna Gokhale requested Mahatma Gandhi to return to India, which needed his skills as a community organizer.
• Mahatma Gandhi began his association with Ahmedabad after returning to India from South Africa.
• About his decision to settle in Ahmedabad in 1915, Gandhi wrote that, as a Gujarati, he should be able to serve the country best through the Gujarati language.
• On 20th of May, 1915, Gandhi began living in a bungalow in Kochrab village.
• The bungalow, which he soon rechristened as the Satyagraha Ashram, was given to him by his fellow lawyer and colleague, Jeevanlal Desai.
• Mahatma Gandhi based himself here for about one-and-a-half years before moving to the new campus of Sabarmati Ashram.
• It is a colonial-style building with a white-washed façade.
• The campus has hostels and kitchens.
• The Gandhi Memorial Museum in the ashram campus has a small collection of artifacts associated with the life of Mahatma Gandhi and historical photographs.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

The Prime Minister recently witnessed the tri-service exercise 'Bharat Shakti' in Pokhran, Rajasthan.

About Exercise 'Bharat Shakti':

• It is an integrated tri-service firepower and manoeuvre exercise, showcasing the prowess of indigenously manufactured defence equipment across the three services.
• Location: Pokhran, Rajasthan.
• The exercise involves the showcasing of the calibrated tactical employment of niche technology in a tri-services environment against perceived threats.
• The exercise displays an array of indigenous weapon systems and platforms as a demonstration of the prowess of the country, premised on the nation's Aatmanirbharata initiative.
• It will also simulate realistic, synergised, multi-domain operations displaying the integrated operational capabilities of the Indian armed forces to counter threats across land, air, sea, cyber, and space domains.
• It features indigenous weapon systems: T-90 (IM) Tanks, Dhanush and Sarang Gun Systems, Akash Weapons System, Logistics Drones, Robotic Mules, ALH, and various unmanned aerial vehicles from the Indian Army showcasing the advanced ground warfare and aerial surveillance capabilities.
• The Indian Navy displays Naval Anti-Ship Missiles, Autonomous Cargo Carrying Aerial Vehicles, and Expendable Aerial Targets.
• The Indian Air Force showcases indigenous aircraft: Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Light Utility Helicopters, and Advanced Light Helicopters.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday published the guidelines on the clinical management of diphtheria.

• It is a serious contagious bacterial infection of the nose and throat. 
• Cause: It is caused by strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make a toxin.
• Transmission:
• It can spread from person to person, usually through respiratory droplets, like from coughing or sneezing. 
• People can also get sick from touching infected open sores or ulcers.
• The bacteria can also infect the skin, causing open sores or ulcers. However, diphtheria skin infections rarely result in severe disease.
• Although diphtheria can be treated with medications, in advanced stages, the bacterial infection can damage the heart, kidneys and nervous system.
• Symptoms: A thick, gray membrane covering the throat and tonsils, sore throat and hoarseness, swollen glands (enlarged lymph nodes) in the neck and difficulty breathing  etc.
• The current treatments include:
• neutralization of unbound toxin with Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT)
• antibiotics to prevent further bacterial growth;
• monitoring and supportive care to prevent and treat complications, e.g. airway obstruction, myocarditis.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Ministry of Coal, Government of India, is set to host an Industry Interaction on in Hyderabad aimed at fostering the development and proliferation of coal/lignite gasification projects across the nation. 

• It is the process of producing syngas, a mixture consisting primarily of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapour (H2O) - from coal and water, air and/or oxygen.
•  Gasification occurs in a gasifier, generally a high temperature/pressure vessel where oxygen and steam are directly contacted with the coal or other feed material causing a series of chemical reactions to occur that convert the feed to syngas and ash/slag.
• Syngas can be used for electricity production, used in energy-efficient fuel cell technology, or as chemical “building blocks” for industrial purposes. The hydrogen can also be extracted for use in fueling a hydrogen economy.
• Benefits of coal Gasification
• Coal gasification can help address local pollution problems.
• It is considered a cleaner option compared to the burning of coal.
• It will help in reducing reliance on imports of natural gas, methanol, ammonia and other essential product.
• This holds the potential to alleviate the environmental burden by reducing carbon emissions and fostering sustainable practices, contributing to India’s global commitments towards a greener future.

Hence both statements are correct.

India has rejected the demand of the four-nation European Free Trade Association (EFTA) for ‘data exclusivity’ provisions in the free trade agreement that both sides are negotiating.

• It is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1960 by the Stockholm Convention.
• Objective: Promotes free trade and economic integration between its members within Europe and globally.
• Member Countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
• The members of this organization are all open, competitive economies committed to the progressive liberalisation of trade in the multinational arena as well as in free trade agreements. 
• In contrast to the European Union (EU), it is not a customs union. 
• Governance
• Its highest governing body is the EFTA Council. It generally meets 8 times a year at the ambassadorial level and twice a year at the ministerial level.
• EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA): It monitors compliance with European Economic Area (EEA) rules in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. 
• EFTA Court: It is based in Luxembourg and has the competence and authority to settle internal and external disputes regarding the implementation, application or interpretation of the EEA agreement.
• The headquarters of the EFTA Secretariat is located in Geneva. It assists the EFTA Council in the management of relations between the 4 EFTA States and deals with the negotiation and operation of EFTA’s FTAs.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.