Daily Current Affairs MCQ- March 22, 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.

The Supreme Court reiterated that to constitute an offence under Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code, the essential ingredient is to create a sense of enmity and disharmony amongst two or more groups or communities.

About Section 153A of the IPC:

• It attempts to punish those who engage in promoting any kind of enmity among different groups on the basis of religion, caste, race, place of birth or residence, or even language.
• The provision puts a liability on those who
• Spread enmity in the form of words (spoken or written), visual representations, and signs with the intention of causing disharmony, hatred, or disturbance among people belonging to different groups, religions, castes, or communities.
• Spread disharmony and disturb the public tranquility of the people belonging to different racial and religious groups.
• Aid in the organising of certain movements, drills that encourage as well as train the participants of such movements to use criminal force and violence upon people belonging to other racial and religious groups and communities.
• Offence on moral turpitude is also covered in this section.
• The offence is a cognizable offence and the punishment for the same may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
• However, the punishment of the offence committed in a place of worship is enhanced up to five years and a fine.
• Further, the offence under Section 153A is non-bailable in nature, wherein the accused is tried by the magistrate of the first class.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

In a new research, scientists have come up with a new technique to measure the amount of water held in snowpacks and for how long.

About Snowpacks:

• In mountainous areas that experience a winter season, precipitation can fall in the form of snow.
• Snow that has fallen on the ground and does not melt for months due to below-freezing temperatures is called a snowpack. 
• Snowpacks can consist of multiple layers of snow, each one from a different snowfall, that become compacted under the weight of the subsequent layers that lie on top.
• The snowpack remains on the ground until the arrival of above-freezing temperatures in the spring, which causes it to start to melt.
• The water from the melting snowpack is called snowmelt.
• It is an important water source that keeps streams flowing in the warmer months.
• It is also an important water source for humans, replenishing reservoirs. 
• The depth of the snowpack is influenced not only by the amount of snowfall but also by temperature and wind. 
• Strong winds can evaporate snow cover, eroding the top layers of the snowpack, while an increase in temperature can cause layers to melt. 
• In areas with an abundance of snow and proper conditions, the snowpack can accumulate to a depth of three meters (10 feet) or more.
• The density of a snowpack—how closely packed the snow particles are—increases as more layers accumulate, pushing down on the layers below.
• Weak layers, such as snow-covered surface hoar, can increase the risk of avalanches.
• Snowpack data is valuable for monitoring the effects of climate change.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Recently, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister of India has approved Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM JANMAN) with total outlay of Rs.24,104 crore. 

• The PM-JANMAN (comprising Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) to focus on 11 critical interventions through 9 Ministries including Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• The scheme aims to provide crucial interventions such as permanent housing, road connectivity, piped water supply, mobile medical units, hostel construction, ‘Anganwadi’ facilities and skill development centres etc.
• Other than the 11 critical intervention the following intervention of other Ministries will be part of Mission:
• Ministry of Ayush will set up Ayush Wellness Centre as per existing norms and Ayush facilities will be extended to PVTG habitations through Mobile Medical Units.
• Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship will facilitate skill and vocational training in PVTG habitations, multipurpose centres and hostels as per the suitable skills of these communities.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Union Cabinet approved the continuation of fast-track courts, dedicated to dispensation of justice in cases of sexual offences, for a period of three years.

• It was formulated as Centrally Sponsored Scheme to establish FTSCs for the timely disposal of cases related to rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) in August 2019.
• Initially commenced in October 2019 for one year, the scheme was extended for an additional two years until 31.03.2023.
• Now it has been further extended until 31.03.2026, with a financial outlay of Rs. 1952.23 crore.
• Fund: The Central Share is funded from the Nirbhaya Fund.
• These are designed as dedicated courts which are expected to ensure swift dispensation of justice, offering quick relief to victims while strengthening the deterrence framework for sexual offenders. 
• Nodal Ministry: It is implemented by the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law & Justice.
• It augments State Government resources for establishing FTSCs across the country, ensuring the swift disposal of cases related to rape and the POCSO Act.
• All States/Union Territories have participated in the Scheme, operationalizing 761 FTSCs, including 414 exclusive POCSO Courts.
• The expected outcomes of the scheme are:
• Reflect the nation's commitment to ending sexual and gender-based violence.
• Substantially reduce pending cases of Rape & POCSO Act, relieving the burden on the judicial system.
• Ensure swift access to justice for victims of sexual crimes through improved facilities and expedited trials.
• Lessen the burden of cases to a manageable number.

Hence all statements are correct.

Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India is set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat).

• It is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.
• Aim: It is aiming to investigate the polarisation of intense X-Ray sources. 
• The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit.
• POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays): It will measure the polarimetry parameters (degree and angle of polarization) in medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin.
• XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload: It will give spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
• It is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit (non-sun synchronous orbit of ~650 km altitude, low inclination of approximately six degree).
• The mission life is expected to be approximately five years.
• The payloads onboard XPoSat will observe the X-Ray sources during the spacecraft’s transit through the Earth’s shadow, i.e., during the eclipse period.
• It will be launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.