Daily Current Affairs MCQ- March 9, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

The Yuva Sangam registration portal was recently launched at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi.

• It is an initiative of the Prime Minister of India.
• The main aim of this portal is to build close ties between the youth of the North East Region and the rest of India under the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.
• Over 20000 youth will travel across India and gain a unique opportunity for cross-cultural learning.
• This Cultural Exchange Program will also allow youth to celebrate the ancient culture and natural diversity of India.
• The youth of 18 years to 30 years will get an opportunity to see different states of the country, to understand their art, culture and languages.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Rajasthan state Forest Department has recently proposed to construct a zoo inside Keoladeo National Park.

• The Keoladeo National Park formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary hosts thousands of birds, especially during the winter season.
• It is Located in the eastern part of Rajasthan.
• It attracts several migratory birds that make the region their breeding and wintering grounds.
• It is strategically located in the middle of the Central Asian migratory flyway.
• The Siberian crane is one of the rare species that was spotted here till about the turn of the century.
• Fauna: Sambar, Nilgai, wild cats, hyenas, wild boar, birds, including raptors and waterfowl, and Jackals.
• It is a Ramsar site and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the Reserve Bank Of India has extended the validity of authorization issued to Vakrangee to set up, own and operate White Label ATMs in India.

• Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) set up, owned and operated by non-banks are called White Label ATMs.
• Non-bank ATM operators are authorised under the Payment & Settlement Systems Act, 2007 by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Such non-bank entities should have a minimum net worth of Rs 100 crore as per the latest financial year’s audited balance sheet, which is to be maintained at all times.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), up to 100 per cent, is allowed under the automatic route in the activity of White Label ATM (WLA) Operations.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Minister of Culture informed Lok sabha about Museum Grant Scheme (MGS).

• This scheme was launched in 2013.
• The Ministry of Culture provides financial assistance under the Scheme to the State Governments and Societies, Autonomous bodies, Local Bodies and Trusts registered under the Societies Act 1860, for setting up new Museums.
• Aim: To strengthen and modernize the existing museums at the Regional, State and District levels.
• The scheme also aims to develop at least 1 Central / State Government Museum located in the State Capital each year.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Madras High Court recently dismissed a civil revision petition filed by a woman against an order of a lower court that had allowed a second divorce petition filed by her husband on the ground of res-judicata.

What is res judicata?

• The concept of res judicata has evolved from the English Common Law System.
• Res judicata literally means ‘the thing has been judged”.
• The principle of res judicata applies when a litigant attempts to file a subsequent lawsuit on the same matter after having received a judgment in a previous case involving the same parties.
• It is a judicial concept which means that the issue before the court has already been decided by another court, between the same parties, and the courts do not allow a petition to be filed in the same or to the other Court.
• Therefore, the court will dismiss the case before it as being useless.
• Res Judicata as a concept is applicable both in the case of the Civil as well as Criminal legal system.
• Purpose:
• To prevent injustice to the parties of a case supposedly finished.
• To avoid unnecessary waste of resources and time of the Judicial System

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The finance ministry recently said governments of five states -- Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh -- had informed the Centre about their decision to revert to the old pension scheme.

About Old Pension Scheme (OPS):

• Under the OPS, employees get a defined pension. 
• Only government employees were eligible to receive a pension under the OPS after retirement.
• Under this, an employee is entitled to a 50% amount of the last drawn salary as pension.
• The pension amount is not deducted from the salary of the employee during the period of employment.
• The entire pension amount to a government employee is paid by the government.
• Under the OPS, a retired government employee used to get the benefit of the revision of Dearness Relief (DR) twice a year. 
• The scheme was discontinued in 2004.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA) targets 1000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to turn direct exporters of farm produce.

About Agricultural and Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA):

• APEDA was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act of 1985.
• Objective: To develop and promote the export of scheduled products.
• The products specified under the APEDA ACT are called scheduled products, and exporters of such scheduled products are required to register under APEDA.
• It provides financial assistance, information, and guidelines for the development of scheduled products.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Examples of scheduled products: Fruits, Vegetable, Meat, Poultry Products. Dairy Products, Confectionery, Biscuits, Bakery Products, Honey, Jaggery, etc

Hence both statements are correct.

The Director of Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) recently said that the Government of India has made impressive progress in recent years in accelerating energy efficiency in industrial sectors through its flagship program Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT) Scheme.

About Perform, Achieve & Trade (PAT) Scheme:

• PAT Scheme is a flagship program under the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE).
• Implementing Agency: It is implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the aegis of the Ministry of Power.
• Objective: PAT scheme aims at reducing Specific Energy Consumption (SEC), i.e., energy use per unit of production for Designated Consumers (DCs) in energy-intensive sectors, with an associated market mechanism to enhance the cost-effectiveness through certification of excess energy saving, which can be traded.
• Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts):
• The excess energy savings are converted into tradable instruments called Energy Saving Certificates (ESCerts) that are traded at the Power Exchanges.
• Trading Platform: The two Power Exchanges, India Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India Limited (PXIL) provide the trading platform for ESCerts.
• Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is the market regulator for the trading of ESCerts.
• PAT Scheme is implemented in cycles of 3 years each, where the Designated Consumers (DCs) are assigned SEC reduction targets.
• Designated Consumers (DCs) who fall short of their targets bid for the purchase of ESCerts.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, scientists have discovered a third natural source of quasicrystals.

• Quasicrystal, also called quasi-periodic crystal, matter formed atomically in a manner somewhere between the amorphous solids of glasses and the precise pattern of crystals.
• In quasicrystals, the atoms are arranged in a pattern that repeats itself at irregular, yet predictable, intervals.
• The American-Israeli scientist Dan Shechtman discovered quasicrystals in the lab in 1982.
• Recently in the Sand Hills dunes in northern Nebraska, where scientists found silicate glass which is a dodecagonal quasicrystal, rare even for quasicrystals.
• They are used in surgical instruments, LED lights and nonstick frying pans.
• They have poor heat conductivity, which makes them good insulators.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Union Budget has recently announced Rs 2,516 crore for the computerisation of 63,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) over the next five years.

• These are village-level cooperative credit societies that serve as the last link in a three-tier cooperative credit structure.
• These are headed by the State Cooperative Banks (SCB) at the state level.
• Credit from the SCBs is transferred to the district central cooperative banks, or DCCBs, that operate at the district level.
• These district central cooperative banks work with PACS, which deals directly with farmers.
• Individual farmers are members of the PACS, and office-bearers are elected from within them. A village can have multiple PACS.
• PACS are involved in short-term lending — or what is known as crop loans.
• At the start of the cropping cycle, farmers avail credit to finance their requirement of seeds, fertilisers etc.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.