Daily Current Affairs MCQ- May 20, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recent research said that coffee production across the world is threatened by synchronous crop failures, characterised by broad, simultaneous yield losses in various countries at the same time.

• The vast majority of the world’s coffee comprises two species — Coffea Arabica (Arabica) and Coffea Canephora (Robusta). Coffee, especially Arabica, is considered a sensitive crop, vulnerable to climate variability and change.
• Climatic conditions required for coffee production
  • It requires a hot and humid climate for its growth.
  • Temperatures ranging between 15°C and 28 °C
  • Rainfall: 150 to 250 cm.
  • Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil containing a good deal of humus and minerals like iron and calcium are ideal for coffee cultivation.
  • It is generally grown under shady trees.
  • Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries.
  • It is grown on hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1,600 metres above sea level.
• In India coffee is largely cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, among which, Karnataka produces the most with over 70% of the total output.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Union Minister of Commerce and Industry will chair the sixth meeting of the National Startup Advisory Council (NSAC) in New Delhi today, March 11.

• It was constituted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Objective: To advise the Government on measures needed to build a strong ecosystem for nurturing innovation and startups in the country to drive sustainable economic growth and generate large-scale employment opportunities.
• Composition of the council
  • Chairman: Minister for Commerce & Industry.
  • Ex-officio Members: Nominees of the concerned Ministries/Departments/Organisations not below the rank of Joint Secretary.
  • Besides the ex-officio members, the council has non-official members, representing various stakeholders such as founders of successful startups, and veterans who have grown and scaled companies in India.
• NSAC is playing an important role in identifying areas of intervention for the expansion of the startup ecosystem and ideating and nurturing national programs under the Startup India initiative. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Drugs Controller General of India directed drug manufacturers to stop using propylene glycol sourced from the Delhi-based firm that supplied the ingredient to Marion Biotech, whose cough syrups were linked to the deaths of 19 children in Uzbekistan.

• Propylene glycol is a synthetic food additive that belongs to the same chemical group as alcohol.
• Characteristics of Propylene Glycol
  • Propylene glycol is a synthetic liquid substance that absorbs water.
  • It is a clear, colourless, slightly syrupy liquid at room temperature.
  • It may exist in air in the vapour form, although propylene glycol must be heated or briskly shaken to produce a vapour.
  • It is practically odorless and tasteless.
• Propylene glycol is used to make polyester compounds and as a base for deicing solutions.
• Propylene glycol is used by the chemical, food, and pharmaceutical industries as an antifreeze when leakage might lead to contact with food.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the National Workshop of Bamboo Sector Development was conducted under the National Bamboo Mission (NBM) in New Delhi on 10th March 2023.

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme started in the year 2006-07 and was subsumed under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), for the years 2014-15 and 2015-16.
• MIDH is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented from 2014-15 for the holistic development of horticulture in the country, covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew and cocoa.
• The aim of the National Bamboo Mission will focus on the development of bamboo in limited States where it has social, commercial and economical advantages.
• Nodal Ministry: Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
• Bamboo is majorly grown in North Eastern region and States including Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

World Meteorological Organisation recently announced the constitution of an expert committee to evaluate the intensity and lifespan of Cyclone Freddy, which is on track to set a record as the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record.

About Cyclone Freddy:

• Origin: It originated off the northern coast of Australia and became a named storm on February 6, 2022.
• It crossed the entire South Indian Ocean and traveled more than 8,000 kilometers, affecting Mauritius and La Réunion, before making landfalls in Madagascar two weeks later and then Mozambique.
• Freddy was the first tropical cyclone in the Southern Hemisphere to undergo six separate rounds of rapid intensification.
• It also holds the record for all-time accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) (storm strength during its lifetime) for the Southern Hemisphere.
• Freddy is fuelled by the energy provided by the warm ocean surface, consistently sourcing heat and moisture throughout its lifetime. 

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The defence forces have halted the operations of the ALH Dhruv helicopters till the time investigators find the reason behind the accident that took place off the Mumbai coast recently.

About ALH Dhruv helicopters:

• Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv is a multi-role and multi-mission light utility helicopter in the 5.5-ton weight class, intended for both military and civil operators.
• It is developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• The ALH choppers are operated by all three Indian defense forces, including the Army, Navy, and Air Force, along with the Indian Coast Guard.
• The major variants of Dhruv are classified as Dhruv Mk-I, Mk-II, Mk-III & Mk-IV. 
• Exported countries: Bolivia, Myanmar, Israel, Maldives, and Nepal.
• The Mk-IV version of the HAL ALG Dhruv helicopter is the Armed variant for Attack, Close Air Support, and High altitude operations.
• Features of Dhruv Mk-IV:
• It is also called ALH Rudra and can carry a 20 mm Turret Gun, 70 mm Rocket, and Air to Air missiles.
• It has a twin-engine configuration allowing continued flight virtually throughout the flight envelope. 
• It has a maximum take-off weight of 5800 kg and a range of 590 km.
• ALH Mk-IV has a rigid rotor design making it aggressively maneuverable in air.
• It has a dedicated Electronic Warfare suite for self-protection.
• Its countermeasures suite can include: radar and missile detectors, infrared jammer, chaff and flare dispensers.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry and U.S. Secretary of Commerce welcomed the recently launched U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

About the U.S.-India initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET):

• It was launched by the US President and Indian Prime Minister on the sidelines of the Quad summit on May 2022.
• Goal: To elevate and expand Indo-U.S. strategic technology partnership and defense industrial cooperation between the governments, businesses, and academic institutions of the two countries. 
• The initiative will be spearheaded by the National Security Council Secretariat in India and the US National Security Council.
• The initiative would help forge links between the government, academia, and industry in areas such as AI, quantum computing, 5G/6G, biotech, space, and semiconductors.
• Under iCET, the two sides have identified six focus areas of co-development and co-production: 
• strengthening innovation ecosystems;
• defense innovation and technology cooperation;
• resilient semiconductor supply chains;
• space;
• STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) talent;
• next-generation telecom;

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh will jointly inaugurate the maiden cross-border oil pipeline between the two countries.

About India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL):

• IBFPL will carry diesel from Assam-based Numaligarh Refinery Ltd's (NRL) marketing terminal at Siliguri in West Bengal to the Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).
• IBFPL is 131.5 Kilometers long, out of which 126.5 kilometer pipeline is in Bangladesh and 5 kilometers in India.
• The pipeline has a capacity of one million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA).
• The total project cost for the construction of the IBFPL is Rs 377.08 crore. 
• The project is built under grant assistance from the government of India.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Finance Ministry recently brought out a notification placing all transactions involving virtual digital assets under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

About Virtual Digital Assets (VDA):

• According to the Income tax act, 'virtual digital asset' refers to any information, code, number, or token (not being Indian currency or foreign currency) generated through cryptographic means or otherwise and can be called by whatever name.
• It can be transferred, stored, or traded electronically.
• The definition of VDA also specifically includes a non-fungible token, i.e., NFT, or any other token of similar nature, by whatever name is called.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

A recent report by the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pointed out glaring discrepancies in the assessment and accreditation of higher education institutions by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

About National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC):

• NAAC was established in 1994 as an autonomous institution of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
• Head Quarter: Bengaluru.
• Function: Evaluation, assessment, and accreditation of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country. 
• Assessment is a performance evaluation of an institution and its units and is accomplished through a process based on self-study and peer review using defined criteria.
• Accreditation refers to the certification given by NAAC, which is valid for a period of five years.
• The ratings of institutions range from A++ to C. If an institution is graded D, it means it is not accredited.
• At present, the Assessment and Accreditation by NAAC is done on a voluntary basis.
• Composition:
• It functions through its General Council (GC) and Executive Committee (EC), comprising educational administrators, policymakers, and senior academicians from a cross-section of the Indian higher education system.
• The Chairperson of the UGC is the President of the GC of the NAAC.
• The Chairperson of the EC is an eminent academician nominated by the President of GC (NAAC).
• The Director is the academic and administrative head of NAAC and is the member-secretary of both the GC and the EC.
• NAAC is advised by the advisory and consultative committees constituted from time to time.

Hence both statements are correct.