Daily Current Affairs MCQ- November 1, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, a Black Stork species rarely seen, has been spotted in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh.

• The black stork (Ciconia nigra ) is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae
• Habitat: It breeds in swampy coniferous and mixed forests.
• It can also be found in grasslands, agricultural fields, and on the margins of lakes and rivers during winter.
• It is a long-distance migrant, with European populations wintering in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asian populations in the Indian subcontinent.
• Distribution: It is mainly found in Europe, Asia and African countries.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Least concern

Key facts about Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• It lies alongside the northern tip of the River Ganga, flowing through the districts of Muzaffarnagar and Bijnor.
• Flora: It has a variety of landforms and is a mixture of different habitats such as wetlands, marshes, dry sand beds and gently sloping ravines.
• Fauna: Swamp Deer, Leopard, Wild Cats, Wild Otter, Pythons etc.
• It is a part of the "Asia Flyway" project, and many migratory Birds, both local and foreign, flock in numbers near the numerous water bodies present in the region.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, a pair of elusive wild dogs often referred to as Dholes, have made a rare appearance in Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha’s Bargarh district.

• It is located between the Hirakud Dam (Mahanadi River) and the Reservoir in the state of Odisha.
• It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985.
• It finds a special mention because of noted freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai. 
• During his rebellion against the British Veer Surendra Saimade his base at ‘Barapathara” located within the sanctuary.
• Fauna: The beautiful sanctuary is known for its easy sightings of animals particularly Indian Bison, Wild Boars and Sambhar etc.
• Flora: It has a dry deciduous forest that attracts a host of birds during the winters.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Porgai Artisan Association Society, with has been making and selling embroidered clothes to ensure that there is awareness about the art form and that it is passed onto the next generation.

• The Lambadi community has been practicing the craft of Lambadi embroidery for a long time, which has served the purpose of decorating their own attire and household items.
• It has been an integral part of their identity, and the Lambadis have made constant efforts to maintain it.
• The intricate embroidery is done by Lambadi women on cotton and silk fabrics, using colourful cotton threads. 
• The traditional embroidery designs are all geometrical patterns with squares, rectangles, and circles.
• They have also been influenced by the local forests, birds, fruits and flowers.
• The elderly women of this tribal community continue to wear the Petia, their traditional five-piece dress which is made with Mushru silk from Kutch. 

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Indian Army’s Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand successfully carried out inaugural firing of 70 mm rockets and 20 mm turret guns both by day and night. 

• It is India’s first indigenous multi-role combat helicopter, developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It is designed to meet the needs of the Indian armed forces operating in deserts and mountainous areas.
• The helicopter is fitted with Shakti Engine, which is co-developed by HAL and France’s Safran.
• The helicopter received operational clearance in 2017.
• Features
• It can fly at a maximum speed of 288 kmph and has a combat radius of 500 km, which can go up to a service ceiling of 21,000 feet.
• The helicopter can carry out activities such as Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Destruction of Enemy Air Defence (DEAD), operations against slow-moving aircraft and Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs), high-altitude bunker busting operations, counter-insurgency operations in the jungle and urban environments and provide support to ground forces.
• The helicopter will be equipped with Helina missiles, the air force version of which is called Dhruvastra.

Hence both statements are correct.

Commodity Markets Outlook Report is published by the World Bank in April and October, every year. Commodity Markets Outlook report provides market analysis for major commodity groups – energy, metals, agriculture, precious metals, and fertilizers. The report forecasts prices for 46 key commodities.
Context – The World Bank has published the Commodity Markets Outlook report.

The Patna district administration is set to deploy drones to manage the four day-long mass gatherings for the annual Chhath festival.

About Chhath Festival:

• It is a Hindu Vedic festival celebrated in the Indian Sub-Continent, prominently in Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and some areas in Madhya Pradesh in India, and a few regions of Nepal.

• It is dedicated to the Sun God (Lord Surya) and ChhathiMaiya (another name for Goddess Usha and a known sister to Lord Surya).

• It is celebrated twice a year in the months of Chaitra (March-April) and Kartika (October-November).

• Rituals:

• Considered to be one of the most eco-friendly religious festivals, Chhath Puja lasts for 4 days.
• The rituals surrounding Chhath Puja are supposedly harsher when compared to other Hindu festivals.
• They involve strict fasting (without water), taking a dip in rivers/water bodies, standing in water and offering prayers, facing the sun for a prolonged period, and offering 'prasad' to the Sun during sunrise and sunset.
• Any food prepared during the festival will have no salt, onion, or garlic.
• While in recent days, both men and women are seen fasting during this festival, but the main worshippers are mainly said to be women. Those who fast are known as parvaitin.

Hence both statements are correct.

Malawi has seen a resurgence of the infectious skin disease scabies in an outbreak that is being linked to the climate crisis.

About Scabies:

• Scabies is a parasitic infestation caused by a mite known as Sarcoptesscabiei.
• This causes an itchy rash to form on the skin.
• Untreated, these microscopic mites can live on the skin for months.
• They reproduce on the surface of the skin and then burrow into it to lay eggs.
• Scabies is often found in the skin folds. But scabies can appear on many parts of the body.
• Transmission: It is contagious and can spread quickly from person-to-person through close skin contact (e.g. living in the same residence) with an infested individual.
• Symptoms: Scabies symptoms include
  • severe itch, often worse at night;
  • itchy lines (linear burrows) and bumps (papules) on the fingers, wrists, arms, legs,and belt area;
  • larger rash in infants and small children, including on the palms, soles of the feet, ankles, and scalp.
  • A more severe type of scabies, called crusted scabies, makes the skin crusty and scaly, and affects large areas of the body.
• Treatment: Scabies is easily treated. Medicated skin creams or pills kill the mites that cause scabies and their eggs. But the itching may not stop for many weeks after treatment.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Cayman Islands’ recent exit from the FATF grey list is expected to bolster global private equity funds looking to invest in non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) based in India.

About Cayman Islands:

• The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory located in the Western Caribbean Sea.
• The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica.

History:

• The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries and were administered by Jamaica after 1863.
• In 1959, the islands became a territory within the Federation of the West Indies.
• When the Federation dissolved in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

• Language: English is the predominant language, but many speak local Creole dialects.

• Geography: The geography of the Cayman Islands is low-lying with coral reefs.

• Capital: Its capital is George Town, which is located on Grand Cayman Island.

• Currency: The Cayman Island dollar is the official currency, but American money is widely accepted.

• Government: The government system is a parliamentary democracy; the chief of state is the queen of the United Kingdom, and the head of government is the premier.

Economy:

• The Cayman Islands have a mixed economic system, and the islands are a thriving offshore financial center.
• They are considered a tax haven because the Caymans do not impose a corporate tax, making it an ideal place for multinational corporations to base subsidiary entities to shield some or all of their incomes from taxation.
• The Cayman Islands do not impose taxes on residents. They have no income tax, no property taxes, no capital gains taxes, no payroll taxes, and no withholding tax.
• Without tax income, the Caymans earn revenue via fees related to tourism and work permits, financial transactions, and import duties.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Russian police recently said they had arrested 60 people suspected of storming an airport in the Muslim-majority Caucasus republic of Dagestan, seeking to attack Jewish passengers coming from Israel.

About the Republic of Dagestan:

• It is a province of Russia, within the Russian Federation.
• It is one of 22 republics that are part of Russia.
• Dagestan, which translates as "land of the mountains", is situated in the eastern part of the North Caucasus.

• Borders:

• Dagestan has Georgia and Chechnya to the west and Azerbaijan to the south.
• To its east is the Caspian Sea.
• Population: About 3.2 million.
• Religion: The majority of Dagestanis are Sunni Muslims.

• Capital:

• The capital, Makhachkala, is located on Dagestan's Caspian Sea coast.
• Makhachkala was conquered by the Russian Imperial Army in the 19th century. It was a major pre-revolutionary trading port.

• Ethnicity:

• It is Russia's most ethnically and linguistically varied region and home to at least 40 different ethnicities. More than 30 languages are spoken here.
• It is sometimes known as the Mountain of Languages or Mountain of Nationalities, with some national groups occupying no more than one or two villages.
• The Avars are the largest ethnicity. They form about a fifth of the population in the province.
• After the Avars, there is a sizeable presence of Dargins, Kumyks, and Lezgins.
• About 10 per cent of the population is ethnically Russian.
• For almost a decade until 2017, Russian security forces were battling an armed insurgency conducted by an array of Islamist militant groups in Dagestan, neighbouring Chechnya, and Ingushetia.
• In present times, Dagestan is a conduit for major oil and gas pipelines going from the Caspian Sea to the Russian heartland. Dagestan itself has oil and gas reserves.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, eighteen captive-bred pygmy hogs were released in western Assam’s Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve.

• It is the smallest and rarest species of wild pig in the world.
• It is one of the very few mammals that build its own home, or nest, complete with a ‘roof’.
• It is an indicator species as its presence reflects the health of its primary habitat.
• Habitat: It prefers undisturbed patches of grassland dominated by early succession riverine communities, typically comprising dense tall grass intermixed with a wide variety of herbs, shrubs and young trees.
• Currently, the viable population of this pig in the wild is in the Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam.
• Conservation status:
• IUCN: Critically Endangered
• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Hence both statements are correct.