Daily Current Affairs MCQ- October 13, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

The Union Cabinet recently approved changes to the Rs 76,000-crore semiconductor Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

PLI scheme provides incentives to companies for enhancing their domestic manufacturing.

The PLI schemes are implemented by the concerned Ministries/ Departments.

PLI Schemes for 13 sectors was announced during the Union Budget 2021-22. Later, textile sector was also added.

This will now allow for a uniform fiscal support of 50 per cent of project cost for semiconductor fabs across technology nodes and display manufacturing.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

PM CARES Fund:

The Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) was created as a dedicated fund on 27 March 2020 (and registered as a Public Charitable Trust), following the COVID-19 pandemic in India.

The stated purpose of the fund is for combating, containment and relief efforts against the coronavirus outbreak and similar emergency or distress situations in the future.

The fund is administered on an honorary basis by a Joint Secretary (Administration) in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as Secretary to the fund.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Last week, a doctor in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur allegedly tied a dog to his car and dragged it across the city.

• The doctor faces charges under Section 428 (mischief by killing or maiming animal) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 11 (treating animals cruelly) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960.
• If convicted under the PCA Act and found to be a first-time offender, he can be punished with a fine of Rs 10 to Rs 50. If it is found that this is not his first such crime within the past three years, the maximum punishment would be a fine between Rs 25 and Rs 100, a jail term of three months, or both.
• The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 defines cruelty to animals –– including acts of overburdening or overworking it, not providing the animal food, water and shelter, mutilating or killing an animal, etc.
• The Act has been criticised for being ‘speciesist’ (the assumption that humans are a superior species deserving more rights), for its quantum of punishment being negligible, for not defining ‘cruelty’ adequately, and for slapping a flat punishment without any gradation of crimes.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Union Cabinet has approved the second tranche of Production Linked Incentive(PLI) Scheme on ‘National programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules’ for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt scale in High Efficiency Solar PV Modules.

• The national programme on High Efficiency Solar PV Modules aims to build an ecosystem for manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules in India reducing import dependence in the area of Renewable Energy.
• It will strengthen the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and generate employment.
• The Tranche-2 scheme of High Efficiency Solar PV Modules has been approved with an outlay of 19,500 crore rupees for achieving manufacturing capacity of Giga Watt scale.
• The aim is to build an ecosystem for manufacturing of high efficiency solar PV modules.
• About 65 thousand Mega Watt per annum manufacturing capacity of fully and partially integrated solar PV modules will be installed.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Defence Accounts Department signed a MoU with Bank of Baroda and HDFC Bank, to onboard them as Service Centres under the System for Pension Administration (Raksha) (SPARSH) initiative, across more than 14,000 branches throughout India.

• SPARSH is a web-based system for processing the pension claims and crediting the pension directly into the bank accounts of defence pensioners without any external intermediary.
• It has been designed to give Defence Pensioners a transparent view of their pension account, through an online portal which captures and maintains a complete history of events and entitlements of the pensioner – right from the date of commencement of pension to the date of cessation of pension due to the last eligible beneficiary.
• This system is administered by the Defence Accounts Department through the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions), Prayagraj and caters to all the three Services and allied organization.
• The system on roll-out is initially catering to the new retirees and subsequently is being extended to cover the existing defence pensioners.

Hence both statements are correct.

Two Diving Support Vessels (Nistar & Nipun) being built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Vishakapatnam for the Indian Navy, are scheduled to be launched on 22 September 2022.

• The Diving Support Vessels (DSVs) are first of the kind, ships indigenously designed and built at HSL for the Indian Navy.
• The vessels are 118.4 metres long, 22.8 metres at the broadest point and will have a displacement of 9,350 tons.
• These ships would be deployed for deep sea diving operations. Additionally, with Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) embarked, the DSVs are designed to undertake submarine rescue operations, in case requirement exists.
• Furthermore, these ships will be capable of sustained patrolling, conducting Search & Rescue operations and carrying out Helicopter Operations at high seas.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Cabinet has approved the certain modifications in the Programme for development of semiconductors and display manufacturing ecosystem in India.

• These modifications are:
  • Fiscal support of 50% of Project Cost on pari-passu basis for all technology nodes under Scheme for Setting up of Semiconductor Fabs in India.
  • Fiscal support of 50% of Project Cost on pari-passu basis under Scheme for Setting up of Display Fabs.
  • Fiscal support of 50% of Capital Expenditure on pari-passu basis under Scheme for Setting up of Compound Semiconductors / Silicon Photonics / Sensors Fab and Semiconductor ATMP /OSAT facilities in India. Additionally, target technologies under the Scheme will include Discrete Semiconductor Fabs.
• Under modified programme, a uniform fiscal support of 50% of Project Cost shall be provided across all technology nodes for setting up of Semiconductor Fabs.
• Given the niche technology and nature of compound semiconductors and advanced packaging, the modified programme shall also provide fiscal support of 50% of Capital Expenditure in pari-passu mode for setting up of compound semiconductors / silicon photonics / sensors / Discrete semiconductors fabs and ATMP/OSAT.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has received a copy of the Braille version of Assamese Dictionary ‘Hemkosh' from Shri Jayanta Baruah.

• Hemkosh is the first etymological dictionary of the Assamese language based on Sanskrit spellings, compiled by Hemchandra Barua.
• It was first published in the early 20th century and is considered to be the "standard" reference of the Assamese orthography.

Hence both statements are correct.

In a significant milestone, India has achieved landmark achievement in further reduction of child mortality rates.

• As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020 released on 22nd September 2022 by Registrar General of India (RGI), the country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in IMR, U5MR and NMR since 2014 towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030.
• Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) for the country has shown significant decline of 3 points (Annual Decline Rate: 8.6%) from 2019 (32 per 1000 live births in 2020 against 35 per 1000 live births in 2019). It varies from 36 in rural areas to 21 in urban areas.
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has also registered 2-point decline to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020 from 30 per 1000 live births in 2019 (Annual Decline Rate: 6.7%). The Rural-Urban difference has narrowed to 12 points (Urban 19, Rural-31).
• Neonatal Mortality Rate has also declined by 2 points from 22 per 1000 live births in 2019 to 20 per 1000 live births in 2020 (Annual Decline Rate: 9.1%). It ranges from 12 in urban areas to 23 in rural areas.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Centre appointed new heads to two top medical posts in India.

• Dr. Rajiv Bahl, currently at the World Health Organisation, Geneva, was appointed Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
• Dr. M. Srinivas, Dean, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Sanathnagar, Hyderabad was appointed Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.
• All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, also known as AIIMS Delhi, is a globally acclaimed public medical research university and hospital based in New Delhi, India. The institute is governed by the AIIMS Act, 1956 and operates autonomously under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body in India for the formulation, coordination and promotion of biomedical research, is one of the oldest and largest medical research bodies in the world. The ICMR is funded by the Government of India through the Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Hence both statements are correct.