Daily Current Affairs MCQ- September 18, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Ecologists are naturally concerned when record-setting rain this year altered the Broadnose Sevengill shark nursery grounds in San Francisco Bay.

• It is a large seven-gilled with a wide head and short, blunt snout shark.
• It is related to sharks that lived in the Jurassic Period about 300 million years ago.
• They prefer tropical temperate and shallow waters.
• Distribution:
• Found in all oceans except the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea.
• In the eastern Pacific Ocean, they are found from southeastern Alaska to southern Baja California, Mexico and from Colombia to Chile.
• Biology and Behaviour
• They can grow to a maximum length of 2.9 m. Females grow longer than its male counterparts.
• They feed on anything such as other sharks, rays, chimaeras, bony fish, hagfish, dolphins and porpoise meat, seals, shark egg cases and sea snails.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Vulnerable

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, a group of birders, who visited Kurichi tank in Coimbatore spotted a Red-necked phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus).

• It is fairly small shorebird known for spinning frantically on water to stir up small invertebrates.
• It has a circumpolar distribution and is found in both boreal and tundra zones between 60 and 70 degrees latitude.
• These phalaropes can be found in coastal regions of the Arctic Ocean, south to the Aleutians and Northwest to Britain.
• In the winter, it spends most of its time on the ocean.
• During this non-breeding season, phalaropes can be found off central-west South America, in the Arabian Sea and from central Indonesia to western Melanesia.
• Appearance and behaviour:
• The bird mainly feeds on small aquatic invertebrates and plankton.
• It exhibits a typical feeding behavior of spinning on the surface of water.
• This rapid circling is believed to bring the prey to its feeding range.
• Unlike in other species, female Red-necked phalaropes are brighter than males.
• During the breeding period, the species have a chestnut-red plumage from behind the ear to the down sides of the neck.
• Females are observed polyandrous, that is mating with more than one male.
• The males brood chicks and feed them.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Least concern

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Defence Ministry has cleared the proposal of buying a regiment of Pralay tactical ballistic missiles for the Indian Army.

• It is a quasi-ballistic surface-to-surface missile.
• Range: It can hit targets 150-500 km away.
• Capacity: The missile can carry 350-700 kg of high-grade explosives.
• It is developed by the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)
• It is powered by a solid propellant rocket motor and other new technologies.
• The missile guidance system includes state-of-the-art navigation and integrated avionics.
• It can change its path after covering a certain range in mid-air.

Hence both statements are correct.

Santiniketan, the home of late Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage sites list.

• It is located in the state of West Bengal.
• It was established in 1901 by Rabindranath Tagore.
• It was a residential school and centre for art based on ancient Indian traditions.
• In 1921, a ‘world university’ was established at Santiniketan, later recognised as 'Visva Bharati'.
• Visva-Bharati in Santiniketan is Bengal’s only central university whose chancellor is the Prime Minister.
•  It is distinct from the prevailing British colonial architectural orientations of the early 20th century and of European modernism.
• It represents approaches toward a pan-Asian modernity, drawing on ancient, medieval and folk traditions from across the region.

Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Recently, the earth was hit by a strong Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).

About Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):

• CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona that propagate outward into interplanetary space.
• During a CME, the Sun releases a colossal amount of material, including electrons, protons, and heavier ions, as well as magnetic fields. This ejected material travels at high speeds into space.
• Causes:
• CMEs are typically triggered by the destabilization of the Sun's magnetic fields.
• The exact mechanisms are complex, but they often involve the reconfiguration or disruption of magnetic loops on the Sun's surface.
• CMEs are distinct from solar flares, although they often occur together. Solar flares are sudden and intense bursts of energy and radiation, whereas CMEs involve the expulsion of solar material.
• Impact on Earth:
• Geomagnetic Storms: The interaction between the CME's magnetic fields and Earth's magnetosphere can lead to geomagnetic storms. These can disrupt satellite communications, navigation systems, and even power grids.
• Auroras: CMEs can cause spectacular displays of the Northern and Southern Lights, also known as auroras, by energizing particles in Earth's atmosphere.
• Radiation Hazards: Astronauts in space or passengers on high-altitude flights can be exposed to elevated levels of radiation during a CME event.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

As part of the Surya Regional Water Supply Project, the work on the 4.6 km long underground tunnel for crossing the Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary was recently completed.

About Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in the Palghar district of Maharashtra,75 km away from Mumbai.
• It forms a corridor between Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• Landscape: It is characterized by hilly terrain, dense forests, and small rivers or streams.
• Vegetation: There are three different types of forests – Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous and Semi Evergreen.
• Flora: It is home to several species of trees, including teak, bamboo, and mango.
• Fauna:
• Some commonly spotted animals in the sanctuary include Leopard, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Langur, Bonnet and Rhesus Macaque, and Black-naped Hare.
• A multitude of birds, including the Crested Serpent-eagle, Jungle Owlet, White-eyed Buzzard, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Emerald Dove and Heart-spotted Woodpecker, can be found here.
• Several ancient temples are within its boundaries. The most famous of these temples is the Tungareshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) recently celebrated the 29th World Ozone Day.

About World Ozone Day:

• World Ozone Day, or International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone layer, is observed annually on September 16.
• It is celebrated every year to spread awareness among people about the depletion of the Ozone Layer and the measures taken/ to be taken to preserve it.
• The theme for World Ozone Day 2023 is “Montreal Protocol: fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change”.
• History:
• In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol, on substances that deplete the Ozone layer. 
• The protocol was signed on September 16, 1987, in Montreal, Canada, to address the depletion of the ozone layer.

What is the Montreal Protocol?

• It is an international treaty that aimed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances, primarily chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, and other chemicals.
• These substances were commonly used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and aerosol propellants.
• Kigali Agreement:
• It is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
• It was adopted on October 15, 2016, in Kigali, Rwanda, as an extension of the Montreal Protocol.
• While the original Montreal Protocol focused on phasing out ozone-depleting substances, the Kigali Amendment addresses the phase-down of Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are used as replacements for those ozone-depleting substances.
• The primary goal of the Kigali Amendment is to reduce the production and consumption of HFCs, with the aim of mitigating their contribution to global warming.

Hence both statements are correct.

The recent release of massive amounts of water from the Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD) has caused massive flooding in low-lying areas in the Narmada district.

About Sardar Sarovar Dam (SSD):

• SSD is a concrete gravity dam built on the Narmada River at Kevadia in Gujarat’s Narmada district.
• The dam was named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Having a length of 1.2 km and a depth of 163 m, it is the third highest concrete dam in India, the first two being Bhakra (226 metres) in Himachal Pradesh and Lakhwar (192 meters) in Uttar Pradesh. 
• In terms of the volume of concrete involved in gravity dams, this dam will be ranked as the second largest in the world after the Grand Coule Dam in the USA.
• It is a part of the Narmada Valley Project, a large hydraulic engineering project involving the construction of a series of large irrigation and hydroelectric multi-purpose dams on the Narmada River. 
• The dam has two powerhouses–a canal head powerhouse and a river bed powerhouse with an installed capacity of 250 MW and 1,200 MW, respectively.
• Power benefits are shared among Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat in the ratio of 57:27:16, respectively.
• Reservoir: The dam forms a vast reservoir known as the "Sardar Sarovar Reservoir" or "Narmada Lake," which spans across several districts in Gujarat.

Key Facts about Narmada River:

• It is the largest west-flowing river in the peninsular India.
• Origin: It rises from Narmada Kund, located at Amarkantak, in the Anuppur district of Madhya Pradesh, at an elevation of about 1057 m in the Maikala range.
• Course: The river flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat between Vindhya and Satpura hill ranges before falling into the Gulf of Cambay in the Arabian Sea about 10 km north of Bharuch, Gujarat.
• Length: The total length of the river from source to sea is 1312 kilometers (815 miles).
• The river has numerous waterfalls, notably the Dhuandhar Falls, southwest of Jabalpur. 
• Tributaries: The Narmada has several tributaries, with the most significant ones being the Tawa, Barna, Hiran, and Orsang rivers.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Prime Minister recently inaugurated the first phase of the India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC), named Yashobhoomi, in New Delhi's Dwarka.

About Yashobhoomi:

• 'YashoBhoomi' or India International Convention and Expo Centre (IICC) is a state-of-the-art modern convention centre located in Dwarka, New Delhi.
• It will be among the world’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Destinations) destination.
• It has a magnificent Convention Centre, multiple Exhibition halls and other facilities.
• Features:
• The project covers a total area of over 8.9 lakh square metres with total built up area of more than 1.8 lakh square metres.
• Cost: The project is developed around a cost of Rs 5400 crores.
• The Convention Center, built across more than 73 thousand square metres of area, comprises 15 convention rooms including the Main auditorium, the Grand ballroom and 13 meeting rooms with a total capacity of holding 11,000 delegates.
• It has the largest LED media facade in the country.
• The plenary hall in the Convention Center is equipped with a seating capacity of around 6,000 guests.
• The exhibition halls are built across over 1.07 lakh square metres of area suitable for hosting exhibitions, trade fairs and business events.
• It is equipped with a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment system boasting 100 per cent wastewater reuse and provisions of rainwater harvesting.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed important details about Earendel, the far away celestial body.

• It is a star discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2022 and it is the most distant and earliest known star.
• It is a massive B-type star that is more than twice as hot as our Sun and about a million times more luminous.
• It is located in the Sunrise Arc Galaxy and is around 12.9 billion years away.
• Both Webb and Hubble were only able to detect it due to a natural phenomenon called gravitational lensing.
• The star happened to be aligned behind a wrinkle in space-time created by the galaxy cluster WHL0137-08, which is located between us and Earendel.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.