Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 22nd August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. Orangutans are found exclusively on the Indonesian island of Sumatra: - This statement is incorrect. Orangutans are found on both the Indonesian island of Sumatra and in the Malaysian and Indonesian regions of Borneo. Therefore, they are not exclusive to Sumatra.

2. Orangutans are primarily arboreal, spending over 90% of their awake hours in trees: - This statement is correct. Orangutans are indeed highly arboreal, meaning they spend a significant majority of their active time in trees.

3. All three recognized species of orangutans are classified as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List: - This statement is correct. The Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli orangutans are all listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List, indicating that they face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

Given that statements 2 and 3 are correct, the correct answer is:

Option C: 2 and 3 Only

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Poland marks the first visit by an Indian PM to the country in 45 years.

- Statement 2: This statement is correct. Poland is the largest economy in Central Europe and has seen significant growth over the past three decades.

- Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. India established diplomatic relations with Poland in 1954, not immediately after gaining independence in 1947.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

Statement-I correctly highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Poland and Ukraine, emphasizing India's strategic focus on Central Europe and efforts to broaden its European relations beyond traditional partners. This is evident from the significance of the visit as outlined in the provided content.

Statement-II accurately describes the rapid growth of the e-commerce sector in India, citing factors such as government initiatives like Digital India and rising domestic consumption. The expansion of e-commerce in India has indeed been fueled by factors like enhanced internet access, digital payment options, and government support, leading to a significant impact on the economy and job market.

Let's analyze each statement:

1. Atomic clocks measure time based on the resonant frequencies of hydrogen atoms.

This statement is incorrect. Atomic clocks generally measure time based on the resonant frequencies of cesium-133 atoms, not hydrogen atoms.

2. A lunar time standard is required because time on the Moon progresses slightly slower than on Earth due to its lower gravity.

This statement is incorrect. Time on the Moon actually progresses slightly faster than on Earth due to its lower gravity. An Earth clock would lose approximately 7 microseconds per Earth day when viewed from the Moon.

3. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is based on International Atomic Time (TAI), which is derived from atomic clocks worldwide.

This statement is correct. UTC is indeed based on TAI, which is derived from a weighted average of over 400 atomic clocks worldwide.

Thus, only statement 3 is correct, making Option D the correct answer.

India's increasing focus on Central Europe in its foreign policy is primarily aimed at engaging more deeply with Europe. This strategic shift indicates India's active interest in the region amid geopolitical changes and a desire to diversify its relations within Europe by widening outreach beyond traditional partners.

The correct answer is Option D.

Explanation:

1. Statement 1: Incorrect. The India-KLEMS database was not primarily designed to measure employment data directly. It was initially an academic initiative aimed at analyzing productivity, including Capital (K), Labour (L), Energy (E), Material (M), and Services (S), rather than directly measuring employment.

2. Statement 2: Correct. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the Worker Population Ratio (WPR) in India indeed increased from 34.7% in 2017-18 to 41.1% in 2022-23. This rise was largely attributed to an increase in unpaid self-employment, especially among rural women in agriculture.

3. Statement 3: Correct. The SBI report did validate the employment data against the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO) Annual Survey of Unincorporated Sector Enterprises (ASUSE), which supports the numbers provided by the India-KLEMS database.

Therefore, statements 2 and 3 are correct, making Option D the accurate answer.

Prime Minister Modi's claim regarding the creation of eight crore new jobs is based on data from the India-KLEMS database, managed by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The India-KLEMS database is primarily used for analyzing productivity and economic growth, and it includes estimates of labor force data.

1. Cesium-133: Measures time by the vibration of cesium atoms
Correct. Cesium-133 is used in atomic clocks, and one second is defined by the time it takes for a cesium atom to vibrate 9,192,631,770 times.

2. Hydrogen maser: Less precise than cesium clocks
Incorrect. Hydrogen maser atomic clocks are actually more precise than cesium clocks and are primarily used in scientific research.

3. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): Based on International Atomic Time (TAI)
Correct. UTC is based on International Atomic Time (TAI), which is derived from atomic clocks worldwide.

4. Lunar time standard: Necessary to synchronize communications on Earth
Incorrect. A lunar time standard is needed to synchronize communications between lunar bases, satellites, astronauts, and Earth, not solely on Earth.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

Orangutans are known to spend over 90% of their awake hours in trees, showcasing their strong arboreal nature. This behavior is a key adaptation that distinguishes them as the largest tree-dwelling mammals.

Atomic clocks are essential for various applications like GPS systems, telecommunications, and scientific research due to their superior accuracy and reliability in time measurement. These clocks operate based on the stable vibrations of atoms, particularly cesium-133, which ensures precise timekeeping. The exceptional stability and accuracy of atomic vibrations make atomic clocks the most reliable timekeeping devices, hence their significance in applications requiring high precision.