Daily Current Affairs MCQ- April 12, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has topped a global approval ratings leaving behind all contemporary Heads of State and Heads of Government.

• According to a survey conducted among all adults, Mr Modi received a stellar approval rating of 70 per cent while Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was second with 64 per cent and Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghi was number three with 63 per cent.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel ranks 4th with 52 per cent and US president Joe Biden is at number 5 with 48 per cent.
• The Morning Consult, an American data intelligence firm, tracks the approval rating for governmental leaders in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.
• As per the intelligence firm, its ratings are based on a seven-day moving average of adult residents in each country.

Hence both statements are correct.

For increasing exports through quality production and processing, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) signed a MoU with ICAR-Indian Institute of Millet Research (ICAR-IIMR), located at Rajendranagar (Hyderabad, Telangana), which is expected to boost value addition and farmers’ income.

• The key focus of the MoU would be to promote commercial cultivation of processable varieties developed by ICAR-IIMR for exports which is expected to promote value addition of millets, a cereal with high nutritive value.
• A joint coordination committee with representatives from APEDA and ICAR-IIMR would be set up to achieve the goals envisaged under the MoU.
• Millets are cereal crops with high nutritive value and categorized as small-seeded grasses.
• The key varieties of millets include Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Ragi, Small Millet, Foxtail Millet, Barnyard Millet, Kodo Millet and others.
• Recently, the United Nations General Assembly has passed the resolution to celebrate the International Year of Millets (IYM) in 2023, to promote the health benefits of millets.

Hence both statements are correct.

Ayush Ministry launched the campaign “AYUSH AAPKE DWAR” from more than 45 locations across the country.

• The campaign aims to distribute medicinal plant saplings to 75 lakh households across the country in one year.
• The medicinal plants include Tejpatta, Stevia, Ashoka, Jatamansi, Giloy/Guduchi, Ashwagandha, Kumari, Shatavari, Lemongrass, Guggulu, Tulsi, Sarpagandha, Kalmegh, Brahmi and Amla.
• Under the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, several other programs including the launch of the Y-Break App, distribution of Prophylactic Ayush Drugs have been launched already.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India has signed an MoU with National Law University(NLU) , Delhi and National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal, to establish a Cyber Lab for the ‘Online Capacity Building Programme on Cyber Law, Crime Investigation and Digital Forensics’.

• The new facility is aimed at enabling police officers, state cyber cells, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and judicial officers to acquire requisite skills to deal with Cyber Forensics cases efficiently as per the Indian Cyber Law.
• NeGD, in collaboration with NLIU Bhopal has taken this initiative to offer a 9 Months Online PG Diploma to 1000 Officials through its Learning Management System (LMS). The programme enables learners to experience anytime anywhere learning on the go.
• Participants will undergo a practical training session and personal contact program at the designated Cyber Lab to be set up in the campus of the National Law University (NLU) Delhi for facilitating this course.
• The proposed cyber lab will be equipped with Hybrid architecture which supports both virtual as well as physical mode of capacity building in the areas of Cyber Law, Cybercrime Investigation and Digital Forensics.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Coal India Ltd (CIL), under the Ministry of Coal has launched a new software named “Spectral Enhancement” (SPE), which will help in identifying thin coal seams under the earth crust and improve assessment of coal resources using seismic survey during coal exploration process.

• The launch of SPE software assumes significance as the present seismic survey techniques for coal resource exploration have limitations in identifying the thin coal seams under the earth, which will now be possible as this new software helps in enhancing resolution of seismic signals leading to delineation of thinnest coal seams.
• CIL’s research and development (R&D) arm Central Mine Planning and Design Institute (CMPDI) has developed this first of its kind software in association with Gujrat Energy Research and Management Institute (GERMI) and the company will also file for its copyright protection.
• This ‘Made in India’ software will also help to save time and cost of coal exploration and thus boost the mission of Atmanirbhar Bharat in coal production.
• CIL accounts for 80 per cent of India’s coal output.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India and Singapore have carried out a mega naval wargame in the southern fringes of the South China Sea over the last three days, in reflection of their growing congruence of interests in the strategically key region.

• It was the 28th edition of the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX)
• Initiated in 1994, SIMBEX is the Indian Navy’s longest uninterrupted bilateral maritime exercise with any foreign navy.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), has laid the foundation stone for first ever Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) in the state of Meghalaya at its office complex yesterday at Lapalang, Shillong.

• The EVCS are being developed under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid) & Electric Vehicles (FAME) India Scheme Phase-II.
• Under this scheme, POWERGRID shall be developing 11 EVCS in Shillong city (5 Public EVCS and 6 at government establishments).
• POWERGRID has developed itself as one of the market leaders in EVCS business and has its presence in major cities of India like Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Bengaluru, Gurugram and Kochi.

Hence both statements are correct.

The 8th National Level Exhibition and Project Competition (NLEPC) for the INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge), which commenced recently, showcased the innovative ideas from 581 students representing various States and UT’s of the country.

• The eighth edition of NLEPC corresponds to the students selected under INSPIRE Awards – MANAK (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge) program during FY 2019-20, and owing to COVID-19, it was deferred last year.
• The INSPIRE Awards - MANAK scheme is aligned with the ‘Start-up India’ initiative launched by the Prime Minister of India.
• The scheme aims to motivate students in the age group of 10-15 years and studying in classes 6 to 10 to become future innovators and critical thinkers.
• It believes that once the original ideas and innovations rooted in Science and Technology by students get incubated, it will foster a culture of creativity and innovative thinking among school children.

Hence both statements are correct.

The central government has increased the financial support from Rs 9 crore to Rs 70 crore to ensure more Ayush colleges are opened across the country, Union Minister of Ayush said.

• The Union minister said that there are only a few Ayush colleges in the North-East and the Indian traditional medicine systems can only be popularised by making available more qualified practitioners.
• Ministry of Ayush has also accorded in-principle approval for upgrading the Government Ayurvedic College, Jalukbari, Assam as the Centre of Excellence with the support of up to Rs 10 crore.
• The minister also announced the starting of a Panchkarma Technician course affiliated to Health Sector Skill Council - National Skill Development Corporation at Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Guwahati with 10 seats for 10+2 students to produce skilled manpower for Panchkarma therapy in NE region.

Hence both statements are correct.

Amid heavy rainfall in Delhi-NCR on Saturday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert for three hours in the region.

• Colour codes are used in weather warnings for bringing out the severity of the weather phenomena expected as per the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
• The main purpose is to forewarn disaster management authority and people to keep themselves ready for necessary action related to disaster risk reduction.
• These alerts are universal in nature and are also issued during floods, depending on the amount of water rising above land/in a river as a result of torrential rainfall.

The IMD uses 4 colour codes

• Green (All is well): No advisory is issued.
• Yellow (Be Aware): Yellow indicates severely bad weather spanning across several days. It also suggests that the weather could change for the worse, causing disruption in day-to-day activities.
• Orange/Amber (Be prepared): The orange alert is issued as a warning of extremely bad weather with the potential of disruption in commute with road and rail closures, and interruption of power supply.
• Red (Take Action): When the extremely bad weather conditions are certainly going to disrupt travel and power and have significant risk to life, the red alert is issued.

Hence both statements are correct.