Daily Current Affairs MCQ- April 3, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the union Minister for Tribal Affairs visited the Sammakka- Saralamma Maha Jatara, in Medaram, Mulugu district of Telangana.

• It is also known as Medaram Jatara.
• It is a tribal festival of honouring the goddesses celebrated in the state of Telangana, India.
• The festival is a demonstration of tribal devotion and people from all walks of life join together to commemorate the revolt led by Sammakka and Saralamma, a mother-daughter duo, against imposing taxes on the tribal populace during a period of drought by the Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century.
• Location: Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Mulugu.
• It is held every two years (biannually). It is celebrated during the time the goddesses of the tribals is believed to visit them.
• Ritual: People offer bangaram/gold (jaggery) of a quantity equal to their weight to the goddesses and take holy bath in Jampanna Vagu, a tributary to River Godavari.
• Significance: It serves as a platform for understanding and fostering harmony between the people and tribal communities, promoting the preservation of their unique traditions, culture, and heritage on a global scale.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

Recently, the government of Tamil Nadu established the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund (TNESCF) to protect the purple frog and other lesser known endangered species.

• It is also known as Maveli frog or Pignose Frog. 
• It is believed to have co-existed with dinosaurs, has similarities to the Sooglossidae family of frogs in Seychelles.
• It is often called as a ‘living fossil’ which belongs to the Nasikabatrachidae family.
• Appearance
• It has a bloated body with short stout limbs and is dark purple to greyish in colour.
• It has a small head in comparison to the body length, and an unusually pointed snout.
• Its short and muscular forelimbs with hard palms help it to burrow underground.
• Unlike other frogs, it has very short hind legs, which does not allow it to leap from one spot to another.
• Habitat: This burrow-dwelling frog prefers loose, damp and well-aerated soil close to ponds and ditches or streams. 
• Distribution: It is the soil-dwelling frog endemic to selected habitats in the Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• The Anamalai hill is one of its prime habitats in Tamil Nadu.
• Tamil Nadu is home to two types of Purple Frog: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis and Nasikabatrachus bhupathi. 
• It remains underground most of the year except for 2-3 weeks during the monsoon when it comes out to mate.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Nasikabatrachus sahyadrensis (Near Threatened) and Nasikabatrachus bhupathi (Critically Endangered). 
• Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act, 2022: Schedule I
• Threats: Habitat loss, road networks through their habitats, and climate change are some of the major threats to their survival. 

Hence both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

A delegation from the World Bank has arrived in Goa for talks with state govt to set up the first sub-national climate resilient green fund.

• It is a global blended finance initiative to develop mid-size climate resilient infrastructure & nature-based solutions.
• Mission: To invest in subnational climate-smart infrastructure and nature-based solutions delivering measurable and certified climate and sustainable development impact at the local level.
• The model is designed to attract public and private investment and to deliver certified climate and Sustainable Development impacts and Nature-based Solutions. 
• Structure:
• Fund Manager: It is managed by the Pegasus Capital.
• Technical assistance: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is responsible for the Technical Assistance component of SCF. 
• Anchor Investor of Concessional Capital: The Green Climate Fund (GCF) 
• Governance
• Governance of the Subnational Climate Fund (SCF) includes a High-level Advisory Committee.
• The role of the committee is to advise the SCF Consortium on best opportunities to invest in regard to SCF mission, and more widely on the theory of change encompassed by SCF.
• This Committee is composed of well-known experts in their field of expertise in climate science, finance/economies, sector/technical, biodiversity/nature-based solutions, and environmental/social management systems (ESMS).

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, a 21-year-old from Gujarat allegedly sent five threatening emails to industrialist after masking his IP address using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) was arrested by the Mumbai police.

• A VPN, stands for virtual private network, establishes a digital connection between your computer and a remote server owned by a VPN provider.
• It creates a point-to-point tunnel that encrypts personal data, masks your IP address, and lets you sidestep website blocks and firewalls on the internet.
• This ensures online experiences are private, protected, and more secure.
• It is
• Virtual because no physical cables are involved in the connection process.
• Private because through this connection, no one else can see your data or browsing activity.
• Networked because multiple devices—your computer and the VPN server—work together to maintain an established link.
• Advantages of VPN
• Secure your data: A VPN connection scrambles your data into code and renders it unreadable to anyone without an encryption key. It hides your browsing activity so that no one else can see it.
• Bypass censorship and surveillance: Some regions may not have access to certain sites or services due to government restrictions, censorship, or surveillance. Location spoofing gives these users the ability to circumvent firewalls, view blocked websites, and move freely online.
• Prevent ISP and third-party tracking: Internet service providers (ISPs) log and track your browsing history through your device's unique IP address. By routing to a remote VPN server instead of your ISP's servers, a VPN masks your IP address, prevents ISP tracking, and keeps your personal data private.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

As many as 38 exotic birds and animals, translocated from abroad and other states, have died in the last two years at the Sardar Patel Zoological Park in the Statue of Unity complex, the Gujarat Assembly was informed recently.

About Statue of Unity:

• It was created as a tribute to the ‘Iron Man of India’, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
• Location: It is located in Gujarat, by the banks of the River Narmada on the River Island of Sadhu Bet, overlooking the Narmada Dam.
• Height: The statue, 182-metre tall, is described as the world’s tallest as it exceeds the height of China’s Spring Temple Buddha by 177 feet.
• The height of 182 meters is kept as the Gujarat state has 182 seats in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.
• The statue was built by Indian construction major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and designed by Padma Bhushan-winning sculptor Ram V Sutar.
• The state government fully funded the INR 3,050-crore project, covering an area of 20,000 square metres and is surrounded by a 12 square kilometre artificial lake.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Amid the recent standoff between the protesting farmers and the government, Nihang Sikh warriors have joined the protest, extending support to farmers facing off with security forces.

About Nihang Sikhs:

• Nihangs, or Nihang Singhs, originally known as Akalis or Akali Nihangs, are a distinct warrior order within the Sikh community, known for their martial traditions, unique attire, and adherence to a specific code of conduct.
• They have a rich history dating back to the times of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru.
• They are easily recognizable by their distinctive blue attire, which includes blue robes, high turbans adorned with steel quoits (chakrams), and they often carry traditional weapons like swords, spears, and daggers.
• They are highly skilled in Gatka martial arts and have historically served as a dedicated and elite force to protect Sikh shrines and communities.
• Nihangs had a major role in defending the Sikh Panth after the fall of the first Sikh rule (1710-15), when Mughal governors were killing Sikhs, and during the onslaught of Afghan invader Ahmed Shah Durrani (1748-65).
• Current Status:
• Nihangs are today divided into several groups, each with its own “chhaoni”(cantonment), but are loosely organised into two “dals” (forces)—Buddha Dal and Taruna Dal, names initially given to the two sections into which the ‘Khalsa’ army was divided in 1733.
• The Buddha Dal has its headquarters at Talvandi Sabo, in Bathinda district, while the principal cantonment of the Taruna Dal Nihangs is at Baba Bakala in Amritsar district.
• Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa, remains the main centre of Nihang gatherings.
• They assemble there in the thousands in March every year to celebrate Hola Mahalla, a Sikh festival introduced by Guru Gobind Singh. 
• On that occasion, they hold tournaments of military skills, including mock battles. 

Hence option c is the correct answer.

The Supreme Court recently held that the suit for injunction may not be maintainable against the defendants if the plaintiff fails to prove the title of the property while praying for the injunction.

About Injunction:

• In India, an injunction is a legal remedy available to parties who wish to prevent the other party from carrying out a certain action or behavior. 
• Injunctions can be granted in a variety of situations, such as in cases of intellectual property infringement, breach of contract, or defamation.
• An injunction is a powerful legal tool that acts as a court order requiring a party to do or cease doing specific actions. 
• It plays a crucial role in many legal battles, serving as a preventive measure to stop legal wrongs or as a remedy to enforce rights. 
• Injunctions are a discretionary remedy, and the court will consider various factors before deciding whether to grant an injunction. These factors may include the urgency of the matter, the balance of convenience, and the likelihood of success in the underlying lawsuit.
• Types of Injunctions in India:
• Temporary Injunctions: They are granted to preserve the status quo until a final decision can be reached. These are usually granted at the start of a case and can last for the duration of the legal proceedings.
• Permanent Injunctions: They are granted after the court has made a final determination in the case. They prohibit the defendant from continuing a particular action or behavior.
• Mandatory Injunctions: They require the defendant to carry out a particular action. They are often granted in cases of breach of contract, where the plaintiff requires the defendant to fulfill their contractual obligations.
• Prohibitory Injunctions: They prohibit the defendant from carrying out a particular action or behavior. They are often granted in cases of intellectual property infringement or defamation.
• Provision of Injunction in Indian Law:
• Under Indian law, injunctions are governed by the Specific Relief Act, 1963. The act provides for two types of injunctions – temporary injunctions and perpetual injunctions.
• In addition to the Specific Relief Act, injunctions are also governed by the Civil Procedure Code, 1908.
• What happens if the party violates the injunction? If a party violates the injunction, they may be held in contempt of court and could face penalties such as fines or imprisonment.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

As many as 40 spotted deer have been translocated from Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysuru Zoo) to the Panasoli range of Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR) recently.

About Spotted Deer:

• The spotted deer, or chital/ cheetal is a deer species native to the Indian subcontinent.
• It is the most common deer species in Indian forests.
• Distribution: It is widely distributed in Asia, especially in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and a small group in Pakistan. 
• Habitat: Subtropical grasslands and forests
• Features:
• With a lifespan of about 20 to 30 years, it stands at about 35 inches tall and weighs about 187 pounds. 
• It is a slightly reddish brown with white spots on its body.
• Only males have antlers, and their bodies are larger than females. 
• Spotted Deers are social animals. They commonly occur in herds of 10 to 50 individuals.
• They mainly feed on grasses throughout the year. Their diets include herbs, shrubs, foliage, and fruits.
• Conservation Status:
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the government has increased the allocation for Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector by 23% to Rs 708.7 crore for the next two financial years and the scheme is run by the Rubber Board.

• It is a statutory organization constituted under the Rubber Act, 1947.
• It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Functions:
• It is responsible for the development of the rubber industry in the country by assisting and encouraging research, development, extension and training activities related to rubber.
• It also maintains statistical data of rubber, takes steps to promote marketing of rubber and undertake labour welfare activities.
• A crucial function of the Rubber Board is issuing licenses to rubber producers, manufacturers, and exporters/traders. This license, known as the "Rubber Board license/registration," is mandatory for anyone involved in rubber manufacturing and export
• Structure:
• It is headed by a Chairman appointed by the Central Government.
• It has 28 members representing various interests of the natural rubber industry.
• The activities of the Board are exercised through Five Departments viz. General Services, Extension & Advisory Services, Research Services (rubber Research Institute of India), Training (Rubber Training Institute) & Finance.
• Headquarters: Kottayam, Kerala.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, a bull shark attacked a fisherman in Vaitarna river at Dongripada in Maharashtra’s Palghar district was the first sighting of a bull shark 40km upstream in the river.

• It is one of the west flowing rivers in the region North of Mumbai and South of the Tapi River.
• It originates in the Trimbakeshwar Hills of Nasik district of Maharashtra.
• It receives most of the rainfall from the South West monsoon during June to October. Almost 98% of the annual rainfall of the basin is received during this period.
• Tributaries: The main tributaries are Pinjal, Ganjai, Surya, Daharji and Tansa.
• The catchment area of Vaitarna basin completely lies in Thane and Nasik districts of Maharashtra.
• It drains an area of 2019 sq km before it falls in Gulf of Khambhat. 

Key facts about Bull Shark

• They’re known to be aggressive towards humans and are thought to be one of the most dangerous shark species in the world.
• Habitat: These are frequently spotted in tropical coastal areas worldwide, including shallower waters along coastlines.
• Bull sharks have a unique ability to tolerate freshwater and saltwater habitats, meaning they can sometimes be found venturing into rivers and traveling great distances upstream. 
• It reproduces through viviparity, the process in which the embryo develops within the mother’s body, leading to live birth. 
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Vulnerable

Hence option a is the correct answer.