Daily Current Affairs MCQ - December 14, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has launched its new Laser Communications Relay Demonstration (LCRD). Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • It is the first-ever laser communications system that will pave the way for future optical communications missions.
• It uses infrared light and has a shorter wavelength than radio waves. This will help the transmission of more data in a short time. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Further, Optical communications using lasers, will help increase the bandwidth 10 to 100 times more than radio frequency systems. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

• James Webb Space Telescope is the most powerful infrared telescope of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
• It is also considered a successor of the Hubble Telescope and will extend and complement its discoveries. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• The telescope is the result of an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• Webb will reveal new and unexpected discoveries, and help humanity understand the origins of the universe and our place in it.

• Recently, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched a new mission named Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).
  • The IXPE observatory is a joint effort of NASA and the Italian Space Agency. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It will study “the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe – supernova remnants, supermassive black holes, and dozens of other high-energy objects.”
  • Its primary length is two years and the observatory will be at 600 kilometers altitude, orbiting around Earth’s equator.
  • It is expected to study about 40 celestial objects in its first year in space.
• It will complement other X-ray telescopes such as the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the European Space Agency’s X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

“Main Bhi Digital 3.0" campaign launched which is aimed at digital onboarding of Street Vendors who are provided loans under PM SVANidhi Scheme.

• Digital onboarding and training of Street Vendors (SVs) is an integral part of PM Street Vendor’s AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) Scheme.
• Lending Institutions (LIs) have been instructed to issue a durable QR Code & UPI ID at the time of disbursement and train the beneficiaries in conduct of digital transactions.
• In order to give further impetus to the digital onboarding and training of beneficiaries, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) jointly launched ‘Main Bhi Digital 3.0’from September 9 to November 30, 2021, to complement the efforts of LIs in adoption of digital transactions by the PM SVANidhi beneficiaries.
• PM SVANidhi Scheme is available to all street vendors across the country, including those from Dahod tribal area, who are engaged in vending in urban areas on or before March 24, 2020.
• Hence both statements are correct.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) council has awarded Certificate of Commendation to Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and Master along with crew members of tugboat Ocean Bliss.

• The award has been given for exceptional and courageous efforts towards rescue operation of M/T New Diamond.
• The rescue team members of the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and the master and crew of tugboat Ocean Bliss, carried out sustained and effective fire- fighting operations.
• They skilfully towed the vessel away from the coast, thereby preventing loss of life at sea and averted a serious marine pollution incident.
• Hence both statements are correct.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has suspended distribution of food aid in two northern Ethiopian towns after gunmen looted its warehouses.

• The United Nations said, looters from rebel Tigrayan forces held aid staff at gunpoint in the town of Kombolcha. They stole large quantities of essential food supplies, including some for malnourished children.
• Northern Ethiopia is facing mass starvation amid an ongoing civil war between Tigrayan and government forces. After more than a year of fighting, more than nine million people are in need of critical food supplies in the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions, the UN says.
• The World Food Programme (WFP) is the food-assistance branch of the United Nations. Founded in 1961, it is headquartered in Rome.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

General Bipin Laxman Singh Rawat (1958 – 2021) was an Indian military officer who was a four-star general of the Indian Army.

• He served as the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces from January 2020 until his death in a helicopter crash in December 2021.
• Prior to taking over as the CDS, he served as 57th and last Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee as well as 26th Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army.
• On 8 December 2021, Rawat died in the crash of an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter in Tamil Nadu. He was accompanied by his wife Madhulika Rawat and members of his personal staff, who were also killed in the crash.
• Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recommendations of Kasturirangan Committee:

Western Ghats area under ESA:
The Kasturirangan report seeks to bring just 37% of the Western Ghats under the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) zones — down from the 64% suggested by the Gadgil report.
Prohibition on Development activities in the Area:
It has recommended prohibition on development activities in a 60,000 sq. km ecologically sensitive area spread over Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Out of this, 20,668 sq km of the area falls in Karnataka covering 1,576 villages.
The report recommended a blanket ban on mining, quarrying, setting up of red category industries and thermal power projects.
Although hydro power projects are allowed with few restrictions.
Impact assessment:
It also stated that the impact of infrastructural projects on the forest and wildlife should be studied before permission is given for these activities.

The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of the Department of Rural Development for continuation of Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) beyond March 2021 wherein financial assistance is to be provided for the construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses, as on 31st March, 2021 under the scheme within total target of 2.95 crore houses.

• Continuation of PMAY-G beyond March 2021 till March 2024 as per the existing norms to complete remaining houses within a cumulative target of 2.95 crore houses.
• The total financial implication for construction of the remaining 155.75 lakh houses is Rs. 2,17,257 crore (Central Share Rs.1,25,106 crore and State Share Rs.73,475 crores) for achieving cumulative targets of 2.95 crore houses in rural areas under the PMAY-G and an additional requirement of Rs.18,676 Crore towards the interest repayment to NABARD.
• The phasing out of EBR and provision of entire scheme funding through Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) shall be decided in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
• Release of additional ₹45 lakh administrative funds annually from the Central share of Administrative funds (0.3% out of total Administrative fund of 2%) to each smaller State viz. Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Goa, Punjab, Uttarakhand, the NE States except for Assam and Tripura and all UTs except J&K over and above 1.70 % administrative funds released to said States/UTs.
• Continuation of Program Management Unit (PMU) and National Technical Support Agency (NTSA) till FY 2023-24.
• Hence both statements are correct.

The Government of India has informed the Supreme Court that appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the 22nd Law Commission of India, the Government’s top body to recommend crucial legislative reforms, is under consideration.

• The 22nd Law Commission was constituted by the Government on February 21, 2020. However, no progress has been made in the appointments till date and the short affidavit filed by the Law Ministry in the court does not explain the reasons for the day.
• The Centre also made it clear that there was no such proposal to make the Law Commission a statutory body.

Key facts

• Status: The Law Commission of India is a non-statutory body constituted by the Government of India from time to time.
• Background: The Commission was originally constituted in 1955 and is re-constituted every three years.
  • The first such Commission was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay.
  • The First Law Commission of Independent India was established in 1955 under the Chairmanship of the then Attorney-General of India, M. C. Setalvad.
• Composition: The 22nd Law Commission will consist of –
  • a full-time Chairperson;
  • four full-time Members (including Member-Secretary)
  • Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs as ex-officio Member;
  • Secretary, Legislative Department as ex officio Member; and
  • not more than five part-time Members.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.