Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 26, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Rashtriya Gokul Mission envisages development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds.

About:

• The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing RGM for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds since December 2014.
• The scheme is important for enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines to meet the growing demand of milk and making dairying more remunerative for the rural farmers of the country.
• Objectives
  • To enhance productivity of bovines and increasing milk production in a sustainable manner using advance technologies.
  • To propagate use of high genetic merit bulls for breeding purposes.
  • To enhance Artificial insemination coverage through strengthening breeding network and delivery of Artificial insemination services at farmers doorstep.
  • To promote indigenous cattle & buffalo rearing and conservation in a scientific and holistic manner.
• Funding Pattern: All the components of Scheme will be implemented on 100% grant-in-aid basis except the components of:
  • accelerated breed improvement programme under the component subsidy of Rs 5000 per IVF pregnancy will be made available to participating farmers as GoI share;
  • promoting sex sorted semen under the component subsidy upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen will be made available to participating farmers and
  • establishment of breed multiplication farm under the component subsidy upto 50% of the capital cost maximum upto Rs.2.00 crore of the project will be made available to entrepreneur.

Hence both statements are not correct.

With the expansion of the Internet, there is an increase in the facial recognition of biometric information, including information generated for purposes for facial recognition technology.

About:

What Is Facial Recognition?

• Facial recognition refers to the technology capable of identifying or verifying a subject through an image, video, or any audiovisual element of the face. Generally, this identification is used to access an application, system, or service and it works like a face scanner.
• It is a method of biometric identification that uses that body measures, in this case, face and head, to verify the identity of a person through its facial biometric pattern and data.
• The technology collects a set of unique biometric data of each person associated with their face and facial expression to identify, verify and/or authenticate a person.

Biometric Facial Recognition Uses Cases

• Face identity recognition uses focus on verification or authentication. This technology is used, for example, in situations such as:
  • Second authentication factor, to add extra security in any log-in process.
  • Access to mobile applications without a password.
  • Access to previously contracted online services (login on online platforms, for example).
  • Access to buildings (offices, events, facilities of any kind.
  • Payment method, both in physical and online stores.
  • Access to a locked device.
  • Check-in in tourist services (airports, hotels…).

Benefits of Facial Recognition:

• A fastest process: facial recognition allows for fast and smooth remote identity verification.
• User experience: facial recognition systems offer a unique, smooth, and fast user experience, avoiding the need for time-consuming office visits or video conferences and wait times.
• Security: Like fingerprints or voice, each face is unique and has inimitable characteristics. Facial recognition systems, programs, or software compare through facial biometrics and facial recognition algorithms.
• Compliance: Facial recognition through video identification is the only method recognised as a standard for remote identity verification for high-risk operations (opening bank accounts, signing contracts, etc.).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, recently informed that to date 21,890 Standards for products, process specifications, service sectors, code of practice, and methods of test terminology have been published by the BIS.

• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the National Standards Body of India established under the BIS Act 2016.
• Objective: Harmonious development of the activities of standardisation, and quality assurance of goods and articles.
• To date, 21,890 Standards for products, process specifications, service sectors, code of practice, and methods of test terminology have been published by the BIS.
• It works under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
• BIS represents India in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

What is ISO?

• It is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 167 national standard bodies.
• Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market-relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.

What is IEC?

• The IEC is a global, not-for-profit membership organization, whose work underpins quality infrastructure and international trade in electrical and electronic goods.
• The IEC brings together more than 170 countries and provides a global, neutral and independent standardization platform to 20 000 experts globally.
• It administers 4 Conformity assessment systems whose members certify that devices, systems, installations, services and people work as required.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, Google has approached the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) challenging the Competition Commission of India (CCI) order on unfair business practices.

• Google, was slapped with a fine of Rs 1,338 crore by CCI after being found guilty of anti-competitive behaviour in the Android mobile application ecosystem.

What are Anticompetitive practices?

• It refers to a wide range of business practices in which a firm or group of firms may engage to restrict inter-firm competition to maintain or increase their relative market position and profits without necessarily providing goods and services at a lower cost or of higher quality.

What is CCI?

• The Competition Commission of India (CCI) was established in March 2009 by the Government of India under the Competition Act, 2002 for the administration, implementation, and enforcement of the Act.

Composition of the CCI

• The Commission consists of one Chairperson and six Members who shall be appointed by the Central Government.
• It is a quasi-judicial body which gives opinions to statutory authorities and also deals with other cases.
• The Chairperson and other Members shall be whole-time Members.

Objectives:

• It will eliminate practices having adverse effects on competition.
• To Promote and sustain competition.
• It helps in protecting the interests of consumers.
• Ensuring freedom of trade in the markets of India.
• It will Establish a robust competitive environment through:

What is NCLAT?

• It was constituted under Section 410 of the Companies Act, 2013 for hearing appeals against the orders of the National Company Law Tribunal(s) (NCLT), with effect from 1st June 2016.
• Functions
  • Hearing appeals against the orders passed by NCLT(s) under Section 61 of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC).
  • To hear and dispose of appeals against any direction issued or decision made or order passed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI).
  • It also hears and disposes of appeals against the orders of the National Financial Reporting Authority.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

About:

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry recently said that 656 Startups are Supported by Approved Incubators under Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS).

What is SISFS?

• Aim: provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market-entry, and commercialization.
• Nodal Department: Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• An Experts Advisory Committee (EAC) has been created by DPIIT to execute and monitor the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme.
• It is implemented with effect from 1st April 2021 with a corpus of Rs.945 crores.
• Some of the eligibility conditions for startups
  • A startup, recognized by DPIIT, incorporated not more than 2 years ago at the time of application.
  • Startups should not have received more than Rs.10 lakh of monetary support under any other Central or State Government scheme.
  • Individual entrepreneurs are not eligible to apply for support under the scheme. Only DPIIT-recognized startups can apply for this scheme.
  • Shareholding by Indian promoters in the startup should be at least 51% at the time of application to the incubator for the scheme.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, an unseasonal rise in group A Streptococcus has killed many children in the United Kingdom.

• Group A Streptococcus (GAS), also known as Strep A, are bacteria commonly found on the skin or in the throat.
• Occasionally, this can lead to a condition called scarlet fever, which typically affects young schoolchildren and is characterized by a sore throat, high fever and rough skin rash.
• Even it can cause severe diseases such as sepsis, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis.
• According to British Health Security Agency (UKHSA), in children under 10 years, the rate of GAS infection is higher than levels reported in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic but substantially higher than in the past two years, according to UKHSA.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, researchers at IIT Kanpur have developed organic solar cells under the DST-RCUK APEX project.

• An organic solar cell consisting of a combination of an organic polymer and PCBM (an organic semiconductor) developed on steel substrates can potentially convert a steel roof into an energy-producing device.

Features

• The devices consist of a blend of organic polymer PTB7 as a donor and PCBM as an acceptor.
• The devices were fabricated on opaque steel substrates with a MoO₃/Au/MoO₃ top electrode. These electrodes offer higher optical transmission as compared to only metallic electrodes.
• The devices with multilayer electrodes showed a clear improvement in the photovoltaic performance by 1.5 times, as compared with those obtained with single-layer top metal electrodes of gold.

What is the DST-RCUK APEX project?

• It is a jointly developed programme of the Department of Science and Technology (Under the ministry of Science and Technology) and the Research Councils United Kingdom (RCUK) focusing on reducing energy demand in the built environment.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Christmas, marking the birth of Jesus Christ, was celebrated across the country and around the world on December 25.

• Christmas is an annual festival, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar around the world.
• It is believed that Joseph and Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, considered to be the son of God, on December 25 in Bethlehem.
• Jesus of Nazareth was a spiritual leader whose teachings formed the foundation of Christianity.
• Although the Bible does not mention a specific date for his birth, Emperor Constantine — the first Christian Roman emperor — designated December 25 as Christmas, which became a day to commemorate Christ’s birth.
• The United States declared December 25 as a federal holiday in 1870 and it has been a widely-recognised holiday around the world ever since.
• Celebrations: Christians, especially Catholics, arrive at churches for Midnight mass, which is followed by greeting friends and family. The places of worship are decorated with Poinsettia flowers and candles for the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass service.

Hence both statements are correct.

Scientists working on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have successfully trialled a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae they say could eventually help rewild reefs threatened by climate change. The Great Barrier Reef has suffered four bleaching events in the last seven years, including the first ever bleach during a La Nina phenomenon, which typically brings cooler temperatures.

• Corals are marine invertebrates or animals not possessing a spine.
• Each coral is called a polyp and thousands of such polyps live together to form a colony, which grows when polyps multiply to make copies of themselves.
• Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
• The algae provides the coral with food and nutrients, which they make through photosynthesis, using the sun’s light.
• In turn, the corals give the algae a home and key nutrients. The zooxanthellae also give corals their bright colour.
• Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system stretching across 2,300 km.
  • It hosts 400 different types of coral, gives shelter to 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc.

Coral Bleaching:

• Coral Bleaching happens when corals experience stress in their environment due to changes in temperature, pollution or high levels of ocean acidity.
• Under stressed conditions, the zooxanthellae or food-producing algae living inside coral polyps start producing reactive oxygen species, which are not beneficial to the corals.
• So, the corals expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae from their polyps, which exposes their pale white exoskeleton, giving the corals a bleached appearance.
• This also ends the symbiotic relationship that helps the corals to survive and grow.

What Causes Coral Bleaching?

• Change in Ocean Temperature: Increased Ocean temperature caused by climate change is the leading cause of coral bleaching.
• Runoff and Pollution: Storm generated precipitation can rapidly dilute ocean water and runoff can carry pollutants, which can bleach near shore corals.
• Overexposure to sunlight: When temperatures are high, high solar irradiance contributes to bleaching in shallow water corals.
• Extremely low tides: Exposure to the air during extremely low tides can cause bleaching in shallow corals.

Hence both statements are correct.

As many as 7,000 birds are being culled in Kerala’s Kottayam district following an outbreak of bird flu that has now spread to more parts of the district.

What is Avian influenza?

• Avian influenza or bird flu is a highly contagious viral disease caused by Influenza Type A viruses which generally affects poultry birds such as chickens and turkeys.
• There are many strains of the virus – some of them are mild and may merely cause a low egg production or other mild symptoms among chickens, while others are severe and lethal.
• Wild aquatic birds such as ducks and geese are the natural reservoir of Influenza A viruses and the central players in the ecology of these viruses.

History of bird flu among humans:

• It was in 1997 when humans are first known to have contracted bird flu following an outbreak in a live bird market of Hong Kong. It was the H5N1 strain of the virus.
• Subsequently, several other strains of the virus such as H5N2 and H9N2 spread from animals to humans, thus becoming a global public health concern.

Does it spread easily to humans?

• No, it does not. Generally, people coming in close contact with infected alive or dead birds have contracted the H5N1 bird flu, and it does not usually spread from person to person.
• There is also no evidence, that the disease can be spread to people through properly prepared and cooked poultry food.
• The virus is sensitive to heat, and dies in cooking temperatures.

Hence both statements are correct.