Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 29, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

In an encouraging development, Grey Francolin (Ortygornis pondicerianus) was reported inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) of Mumbai.

• It is a ground-dwelling bird known for its distinctive calls and cryptic plumage.
• They are carnivores (insectivores) and herbivores (granivores).
• Habitat: Grey francolins inhabit open plains, bare or low grass-covered ground in scrub and open country. They are also found in open cultivated lands and scrub forest and are rarely found above an altitude of 500 m above sea level in India.
• Distribution: Grey francolins are found in the Indian subcontinent and Iran. Their distribution is south of the foothills of the Himalayas westwards to the Indus Valley and eastwards to Bengal. They are also found in north-western Sri Lanka.
• Conservation Status
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Militants changed tack in Jammu and Kashmir and inflicted more casualties on the Army compared to other security wings this year by turning the Pir Panjal Valley into a new battleground.

• It is a mountain range in the northern Indian subcontinent. 
• It starts in Ramban and extends westward in the south of Jammu and Kashmir (Vale of Kashmir) to the last extremity of Muzaffarabad District.
• It is rising sharply to an average elevation of more than 13,000 feet (4,000 meters).
• It separates the Jammu Hills to the south from the Vale of Kashmir, beyond which lie the Great Himalayas.
• It separates itself from the Himalayas near the bank of the Sutlej river and forms a divide between the rivers Beas and Ravi on one side and the Chenab on the other.
• Major passes: Six historical passes, Hajipir Pass, Gulabgarh Pass, Ratanpir Pass, Pir Panjal Pass, Banihal Pass, and Bairam Gala Pass are in this mountain range.
• Important peaks: Deo Tibba (6,001 m) and Indrasan (6,221m) are two important peaks at the eastern end of the mountain range.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Chief minister of Uttar Pradesh directed officials to conduct archaeological excavation in the Sohagibarwa Wildlife Sanctuary.

• It is located in the Maharajganj district of Uttar Pradesh. 
• It was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in June 1987.
• Borders: On the northern side, it shares the international boundary with Nepal, and on the eastern border is Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
• Vegetation: The vegetation of this area is of North Indian Moist Deciduous type.
• Rivers: It is drained by the great Gandak, the little Gandak, Pyas and Rohin rivers.
• Topography
• It is almost flat with an average height of 100mtrs above mean sea level.
• The area gently slopes from North–West to South–East.
• The area of the Sanctuary is a vast alluvial plain. The underlying soil of the area consists of alluvial formation, showing a succession of beds of clay, silt and sands.
• Flora:
• Nearly 75% of the area consists of Sal forest, and other humid areas are covered with Jaamun, Gutal, Semal, KhairTrees, etc.
• Lower region of the sanctuary, which is water logged during rains, consists of Grasslands and patches of Cane forests.
• Fauna:
• It is inhabited by a variety of animals which mainly includes Leopard, Tiger, Jungle Cat, Small Indian Civet, Langur, etc.
• The Avifauna is varied with Little Cormorant, Snake Bird, Brahimini Duck, Common Teal, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Paddy Bird etc.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Researchers have developed a new electronics soil that was found to increase the growth of barley seedlings by 50 per cent in a new study.

• In hydroponic environments, eSoil is a low-power bioelectronic growth substrate that can electrically stimulate the root system and growth environment of plants.
• This novel substrate is not only environmentally friendly, being derived from cellulose and a conductive polymer called PEDOT.
• It offers a low energy, safe alternative to previous methods that required high voltage and non-biodegradable materials.
• It uses low energy and minimises resource consumption.
• Its active material is an organic mixed-ionic electronic conductor.

How does eSoil work?

• When the roots of barley seedlings were electrically stimulated for 15 days, they showed a 50% increase in growth using eSoil.
• This research promotes more effective and sustainable development while increasing the variety of crops that can be grown hydroponically.
• In hydroponics, plants are grown without soil, requiring only water, nutrients and a substrate - something for their roots to attach to.
• This closed system allows water to be recirculated, ensuring that each seedling receives exactly the nutrients it needs.
• As a result, very little water is used and all the nutrients remain in the system - something that is not possible with conventional farming.
• Benefit: It can help in areas with little arable land and harsh environmental conditions.

Hence both statements are correct.

Cybersecurity researchers recently identified a potent variant of the infamous ‘Chameleon Trojan’ malware, posing a substantial risk to Android device users. 

About Chameleon Trojan:

• It is a malware that has the ability to disable biometric authentication methods, including fingerprint and face unlock, to sneakily access sensitive information.
• Working:
• The malware strategically attaches itself to legitimate Android applications, such as the widely used Google Chrome, effectively avoiding immediate detection. 
• Operating discreetly in the background, Chameleon Trojan can disable biometric security measures, specifically targeting PINs.
• The malware bundles are reportedly undetectable during runtime, enabling it to outsmart Google Protect alerts and circumvent security software on the compromised device. 
• This stealthy approach allows the Trojan to operate without any worries, evading immediate countermeasures.
• Its modus operandi varies depending on the Android version. 
• Once active, Chameleon Trojan steals on-screen content, elevates its own permissions, and can even use gestures to capture PINs and passwords entered by users to unlock their devices. 
• The stolen PIN is then employed to unlock the device in the background, enabling the malware to access sensitive information such as credit card passwords and login credentials.
• The malware also collects information on users’ app usage habits, launching attacks when the device is least likely to be in use.
• To safeguard against the Chameleon Trojan, it is crucial to avoid installing Android apps from unofficial sources. Additionally, users should refrain from enabling the 'Accessibility service' for unknown apps.

Hence both statements are correct.

A Soviet-era Antonov-24 aircraft carrying 30 passengers landed safely on the frozen river Kolyma recently because of a pilot error.

About Kolyma River:

• Location: It is a river in northeastern Siberia, far eastern Russia, rising in the Kolyma Mountains.
• It is 2,129 km long and drains an area of 647,000 square km. 
• Course:
• In its upper course, it flows through narrow gorges with many rapids.
• The Kolyma River cuts through the majestic Verkhoyansk Range, one of the longest mountain ranges in Siberia. 
• Gradually, its valley widens, enters the wide, flat, and swampy Kolyma Lowland, and flows northeastward to discharge into the East Siberian Sea (a marginal sea in the Arctic Ocean). 
• It is the largest river system underlain by continuous permafrost. For about eight months of the year (late September until early June), the river is frozen to depths of several meters.
• It is primarily fed by spring snowmelt and summer rainfall. 
• The entire basin is covered by tundra or thin, stunted forest and has a sparse human population. 
• The river has a mean annual discharge of about 136 cubic kilometers of water per year, making it one of the six largest rivers to drain into the Arctic Ocean.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Russia recently issued a stern warning to Japan, expressing concerns over its decision to export Patriot PAC-3 anti-aircraft missiles to the United States.

About Patriot PAC-3 Missile:

• The Phased Array Tracking to Intercept of Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-Three (PAC-3) program is a surface-to-air-defense guided missile system with all-weather capabilities.
• It has been built by Raytheon Technologies Corp and is considered one of the most advanced air defense systems in the U.S. arsenal.
• It entered service with the US Army in 2001 and the US Air Force in 2003.
• It has been exported to Germany, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Poland, Qatar, Romania, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.
• It is designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft.
• Features:
• The combat element of the PATRIOT system is the fire unit, primarily consisting of a radar set (RS), an engagement control station (ECS), and launching stations (LS). 
• The RS provides airspace surveillance, target detection, discrimination, identification, classification, simultaneous tracking of targets, missile guidance, and engagement support.
• The LS has a load-out capacity of between 12 and 16 PAC-3 missiles, depending on configuration. 
• It uses hit-to-kill technology, rather than a blast-fragmentation warhead, to destroy agile targets. 
• It has a range of about 40 km and can reach targets at an altitude of up to 20 km.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

The union minister for Tribal Affairs would be inaugurating the Aadi Mahotsav - the National Tribal Festival - on 25th Octber, at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

• The mega event is being organized by the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED),
• It serves as a unique, symbiotic bridge to embark on a journey through the tapestry of India's indigenous heritage.
• In this event, a total of over 100 stalls would showcase the kaleidoscope of India's tribal culture, craftsmanship, culinary artistry, and economic endeavors. 
• This Aadi Mahotsav, besides other attractions of handicrafts, handloom, pottery, jewellery, will be showcasing ‘Millets grown by Tribals’.

Key points about TRIFED

• It is a national-level organisation under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
• It is primarily engaged in the development and marketing of tribal handicrafts and natural products.
• It came into existence in 1987 and got registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 1984 (now the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002).
• Mandate: Capability enhancement for Tribals, promotion of tribal products, and creation of marketing opportunities for the Tribals with a view to ensuring remunerative prices for their products and augmenting their income on a sustainable basis.
• It has been entrusted by the Government of India to implement its proposed Minimum Support Price Scheme for Minor Forest Produce.
• Head Office: New Delhi

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Exercise Harimau Shakti 2023 commenced in Umroi Cantonment, India.

• It is a joint bilateral training exercise between Indian & Malaysian Army
• The Malaysian Army contingent comprises troops from 5th Royal Battalion of Malaysian Army. The Indian contingent is being represented by a Battalion of THE RAJPUT REGIMENT.
• Aim: To enhance military capability for conduct of Multi Domain Operations in a sub conventional scenario.
• During the exercise, both contingents will establish a Joint Command Post & establish an integrated surveillance grid along with a Joint Surveillance Centre.
• Both sides will rehearse employment of joint forces in jungle/ semi urban / urban environment. In addition, intelligence collection, collation and dissemination drills will also be rehearsed.
• The Exercise will also witness employment of Drones/UAVs & Helicopters. Two sides will also practice casualty management and evacuation drills.
• Both the contingents will discuss logistics management and practice survival training at the Battalion level.
• The training will focus primarily on high degree of physical fitness, conduct of drills at tactical level and sharing of best practices with each other.
• The Exercise will culminate with a 48-hour long validation exercise in a semi-urban area.
• Last edition of the Exercise was conducted in Pulai, Kluang, Malaysia in November 2022.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

The government of India has raised the rates offered for most small savings instruments (SSIs) in the range of 40 basis points (bps) to 150 bps over the last five quarters.

• These are a set of savings instruments managed by the central government with an aim to encourage citizens to save regularly irrespective of their age.
• Features
• They provide returns that are generally higher than bank fixed deposits.
• Also gives a sovereign guarantee and tax benefits.
• The interest rates on small savings schemes on a quarterly basis.
• All deposits received under various small savings schemes are pooled in the National Small Savings Fund.
• These instruments can be classified under three heads:
• Postal deposits (comprising savings account, recurring deposits, time deposits of varying maturities and monthly income scheme(MIS);
• Savings certificates (National Small Savings Certificate VIII (NSC) and Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP)];
• Social security schemes [(public provident fund (PPF) and Senior Citizens‘ Savings Scheme(SCSS)]
• The money in the fund is used by the central government to finance its fiscal deficit.  

Hence only statement 1 is correct.