Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 5, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

According to the Union Ministry of Agriculture area under rabi crops increases 6% higher from the year-ago period.

• Farmers have sown rabi crops in over 70 per cent of the 633.80 lakh hectares (lh) of the normal area so far, some 6 per cent higher from the year-ago period.
• Higher acreage and potentially conducive weather throughout the season may help the country to have another year of bumper harvest.
• The total rabi acreage is 450.61 lh as of December 2 against 423.52 lh in the corresponding period a year ago.
• Wheat, the key winter-grown cereal, has been planted on 211.62 lh against 200.85 lh, up 5.4 per cent.
• The absolute increase in area under wheat from the year-ago level has narrowed down for the first time after rising almost every week since the beginning of the sowing season.
• Many parts of north-west India, the key producing region of wheat, mustard and chana (gram), may see a warmer winter season primarily due to likely subdued activity of western disturbances.
• The area under winter paddy has increased to 10.62 lh from 9.53 lh while coarse cereals acreage is up at 32.63 lh from 29.02 lh.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently announced a four-tiered regulatory framework for categorisation of Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs).

• According to RBI, such framework is needed to balance the spirit of mutuality and co-operation more prevalent in banks of smaller sizes and those with limited area of operation vis-a-vis the growth ambitions of the large-sized UCBs and undertake more complex business activities.
• Based on size of deposits of the UCBs, the four-tiered regulatory framework will come into force with immediate effect.
• The extant regulatory framework classifies UCBs into two tiers – Tier I and Tier II.
  • The RBI has categorised all unit UCBs and salary earners' UCBs (irrespective of deposit size), and all other UCBs having deposits up to ₹100 crore in Tier 1.
  • In Tier 2, it has placed UCBs with deposits more than ₹100 crore and up to ₹1,000 crore.
  • Tier 3 will cover banks with deposits more than ₹1,000 crore and up to ₹10,000 crore.
  • UCBs with deposits more than ₹10,000 crore have been categorised in Tier 4.
• Net worth and capital adequacy:
  • RBI also has come out with norms pertaining to the net worth and capital adequacy of these banks.
  • Tier 1 UCBs operating in a single district should have minimum net worth of ₹2 crore.
  • For all other UCBs (in Tier 1, 2 and 3) tiers), the minimum net worth should be ₹5 crore.
  • The UCBs, which currently do not meet the revised minimum net worth requirement, will have to achieve the minimum net worth of ₹2 crore or ₹5 crore (as applicable) in a phased manner.
• Minimum capital to risk weighted assets ratio:
  • The central bank also prescribed minimum capital to risk weighted assets ratio requirement for UCBs.
  • Tier 1 UCBs have to maintain a minimum capital to risk weighted assets ratio of 9 per cent of Risk Weighted Assets (RWAs) on an ongoing basis.
  • Tier 2 to 4 UCBs have to maintain a minimum capital to risk weighted assets of 12 per cent of RWAs on an ongoing basis.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The first festival celebrating the linguistic and cultural ties between the Barak Valley region of Assam and the Sylhet segment of Bangladesh began recently.

• Southern Assam’s Silchar town is hosting the two-day Silchar-Sylhet Festival that coincides with the 75th year of India’s independence and the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.
• It is organised by the India Foundation.
• The festival underlines the commonalities between India and Bangladesh, specifically the Sylheti variant of the Bengali language and the Sylheti culture.
• The festival will showcase tribal culture, cuisine, arts, crafts and local produce, entertainment and bring together eminent people from both sides to discuss and deliberate on issues of mutual growth and opportunity.

Hence both statements are correct.

According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), not a single coal-based thermal power plant in West Bengal has installed flue gas desulphurisation (FDG). None of the major plants connected to the power grid have installed FGD units or direct sorbent injection (DSI) technology to control sulphur dioxide emissions.

• It is a technology to eliminate sulphur compounds from exhaust emissions.
• This is done through the addition of absorbents, which can remove up to 95% of the sulphur dioxide from the flue gas.
• Flue gas is the emitted material produced when fossil fuels such as coal, oil, natural gas, or wood are burned for heat or power.

India’s Emission Norms:

• India’s first emission norms for control of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury from coal-fired power plants were notified in December 2015 and since then the deadline for installation of pollution control equipment has been extended three times by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Hence both statements are correct.

Union Culture Ministry recently inaugurated a three-day long music, art and literature festival Swar Dharohar in New Delhi.

• The festival aims at showcasing the iconic art, culture and heritage of the country.
• It is organised by Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with “Swar Dharohar Foundation.
• The program will facilitate the upcoming local artists to perform with renowned artists on the same platform.
• The national, as well as local poets, will also exhibit their artistry through Kavi Sammelan.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

There is an increase in the number of incidents of Human- Tiger conflicts.

About:

• Every four years, India carries out a census of the tiger population across India.
• The latest estimate put the tiger population at 2,967.
• Tigers were reportedly increasing at a rate of about 6% per annum and the area that they occupied was roughly stable, at about 89,000 square km since 2014.
• These numbers are estimated using a sophisticated system that involves photographing animals via camera traps as well as mathematical analysis.
• In 2006, India had 1,411 tigers. This rose to 1,706 in 2010 and 2,226 in 2014 on the back of improved conservation measures and new estimation methods.

How did the numbers increase?

• The consistent implementation of Project Tiger since 1973, whereby dedicated tiger reserves were established in India, as well as anti-poaching measures have played a significant role in tiger conservation.
• India has 53 tiger reserves.
  • Uttar Pradesh’s Ranipur Tiger Reserve has become the 53rd tiger reserve of India.
• However, rising tiger numbers have meant that nearly half the tigers are now outside designated protected zones that lead to increasing instances of human-animal conflict.

Hence both statements are correct.

A recent study published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology showed a higher incidence of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes with higher frequency of adding salt to one’s food. This did not include the salt used for cooking.

About:

• It was found that adding less salt with food was associated with fewer heart attacks and strokes.
• This was found to be true even in participants who were following the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).
• DASH is the best recommended diet to prevent cardiovascular events.
• DASH dietinvolves eating fruits, vegetables, lean meat, poultry, nuts, whole grains, and reducing the intake of saturated fats, cholesterol, and sugar.
• The WHO recommends only 5gmof salt per day. The recent study points to the immense benefit of avoiding salt on the table.

India:

• A consumption of more than 10 gm per day, far exceeding the recommended allowance.
• It could be worse in children since the recommendation is almost half.
• A study conducted by Sapiens heath foundation amongst school and college students in Chennai showed a 10% prevalence of hypertension.
• Intake of salt may be worse in Indians since pickles are often introduced early in life.
• It contains hidden salt in preserved and packaged foods.
• The consumer is not given a choice to choose food items based on salt content.

Salt substitutes:

• Salt substitutes are good since majority of them contain upto 25% potassium chloride.
• A 2001 study found salt substitutes reduced the incidence of stroke and heart attack by almost 10%, and deaths too.

Hence both statements are not correct.

Ladakh is all set to have India's first Dark Night Sky Reserve at Hanle village in Changthang region. In about eighteen locations in Hanley, powerful telescopes will be installed for stargazing.

What is a Dark Sky Reserve?

• The International Dark Sky Association (IDSA) defines an international dark sky reserve (IDSR) as “a public or private land of substantial size (at least 700 km², or about 173,000 acres) possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment, and that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment”.
• A dark sky reserve requires a “core” area that has clear sky without any light pollution, which can enable telescopes to see the sky in its natural darkness.
• To support the core, it should be surrounded by a “peripheral” or “buffer” area that supports dark sky values in the core while receiving the same benefits.

How are dark sky reserves identified?

• According to IDSA, it considers land suitable for dark sky sites only if it is on public or private land, is publicly accessible all or part of the year, protected for scientific, natural, educational, cultural, cultural and/or public purposes.
• The central part of the core offers exceptional dark sky resources compared to the communities and cities that surround it, and the core limits the brightness of the night sky to either reserves, parks, or sanctuaries.
• The IDSR also needs to have a comprehensive lighting management plan (LMP) “which should be adopted by a sufficient number of communities within the entire IDSR (core and periphery) corresponding to at least 80 percent of population and 80 percent of designated area of protection”.
• It also needs a description of current and suspected future threats to dark skies over the core zone, and a plan to address these threats.
• This is particularly important as Hanle is particularly close to Chinese territories, which makes it highly sensitive.
• The reserve must also submit a detailed annual report to IDA by October 1 each year.

Why Ladakh?

• The Hanle Dark Sky Reserve (HDSR) will come up within the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary, situated 4,500 metres above sea level, which makes it a perfect host for telescopes.
• Ladakh is also ideal for long-term observatories and dark-sky sites because of its large arid area, high elevation, and sparse population.
• The Milky Way Galaxy is visible through the night in the Hanle region due to its cloudless skies and lower atmospheric disturbance.
• Hanley is home for the second-highest optical telescope in the world, established in 2001 by Indian Institute of Astrophysics.
• The Department of Science and Technology and Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru are providing support for the facility.

How many such reserves exist in the world?

• A dark sky reserve is only one of the designations given by the IDSA, others being international dark sky parks, communities, reserves, sanctuaries, and urban night sky places.
• At present, there are 20 dark sky reserves around the world, seven in the United Kingdom; four in France; two each in the USA and Germany; and one each in New Zealand, Canada, Namibia, and Australia.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India observes Navy Day on December 4 every year.

• It aims to acknowledge the role of the Indian Navy and commemorate its achievements in ‘Operation Trident’ during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
• This year, for the first time, Navy Day Celebrations are being conducted outside the National Capital.
• This year, as India celebrates 75 years of her independence, the Indian Navy is all set to demonstrate India’s combat prowess and capability through an ‘Operational Demonstration’ at Visakhapatnam.
• The Op Demo will showcase the capability and versatility of Indian Naval ships, submarines, aircraft, and Special Forces.
• The Navy Day celebrations are aimed at fostering greater outreach, renewing maritime consciousness amongst our citizens and highlights the Navy’s contributions towards national security.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) is celebrating its 65th Founding Day on 5th-6th December, 2022.

About:

• DRI is the premier intelligence and enforcement agency on anti-smuggling matters under the aegis of Central Board of Indirect taxes & Customs (CBIC), Government of India.
• It came into existence on 4th December 1957.
• The DRI with its Headquarters at New Delhi has 12 Zonal Units, 35 regional Units and 15 Sub-regional units.

Mandate:

• Preventing and detecting cases of smuggling of narcotic drugs & psychotropic substances, gold, diamonds, precious metals, wildlife items, cigarettes, arms, ammunitions & explosives, counterfeit currency notes, foreign currency, SCOMET items, hazardous & environmentally sensitive materials, antiques etc.
• Taking punitive action against the organised crime groups engaged therein.
• DRI is also engaged in unearthing commercial frauds and customs duty evasion.

Hence both statements are correct.