Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 7, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Artificial highlands where animals can escape during floods; 200+ anti-poaching camps; alternate livelihood training for local communities — these measures at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam will form the cornerstone of an Indo-French initiative.

• The Kaziranga project is a part of a larger Assam Project on Forest and Biodiversity Conservation (APFBC) for which the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has committed funding of €80.2 million for a 10-year period, between 2014-2024.
• The project conceptualised the reforestation of 33,500 hectares of land and the training of 10,000 community members in alternate livelihoods by 2024.
• APFBC Society was created by State Government of Assam as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• The Society has the mandate for planning, implementation, monitoring, coordination and management of all the activities proposed under the project.
• With French and Indian technical and financial support, the Indo-Pacific Parks Partnership will facilitate partnership activities for interested natural parks of the Indo-Pacific region. These activities include biodiversity conservation, wildlife management and engagement with local communities.

Kaziranga National Park

• Located in the State of Assam it is the single largest undisturbed and representative area in the Brahmaputra Valley floodplain.
• It is inhabited by the world's largest population of one-horned rhinoceroses, as well as many mammals, including tigers, elephants, panthers and bears, and thousands of birds.
• Protection status:
  • It was declared a national park in 1974.
  • UNESCO declared it a world heritage site in 1985.
  • It became a Tiger Reserve in 2006.
  • It is also recognized as an ‘Important Bird Area’ by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species

Hence both statements are correct.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently shared the first satellite images of Gujarat and Arabian Sea sent by the newly launched Oceansat-3 satellite from space.

• ISRO’s PSLV-C54 rocket launched the Oceansat-3 along with eight nano satellites, including the Bhutan-SAT, from Sriharikota.
• Oceansat-3 is the third in its set of ocean satellites that are part of India’s ocean observation programme.
• It is a multi-sensor observation satellite, which is expected to operate till 2027.
• The Oceansat-3 is envisaged to observe ocean colour data, sea surface temperature (SST) and wind vector data to use in oceanography, climatic and meteorological applications. It also supports value-added products such as potential fishing zones.
• Oceansat-3, in tandem with Oceansat-2, will improve the receptivity of ocean colour measurements to every 24 hour and wind vector measurements to every 12 hour and help predict cyclones better.

Hence, both statements are correct.

Two months after the Reserve Bank issued guidelines on digital lending, banks, NBFCs and fintech players are still awaiting clarity on many aspects, including the FLDG system.

About:

• FLDG is a lending model between a fintech and a regulated entity in which a third party guarantees to compensate up to a certain percentage of default in a loan portfolio of the regulated entities (RE).
• Under these agreements, the fintech originates a loan and promises to compensate the partners up to a pre-decided percentage in case customers fail to repay.
• The bank/NBFC partners lend through the fintech but from their own books. FLDG helps expand the customer base of traditional lenders but relies on the fintech's underwriting capabilities.
• A report by an RBI-constituted working group on digital lending has laid down risks of FLDG agreements with unregulated entities. The other concern is that FLDG costs are often passed on to customers.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Ministry of Railways recently announced that from 2023 onwards, recruitment to the Indian Railways Management Service (IRMS) will be done through a specially designed examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

• This will be a major departure from the current system of recruitment, which does not have a unique examination for IRMS.
• Like the Civil Services Exam (CSE), the new IRMS exam will be two-tiered —
  • a preliminary screening examination and
  • a main written examination and interview.
• It will be used to recruit officers to Group A services of the Indian Railways.
• Group A IRMS officers can serve in any of the 10 different organised railway services, divided into three separate cadres: technical services, administrative and accounts services, and medical services.
• Candidates need to appear for the Civil Services (Prelim) exam.
• This will be followed by a specific IRMS (Main) examination which will consist of four papers of conventional essay-type questions.

Exam Pattern:

• Part 1 (Qualifying papers) will comprise two separate essay-type papers for 300 marks each.
  • One will be a test on any Indian language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution (at present, 22 languages).
  • The other will be an English language test.
• Part 2 (Papers to be counted for merit) will comprise two optional papers for 250 marks each.
  • The candidate is supposed to choose any one optional subject.
  • The list of subjects available are:
    • Civil Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Commerce and Accountancy
• Part 3 will be a personality test.
  • This will be for 100 marks.

Eligibility:

• The minimum educational qualifications include a degree in engineering, commerce, or chartered accountancy.
• This means that the IRMS will no longer have officers with a background in social sciences or the pure sciences.

Hence both statements are correct.

On November 21, China’s top development aid agency convened the first “China-Indian Ocean Region Forum” in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming.

• The meet organised by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA).
• The forum was “the first high-level official development cooperation forum jointly held by China and countries in the Indian Ocean Region”.
• The forum underlines China’s growing strategic interests in a region where its economic footprint has been deepening.
• During the forum, China “proposed to establish a marine disaster prevention and mitigation cooperation mechanism between China and countries in the Indian Ocean region”.
• All parties agreed to strengthen policy coordination, deepen development cooperation, increase resilience to shocks and disasters, and enhance relevant countries’ capacity to obtain economic benefits through use of marine resources such as fisheries, renewable energy, tourism, and shipping in a sustainable way.

Hence both statements are correct.

India's premier show on Technical Textiles - ‘Technotex 2023’ will be held in Mumbai from 22nd to 24th February 2023.

• The event is being organized by the Ministry of Textiles in collaboration with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Industry, under National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM).
• Technotex 2023 offers a good opportunity for Startup Entrepreneurs who represent the fastest-growing category worldwide.
• The Government is making all efforts to promote Technical Textiles and has undertaken various initiatives in this direction, such as creation of PLI scheme, HSN Codes, National Technical Textiles Mission.

What are Technical Textiles?

• Technical textiles are defined as textile materials and products used primarily for their technical performance and functional properties rather than their aesthetic or decorative characteristics.
• As a component or part of another product, they are used to enhance the strength, performance or other functional properties of that product.
• These products are broadly classified into 12 different categories- Agrotech, Oekotech, Buildtech, Meditech, Geotech, Clothtech, Mobiltech, Hometech, Sportstech,Indutech, Protech, Packtech.
• Technical textile accounts for approximately 13% of India’s total textile and apparel market and contributes to India’s GDP at 0.7%.

National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM)

• The Ministry of Textiles has launched NTTM to increase the penetration level of technical textiles in India while leveraging the extraordinary growth rate of the sector.
• The aim of the mission is to position India as a global leader in Technical Textiles.
• The mission will comprise four components: Research, Innovation and Development; Promotion and Market Development; Export Promotion; Education, Training, Skill Development.
• Implementation period: Four years starting from FY 2020-21 till FY 2023-24. The total outlay of the mission is INR 1480 Cr.
• Target: Take domestic market size of technical textile sector to $ 40-50 Bn by the year 2024 with an average growth rate of 15-20% per annum.

What is HSN Code?

• HSN code stands for “Harmonized System of Nomenclature”. This system has been introduced for the systematic classification of goods all over the world.
• HSN code is a 6-digit uniform code that classifies 5000+ products and is accepted worldwide.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Union Agriculture Minister had approved the formation of an Advisory Group for streamlining the development of the Bamboo sector.

• Restructured National Bamboo Mission approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on 25-04-2018. It mainly focuses on the development of a complete value chain of the Bamboo sector to link growers with consumers
• The Restructured National Bamboo Mission is a centrally sponsored scheme (CSS).
• Aim:
  • The Mission envisages promoting holistic growth of bamboo sector by adopting an area-based, regionally differentiated strategy and to increase the area under bamboo cultivation and marketing.
  • Under the Mission, steps have been taken to increase the availability of quality planting material by supporting the setting up of new nurseries and strengthening of existing ones.
• Objectives:
  • To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income.
  • To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units near the source of production.
  • To promote product development keeping in view market demand, by assisting R&D, entrepreneurship etc.
• Implementation: It is being implemented through the state nodal department which is nominated by the State/UT governments concerned.
• The selection of beneficiaries: The selection of beneficiaries and delivery of assistance are being carried out by the State Bamboo Mission/State Bamboo Development agency stationed at the State/UT nodal department for implimenting the National Bamboo Mission.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, President Droupadi Murmu offered prayers at Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh.

• Venkateswara Temple is a landmark Vaishnavite temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is also known by other names like Tirumala Temple, Tirupati Temple, Tirupati Balaji Temple.
• The Temple is dedicated to Lord Sri Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, who is believed to have appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kali Yuga.
• It is one of the richest temple in the world in terms of donations received and wealth.
• Tirupati Laddu: The renowned sweet, Tirupati Laddu which is enriched with dried fruits and nuts is a registered Geographical Indicator (GI).

Architecture

• The Temple is constructed in Dravidian architecture and is believed to be constructed over a period of time starting from 300 AD.
• The Garbagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum) is called AnandaNilayam. The presiding deity, Venkateswara, is in standing posture and faces east in Garbha griha.
• The temple follows Vaikhanasa Agama tradition of worship. The temple is one of the eight Vishnu Swayambhu Kshetras and is listed as 106th and the last earthly Divya Desam.

Hence both statements are correct.

4. Neither 1 nor 2. The first statement is correct because any start-up certified by the Start-up Certification Board as having an innovative business can apply for the Startups Intellectual Property Protection (SIPP) scheme. The second statement is incorrect because the entity must have an annual turnover not exceeding INR 25 crore in any preceding financial year, and must be working towards development, deployment, innovation or commercialization of new products, processes or services driven by technology or intellectual property.

Since King Charles III of England was made monarch in September, there has been anticipation over his coronation ceremony and the famous crown jewels that will be on display for the event

What is the St Edward’s Crown?

• St Edward’s Crown is the crown historically used at the moment of Coronation, and was worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at her Coronation in 1953.
• It was made for Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649. The original was thought to date back to the eleventh-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor – the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
• Edward the Confessor (reigned 1042-66), who deposited his Royal ornaments for safe-keeping in Westminster Abbey, may have been the first monarch to assemble the regalia, or the distinct objects worn exclusively by royals.
• Britain is the only European monarchy still using its regalia for the consecration ceremony of crowning the Sovereign.
• Other items included in the regalia are the Coronation Chair (used at every coronation since 1300), the two Royal maces, three swords and St Edward’s Staff (dating from 1661).

Imperial State Crown

• It is worn by the monarch at the end of the coronation ceremony and at formal occasions like the State Opening of Parliament, reminding us the Crown Jewels is a working collection.
• It has the Cullinan diamond (also known as the Star of Africa) embedded in it, considered among the biggest diamonds ever discovered.
• Another stone featured in it is the Black Prince’s Ruby, believed to have origins in or around Afghanistan.

Hence both statements are correct.