Daily Current Affairs MCQ- January 20, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, Coal Ministry Offered relaxation in the Revision of the Performance Bank Guarantee and extended Bid due date for the Commercial Coal Block auction up to January 30.

• The National Coal Index is a price index which reflects the change in the price level of coal on a particular month relative to the fixed base year.
• This price index combines the prices of coal from all the sales channels- Notified Prices, Auction Prices and Import Prices.
• It has been rolled out on 4th June 2020 and the aim is to have an index that will truly reflect the market price. 
• The base year is FY 2017-18.
• The concept and design of the Index as well as the Representative Prices have been developed by the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL), has started producing AK-203 Kalashnikov assault rifles at Korwa in Uttar Pradesh.

About AK-203

• The AK-203 rifles are manufactured in a joint venture between India and Russia.
• These are high-quality, convenient and modern small arms.
• This model combines excellent ergonomics, adaptability to different shooters and high-performance characteristics, it is one of the best assault rifles in the world.
• The joint venture plans to ensure 100% localisation of the production of AK-203 rifles in India. 

What is Indo-Russian Rifles Private Limited (IRRPL)?

• The IRRPL was set up in 2019 jointly between erstwhile OFB [now Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Munitions India Limited (MIL)] of India and Rosoboron export and Kalashnikov of Russia.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

A rare species of duck, Greater Scaup, was recently sighted in Loktak lake in Manipur’s Bishnupur district after a gap of over 90 years.

• The Greater scaup is locally known as Sadangman.
• It is a medium-sized diving duck species that belongs to the family of Anatidae.
• The greater scaup species is distributed in Asia, Europe, the United States and Canada. It is a rare visitor to the Indian Subcontinent.
• The breeding scaup inhabits shallow, freshwater lakes, pools and rivers with grassy shorelines.
• The greater scaup species are highly migratory, breeding near arctic regions and migrating to the warmer south from August onwards.
• Conservation status

IUCN Red List: Least concern

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Two shilas (stones), around seven feet long and weighing over 350 tonnes, from Nepal’s Kali Gandaki river are set to arrive at Ayodhya, where they will be used to carve the idol of Lord Ram, said the priests from Janaki temple (Janakpur), Nepal.

About Gandak River

• It is one of the major rivers in Nepal and India.
• It is also known as the Kali Gandaki and Narayani after the confluence with Trisuli river in Nepal.
• It is a north bank tributary of the Ganga in India.
• Origin: It rises at 7620 m in Tibet near the Nepal border.
• It flows southwest into India and then turns southeast along the Uttar Pradesh–Bihar state border and across the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
• It enters the Ganga River opposite Patna.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court (SC) questioned the utility of executing an advanced medical directive in India when a person is anyway free to refuse invasive treatment and accept death.

About Advance Medical Directive/Living will

• What is it? It is a document prescribing a person's wishes regarding the medical treatment the person would want if he/she was unable to share his/her wishes or not in a position to make an informed decision by reason of being unconscious or in a coma.
• Who can draw up an Advance Medical Directive/Living Will?
• An adult who is of a sound and healthy mind and in a position to communicate, relate and comprehend the purpose and consequences of executing the document.
• It must be voluntary.
• Elements of a Living will:
• It should be in writing and should clearly state as to when medical treatment may be withdrawn or if specific medical treatment that will have the effect of delaying the process of death should be given.
• Instructions must be absolutely clear and unambiguous.
• It should mention whether the patient may revoke the instructions/authority at any time.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Scientists recently found that checking sand mining in Dongting lake in China can help the rebounding of the population of the Yangtze finless porpoise.

• Previous reports had shown the porpoise were pushed out of certain stretches of their habitat due to sand mining.
• The Chinese government announced a crackdown on illegal sand mining along the entire length of the river Yangtze.
• The Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia is home to these porpoises. 
• Yangtze finless porpoise is known for its mischievous smile and has a level of intelligence comparable to that of a gorilla.
• These are very small compared to whales and slow-moving inhabitants.
• These are good indicators of the health of their environment.
• Conservation status:

IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Birders and ornithologists recently in the State of Kerala spotted a migratory bird the Sedge Warbler.

• The sedge warbler is a medium-sized warbler of marshes, reedbeds and wetlands that can be spotted singing from perches on reeds and willow bushes.
• The male sedge warbler introduces random phrases into its repertoire which is known for mimicking.
• The male warbler never sings the same song twice; he attracts more mates the more phrases his song has.
• These are insectivores in nature.
• Conservation status:

IUCN Red List: Least concern

Hence both statements are correct.

A recent study on the Indian star tortoise distributed across South Asia has revealed that the genetic diversity of the species as well as its habitat has suffered major losses because of rampant illegal trade.

• Indian star tortoise is found in the central and Southern parts of India, in West Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
• Conservation status:
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Convention on International Trade in Species (CITES): Appendix I
• Wild Life Protection Act 1972: Schedule IV
• Threat: The highly fragmented habitat of the species, is greatly influenced by an increased level of urbanisation and agricultural practices throughout its range.
• Conservation Efforts:
• At the 18th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP18) held in 2019, Indian Star Tortoise was up-listed to Appendix I from Appendix II owing to its over-exploitation.  

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Supreme Court recently reserved its order on an interim plea by fishermen using purse seine nets to be allowed to operate in waters beyond the 12-nautical-mile limit off Tamil Nadu’s coast.

What is Territorial Waters?

• What is it? Territorial waters, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is that area of the sea immediately adjacent to the shores of a country and subject to the territorial jurisdiction of that country.
• Extend: The territorial sea extends to a limit of 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a country’s coast.
• Importance of Territorial waters:
• Within its territorial waters,a country exercises full sovereignty over the air space above the sea and over the seabed and subsoil.
• The government can legislate on matters concerning the safety of navigation, the preservation of the environment, and the prevention, reduction, and control of pollution within its territorial waters.
• Resource use within the territorial sea is strictly reserved to the coastal nation.
• All countries have the right of innocent passage (passage that is not prejudicial to the security of the coastal country) through the territorial sea of another country, although there is no right of innocent air space passage. 

What is an Exclusive Economic Zone?

• Exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined under the UNCLOS, is an area of the ocean extending up to 200 nautical miles (370 km) immediately offshore from a country’s land coast in which that country retains exclusive rights to the exploration and exploitation of natural resources.

 Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Spot Bellied Eagle Owl was recently spotted in Seshachalam forest of Andhra Pradesh for the first time.

Seshachalam Hills

• The Seshachalam Hills are a part of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh.
• They are a group of seven hills namely, Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri.
• The ranges were formed during the Precambrian era (3.8 billion to 540 million years ago)
• The Seshachalam hills consist of sandstone and shale along with limestone.
• Tirupati which is considered as one of the major Hindu pilgrimage towns in India is located in the hills.
• The Srivenkateshwara National Park is also located in this mountain range.
• Seshachalam was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in the year 2010
• It has large reserves of red sandalwood.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.