Daily Current Affairs MCQ- January 30, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Union Home Minister’s “Special Operation Medal” for the year 2022 awarded for 4 Special Operations.

• The medal was constituted in 2018 with the objective to recognize those operations, which have high degree of planning, high significance for the security of the country/State/UT and have significant impact on the security of larger sections of the society.
• The award shall be conferred for Special Operation in the areas such as counter terrorism, border action, arms control, prevention of narcotics smuggling and rescue operations.
• All recommendations for the award is sent to the MHA within three months of the special operation.
• It is announced on 31st of October every year.
• In a year, normally 3 Special Operations are considered for the award and in extra ordinary circumstances; the award may be given up to 5 Special Operations to encourage State/UT Police.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia from the PMNRF for the victims of the mishap in Morbi.

• Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was established entirely with public contributions and does not get any budgetary support.
• The corpus of the fund is invested in various forms with scheduled commercial banks and other agencies. Disbursements are made with the approval of the Prime Minister.
• PMNRF has not been constituted by the Parliament. The fund is recognized as a Trust under the Income Tax Act and the same is managed by Prime Minister or multiple delegates for national causes.
• PMNRF accepts voluntary contributions from Individuals, Organizations, Trusts, Companies and Institutions etc.
• All contributions towards PMNRF are exempt from Income Tax under section 80(G).
• The resources of the PMNRF are utilized to render immediate relief to families of those killed in natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquakes, etc.
• Assists partially to defray the expenses for medical treatment like heart surgery, kidney transplantation, cancer treatment of needy people and acid attack etc.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Amur falcons, the world’s longest travelling raptors, began to arrive in Manipur’s Tamenglong district as part of its annual routine migration.

• Migration Journey:
  • Locally known as Akhuipuina, the bird arrives mainly in Manipur and Nagaland on its southbound migration from breeding grounds in North China, Eastern Mongolia and far-east Russia en-route to its wintering grounds in South Africa.
  • The one-way journey via India is about 20,000 km long and the birds do this twice a year.
• Conservation efforts:
  • Amur falcon is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and included under its Schedule IV.
  • Hunting of the birds or possessing its meat is punishable with imprisonment up to three years or a fine up to Rs 5,000.
  • In 2018, the forest department started a conservation programme by radio-tagging the birds to study their migratory route.
• IUCN status is Least Concern.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently Prime Minister praised plantation drive of Central Reserve Police Force jawans.

• The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is the premier central police force of the Union of India for internal security.
• It functions under the authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India.

History of CRPF

• Originally constituted as the Crown Representative Police in 1939, it is one of the oldest Central para military forces (now termed as Central Armed Police Force).
• CRPF was raised as a sequel to the political unrest and the agitations in the then princely States of India following the Madras Resolution of the All-India Congress Committee in 1936 and the ever-growing desire of the Crown Representative to help the vast majority of the native States to preserve law and order as a part of the imperial policy.
• It became the Central Reserve Police Force on enactment of the CRPF Act on 28th December 1949.

Duties performed by the CRPF are

• Crowd control, Riot control
• Counter Millitancy / Insurgency operations, Dealing with Left Wing Extremism
• Overall co-ordination of large scale security arrangement specially with regard to elections in disturbed areas.
• Protection of VIPs and vital installations.
• Checking environmental de-gradation and protection of local Flora and Fauna
• Fighting aggression during War time
• Participating in UN Peace Keeping Mission
• Rescue and Relief operations at the time of Natural Calamities.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

An American black vulture was recently spotted in the Delhi NCR region causing a stir amongst birdwatchers and conservationists.

• Black vultures are most abundant at low elevations. They breed in dense woodlands but usually forage in open habitats.
• It is mainly found in the northeastern United States to Peru, Central Chile and Uruguay South America.
• They typically avoid crossing large bodies of water and do not cover long distances. 
• Conservation status
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the five-day Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Film Festival opened in Mumbai.

• The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation. It is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance and has been the primary security pillar of the region.
• It was established in 2001 and was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism.
• The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organisation.
• The organisation has two permanent bodies:
  • The SCO Secretariat is based in Beijing.
  • The Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) is based in Tashkent.
• Member countries: India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
• Four observer states are Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, The Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) were set up by the central government to look into user complaints against large social media companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

• The central government notified three Grievance Appellate Committees (GACs) under an amendment to IT Rules 2021.
• Composition
  • Each of the three GACs will have a chairperson, two whole-time members from various government entities and retired senior executives from the industry.
  • Term: Three years from the date of assumption of office.
• The GAC will be a virtual digital platform that will operate only online and the digitally entire process, from the filing of an appeal to the decision, will be conducted digitally.
• Users will have the option to appeal against the decision of the grievance officer of the social media intermediaries and other online intermediaries before this new appellate body.
• The Committee will endeavour to address the user's appeal within 30 days.

Hence both statements are correct.

Government of Goa has sought an early hearing by the Supreme Court in the Mahadayi river sharing issue involving Karnataka.

About Mahadayi river:

• Origin: Mahadayi river rises in the Western Ghats, from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district.
• The river travels 35 km in Karnataka; 82 km in Goa before joining the Arabian Sea at Panji (North-Goa).
• Also called Mandovi in Goa, Mahadayi  is a rain-fed river that is shared between Karnataka and Goa for their water needs.
• The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao in the Mandovi river.
• Major Tributaries: Kalasa Nala, Banduri Nala, Surla Nala, Haltar Nala, Poti Nala, Mahadayi Nala, Pansheer Nala, Bail Nala, Andher Nala.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Officials of the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in north Bengal said that they were able to capture some pictures of rare and elusive melanistic Asian golden cat in the camera traps.

About Asian golden cat:

• It is a medium sized cat with relatively long legs.
• Scientific name: Catopuma temminckii
• Other names: They are known as the “fire cat” in Thailand and Burma, and as the “rock cat” in parts of China.
• Distribution: The species occurs in Southeast Asia, from Nepal and Tibet to Southern China, Sumatra and India.
• Habitat: It prefers forest habitats that are interspersed with rocky areas, being found in deciduous, tropical and subtropical evergreen rainforests.
• Their fur ranges in color from cinnamon to various shades of brown, and also gray and black (melanistic).
• Conservation status:
• IUCN: “Near threatened”
• Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule 1

Hence both statements are not correct.

Recently, a new study has found that parts of India and China are hotspots for the night-time production of nitrate radicals.

• Nitrate radical is an oxide of nitrogen that consists of three oxygen atoms bound to a nitrogen atom.
• These radicals could increase the amount of unhealthy ozone and PM2.5 fine particulate matter in the atmosphere.
• Nitrate radicals will oxidise gas pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• These VOCs will then generate ozone and secondary organic aerosol, both deteriorate air quality.
• Ozone is an air pollutant that affects human health and crop yield.
• The synthesis of nitrate radicals rises at night in some regions of India, particularly in northern India.
• Reducing the emissions of VOCs could reduce this night-time oxidation in India and China.

Hence both statements are correct.