Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 14, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Geologists recently said sediments at Crawford Lake in Canada’s Ontario have provided evidence of the beginning of the Anthropocene epoch.

About Anthropocene epoch:

It is a proposed epoch that denotes the present geological time interval, in which the Earth’s ecosystem has gone through radical changes due to human impact.

• The word Anthropocene is derived from the Greek words anthropo, for “man,” and cene for “new,” coined and made popular by biologist Eugene Stormer and chemist Paul Crutzen in 2000.
• There are numerous phenomena associated with this proposed epoch, such as global warming, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, mass-scale soil erosion, the advent of deadly heat waves, deterioration of the biosphere and other detrimental changes in the environment.
• What is the Geological Time Scale?
• Earth’s history is divided into a hierarchical series of smaller chunks of time, referred to as the geologic time scale.
• These divisions, in descending length of time, are called eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages.
• These units are classified based on Earth’s rock layers, or strata, and the fossils found within them.
• From examining these fossils, scientists know that certain organisms are characteristic of certain parts of the geologic record. The study of this correlation is called stratigraphy.
• Current Epoch:Officially, the current epoch is called the Holocene, which began 11,700 years ago after the last major ice age.
• Debate:
• Scientists still debate whether the Anthropocene is different from the Holocene.
• The term Anthropocene has not been formally adopted by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), the international organization that names and defines epochs.
• The primary question that the IUGS needs to answer before declaring the Anthropocene an epoch is if humans have changed the Earth system to the point that it is reflected in the rock strata.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

A massive chunk of "floating gold" was recently found in the belly of a dead whale beached on the Spanish island of La Palma.

About Floating Gold:

• Floating Gold or Ambergris (commonly identified as a lump of vomit), is a substance extracted from the bile duct in the intestines of sperm whales.
• It is a waxy, solid and inflammable substance.
• It is produced by about one in every hundred sperm whales.
• How is it formed?
• The scientific theory surrounding ambergris suggests that sperm whales consume significant quantities of cephalopods, including squid and cuttlefish.
• Normally, indigestible elements like beaks and pens are expelled through vomiting before digestion.
• However, in rare cases, these parts bypass that process and bind together within the whale’s intestines, gradually forming a solid mass of ambergris over the course of several years.
• It is hypothesized that ambergris acts as a protective mechanism, safeguarding the whale’s internal organs from the sharp squid beaks.
• When newly formed, ambergris emits a distinctive odor reminiscent of the sea and faeces.
• However, as it matures, it develops a pleasant, earthy aroma often compared to the fragrance of isopropyl alcohol, but without the sharp chemical undertones.
• Uses:
• It has predominantly been employed in the creation of perfumes and fragrances.
• Ambergris has a woody scent like sandalwood but also contains ambrein, an odorless alcohol that can fix and extend the life of scents, hence its popularity among perfumers.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the GST Council said the Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) on medicines and Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMP) used for treating rare diseases enlisted under the National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021, will be exempt when imported for personal use.

• The National Policy for Rare Diseases, 2021 aims to lower the high cost of treatment for rare diseases with increased focus on indigenous research.
• It offers financial support for one-time treatment of up to Rs. 20 lakh, introduces a crowd funding mechanism, creates a registry of rare diseases and provides for early detection.
• The rare diseases have been identified and categorized into 3 groups namely
• Group 1:  Disorders amenable to one-time curative treatment.
• Group-2: Diseases requiring long term/lifelong treatment having relatively lower cost of treatment and benefit has been documented in literature and annual or more frequent surveillance is required.
• Group 3:- Diseases for which definitive treatment is available but challenges are to make optimal patient selection for benefit, very high cost and lifelong therapy.
• In order to receive financial assistance for treatment of rare disease, the patient of the nearby area may approach the nearest Centre of Excellence to get him assessed and avail the benefits.
• Eight (08) Centres of Excellence (CoEs) have been identified for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of rare diseases.
• Centres of Excellence: The Centres of Excellence would be provided a one-time grant to a maximum of Rs. 5 crore each for infrastructure development for screening, tests, treatment.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, scientists’ have analyzed data generated from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer and said that climate change has altered the colour of 56 per cent of the world’s oceans.

• It is a key instrument aboard the Terra (originally known as EOS AM-1) and Aqua (originally known as EOS PM-1) satellites.
• It is a sensor operating on the Terra and Aqua satellites, which were launched by NASA in December 1999 and May 2002.
• Terra's orbit around the Earth is timed so that it passes from north to south across the equator in the morning, while Aqua passes south to north over the equator in the afternoon.
• Terra MODIS and Aqua MODIS are viewing the entire Earth's surface every 1 to 2 days, acquiring data in 36 spectral bands, or groups of wavelengths.
• These data will improve our understanding of global dynamics and processes occurring on the land, in the oceans, and in the lower atmosphere.
• Significance: It is playing a vital role in the development of validated, global, interactive Earth system models able to predict global change accurately enough to assist policy makers in making sound decisions concerning the protection of our environment.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, India voted in favour of a draft resolution tabled in the UN Human Rights Council that condemns and strongly rejects recent “public and premeditated” acts of desecration of the Holy Quran.

• It is an intergovernmental body within the United Nations whose mission is to promote and protect human rights around the world.
• It was created by the General Assembly on 15 March 2006 by replacing the Commission on Human Rights.
• It has 47 members elected for staggered three-year terms on a regional group basis.
• The members of the Council serve for a period of three years and are not eligible for immediate re-election after serving two consecutive terms.
• The Council's Membership is based on equitable geographical distribution.
• Function:
• It investigates allegations of breaches of human rights in UN member states, and addresses important thematic human rights issues such as freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and religion, women's rights, LGBTI rights, and the rights of racial and ethnic minorities.

Hence both statements are correct.

Google recently said it will allow developers to offer games on the Play Store where players can buy, sell and earn tokenized digital assets—like non fungible tokens.

About Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs):

• NFTs are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain and cannot be replicated.
• They can represent digital or real-world items like artwork, photograph, song, video, real estate, individuals' identities, property rights, and more.
• Thus, NFTs are assets that have been tokenized via a blockchain. They are assigned unique identification codes and metadata that distinguish them from other tokens.
• The term ‘non-fungible’ simply means that each token is different as opposed to a fungible currency such as money (a ten-rupee note can be exchanged for another and so on).
• NFTs can be traded and exchanged for money, cryptocurrencies, or other NFTs—it all depends on the value the market and owners have placed on them.
• NFT transactions are recorded on blockchains, which is a digital public ledger, with most NFTs being a part of the Ethereum blockchain.
• NFTs became popular in 2021, when they were beginning to be seen by artists as a convenient way to monetise their work.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Southern Railway has identified 90 stations for development under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS).

About Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS):

• It envisages development of stations on a continuous basis with a long term vision.
• The scheme will subsume all previous redevelopment projects where work is yet to begin.
• The scheme aims at preparation of Master Plans of the Railway stations and implementation of the Master Plan in phases to enhance the facilities including and beyond the Minimum Essential Amenities.
• However, plans and consequent budgets will only be approved on the basis of factors such as footfall and inputs from stakeholders.
• Zonal railways have been given the responsibility of selecting stations, which will then be approved by a committee of senior railway officials.
• The model envisages low-cost redevelopment of stations which can be executed timely.
• The scheme shall cater for introduction of new amenities as well as upgradation and replacement of existing amenities.
• Facilities Planned under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme:
• Provision for Roof Plaza to be created in future.
• Free Wi-Fi, space for 5G mobile towers.
• Smooth access by widening of roads, removal of unwanted structures, properly designed signages, dedicated pedestrian pathways, well planned parking areas, improved lighting etc.
• Attempts shall be made to club different grades/types of waiting halls and provide good cafeteria/retail facilities as far as possible.
• Better furniture will be installed in waiting rooms, platforms, rest rooms and offices.
• High level platforms(760-840 mill meter) shall be provided at all categories of stations.
• Special amenities for the disabled as per guidelines issued by the Railway Board from time to time.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, researchers said that overfishing of the Atlantic menhaden are at the root of the declining reproductive rates of ospreys(bird) at Mobjack Bay, an inlet at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay.

• It is a commercially important Atlantic Ocean fish, also known as Fatback, Bunker, Pogie.
• Habitat: They are found in coastal and estuarine waters from Nova Scotia to northern Florida.
• Diet: They are filter feeders, primarily consuming phytoplankton and zooplankton in the water column.
• The disappearance of most of the menhaden from the bay is contributing to the disappearance of the many species that rely on menhaden
• Uses of this fish
• They are harvested for use as fertilizers, animal feed, and bait for fisheries including blue crab and lobster.
• They are a major source of omega-3 fatty acids, so they are also used to develop human and animal supplements. 
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Least concern

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare launched a new campaign for banks under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund titled BHARAT (Banks Heralding Accelerated Rural & Agriculture Transformation).

• It is a one month-long Campaign with a target of Rs 7200 crore.
• It aims to get active involvement and support of members of commercial Banks in the public and private sector, Regional Rural Banks, Small Finance Banks, NBFCs and select cooperative Banks in promoting the Scheme of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.

What is Agriculture Infrastructure Fund?

• It is a Central Sector Scheme which was launched in 2020.
• The scheme shall provide a medium - long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management Infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and financial support.
• Duration: The duration of the Scheme shall be from FY2020 to FY2032 (10 years).
• Benefits
• All loans under this financing facility will have interest subvention of 3% per annum up to a limit of Rs. 2 crores. This subvention will be available for a maximum period of seven years.
• Further, credit guarantee coverage will be available for eligible borrowers from this financing facility under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) scheme for a loan up to Rs. 2 crores. The fee for this coverage will be paid by the Government.
• In case of FPOs the credit guarantee may be availed from the facility created under FPO promotion scheme of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DACFW).
• Moratorium for repayment under this financing facility may vary subject to minimum of 6 months and maximum of 2 years.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, researchers described a 500-million-year-old tunicate fossil species, which suggested that the modern tunicate body plan was already established soon after the Cambrian Explosion.

• These are commonly called sea squirts which are a group of marine animals.
• They spend most of their lives attached to docks, rocks or the undersides of boats.
• About 3,000 species of tunicate exist in the world’s oceans, living mostly in shallow water.
• They are a species of marine invertebrates with an evolutionary history from atleast 500 million years ago.
• Researchers are interested in them as they are the closest relatives of vertebrates, which includes fish, mammals, and people.
• There are two main tunicate lineages namely;
• Ascidiaceans: They are often called “sea squirts and most ascidiaceans begin their lives looking like a tadpole and mobile, then metamorph into a barrel-shaped adult with two siphons. They live their adult life attached to the seafloor.
• Appendicularias: They retain the look of a tadpole as they grow to adults and swim freely in the upper waters. These seem extremely far removed from vertebrates.
• Features
• Tunicates are truly strange creatures that come in all shapes and sizes and have a wide variety of lifestyles.
• An adult tunicate’s basic shape is typically barrel-like, with two siphons projecting from its body.
• One of the siphons draws in water with food particles through suction, allowing the animal to feed using an internal basket-like filter device.
• The other siphon expels the water.

Hence both statements are correct.