Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 19, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

The Universal Postal Union will evaluate UPI for integrating the unified payment interface with cross-border remittances using the global postal network, an official release said recently.

About Universal Postal Union (UPU):

• It is a United Nations specialized agency and the postal sector's primary forum for international cooperation.
• It was established by the Treaty of Bern of 1874.
• UPU is the second oldest international organization worldwide.
• Mandate: To ensure universal access to postal services.
• Headquarters: Bern, Switzerland
• Functions:
• It coordinates postal policies among member nations in addition to the worldwide postal system. 
• It sets the rules for international mail exchanges and makes recommendations to stimulate growth in mail, parcel and financial services volumes and improve the quality of service for customers.
• It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.
• It fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role and provides technical assistance where needed. 
• Member countries:
• Any member country of the United Nations may become a member of the UPU.
• Any non-member country of the United Nations may become a UPU member, provided that its request is approved by at least two-thirds of the member countries of the UPU.
• The UPU now has 192 member countries.
• Structure: UPU consists of four bodies,
• The Congress: It is the supreme authority of the UPU and meets every four years.
• The Council of Administration: It ensures the continuity of the UPU's work between Congresses, supervises its activities and studies regulatory, administrative, legislative and legal issues.
• The Postal Operations Council: It is the technical and operational mind of the UPU and consists of 48 member countries elected during Congress.
• The International Bureau: Fulfilling a secretariat function, the International Bureau provides logistical and technical support to the UPU's bodies.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Ghaggar River and its tributaries caused havoc after reclaiming their floodplains in Haryana.

• The Ghaggar and many of its tributaries originate in the Shiwalik foothills of Himalayas of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh.
• Among these tributaries, the Kaushalya, Tangri, Markanda, Beghna and Sukhna rivers are the ones that merge into the Ghaggar.
• The Ghaggar-Hakra River is an intermittent river in India and Pakistan that flows only during the monsoon season. 
• The river is known as Ghaggar in India, before the Ottu barrage, and as the Hakra in Pakistan, downstream of the barrage.
• It eventually dries up in the Great Indian (Thar) Desert.

Hence both statements are correct.

According to the WHO and UNICEF estimates for national immunization coverage for 2022, the coverage rate for DPT3, the third dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines, in India rose to an all-time of 93% in 2022.

• The DPT vaccine is a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus.
• The vaccine components include diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and either killed whole cells of the bacterium that causes pertussis or pertussis antigens.
• The primary dose of DPT provided as part of pentavalent vaccine and 2 booster doses are given at 16 -24 months and 5-6 years, respectively.
• Diphtheria:
• It is an infectious disease caused by Corynebacterium diphtheria, a bacterium.
• Vulnerable groups: Diphtheria particularly affects children aged 1 to 5 years. In temperate climates diphtheria tends to occur during the colder months.
• Pertussis
• It is also known as whooping cough.
• It is a very contagious respiratory illness caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. 
• Whooping cough bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line part of the upper respiratory system.
• The bacteria release toxins (poisons), which damage the cilia and cause airways to swell.
• It can spread easily from person to person through the air. 

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, a fascinating combination of prehistoric rock paintings from the Mesolithic period and exquisite artwork from the Kakatiya dynasty were discovered in the Rudragiri hillock.

• It is located in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• It is nestled amidst the Eastern Ghats, features five naturally formed rock shelters at its foothills, facing westward. 
• These shelters served as living quarters for people during the Mesolithic age around 5000 B.C and they bear witness to the luminous rock paintings of that era.
• Two natural caves at the southern end of the hillock also exhibit exceptional murals from the renowned Kakatiya kingdom.
• Key findings:
• The first cave presents a narrative mural portraying the intense battle between the Vanara brothers, Vali and Sugriva.
• Both figures stand on the battlefield wielding maces, their faces displaying fierce determination. Rama, positioned behind Sugriva, shoots arrows at Vali.
• A Ramayana fresco depicting Hanuman lifting the Sanjeevani hill with his right hand painted a conch and fire altars can be seen to his right and another prehistoric painting to the left.
• In the middle cave, a grand sketch of Hanuman, accompanied by sacred symbols of the conch (Sankha) and the fire altar (Yagna Vedi), captures visitors’ attention. Hanuman is depicted carrying the Sanjivani hill in his right hand, symbolising his mission to save Lakshmana’s life.
• The third cave houses the prehistoric rock paintings from the Mesolithic era.
• Interestingly, the Kakatiya artist chose the same rock shelter to superimpose the elegant figure of Hanuman, who is portrayed in a unique ‘Anjali’ posture, folding his hands in a divine offering.
• The illustrious Ganapati Deva Maharaja (1199-1262 AD), the founder of Muppavaram temple and a prominent figure of the Kakatiya dynasty, likely patronised the rich ancient mural heritage found at Rudragiri.

Hence both statements are correct.

State-run hydropower company NHPC Ltd. Will soon start trial runs for the Subansiri Lower project. 

About Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project:

• It is the biggest hydroelectric project undertaken in India so far.
• It is a run-of-river scheme on river Subansiri.
• Location: The Project is located near North Lakhimpur on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
• Capacity:2000MW
• It is a concrete gravity dam 116 m high from river bed level.
• It is being developed by the state-run National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC).

Key facts about the Subansiri River:

• It originates in the Tibet Plateau and is the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra River.
• The high topographic variation makes this river a potential zone for harnessing it for the hydropower.

What is a Gravity dam?

• Gravity dams are massive structure dams which are constructed of concrete or stone masonry.
• Concrete gravity dams usually run in a straight line across a broad valley and resist the horizontal thrust of the retained water entirely by their own weight.
• This type of structure is durable and requires very little maintenance.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Dubai Customs recently celebrated the graduation of participants from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) programme.

About United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC):

• UNODC is a global leader in the fight against illicit drugs and international crime, in addition to being responsible for implementing the United Nations lead programme on terrorism.
• It was established in 1997 through a merger between the United Nations Drug Control Programme and the Centre for International Crime Prevention.
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria 
• Functions:
• UNODC works to educate people throughout the world about the dangers of drug abuse.
• Strengthen international action against illicit drug production and trafficking and drug-related crime. 
• It also works to improve crime prevention and assist with criminal justice reform in order to strengthen the rule of law, promote stable and viable criminal justice systems and combat the growing threats of transnational organized crime and corruption. 
• In 2002, the UN General Assembly approved an expanded programme of activities for the Terrorism Prevention Branch of UNODC. The activities focus on providing assistance to States, on request, in ratifying and implementing the eighteen universal legal instruments against terrorism.
• Working:
• UNODC has 20 field offices covering over 150 countries.
• By working directly with Governments and non-governmental organizations, UNODC field staff develop and implement drug control and crime prevention programmes tailored to countries' particular needs.
• Funding: UNODC relies on voluntary contributions, mainly from governments, to carry out the majority of our work.

Hence both statements are correct.

According to a recently published research paper, a human clinical trial of a vaccine candidate to prevent chikungunya has returned a 99% immune response.

About Chikungunya:

• It is a viral disease transmitted to humans through the bites of mosquitoes infected with the chikungunya virus.
• The word comes from the African Makonde language and means "bent over in pain." 
• It is most commonly transmitted by mosquitoes, Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti and Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus, which can also transmit dengue and Zika viruses.
• It was first described during an outbreak in southern Tanzania in 1952 and has now been identified in nearly 40 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms usually begin 4 to 8 days after a mosquito bite but can appear anywhere from 2 to 12 days.
• The most common symptom is an abrupt onset of fever, often accompanied by joint pain. 
• Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash. 
• Serious complications are uncommon, but atypical severe cases can cause long-term symptoms and even death, especially in older people.
• Treatment:
• There is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment for chikungunya virus infections.
• The goal of treatment for the infection is to relieve symptoms with rest, fluids and drugs.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Honduras President recently requested the country’s admission to the BRICS-led New Development Bank (NDB).

About New Development Bank (NDB):

• NDB, formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
• Objective: Financing infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies and developing countries.
• The idea of setting up NDB was first conceived in 2012 during BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India. The Bank formally came into existence as a legal entity in 2015.
• Headquarters: Shanghai, China
• The first regional office of the NDB was setup in Johannesburg, South Africa. The second regional office was established in 2019 in São Paulo, Brazil, followed by Moscow, Russia.
• Capital: The Bank has an initial authorized capital of 100 billion dollars and an initial subscribed capital of 50 billion dollars.
• Membership in NDB is open to any member of the United Nations.
• Governance Structure:
• The Bank is governed by a Board of Governors made up of the finance ministers of the five BRICS countries, and a Board of Directors.
• Voting power within the Board is based on each country’s shares in the bank.
• While new members can join the NDB, the five BRICS countries will retain a minimum of 55% of total shares.
• The NDB’s management includes a presidency which rotates among BRICS members, and four vice presidents who are selected from the remaining BRICS countries.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) of the European Union (EU) is likely to hit India's exports, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a New Delhi-based think tank, recently said in a report.

About Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR):

• The European Union’s FSR entered into force on 12 January 2023.
• Aim: Combating distortions of competition on the EU internal market caused by foreign subsidies. 
• It will allow EU to investigate financial contributions granted by non-EU governments to companies active in the EU, and prohibit the award of public contracts to a company that has unduly profited from foreign subsidies.
• It imposes mandatory notification and approval requirements for acquisitions of significant EU businesses and large EU public tenders, and gives the European Commission (EC) extensive powers to launch ex officio investigations. 
• The EC is the sole enforcer of the FSR.
• In cases where the European Commission finds that a foreign subsidy is distorting competition, it can impose various remedies, including
• fines of up to 10% of the company’s annual aggregated turnover;
• requiring the company to repay the foreign subsidy if competition distortion is confirmed;
• banning the company from participating in public procurement;
• What Counts as Foreign Financial Contributions under the FSR?
• FSR covers financial contribution from non-EU governments to firms operating in/exporting to EU’s market.
• Such a contribution may be distortive where it confers a benefit not normally available on the market to a company in the EU, and that benefit is specific to one or more companies or industries as opposed to all companies or all companies active in a particular industry.
• The contributions include direct grant, low-interest loan, tax incentives on goods or services at below-market prices, and provision of land or buildings at below-market prices.
• FSR applies to transactions above a certain threshold. Companies must notify the European Commission if their transactions involving foreign subsidies exceed this threshold.
• For mergers and acquisitions, notification is mandatory if the combined value of the merging companies’ assets exceeds €500 million, but not necessary if the value of foreign subsidies is less than €1 million.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

An RTI query recently revealed that the forest department has identified 12 illegal, unauthorised or unrecognised resorts in Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR), Megamalai division in Theni.

About Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve (SMTR):

• Location:
• It is spread across the districts of Theni, Virudhunagar and Madurai in Tamil Nadu.
• It lies in the Western Ghats region.
• SMTR is India's 51st tiger reserve and 5th tiger reserve of Tamil Nadu.
• It was formed in February 2021 by combining Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary and Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary.
• It will function as a connecting link between Kerala’s Periyar Tiger Reserve and Tamil Nadu’s Southern Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.
• SMTR will provide protection to Megamalai, the Vaigai River's primary catchment, in turn helping water levels to rise in the river.
• Flora: It’s a blend of tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, dry deciduous and moist mixed deciduous woods, and grasslands.
• Fauna:
• Mammals: Elephants, Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Sambar Deer, Wild Boar, Porcupine, Nilgiri Langur, Lion-Tailed Macaque etc.
• Birds: Red-Whiskered Bulbul, Common Iora, White-Browed Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Pied Bush Chat etc.
• Reptiles: Wood Snake, Monitor Lizard, Chameleon, etc.

Hence option b is the correct answer.