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

During a close Mercury flyby, the BepiColombo spacecraft collected data that showed how electrons raining down on the planet's suface are triggering X-ray auroras.

About BepiColombo:

• BepiColombo is a joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) mission to Mercury.
• The mission was named after Giuseppe "Bepi" Colombo, an Italian mathematician and engineer who made significant contributions to the understanding of Mercury's orbit.
• Launched on October 20, 2018, BepiColombo is an ambitious and complex mission designed to study Mercury's surface, composition, magnetic field, and its interaction with the solar environment.
• The BepiColombo spacecraft consists of two main components:
• Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO): The MPO is primarily provided by ESA and is responsible for mapping and studying Mercury's surface, as well as its composition and topography.
• Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO): The MMO is provided by JAXA and focuses on studying Mercury's magnetic field and magnetosphere.
• Objectives:
• Investigating Mercury's surface and composition to better understand its geological history and formation processes.
• Studying Mercury's magnetic field and magnetosphere to gain insights into its internal structure and how it interacts with the solar wind.
• Measuring Mercury's exosphere (a thin atmosphere) and understanding its composition and dynamics.
• Conducting experiments to test certain principles of general relativity and improve our understanding of gravity.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The latest ranking published by Henley Passport Index, released recently, puts India's passport at the 80th spot, moving it up five places from its position in 2022.

About Henley Passport Index 2023:

• The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
• It is published by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm, in partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
• The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.
• The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team. 
• Highlights of Henley Passport Index 2023:
• Singapore has topped the passport rankings with visa-free access to 192 global destinations.
• With visa-free access to 190 destinations, three European countries – Germany, Italy and Spain – share the second rank on the list.
• Japan, the previous top-rank holder, slipped down to the third rank. Japan shares the rank with Austria, Finland, France, Luxembourg, South Korea and Sweden.
• With 101, 102 and 103 ranks respectively, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are the world’s weakest passports. Pakistan is on the 100th spot.
• India’s rank:
• India has climbed seven places to 80th rank from 87 last year.
• It shares the spot with Senegal and Togo, with visa-free access to 57 destinations.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Chairman of Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) said the regulator is keen on pension funds investing in sovereign green bonds (SGBs).

• The sovereign green bonds are bonds issued by any sovereign entity, inter-governmental groups or alliances and corporates.
• Aim: The proceeds of the bonds are utilised for projects classified as environmentally sustainable.
• These are issued with longer maturity period.
• In India, the framework for the sovereign green bond was issued by the government on November 9, 2022.

Key Facts about the PFRDA

• It is a statutory regulatory body set up under PFRDA Act enacted in 2014.
• Objective: To promote old age income security by establishing, developing, and regulating pension funds and to protect the interests of subscribers to schemes of pension funds and related matters.
• Composition: It consists of a Chairperson and not more than six members, of whom at least three shall be Whole-Time Members, to be appointed by the Central Government.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Finance.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Functions:
• Regulate National Pension System (NPS) and other pension schemes to which PFRDA Act applies.
• Establish, develop and regulate pension funds.
• Protect the interest of pension fund subscribers.
• Register and regulate intermediaries

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the President of India presented the “Bhoomi Samman” 2023 at a function organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development in New Delhi. 

• Bhoomi Samman awards aims to acknowledge and encourage outstanding performance in the implementation of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).
• Madhya Pradesh has secured the first position in the field of Digital India Land Records modernization in the country.
• 15 districts of Madhya Pradesh have been awarded Platinum Grading for 100 percent achievement in all the components of Digital India Land Records Management Programme. 
• It is a fine example of Centre-State cooperative federalism based on trust and partnership, as the grading system is largely based on reports and inputs of the States/UTs in the core components of computerization and digitization of land records.

Key facts about DILRMP

• It is a central sector scheme being implemented by the Department of Land Resources under the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
• Aim: It attempts to build upon the commonalities that exist in the arena of land records in various States to develop an appropriate Integrated Land Information Management System (ILIMS) across the country.
• The ILIMS integrates all the processes and lands records databases with the banks, financial institutions, circle rates, Registration Offices and other sectors.
• Major components: Computerization of land records, Survey/re-survey, Computerization of Registration.

Hence both statements are correct.

Senior Airbus officials recently said that a fully operational factory will be in place in Vadodara in Gujarat by November 2024, from where the first Indian-made C295 military transport aircraft will start rolling out 2026 onward.

About C295 Transport Aircraft:

• It is a new-generation tactical airlifter in the light and medium segment that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
• It was designed and built by Airbus, a European multinational aerospace corporation.
• It is robust and reliable but also highly versatile in terms of the number of different missions it can perform.
• The aircraft, with a flight endurance of up to 11 hours, can carry out multi-role operations under all weather conditions.
• It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo.
• Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features.
• Types of Missions:
• It is known to be a superior aircraft used for tactical transport of up to 71 troops or 50 paratroopers.
• Air-to-Air refuelling: It can be converted into an air tanker that can deliver up to 6,000 kg of gasoline to fixed and rotary wing receivers by adding a detachable refuelling kit.
• Airborne Early Warning (AEW): It has a cutting-edge radar with 360-degree coverage to give a complete picture of the airspace in its Airborne Early Warning variant.
• Water-Bomber: It can be transformed into a powerful water bomber that can put out forest fires with up to 7,000 litres of water due to a flexible roll-on/roll-off system.
• Armed/Ground ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance): A close-air-support operation that uses an ISR with a multi-mission radar that can also be weaponized.
• The aircraft can be utilised for casualty or medical evacuation as well as airdropping loads and paratroopers.
• It is equipped to handle special missions, disaster relief operations, and maritime patrol responsibilities.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Correct option is B. Neither 1 nor 2
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is a Government of India ministry that works to improve the welfare, social justice, and empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society. 
The main objective of NWM is “conservation of water, minimizing wastage and ensuring its more equitable distribution both across and within States through integrated water resources development and management”. It is the objective of  National water Mission, not Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

SC refuses to entertain PIL seeking direction to Lok Sabha Secretariat for the inauguration of new Parliament building by the President.

About Public Interest Litigation (PIL):

• PIL has not been defined in any Indian statute. However, Courts have interpreted and defined PIL. 
• The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has, in the case of Janata Dal v. H.S.Chaudhary, [(AIR 1993 SC 892) held that lexically, the expression ‘PIL’  means a legal action started in a court of law for the enforcement of public/general interest where the public or a particular class of the public some interest (including pecuniary interest) that affects their legal rights or liabilities.
• Any individual or organisation can file a PIL either in his/her/their own standing i.e. to protect or enforce a right owed to him/her/them by the government or on behalf of a section of society who is disadvantaged or oppressed and is not able to enforce their own rights.
• The concept of “Locus Standi” has been relaxed in the case of PILs so as to enable the Hon’ble Court to look into grievances that are filed on behalf of those who are poor, illiterate, deprived or disabled and are unable to approach the courts themselves.
• Suo moto cognizance may also be taken by the Court.
• PILs are extensions of Writ Jurisdiction. Therefore, PILs may be filed either before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution or any High Court under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.

Hence, only statement 1 is correct.

PM Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker & various ministers pay floral tribute to Savarkar on his 140th birth anniversary.

About Vinayak Damodar Savarkar:

• Born on this day in 1883 near Nasik in Maharashtra, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was popularly called Veer Savarkar.
• Veer Savarkar was a freedom fighter . He called 1857 revolt as the first war of independence.
• He founded the following Organizations: Abhinav Bharat Society and Free India Society.
• He was also a member of India House. He was not the founder of Hindu Mahasabha, but he did served as its president.
• He opposed the Quit India struggle in 1942, calling it a "Quit India but keep your army" movement.
• Savarkar endorsed the ideal of India as a Hindu Rashtra and is credited with developing the Hindu nationalist political ideology Hindutva.
• Publications:
  • He wrote the book ”Joseph Mazzini- Biography and Politics”.
  • He published “The Indian War of Independence” about the Indian rebellion of 1857.
• The airport at Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar's capital has been named Veer Savarkar International Airport.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India, inaugurated the 'Divya Kala Shakti' Program at the Rudraksha Convention & Cultural Centre in Varanasi today, on May 27th, 2023.

About Divya Kala Shakti Program:

• This time, the sixth DIVYA KALA SHAKTI program was organized in the divine city of Varanasi, where approximately 100 artists from six states, namely West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, performed in the program.
• It is organized by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment through CRC-Lucknow, an organization under the department.
• The Department is taking Divya Kala Shakti to regional levels under the direction of former President Shri. Ram Nath Kovind.
• As per this direction, five regional “Divya Kala Shakti” programs have already been held in various places, including the Western Region, North Eastern and Southern Region in Mumbai, Arunachal, Chennai, New Delhi, and Gauhati.

Hence both statements are correct.

A total of 12 teams won the Solar Decathlon India (SDI) Design Challenge for Net-Zero Future Proof Building in the different categories at the 3rd edition of the challenge conducted at Infosys’ campus in Mysuru

About Solar Decathlon India (SDI) Design Challenge for Net-Zero Future Proof Building 2022-2023:

• The Solar Decathlon India is conducted every year by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and the Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE).
• It is under the aegis of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), an autonomous bilateral organisation jointly funded by both the Governments (The Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and the U.S. Department of State are the respective nodal departments on the two sides).
• The Council of Architecture (CoA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding as a knowledge partner with AEEE, who co-organises SDI, to expand outreach and the impact of Solar Decathlon India aimed at building the next generation of leaders to combat climate change in India.

Hence both statements are not correct.