Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 6, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published its World Investment Report 2023.

• It is a permanent inter-governmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964.
• It is responsible for dealing with development issues, particularly international trade.
• Framing policies in various domains such as trade, technology, finance, aid, and transport are the most important priorities of UNCTAD.
• The Conference ordinarily meets once in four years.
• The second UNCTAD Conference took place in New Delhi, India in 1968.
• Members: 195 countries
• Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
• Reports published by the UNCTAD: Trade and Development Report, The Least Developed Countries Report and Commodities and Development Report etc.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, 9.5kg of ambergris was found in the carcass of a sperm whale which was washed up on a shore of the Canary Island of La Palm.

• It has long been recognized as one of nature’s most enigmatic phenomena.
• Ambergris which means grey amber in French, is a waxy substance that originates from the digestive system of protected sperm whales.
• The freshly passed ambergris is a light yellowish substance.
• Chemically, ambergris contains alkaloids, acids, and a specific compound called ambreine, which is similar to cholesterol. 
• It is a rare substance, which contributes to its high demand and high price in the international market.
• It is used
• To produce perfumes which have notes of musk.
• While there are records of it being used to flavour food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco in some cultures in the past.
• There is a ban on the possession and trade of ambergris in countries like the USA, Australia and India.

Key facts about Sperm Whale

• Sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales and have one of the widest global distributions of any marine mammal species.
• Appearance
• It is dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly.
• It is thickset and has small paddle like flippers and a series of rounded humps on its back. 
• Habitat: It is found in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Vulnerable
• CITES : Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: schedule 2

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

A demonstration of the Automated Multi-Commodity Grain Dispensing Machine – ‘Annapurti’ was recently conducted during the ‘National Conference of Food Ministers of States/UTs’ organized by the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD).

About Annapurti:

• GrainATM, Annapurti, is an automated multi-commodity dispensing solution that provides fast, clean, and precise access to commodities (rice, wheat, grains) to beneficiaries, post biometric authentication.
• It is developed by World Food Programme (WFP) India .
• GrainATM ensures 24×7 access to full entitlements for people entitled to monthly subsidized grains through India’s Public Distribution System.
• Annapurti’ has potential use for food-based safety nets, food grain distribution during emergencies, and increasing market access for smallholder farmers.
• Annapurti, which dispenses the type and quantity of the selected grain (wheat, rice or millet) commodity to each beneficiary after biometric authentication, does away with the possibility of spillage, waste and short-weighing.
• Features:
• Annapurti dispenses one or two grain commodities, up to 50 kilograms, in five minutes, with an error rate of 0.01 percent.
• The entire solution, including the volume of the storage unit, is modular or easily assembled and can be put together depending on the amount of space available.
• To ensure food security with efficient energy access, the machine has been designed to  consume only 0.6 Watt per hour.
• It can also be attached to solar panels, inverter batteries and elevators for automatic refilling.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Philippine Army has started negotiations with India's BrahMos Corporation to acquire batteries of the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missile.

About Brahmos Missile:

• It is a supersonic cruise missile.
• It is a joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) of India and NPOM of Russia. 
• It is named after the rivers Brahmaputra and Moskva.
• Features:
• It is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant engine in the first stage and a liquid ramjet in the second.
• The system has been designed with two variants for Anti-Ship and Land-Attack roles. 
• Brahmos is one of the fastest cruise missiles currently operationally deployed with the speed of Mach 2.8, which is nearly 3 times more than the speed of sound.
• It has a launch weight of 2,200-3,000 kg.
• It operates on the "Fire and Forgets" principle, adopting varieties of flights on its way to the target.
• BrahMos is equipped with stealth technology designed to make it less visible to radar and other detection methods.
• It has an inertial navigation system (INS) for use against ship targets, and an INS/Global Positioning System for use against land targets.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

NASA will launch Israel’s first space telescope mission, the Ultraviolet Transient Astronomy Satellite (ULTRASAT) in early 2026.

• ULTRASAT is an ultraviolet observatory with a large field of view, that will investigate the secrets of short-duration events in the universe, such as supernova explosions and mergers of neutron stars.
• It is planned to launch into a geostationary orbit around Earth.
• NASA will provide the launch opportunity, Flight Payload Adapter, and other launch-related responsibilities for ULTRASAT.

Hence both statements are not correct.

Scientist from Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has recently developed a new wheat variety HD-3385.

• Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India after rice.
• It is the main food crop, in the northern and north-western parts of the country.
• It is a Rabi crop that requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
• Temperature: Between 10-15°C (Sowing time) and 21-26°C (Ripening & Harvesting) with bright sunlight.
• Rainfall: Around 75-100 cm.
• Soil required: Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy (Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region of the Deccan).

Hence both statements are correct.

The Indian Navy is hosting the bilateral Japan-India Maritime Exercise 2023 (JIMEX 23), which takes place at/off Visakhapatnam.

• It is being conducted between India and Japan.
• This edition marks the 11th anniversary of JIMEX, since its inception in 2012.
• This exercise will witness the participation of INS Delhi, INS Kamorta, fleet tanker INS Shakti, a submarine, maritime patrol aircraft P8I and Dornier, ship-borne helicopters and fighter aircraft.
• The exercise will be conducted over six days in two phases.
• A harbour Phase at Visakhapatnam comprising professional, sports and social interactions.
• The two navies will jointly hone their war fighting skills at sea and enhance their interoperability through complex multi-discipline operations in the surface, sub-surface and air domains.
• JIMEX 23 provides an opportunity to learn from each other's best practices and facilitates operational interactions between IN and JMSDF to foster mutual cooperation and reaffirm their shared commitment towards maritime security in the region.

What are the other Exercises between India and Japan?

• Malabar: India and Japan with the United States and Australia participate in the naval war gaming exercise named Malabar.
• SHINYUU Maitri (Air Force)
• Dharma Guardian (Military Exercise)

Hence, option b is the correct answer.

Recently, the Ministry of Defence has signed a contract for Medium Refit with Life Certification (MRLC) Submarine “INS Shankush” with M/S Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai at an overall cost of Rs. 2725 Cr.

• It belongs to Shishumar class of submraines and has a speed of 22 knots.
• It is a Sub-Surface Killer (SSK) Class diesel-electric submarine.
• These submarines are developed by the German yard Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).
• The first two of these vessels (INS Shishumar and Shankush) were built by HDW at Kiel, while the remainder (Shalki and Shankul ) have been built at Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) Mumbai.
• The ships were commissioned between 1986 and 1994.
• These submarines have a displacement capacity of 1660 tons when surfaced.

What are submarines?

• Submarines are any naval vessel that is capable of propelling itself beneath the water as well as on the water’s surface.
• This is a unique capability among warships, and submarines are quite different in design and appearance from surface ships.

Hence, option a is the correct answer.

A team of researchers and history enthusiasts recently made a praiseworthy discovery of relics and artefacts which they suggest belong to the Satavahana period from the 1st Century BC to the 3rd Century AD.

About Satavahana Dynasty:

• The Satavahanas, also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, were an ancient Indian dynasty based in the Deccan region. 
• Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in the late second century BCE and lasted until the early third century CE.
• They ruled from Pune in Maharashtra to Coastal Andhra Pradesh. At its greatest extent, the Satavahana empire covered the whole of the Deccan and spread far into Northern India, perhaps even as far as Magadha.
• They played the most significant role in Indian history in the period between the fall of the Mauryas and the rise of the Gupta Empire.
• Origin:
• Satavahana Dynasty was established in the 1st century BC in the western Deccan Plateau.
• Satavahana Rulers had emerged from the Andhra region or the delta areas of the Krishna River and Godavari River. 
• The dynasty was built upon the ruins of the Maurya Empire.
• Rulers of the Satavahana Dynasty:
• Simuka was the founder of the Satavahana Dynasty, and he is believed to have destroyed the Sunga Power.
• The dynasty reached its zenith under the rule of Gautamiputra Satakarni and his successor Vasisthiputra Pulamavi. 
• Gautamiputra Satakarni received wide recognition because of his policy of military expansion.
• Satakarni carried on expansion through the entire country and became famous during that era as a king of great power and valour.
• Capital: The dynasty had different capital cities at different times, including Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amaravati (Dharanikota).
• The Decline of the Satavahana Dynasty:
• Till the end of the 2nd century, the Satavahana dynasty expanded from western India to the Krishna delta and northern Tamil Nadu , but this expansion did not continue for long.
• The Satavahanas Dynasty collapsed when Abhiras seized Maharashtra, and Ikshwakus and Pallavas appropriated the eastern province.
• Their greatest competitors were the Sakas, who had established their power in upper Deccan and Western India. 
• The kingdom had fragmented into smaller states by the early 3rd century CE.
• Administration:
• The Satavahana polity was extensively decentralized, as local administration was left largely to feudatories subject to the general control of royal officials.
• The king was at the apex of the administrative hierarchy and was considered the guardian of the established social order.
• Though the royal power was absolute, it was subject to religious dictates & public opinion. The king had to rule in accordance with the rules laid down in the Dharmashastras.
• The ruler appointed several ministers & executive officers to assist him in administration. The officers in the king’s ministry were called Raj-amateurs.
• Religion and Culture:
• The Satavahanas were followers of Hinduism and patronised Maharashtri Prakrit literature.
• They were influenced by the sacrificial tradition of the Vedic religion.
• The Satavahana rulers gave liberal patronage to Buddhism as well. Gautamiputra Satakarni, Pulumavi, Yajna Satakarni & some other kings financed the excavation of caves, stupas, chaityas & viharas in the Deccan. 
• They were the first Indian kings to give royal grants of land to those practising Buddhism and Brahmanism.
• Other practices:
• The most intriguing practice instituted by the Satavahanas was that of metronymics, i.e., the name of emperors was often derived from the female lineage.
• The Satavahanas were early issuers of Indian state coinage struck with images of their rulers. 

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

India will soon begin a diplomatic campaign to reclaim the Kohinoor diamond and thousands of other treasures taken by Britain during their centuries-long colonial exploits in the Indian subcontinent.

About Kohinoor Diamond:

• The Kohinoor/Koh-i-Noor diamond (also Koh-i-Nur or Kūh-e Nūr) is one of the largest and most famous cut diamonds in the world.
• The name of the stone is Persian, meaning ‘Mountain of Light’ and refers to its astounding size.
• The diamond originally weighed 191 carats, but it was recut to 105.6 carats to enhance its fire and brilliance in 1852 by Garrard of London, the royal jeweller.
• History:
• It is believed that the diamond was first mentioned more than 5000 years ago in a Sanskrit script, where it was called the Syamantaka.
• After this first written mention, for over 4,000 years, the diamond is not mentioned.
• Up until 1304, the diamond was in the possession of the Rajas of Malwa.
• In 1304, it belonged to the Emperor of Delhi, Allaudin Khilji.
• In 1339, the diamond was taken back to the city of Samarkand, where it stayed for almost 300 years.
• In 1526 the Mogul ruler Babur mentioned the diamond in his writings, Baburmama. The diamond was gifted to him by Sultan Ibrahim Lodi.
• From Babur, the diamond passed to Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb before coming into the possession of his grandson, Sultan Mahamad.
• In 1739, the Persian general Nadir Shah defeated Sultan Mahamad to conquer Delhi – and the diamond. It was Nadir Shah that gave the diamond its current name.
• In 1747, Nadir Shah was assassinated, and the diamond got to one of his generals, Ahmad Shah Durrani.
• A descendant of Ahmad Shah, Shah Shuja Durrani brought the Koh-i-noor back to India in 1813 and gave it to Ranjit Singh (the founder of the Sikh Empire). In exchange, Ranjit Singh helped Shah Shuja get back the throne of Afghanistan.
• In 1849, after the conquest of the Punjab by the British forces, the properties of the Sikh Empire were confiscated.
• The Koh-i-Noor was transferred to the treasury of the British East India Company in Lahore.
• Since 1849, the Koh-i-Noor has been part of the British crown jewels.

Hence both statements are correct.