Daily Current Affairs MCQ- June 28, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the Australian government entered into an $18 million memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the space MAITRI mission.

• Space MAITRI (Mission for Australia-India's Technology, Research and Innovation), represents a major step forward in the strategic partnership between the two nations in the space domain.
• It aims to foster closer ties between commercial, institutional, and governmental space organizations from India and Australia.
• It focuses on debris management and sustainability, aligning with both nations' core values and objectives in promoting responsible space operations and mitigating the growing threat of space debris.
• Under this agreement, NewSpace India Limited will launch Australia’s Space Machines Company's second Optimus spacecraft in 2026.
• The 450kg Optimus spacecraft, the largest Australian-designed and built spacecraft to date, will be launched on ISRO's Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

Key facts about NewSpace India Limited

• It is a commercial arm under Department of Space (DoS), Government of India.
• It was incorporated in March 2019 and was set up to take high technology space-related activities in India.
• Under the new space policy reforms announced by the Government of India in June 2020, NSIL is to undertake operational satellite missions on a “demand-driven” model.
• They are responsible to build, launch, own and operate the satellite and provide services to customers.
• It is headquartered in Bengaluru.

Hence both statements are correct.

Days ahead of the implementation of the three criminal laws, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is testing eSakshya (e-evidence) app.

• It is a mobile-based application to help police record scene of crime, search and seizure in a criminal case and upload the file on the cloud-based platform.
• Working
• The police official will have to upload a selfie after the procedure is complete.
• Each recording could be maximum four minutes long and several such files could be uploaded for each First Information Report (FIR).
• This mobile application developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) will be available to all police stations which register and download the App.

Key facts about the National Informatics Centre

• It is the premier information technology organization of the Government of India. Established in 1976, it operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• The NIC's primary focus is to provide e-Government solutions and support to various government departments.
• NIC, through its ICT Network, “NICNET”, has institutional linkages with all the Ministries /Departments of the Central Government, 36 State Governments/ Union Territories across India.
• The following major activities are being undertaken:
• Setting up of ICT Infrastructure
• Implementation of National and State Level e-Governance Projects/Products
• Consultancy to the Government departments
• Research & Development

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

In recent time biomass briquettes are being used as a fuel alternative for the power and electricity generation sector. 

• These are made up of compact blocks of organic materials, such as agricultural residues, forestry wastes, or industrial by-products.
• Applications: These are used for heating, cooking fuel and electricity generation usually in developing countries that do not have access to more traditional fuel sources.
• Advantages
• Environment Friendly: Bio-briquettes can be created from easily available biomass waste often found in rural settings.
• Affordable: These can be made by hand from any freely available organic matter, including invasive species and agro-waste.
• Biomass briquettes are carbon-neutral, meaning they release no additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned.
• By reducing reliance on fossil fuels, the adoption of biomass briquettes helps mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
• By diverting residues towards productive use, biomass briquettes play a crucial role in waste management and carbon sequestration, further enhancing their environmental credentials.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, Ladakh has become the first administrative unit to achieve full functional literacy under the ULLAS-Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Program). 

• The Understanding Lifelong Learning for All in Society (ULLAS) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented from 2022-2027.
• The scheme aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• Aim: It aims to empower those adults aged 15 years and above from all backgrounds who could not get due schooling and mainstream them with society to be able to contribute more to the growth story of the country.
• The scheme consists of five components
• Foundational Literacy and Numeracy,
• Critical Life Skills,
• Basic Education,
• Vocational Skills, and
• Continuing Education.
• The vision of the ULLAS Scheme is to make Bharat - Jan Jan Saakshar and is based on the spirit of Kartvya Bodh and is being implemented on volunteerism.
• The ULLAS app can be used for registration of learners and volunteers either through self-registration or by surveyors.
• It will serve as a digital gateway for learners to engage in diverse learning resources through the DIKSHA portal of NCERT.

Hence only statements 2 and 3 are correct.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) recently proposed to the central government the purchase of 10 TAPAS drones.

About TAPAS UAV:

• The Tactical Airborne Platform for Aerial Surveillance Beyond Horizon-201, or Tapas BH-201, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone.
• It was previously referred to as Rustom-II. 
• It was developed indigenously by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Designed to fulfil the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, Tracking & Reconnaissance (ISTAR) requirements of the tri-services, the Tapas UAV can effectively operate both day and night.
• Features:
• It has an operating altitude of 30000 feet and an endurance of 24 hours.
• It also projects a range of 250 km, which can carry a variety of payloads up to a maximum of 350 kg with a wing span of 20.6 metres.
• Maximum speed: 225 kmph. 
• It can be controlled remotely and also has the ability to execute pre-programmed flight plans autonomously with precision and flexibility.
• It is equipped with enhanced aerodynamic configuration, digital flight control, navigation system, communication intelligence, medium and long-range electro-optic payloads, and synthetic aperture radar that will enable it to see through the clouds. 

Hence both statements are correct.

Ahead of the implementation of the new criminal laws, at least 23 modifications have been made to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network Systems (CCTNS).

About Crime and Criminal Tracking Networks and Systems (CCTNS):

• CCTNS was conceptualized by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the National e-governance plan of India and has been implemented as a "Mission Mode Project (MMP)" since 2009.
• It is an ambitious project that aims to put in place a comprehensive and integrated system for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of policing at the police station level throughout the country.
• It aimed to interlink all police stations under a common application software for the purposes of investigation, data analytics, research, policymaking and providing Citizen Services such as reporting and tracking of complaints, requests for antecedent verifications by Police, etc.
• The records of crimes and criminals available at one police station will be accessible to any other police office.
• Objectives.
• Make the Police functioning citizen-friendly and more transparent by automating the functioning of Police Stations.
• Improve the delivery of citizen-centric services through effective usage of ICT.
• Provide the Investigating Officers of the Civil Police with tools, technology, and information to facilitate the investigation of crimes and the detection of criminals.
• Improve police functioning in various other areas such as Law and Order, Traffic Management, etc.
• Facilitate interaction and sharing of information among Police Stations, Districts, State/UT Headquarters, and other Police Agencies.
• Assist senior Police Officers in better management of Police Force.
• Keep track of the progress of cases, including in Courts.
• Reduce manual and redundant record-keeping.
• The project is being implemented with close collaboration between the States and the Union Government.
• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is the central nodal agency that would manage CCTNS.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Astronomers recently discovered five young star clusters, and possibly the oldest star clusters ever, born from the time when the Universe was an infant.

About Star Clusters:

• A Star cluster is either of two general types of stellar assemblages held together by the mutual gravitational attraction of its members, which are physically related through common origin.
• They are particularly useful to astronomers as they provide a way to study and model stellar evolution and ages. 
• The two basic categories of stellar clusters are open clusters, also known as galactic clusters and globular clusters.
• Open (Galactic) Clusters:
• Open clusters are so named because the individual component stars are easily resolved through a telescope.
• They are sometimes called galactic clusters due to their location on the dusty spiral arms on the plane of spiral galaxies.
• Stars in an open cluster have a common origin: they formed from the same initial giant molecular cloud.
• Open clusters contain from a dozen to many hundreds of stars, usually in an unsymmetrical arrangement.
• Globular Clusters:
• Globular clusters contain several thousand to one million stars in a spherical, gravitationally-bound system. 
• Located mostly in the halo surrounding the galactic plane, they comprise the oldest stars in the galaxy.
• There is little free dust or gas found in globular clusters, so no new star formation is taking place in them.
• Stellar densities within the inner regions of a globular cluster are very high compared with regions such as those around the Sun.
• In addition, groups called associations, made up of a few dozen to hundreds of stars of similar type and common origin whose density in space is less than that of the surrounding field, are also recognized.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

A team of scientists from Assam, Odisha, China, and the United Kingdom have developed a water-repellent catalyst that can cut the cost of producing “environmentally benign” biodiesel substantially from the current levels.

• The new catalyst named as “spherical superhydrophobic activated carbon catalyst” which is developed to withstand water by-product during the production of biodiesel. 
• This catalyst imitates the anti-wetting or water-repulsing properties of natural surfaces such as lotus leaves.
• Advantages
• The catalyst is derived from biomass (cellulose), is ecologically benign, abundant, and highly affordable.
• This breakthrough has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of biodiesel production, making sustainable energy more accessible.
• It is highly effective and can be reused multiple times, making the catalytic process more efficient and cost-effective.
• At present, the cost of biodiesel in India is about ₹100 or UD$1.2 per litre. Using the superhydrophobic activated carbon catalyst can bring down the cost to about 37 cents per litre. 
• Biodiesel: It is a renewable, biodegradable fuel manufactured domestically from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease. 

What is activated carbon?

• It is a class of amorphous carbonaceous material with large porosity and internal surface area.
• Coconut shells, coal, and wood are the basic sources of activated carbon.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has been selected for the 2024 Blue Planet Prize.

• It is the intergovernmental organisation established in 2012.
• It aims to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
• It provides policymakers with objective scientific assessments about the state of knowledge regarding the planet’s biodiversity, ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people, as well as the tools and methods to protect and sustainably use these vital natural assets.
• This independent body was inspired by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
• It is not a United Nations body.  However, at the request of the IPBES Plenary and with the authorisation of the UNEP Governing Council in 2013, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides secretariat services to IPBES. 
• India is a member country of this organisation.
• The governing body of IPBES (Plenary )– made up of the representatives of IPBES member States – usually meets once per year.
• Secretariat: It is located in Bonn, Germany

Key facts about the Blue Planet Prize

• It is awarded by Japan’s Asahi Glass Foundation annually to individuals and organisations to recognise outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application, which have helped provide solutions to global environmental problems.
• The prize includes an award of $500,000.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development urged the state governments to encourage more and more farmers to register on e-Samridhi portal so that they can avail the facility of assured procurement.

• It was launched through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and National Cooperative Consumers' Federation of India Limited (NCCF).
• It is for the registration of farmers and government is committed to procuring pulses at Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for farmers registered on the portal.
• Portal registration of farmers can be done directly or through Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and FPO.
• The payment to the farmers will be made by NAFED directly into their mapped bank account and no agency will be involved in between.

Key facts about National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd

• It is an apex organization of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.
• It was founded on 2 October 1958 to promote the trade of agricultural produce and forest resources across the nation.
• It is registered under Multi State Co-operative Societies Act.
• With its headquarters in New Delhi, NAFED has four regional offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, apart from 28 zonal offices in capitals of states and important cities.
• Functions
• It is the nodal agency to implement price stabilization measures under "Operation Greens" which aims to double the farmers' income by 2022.
• Along with FCI the NAFED is involved in the procurement of oilseeds, pulses and copra under the Price Support Scheme (PSS).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.