Daily Current Affairs MCQ- March 11, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India launched “Science for Women-A Technology & Innovation (SWATI)” Portal.

• It is aimed at creating a single online portal representing Indian Women and Girls in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Medicine).
• The database of SWATI Portal will serve in policy making to address the challenges of Gender-gap.
• The Portal is a complete interactive database; and the first-of-its-kind in India which is developed, hosted and maintained by the National Institute of Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), New Delhi. 
• Objectives
• To scale up the effort exponentially to include each and every Indian woman in science, across all career stages and subjects, spanning both Academia and the Industry enabling reliable and statistically significant long term research on the issues of equality, diversity and inclusivity in India;
• Inclusion of each and every Indian WiS, career stages, subjects, spanning both Academia and the Industry; Enabling reliable and statistically significant long term research on the issues of equality, diversity and inclusivity in India, developing active search engine and searchable database (Name, Affiliation, Area of Interest).
• The various Sections in the portal include Icons - Awardees (Padma / Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar / Stree Shakti Science Samman) & Directors, Secretaries Academy Presidents; Faculty- Indian Universities, Autonomous organizations including S&T Ministry/ CSIR/ DBT/ DST/ CSIR/ MHRD/ UGC/ GATI/ KIRAN;

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has not been spotted at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh and its surrounding areas for the last couple of years, which is an indication that the bird is at risk of local extinction.

• It is located in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• It lies between the Nallamalai and Yerramalai hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats.
• It was declared a sanctuary in 1988 to protect the dwindling populations of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.
• Uniqueness: It is the only GIB Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh.
• It owes its genesis to the discovery of the endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB).
• Flora: About 32 species of grassed like Aristida funiculata, Chrysopogon fulvus, Heteropogon contortus, like Cassia fistula (Golden shower tree), Butea monosperma (Flame of the forest), Acacia spp, Ziziphus mauritiana, etc.
• Fauna:
• The grassland Sanctuary is rich in invertebrate fauna particularly the insects that form a major part of the diet of most of the birds.
• Land monitor lizards, Geckos, Skinks, Saw-scaled viper; etc. So far about 6 species of amphibians have been recorded here.
• There are about 124 bird species like the Lesser florican, Demoiselle crane, Black stork, White stork, Harriers, etc;
• These plains are also a home to endangered mammals like the Golden jackal, Indian wolf, Black buck, Chinkara; etc.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Former vice-president of India and Union Minister for Culture, Tourism and Development of the Northeast Region will be inaugurating the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s ‘Dakshin Bharat Sanskritik Kendra’ here in Hyderabad. 

• It is India’s national academy of music, dance and drama.
• It was created by a resolution of the Ministry of Education, with P.V. Rajamannar as its first Chairman.
• It was set up in 1953 for the preservation and promotion of the vast intangible heritage of India’s diverse culture expressed in forms of music, dance and drama.
• Presently, it is an autonomous body of the Ministry of Culture.
• The Chairman of the Akademi is appointed by the President of India for a term of five years.
• It is fully funded by the Government for the implementation of its schemes and programmes.
• Aims and objectives
• To co-ordinate the activities of regional or State Akademies of dance, drama and music;
• To promote research in the fields of Indian dance, drama and music and for this purpose, to establish a library and museum, etc.;
• To co-operate with such similar academies as there may be and other institutions and associations for the furtherance of its objects and for the enrichment of Indian culture as a whole;
• To encourage the exchange of ideas and enrichment of techniques between the different regions in regard to the arts of dance, drama and music;
• To encourage, where necessary, the establishment of theatre centres, on the basis of regional languages, and co-operation among different theatre centres;
• The Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards are the highest national recognition conferred on practising artists.
• The Akademi also confers Fellowships on eminent artists and scholars of music, dance and drama; and has in 2006 instituted annual awards to young artists – the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. 

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, C-DOT, and Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-K) signed an agreement for ‘Developing Prototypes for 10-Gigabit-capable symmetric Passive Optical Network (i.e., XGS-PON) Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and Optical Network Unit (ONU) under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme.

• It has been notified for domestic companies and institutions involved in technology design, development, commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions to enable affordable broadband and mobile services in rural and remote areas.
• It was launched by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), a body under the Department of Telecommunications.
• Aims
• To fund R&D in rural-specific communication technology applications and form synergies among academia, start-ups, research institutes, and the industry to build and develop the telecom ecosystem.
• To promote technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing, create a culture of technology co-innovation, reduce imports, boost export opportunities and creation of Intellectual Property.
• Under the scheme, USOF is also targeting to develop standards to meet countrywide requirements and create the ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, use cases, pilots, and proof of concept testing, among others.
• The scheme entails grants to Indian entities to encourage and induct indigenous technologies tailor-made to meet domestic needs.
• Project Period:
• Project timelines are generally up to two years.
• However, it may be decided project-wise in consultation with the applicant as per the terms and conditions of the agreement.
• Extension of six months each at a time may be granted at the sole discretion of USOF/DoT.

Hence both statements are correct.

An elderly man from Alaska recently become the first person to die after contracting Alaskapox.

About Alaskapox:

• It is an orthopox virus that was first discovered in Alaska, USA, in 2015.
• It is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as smallpox, monkeypox, and cowpox.
• Orthopoxviruses are zoonotic viruses that can infect various mammals, including humans.
• Current evidence indicates that the Alaskapox virus primarily occurs in small mammals. The virus has been most commonly identified in red-backed voles and shrews.
• Signs and Symptoms:
• Symptoms of Alaskapox have included one or more skin lesions (bumps or pustules) and other symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and joint and/or muscle pain.
• Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks.
• Immunocompromised people might be at increased risk for more severe illness.
• Can people with Alaskapox infect other people?
• While human-to-human transmission of Alaskapox has not yet been observed, some orthopoxviruses can spread by direct contact with lesions (particularly broken skin contact with lesion secretions).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Forest authorities have recently suspended six of their staff for being negligent in controlling teak smuggling in Kawal Tiger Reserve.

About Kawal Tiger Reserve:

• Location:
• It is located in the north-eastern part of Telangana (Old Adilabad district), with the Godavari River on one side and the Maharashtra border on the other.
• It forms part of the Deccan peninsula-central highlands.
• The government of India declared Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve in 2012.
• Rivers: The reserve is the catchment for the rivers Godavari and Kadam, which flow towards the south of the sanctuary.
• Geographically, the reserve is situated at the southernmost tip of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, having linkages with the Tadoba-Andhari (Maharashtra) and Indravati (Chhattisgarh) tiger reserves.
• Habitat: It has diverse habitats comprising dense forests, grasslands, open areas, rivers, streams and water bodies.
• Vegetation: Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest.
• Flora:
• Teak is found extensively, along with Bamboo.
• As many as 673 plant species have been recorded, and the important ones are Anogeissus latifolia, Mitragyna parviflora, Terminalia crenulata, Terminalia arjuna, Boswellia serrata, etc.
• Fauna:
• It has a faunal diversity which is typical of the Deccan Plateau.
• The major wild animals include: nilgai, chousinga, chinkara, black buck, sambar, spotted deer, wild dog, wolf, jackal, fox, tiger, leopard, and the jungle cat.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Violence erupted in Uttarakhand recently after a mosque and a madrasa standing on Nazool land were demolished.

About Nazool Land:

• Nazool land is owned by the government but is most often not directly administered as state property. 
• The state generally allots such land to any entity on lease for a fixed period, generally between 15 and 99 years.
• In case the lease term is expiring, one can approach the authority to renew the lease by submitting a written application to the Revenue Department of the local development authority. 
• The government is free to either renew the lease or cancel it, taking back Nazool land.
• In almost all major cities in India, Nazool land has been allotted to different entities for a variety of different purposes.
• How did Nazool Land emerge?
• During British rule, kings and kingdoms which opposed the British frequently revolted against them, leading to several battles between them and the British Army.
• Upon defeating these kings in battle, the British would often take their land away from them.
• After India got Independence, the British vacated these lands. 
• But with kings and royals often lacking proper documentation to prove prior ownership, these lands were marked as Nazool land—to be owned by the respective state governments.
• How does the government use Nazool land?
• The government generally uses Nazool land for public purposes like building schools, hospitals, Gram Panchayat buildings, etc. 
• Several cities in India have also seen large tracts of land denoted as Nazool land used for housing societies, generally on lease.
• How is Nazool land governed?
• While several states have brought in government orders for the purpose of framing rules for Nazool land, The Nazool Lands (Transfer) Rules, 1956, is the law mostly used for Nazool land adjudication.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Ministry of Science and Technology announced the development of a new technological solution tailored for Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) based stations.

• It is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network. 
• It comprises antennae, which transmits and receives signals to and from our smartphones or other compatible devices.
• The signal is then digitised in the RAN-base station and connected to the network.
• ORAN base station
• ORAN base station solutions represent a pivotal element in the evolution of telecommunications infrastructure.
• This innovation aims to deliver high-speed and dependable connectivity at a feasible cost, particularly targeting underserved and remote regions, as per a recent press release.
• Its focus lies in creating efficient wireless communication technology for 5G and 5G-advanced radio networks, ensuring spectral and energy efficiency.
• Significance
• A new niche technological solution for Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) base stations will help to facilitate high-speed and reliable connectivity at a cost that is viable for unconnected and far-flung areas.
• It provides access to different components of the network infrastructure making it easier, efficient and more economically viable to provide internet in remote areas.
• The breaking down of the Radio Access Network (RAN) functions help in bringing down network cost and complexity.
• Open RAN removes vendor lock-in and can facilitate smooth interoperation between cellular network equipment provided by different vendors.

Hence both statements are correct.

Chhattisgarh's Ocher Studio is helping to preserve India's 4,000-year-old craft- Dhokra Shilpkala

• The word "Dhokra" is believed to be derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes, who are the traditional metal smiths of Central India.
• The origins of Dhokra Shilpkala can be traced back to the tribal communities residing in the regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, where it evolved as an integral part of their cultural and religious practices.
• Technique and Process: What sets Dhokra Shilpkala apart is its remarkable technique of metal casting, which involves using the lost wax casting method, also known as cire perdue.
• Artistry and Designs: 
• Its design has rustic charm and the organic nature of its designs.
• Artisans draw inspiration from nature, mythology, and everyday life, incorporating motifs such as animals, birds, deities, and tribal symbols into their creations.
• From miniature figurines and jewelry to larger-than-life sculptures and functional objects, Dhokra Shilpkala encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions. 
• Issues: The rapid pace of urbanization, coupled with the rise of mechanized production techniques, has threatened the livelihoods of traditional artisans and endangered this ancient craft.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, NASA's Earth Observatory posted a detailed analysis of the reason behind Aral Sea's disappearance. 

• It stands at the boundary between Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the south.
• It was once a large saltwater lake of Central Asia and the world’s fourth largest body of inland water.
• The remnants of it nestle in the climatically inhospitable heart of Central Asia, to the east of the Caspian Sea.
• The Aral Sea depression was formed toward the end of the Neogene Period (which lasted from about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). 
• It was made by waters from the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers that were dependent on glacial melt.
• It drains Uzbekistan and portions of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Kyrgyzstan.
• Climate: The Aral Sea is located within the harsh climate region of Central Asia. The area experiences a desert-continental climate, characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and varying diurnal air temperature.
• Reason for its disappearance
• According to the space agency, in 1960 the Soviet Union undertook a major water diversion project where they diverted the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers for irrigation projects.
• Though the project made the desert region surrounding the sea bloom, it had a devastating impact on the Aral Sea.
• The waterbody slowly started drying up and today it is on the verge of complete disappearance.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.