Daily Current Affairs MCQ- March 29, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Defence Ministry has approved setting up of 21 new Sainik Schools in partnership with NGOs, private schools and State Governments.

• These schools will be set up in the initial round of the Government’s initiative of setting up of 100 new Sainik schools across the country in partnership mode.
• They will be distinct from the existing Sainik Schools.
• These new Sainik Schools, besides their affiliation to respective education boards, will function under the aegis of Sainik Schools Society and will follow the Rules and Regulations for new Sainik schools in partnership mode prescribed by the Society.
• The objectives behind setting up of 100 new Sainik Schools is to provide quality education to the students in tune with National Education Policy and give them better career opportunities, including joining the Armed Forces.
• It also gives an opportunity to the private sector to work hand-in-hand with the Government towards nation building by refining today’s youth to become responsible citizens of tomorrow.

Hence both statements are correct.

The ten-day mega Red Fort Festival -Bharat Bhagya Vidhata has started at the iconic 17th- century monument Red Fort in Delhi. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani inaugurated the festival.

• Ms. Irani recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invocation from the Red Fort to join hands for making a New India.
• The Red Fort mega festival-Bharat Bhagya Vidhata is being organised as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav by Ministry of Culture.
• The festival aims to commemorate the heritage of the country and culture of every part of India.
• The festival Bharat Bhagya Vidhata will help everyone to appreciate the diversity of India. More than 70 master craftsmen have displayed their craftsmanship at the venue.

Hence both statements are correct.

As per the estimates of WHO (and the FDA of the US) 1.3 billion people (among the 7.9 billion across the world) who smoke, and 80% of them live in low and middle- income countries.

• A recent article by Dr. Smiljanic Stasha points out that
  • smoking causes over seven million deaths every year,
  • 5.6 million young Americans might die because of smoking
  • Second hand smoking causes 1.2 million deaths worldwide
  • Smoking is one of the world’s leading causes of impoverishment, and
  • In 2015, 7 out of 10 smokers (68%) reported that they wanted to quit completely.
• And a recent issue of Nature Medicine points out that after the WHO adopted the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003, it has been included as a Global Development Target in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SD).
• If all the 155 signatory countries adopt smoking bans, health warnings, advertising bans and raise cigarette costs, this sustainable development is indeed possible.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Union Cabinet extended the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) by another six months till September 2022.

• The scheme was originally introduced in April 2020 a month into the first lockdown during the initial onset of the COVID pandemic.
• This will be the sixth phase of PM-GKAY. The Phase-V of the scheme was to end in March 2022.
• The government has spent approximately ₹2.6 lakh crore so far and another ₹80,000 crore will be spent over the next six months till September 2022, taking the total expenditure under PM-GKAY to nearly ₹3.4 lakh crore.
• The ration card portability has also helped in extending the schemes to the migrant workers.
• The benefit of free ration can be availed through portability by any migrant labourer or beneficiary under One Nation One Ration Card plan from nearly five lakh ration shops across the country. So far, over 61 crore portability transactions have benefitted the beneficiaries away from their homes”.

Hence both statements are correct.

A corner-shot weapon system (CSWS), designed and developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is at an advanced stage of being inducted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir police.

• The CSWS is a special purpose weapon designed by the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune.
• It can engage targets located around the corners as the system bends and captures video feed thus saving soldiers from any surprise counter attack and is best suited for urban, close quarter situations.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

• Article 29:
  • It provides that any section of the citizens residing in any part of India having a distinct language, script or culture of its own, shall have the right to conserve the same.
  • It grants protection to both religious minorities as well as linguistic minorities. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Article 30:
  • All minorities shall have the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
  • The protection under Article 30 is confined only to minorities (religious or linguistic) and does not extend to any section of citizens (as under Article 29).
• Article 350-B:
  • The 7^th Constitutional (Amendment) Act 1956 inserted this article which provides for a Special Officer for Linguistic Minorities appointed by the President of India.
  • It would be the duty of the Special Officer to investigate all matters relating to the safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• The Antarctic Treaty was signed between 12 countries in Washington on 1st December 1959 for making the Antarctic Continent a demilitarised zone to be preserved for scientific research only.
• The Antarctic treaty remains the only example of a single treaty that governs a whole continent. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• It is also the foundation of a rules-based international order for a continent without a permanent population.
• Currently it has 54 parties. India became a member of this treaty in 1983. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

• Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact.
  • The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats and other cloven-hoofed ruminants. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. 
• FMD virus belongs to (risk group 4 as per World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)) Aphthovirus genus of the picornaviridae family.
• FMD can spread when infected animals bring the virus into physical contact with susceptible animals.
• Virus contaminated facilities, contaminated vehicles, raw or improperly cooked garbage containing infected meat or animal products can also spread the virus of FMD.
• In rare cases, humans are also susceptible. Hence, statement 2 is correct. 

• The Ticks are harmful as blood sucking parasites severely affect productivity of dairy animals and a major economic impediment, welfare concern in dairy farming. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Tick-Borne Pathogens (TBP) are a major source of production loss and a welfare concern in livestock across the globe.
  • This causes tick worry, loss of appetite among animals causing reduction in milk production, thereby lessening farmers’ income.
  • These parasites are vectors of systemic protozoan infection, threat to dairy animal health & productivity.
• Presently, farmers rely on chemical acaricides that are costly, have to be used recurrently due to the nature of parasites. 
• The National Innovation Foundation (NIF) brought out a Herbal Formulation that has been found to be effective in combating tick infestation among dairy animals. The standardised a formulation comprising common herbal ingredients like Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Nagod (Vitex negundo). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

The U.S. President Joe Biden struck a deal with the European Union to supply liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet the continent’s energy needs. The deal comes amidst efforts by European countries to wean themselves off Russian energy exports in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war.

• Under the U.S.-EU LNG deal, the United States will supply 15 billion cubic meters (bcm) of LNG to the EU this year. Further, the EU will import additional LNG of at least 50 bcm until 2030 from the U.S.
• This is expected to reduce Europe’s dependence on Russian energy exports and thus neutralise the Kremlin’s influence on Europe to a significant extent.
• It should be noted that Europe has been at the mercy of Russian energy exports which has limited its response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine due to the fear that Russia could cut off its energy exports to Europe.
• Gas prices in Europe rose sharply even before the Russian invasion and a drop in supplies from Russia could make the situation even worse. This has left the EU vulnerable, so much that the West hasn’t imposed sanctions on EU’s energy imports from Russia.
• Europe relies on Russian exports to meet about 40% of its natural gas requirements and about a quarter of its crude oil needs. Germany and many countries in Eastern Europe depend on Russia to meet more than 80% of their natural gas needs.

Hence both statements are correct.