Daily Current Affairs MCQ- March 31, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the Assam government declared the GI-tagged ‘Kaji Nemu’ (Citrus Limon) as the State Fruit.

• It is elongated and oblong compared to other lemon varieties.
• It is popular for its unique aroma and health benefits. It has been traditionally associated with the Assamese cuisines.
• The fruit had been exported to several countries, including to the Middle East..
• With its unique aroma and antioxidant properties, the Assam lemon enriched the local cuisines.
• The oval-shaped Kaji Nemu is a lot juicier than other lemon varieties. Kaji Nemu is majorly used in culinary and commercial purposes, and it is extensively used for its medicinal properties.
• Cultivation: It is grown in almost all the districts of the state, is available throughout the year.
• The fruit is a powerhouse of nutrients, boosting health
• Assam has as many as 16 species and 52 varieties hybrids of citrus.
• Kaji Nemu’ (Citrus Limon) bears GI Geography Indication tag in 2019, is linked to Assamese food.

Hence both statements are correct.

Micellar water, a product found in supermarkets, chemists and bathroom cabinets around the world, is a very effective cleanser and many people swear by it as part of their skincare routine.

• Micellar water products contain something called micelles – clusters of molecules that are very effective at removing oily substances. 
• The micelles in micellar water are formed by special molecules known as surfactants.
• These micelles have a hydrophilic exterior, meaning that they are very happy to remain mixed throughout water.
• It is a commonly used skin care product that helps remove impurities and makeup from your skin.
• It’s a very gentle solution that contains a very mild detergent.
• Working
• When you apply some micellar water to a cotton pad, another convenient interaction occurs.
• The wet cotton is hydrophilic (loves water). Consequently, some of the micelles will unravel, with the hydrophilic heads being attracted to the wet cotton pad.
• Now, sticking out from the surface will be a layer of hydrophobic tail groups.
• These hydrophobic tails cannot wait to attract themselves to makeup, sunscreen, oils, dirt, grease and other contaminants on your face.
• As you sweep the cotton pad across your skin, these contaminants bind to the hydrophobic tails and are removed from the skin.
• Some contaminants will also find themselves encapsulated in the hydrophobic centres of the micelle.
• Either way, a cleaner surface is left behind.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Ministry of Heavy Industries successfully convened a pre-bid meeting in New Delhi, laying the foundation for the second round underthe Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells (ACC) for cumulative 10 GWh PLI ACC capacity. 

• These are the new generation technologies that can store electric energy either as electrochemical or as chemical energy and convert it back to electric energy as and when required.

Key facts about PLI scheme for Advanced Chemistry Cells

• The scheme is called National Programme on Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Battery Storage.
• The Indian government aims to promote the manufacturing of technology-agnostic ACCs within the country, aligning with its commitment to fostering innovation and self-reliance in the renewable energy sector.
• The scheme envisages setting up of a cumulative ACC manufacturing capacity of fifty (50) GWh for ACCs and an additional cumulative capacity of (5) GWh for Niche ACC Technologies.
• The manufacturing facility as proposed by the beneficiary firm would have to be commissioned within a period of 2 years.
• The subsidy will be disbursed thereafter over a period of 5 years.
• The beneficiary has to ensure achieving a domestic value addition of at-least 25% and incur the mandatory investment (₹ 225 crore /GWh) within 2 Years (at the Mother Unit Level) and raise it to 60% domestic value addition within 5 Years, either at Mother Unit, in-case of an Integrated Unit, or at the Project Level, in-case of “Hub & Spoke” structure.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Heavy Industries

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, Reality tech firm unveils digital twin of Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah’s tomb in Hyderabad.

• It is one the grandest monuments in the Qutb Shah’s tombs complex at the foothill of Golconda, Hyderabad.
• The majestic tomb built in 1602, is one of the largest tombs at the Qutb Shahi heritage park complex reaching to a total height of 60 m.

Who is Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah?

• He was the fifth king of the Qutb Shahi dynasty laid the foundation of Hyderabad. 
• Shah who wrote in Persian, Telugu, and Deccani—a variant of Urdu--is justifiably the first poet in Deccani Urdu with at least fifty thousand shers to his credit.
• He wrote on a variety of issues concerning communal life and the sentiments of the common man, their festivals and faiths, love and the pleasures of union, in a frank and disarming manner. 
• A contemporary of Tulsidas, he blended the best traditions of the two streams of thought and life to impart a new halo to his poetry.  

Hence both statements are correct.

Recent findings from data collected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveal the presence of a vast ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn's moon Mimas.

About Cassini Spacecraft:

• Cassini-Huygens was a joint NASA/European Space Agency (ESA)/Italian Space Agency (ASI) space mission to Saturn.
• It was launched on October 15, 1997. 
• The mission consisted of NASA’s Cassini orbiter, which was the first space probe to orbit Saturn, and the ESA’s Huygens probe, which landed on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.
• Spacecraft:
• It was one of the largest interplanetary spacecraft.
• The Cassini orbiter weighed 2,125 kg (4,685 pounds) and was 6.7 metres (22 feet) long and 4 metres (13 feet) wide.
• The instruments on board Cassini included radar to map the cloud-covered surface of Titan and a magnetometer to study Saturn’s magnetic field. 
• The disk-shaped Huygens probe was mounted on the side of Cassini. It weighed 349 kg (769 pounds), was 2.7 metres (8.9 feet) across, and carried six instruments designed to study the atmosphere and surface of Titan.
• Highlights:
• It orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017, circling the planet 294 times and teaching us almost everything we know about Saturn.
• It measured the structure of Saturn’s atmosphere and rings, as well as how they interact with the planet’s moons.
• It also discovered six named moons and revealed Enceladus and Titan as promising locations to search for extraterrestrial life.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

The Supreme Court recently decided to examine a plea on whether a divorced Muslim woman can seek maintenance under Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. 

About Section 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC):

• It deals with the maintenance of wives, children, and parents.
• It is a legal provision that allows certain categories of individuals to claim financial support from their spouses or children, as the case may be, in the event they are unable to maintain themselves.
• Who Can Claim Maintenance?
• Wife: A wife who is unable to maintain herself can claim maintenance from her husband. The wife is entitled to maintenance if she is unable to support herself. The word "wife" refers to a woman who has been divorced or sought divorce from her spouse and has not remarried.
• Children:  Children, whether legitimate or illegitimate, who are unable to maintain themselves and are below a certain age or mentally/physically disabled can claim maintenance from their parents.
• Parents: Under this, both father and mother are entitled to be maintained equally by son and daughter, but the court must be satisfied that the daughter has the means to support herself. Parents also include “Adoptive father” and “Adoptive mother.”
• To successfully claim maintenance under Section 125 CrPC, certain conditions must be met:
• Neglect or Refusal: The person seeking maintenance must demonstrate that the respondent (the person from whom maintenance is sought) has neglected or refused to provide financial support.
• Dependency: The claimant must establish their inability to maintain themselves and their dependency on the respondent for financial assistance.
• Sufficient Means: The person from whom maintenance is claimed must have sufficient means to maintain the person claiming.
• Quantum of Maintenance: The court will determine the amount of maintenance based on various factors like the income and financial capacity of the person liable to pay, the needs of the claimant, and other relevant circumstances. The objective is to ensure that the claimant gets a reasonable and fair amount for their maintenance.
• Duration: Maintenance can be awarded on a monthly basis, and the court can specify a duration for which it should be paid. It can be a temporary or permanent arrangement, depending on the circumstances.
• Enforcement: If the person ordered to pay maintenance does not comply with the court's order, the person seeking maintenance can file an application for the enforcement of the order. The defaulter may face legal consequences for non-compliance.
• The wife is not entitled to receive an allowance from her husband in three cases,
  • if she is living in adultery
  • if she refuses to live with her husband and without any sufficient cause
  • if they are living separately by mutual consent

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Scientists have found a natural remedy to protect eucalyptus forest plantations from a pest, eucalyptus snout beetle, which is known to cause serious damage to eucalypts.

• It is a leaf-feeding beetle that is a major defoliator of eucalypts.
• It is also known as eucalyptus weevil.
• The pest is indigenous to Australia but occurs in many countries throughout the world where eucalypts are grown. 
• The beetle feeds on leaves, buds and shoots, resulting in stunted growth and deflation and causing heavy losses.
• It can cause damage over vast areas as it had a great flight capability and gets transferred with transport of forest products.
• The pest is mainly controlled with the help of microwasps Anaphes spp — an expensive solution.
• This led a team of scientists to look for naturally occurring pathogenic fungi to tackle the problem.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Indian warship, INS Kabra, an indigenous fast attack craft, docked at the Colombo port in a move aimed at fostering bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka.

• It is a naval vessel named after an island of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.
• It belongs to the Car Nicobar class of high-speed offshore patrol vessels are built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) for the Indian Navy.
• It was eighth in a series of 10 Fast Attack Crafts.
• The vessels are designed as a cost-effective platform for patrol, anti-piracy and rescue operations in India's Exclusive Economic Zone.
• The class and its vessels are named for Indian islands. They are the first water jet propelled vessels of the Indian Navy.
• With a top speed of over 35 knots, and excellent manoeuvrability offered by her water-jet propulsion, the ship is ideally suited for high-speed interdiction of fast moving targets.
• It is with the latest regulations of the International Maritime Organisation on sea complies pollution control.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseaseas (ICD) 11 TM Module 2, Morbidity Codes launch event will be held in New Delhi on 10th January, 2024. 

• It is developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify diseases internationally.
• The global data on diseases currently available is mainly based on healthcare practices to be diagnosed through modern biomedicine.
• It serves a broad range of uses globally and provides critical knowledge on the extent, causes and consequences of human disease and death worldwide via data that is reported and coded with the ICD.
• Clinical terms coded with ICD are the main basis for health recording and statistics on disease in primary, secondary and tertiary care, as well as on cause of death certificates.
• These data and statistics support payment systems, service planning, and administration of quality and safety, and health services research.
• Diagnostic guidance linked to categories of ICD also standardizes data collection and enables large scale research.
• The classification of data and terminology relating to diseases based on Ayush systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani etc. is not yet included in the WHO ICD series.
• Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI) is an agency under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that serves as the WHO Collaboration Centre for ICD-related activities.
• It facilitates the collection and dissemination of data on various diseases and mortality.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Prime Minister of India extended greetings on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas.

• It is also known as Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Day, is celebrated on January 9 to mark the contribution and achievements of the overseas Indian community to the development of India.
• It is the flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• The day also commemorates the return of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest Pravasi, from South Africa to India in 1915, who led India's freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever.
• It was first celebrated in 2003.
• It was an annual event earlier, but in 2015, the government revised its format to celebrate PBD once every two years.
• It has become a platform to connect the Indian diaspora with their roots and encourage their continued engagement with India’s progress.
• It is held in different cities, to showcase the diversity and progress of different regions of India.
• Till date, 17 conventions have been held. The last Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was celebrated in the Indore of Madhya Pradesh in 2023.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.