Daily Current Affairs MCQ- May 24, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Next month, on June 3, there will be planetary alignments that may actually allow people to witness six planets align in the sky. 

• It is a term used to describe the positioning of planets in the solar system such that they appear to be in a straight line or close to one when viewed from a specific vantage point, for us that's Earth.
• This phenomenon is more an illusion of perspective rather than the planets being in a perfect line in space.
• Aligning planets: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will form a near-straight line.
• Which Planets will be visible?
• While six planets align, not all of them will be visible to the naked eye, due to their vast distance from Earth.
• Meanwhile, the Moon will also play a spoilsport as it distorts the visibility.
• Mercury, and Jupiter will be tricky to see in the sky due to their proximity to the Sun in their orbit.
• However, Mars and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye, though very dim. Meanwhile, keen observers will need telescopes or high-powered binoculars to spot the distant planets Uranus and Neptune.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, famous Indian film actor suffered due to heatstroke in Ahmedabad.

• It is the most serious heat-related illness.
• When it occurs?
• It occurs when the ambient temperature is so high that the body is unable to sweat to regulate the core temperature, which shoots up to 40 degree Celsius.
• In such cases, there is a severe imbalance of salts such as sodium and potassium in the body. The high core temperature coupled with salt imbalances disrupts organs, leading to a host of symptoms.
• Impacts on human body: It can affect the brain, making a person foggy, drowsy, and in severe cases may also lead to a person going into a coma. It can lead to kidney and liver damage as well. A cascade of such symptoms leads to death due to heat stroke,
• Symptoms observed: The one who gets impacted whose body temperature is very high but they are not sweating at all, they are feeling drowsy, they are vomiting, they are not passing urine, and they are not breathing properly.
• Prevention: To prevent heat stroke, it is better to avoid stepping out in direct sunlight, especially between noon and 3 pm. You should avoid strenuous activity during this time.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

• An electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft is one that uses electric power to hover, take off, and land vertically.
• It is one of the newer technologies and developments in the aerospace industry.
• It is a low-altitude urban air mobility aircraft capable of carrying only a few passengers- six seaters and eight seaters.
• Technology used:
• Most eVTOLs use distributed electric propulsion technology which means integrating a complex propulsion system with the airframe. There are multiple motors for various functions; to increase efficiency; and to also ensure safety.
• This is technology that has grown on account of successes in electric propulsion based on progress in motor, battery, fuel cell and electronic controller technologies and also fuelled by the need for new vehicle technology that ensures urban air mobility (UAM). 
• Applications: Air Taxi, Delivery, Medical assistance (EMS), Cargo Transport, Recreation.
• Significance
• In the near future, these eVTOLs will enhance “on-demand” mobility for intra and inter city transportation, improving connectivity between metropolitan city centers and airports.

Hence both statements are correct.

India has improved its ranking in recently released Travel & Tourism Development Index as compared to previous report.

• It is the second edition of an index that evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) series, a flagship index of the World Economic Forum that has been in production since 2007.
• It is created in collaboration with the University of Surrey and with input from leading Travel & Tourism (T&T) stakeholder organizations, thought leaders and data partners.
• It measures the set of factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of T&T.
• India is ranked 39th, the highest in South Asia and among other lower-middle-income economies.
• India's new ranking is a notable improvement from its 54th position in the 2021 index.
• On an overall index score of 7, where 1 is the worst, and 7 the best, India scored 4.25. India’s significant leap in the rankings underscores its growing competitiveness in the global tourism landscape.
• The biennial index analyzed the travel and tourism sectors of 119 countries, evaluating them on a range of factors and policies that foster tourism development. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Supreme Court (SC) recently halted the deportation of a woman who was declared a foreigner by a Foreigners' Tribunal in Assam.

About Foreigners Tribunal (FT): 

• The FTs came into existence through the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, in order to let state administration (District collector/District Magistrate) to make reference about a person suspected to be a foreigner to the Tribunals. 
• The Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, was enacted by the Central government through the use of powers granted under Section 3 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
• The Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, applies to the whole of India, yet, FTs exist only in Assam as of now.
• In other states, if an illegal immigrant is found, he is produced before a local court and dealt with as per the Foreigners Act, 1946.
• Prior to the 2019 amendment to the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964, only the Centre was empowered to establish FTs in states, but after this amendment, the power has been granted to states as well.
• Need for FT:
• The superintendents of police (SPs) and district commissioners were empowered to detect suspected foreigners. References for these “suspected persons” were required to be made before an authority which came into existence through the Foreigners (Tribunals) Order, 1964.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI) can also refer cases of D or Doubtful voters to the local SP, who then refers them to a tribunal to verify their citizenship.
• The persons excluded from the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) as released in August 2019 can appeal before the FTs to prove their citizenship.
• What is FT supposed to do after receiving a reference against a person?
• The Tribunal is supposed to serve upon such person a copy of the main grounds on which he is alleged to be a foreigner, as well as a show cause notice, within 10 days of receipt of reference from the concerned authority.
• The notice should clearly indicate that the burden is on the proceedee to prove that he or she is not a foreigner.
• The FT is to give the person a reasonable opportunity to make a representation (in person or through a lawyer) and produce evidence in support of his case.
• If the proceedee fails to produce any proof in support of his claim of citizenship and also not able to arrange for bail, the FT shall detain him and send him to a detention centre.
• The SC held that the decision of the FTs regarding the nationality of a person will be binding. Also, the decision of the tribunal will be given more importance than that of the Government or credentials and the NRC verification authority.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Supreme Court recently upheld a rule issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAA) barring chartered accountants from accepting more than the "specified number of tax audit assignments" in a financial year.

About Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI):

• It is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, viz., the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, for regulating the profession of Chartered Accountancy in the country. 
• It functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• It is the second largest professional body of chartered accountants in the world.
• The affairs of the ICAI are managed by a Council in accordance with the provisions of the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949, and the Chartered Accountants Regulations, 1988. 
• The Council consists of 40 members, of whom 32 are elected by the Chartered Accountants and the remaining 8 are nominated by the Central Government, generally representing the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, and other stakeholders.
• Functions of ICAI:
• Regulates the profession of Accountancy.
• Examination and education of Chartered Accountancy course.
• Continuing professional education of members.
• Conducting post-qualification courses.
• Formulation of accounting standards.
• Prescription of standard auditing procedures.
• Laying down ethical standards.
• Monitoring quality through peer review.
• Ensuring standards of performance of members.
• Exercise disciplinary jurisdiction.
• Financial reporting review.
• Input on policy matters to the government.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Six persons, including two children, drowned after their boat capsized in the Ujani dam backwaters in Maharashtra's Pune district recently.

About Ujani Dam:

• It is located on the Bhima River near Ujjani village in Solapur district of the state of Maharashtra.
• It is an earth-fill cum masonry gravity dam.
• It was constructed between 1977 and 1980 with the primary objective of providing irrigation water and hydroelectric power to the region.
• With a total length of 2,534 m, the Ujani Dam is founded on massive basaltic rock formations and comprises a central portion, which is the spillway dam of 602m in length. 
• The dam has a height of 63 meters.
• With a storage capacity of 117 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), the dam has a live storage of 54 TMC, and 63 TMC is dead storage.
• Power Generation Capacity: 12MW
• Pollution: The water quality of the Ujani Dam is very bad as it contains hazardous pollutants from Pune and many other small cities located on the banks of the Bhima River or its tributaries.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

China has officially disclosed a new baseline outlining its territorial claims in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, an area shared with Vietnam.

About Gulf of Tonkin:

• It is a crescent-shaped, shallow, semi-enclosed water body situated in the South China Sea’s northwestern portion. 
• Borders: The gulf is bordered by the northern coastline of Vietnam in the west and northwest; by China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in the north; and by the Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan Island in the east. 
• It is referred to as “Beibu Gulf” in Chinese and “Bac Bo Gulf” in Vietnamese.
• Many rivers empty into the Gulf of Tonkin, with the Red River (Yuan River in Chinese) supplying the major riverine discharge along with some smaller rivers.
• It is connected with the South China Sea via the gulf’s mouth in the south and the Hainan Strait (Qiongzhou Strait) in the northeast. 
• Major Ports: In Northern Vietnam, the gulf’s main ports include Haiphong and Ben Thuy, whereas, in China, its major port is Beihai (Pakhoi).
• The Gulf of Tonkin is best known for the infamous “Gulf of Tonkin Incident”.
• It was a complex naval event in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of Vietnam, that occurred from August 2 to August 4, 1964, during the Vietnam War. 
• The report of North Vietnamese torpedo boats firing on two U.S. destroyers in 1964 resulted in the U.S. Congress adopting the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution to support increased U.S. troop involvement in the Vietnam War. 

Hence option d is the correct answer.

The stakeholders meeting on Right to Repair Portal India was held recently.

About Right to Repair Portal:

• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs (MCA) has launched the Right to Repair Portal India (https://righttorepairindia.gov.in/) to provide consumers with access to repair information for their products and reduce e-waste.
• The launch was made on the occasion of National Consumer Rights Day 2022.
• Features:
• It provides information about the circular economy, which is the new economic model that focuses on repairing and reusing products, as opposed to throwing them away. 
• The portal brings together information from different sectors, including automobiles, consumer durables, mobile and electronics, and farming equipment.
• All public information related to products, services, warranties, terms, and conditions, etc. will also be easily accessible through this portal.
• It gives consumers access to affordable repair mobile phones, appliances, and other electronic devices by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or third-party repairers.
• The aim is to offer a cheaper alternative to expensive replacements to customers, instead of buying new products altogether.
• The portal will carry information for enabling consumers to self-repair, knowing about authorized repairers, and promoting third party repairers. 
• It will also benefit small repair shops, as a list of authorised third-party repairs will be provided. 
• The portal also allows consumers to submit feedback and suggestions on products and services.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Devotees recently thronged Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar to celebrate Maha Shivratri.

About Shankaracharya Temple:

• The Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar, located on top of the Shankaracharya Hill, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the oldest shrines in Kashmir.
• The temple dates back to 200 BC, however present structure was probably constructed in 9th Century AD.
• It is said that the temple was originally built by Jaluka, the son of Emperor Ashoka, a follower of Buddhist religion; and hence, the temple is also regarded as sacred by the Buddhist people, and they called this temple as Pas-Pahar.
• Also known as Jyesteshwara Temple, the temple is named after the great philosopher Shankaracharya who is believed to have visited Srinagar about ten centuries ago. 
• The Shiva Linga he worshipped is located in the temple.
• It is believed that Adi Shankaracharya attained spiritual enlightenment at this place, and it was after this enlightenment that he went out and formed the four Hindu schools of Advaita, or the philosophy of non-dualism. 
• Features:
• The temple's architecture reflects a blend of Hindu and Buddhist styles and boasts intricate carvings that depict various mythological stories. 
• The early Shihara styleis prominently evident in the building design and is indicative of a horseshoe arch type of pattern.
• The temple sits on a solid rock and is constructed on a high octagonal platform that is approachable by a flight of around 243 steps. 
• It is at a height of 1100 ft. 
• The main sanctum sanctorum houses a black stone idol of Lord Shiva along with other deities.
• The top of the temple affords a sweeping view of the valley below.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.