Daily Current Affairs MCQ - May 29, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) wants to transplant over 1,800 trees which are inside what used to be the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) complex, as part of the Central Vista redevelopment project.

• A tree cannot be transplanted by simply uprooting it and placing it in a pit dug elsewhere. The process involves multiple steps and requires significant expertise.
• First, the soil around the tree is dug up to isolate the roots. The big branches are lopped off, leaving only small shoots for regeneration. This is done to make transportation of the tree to the new location easier.
• The root system is covered with wet gunny bags to protect the roots and to keep the tree hydrated. The tree has to be first sent to a nursery to acclimatise to a new kind of soil, and to regenerate.
• Once new shoots start sprouting, the tree is lowered into a pit created in its new spot.
• Even after all steps are meticulously followed, a lot depends on luck.
• The survival rate of a transplanted tree is about 50%. If it survives, the tree may take up to 10 years to grow a full canopy similar to what it originally had.
• Not all trees can be transplanted. While peepal, ficus, semal and sheesham are tolerant to transplantation, trees such as dak, palash, arjun, shahtoot and jhilmil are not.
• Any tree that has a tap root system cannot be transplanted, as the root goes deep into the soil, and it is not possible to isolate it without damage.
• Transplanting any tree with a trunk girth of more than 80-90 cm is not advisable as the tree cannot bear the shock, and will eventually die.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Ministry of Power, Government of India has transferred the prestigious 220 kV Srinagar-Drass-Kargil-Khaltsi-Leh Transmission System to Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (POWERGRID), a Maharatna CPSU of Government of India.

• The transmission system was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister in February 2019, and it connects the Ladakh region to the national grid, ensuring quality and reliable power supply.
• Built at a height of around 3000-4000 meters, this 335-km long transmission line traverses snow-bound difficult hilly terrain. It comprises of four new state-of-the-art 220/66 kV Gas Insulated Sub-stations and 66 kV interconnection systems at Drass, Kargil, Khaltsi and Leh.
• The project was executed by POWERGRID on consultancy basis under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) Scheme.
• Subsequent to reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) into UTs of J&K and Ladakh, the 220 kV Srinagar-Leh Transmission System has been re-designated as Inter State Transmission System (ISTS) and transferred to POWERGRID with effect from 31.10.2019, the date of formation of the two UTs of J&K and Ladakh.
• Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The ‘National AI Portal (https://indiaai.gov.in)’, celebrated its first anniversary on May 28, 2021.

• The National AI Portal is a joint initiative by Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and NASSCOM and serves as a central hub for AI related news, learning, articles, events and activities etc., in India and beyond.
• The portal was launched by the Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Law and Justice and Communications, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad on May 30, 2020.
• The event also witnessed the monthly ‘AI Pe Charcha’ based on the theme ‘Implementing Trustworthy AI Solutions’.
• The AI based operational excellence framework and Live Enterprise Application Platform (LEAP) and several implemented use cases were also demonstrated, especially the use of AI in GST Network for fraud detection.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ships ‘Vaibhav’ and ‘Vajra’ continue to battle the fire onboard container ship MV X-Press Pearl off Colombo, Sri Lanka.

• The distressed vessel MV X-Press Pearl was carrying 1,486 containers with nitric acid and other hazardous IMDG code chemicals.
• The extreme fire, damage to containers and prevailing inclement weather has caused the vessel to tilt to one side resulting in falling of containers overboard.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar launched Directorate General National Cadet Corps (NCC) Mobile Training App Version 2.0 in New Delhi on May 28, 2021.

• The app will assist in conducting countrywide online training to NCC cadets during the COVID-19 pandemic conditions. It is aimed at providing NCC-related basic information and entire training material (Syllabus, Précis, Training Videos, Frequently Asked Questions) on one platform.
• National Cadet Corps (NCC) is a Tri-Services Organization, comprising the Army, Navy and Air Force, engaged in grooming the youth into disciplined and patriotic citizens.
• Working:
  • It is a voluntary organization which recruits cadets from high schools, colleges and universities all over India.
  • The Cadets are given basic military training in small arms and parades. They are given preference in military service over normal candidates during selections.
• Background: It came into existence in 1948 under the National Cadet Corps Act, 1948.
• Related Ministries: Defence Ministry deals with NCC at the National level. Education Ministry deals with NCC in all States.
• Directorate General NCC: It is the national level HQ located at New Delhi. It is headed by the Director General (DG), an Army Officer of the rank of Lieutenant General.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Aerospace company, SpaceX, launched 60 Starlink Broadband Satellites with Falcon 9 first stage booster into orbit. Satellites were launched from Space Launch Complex 40 in Florida. In 2021, it was the 13th Starlink launch for SpaceX. The Falcon 9 rocket was successfully lifted off, marking the 4th time SpaceX launched a batch of Starlink satellites in expanding a flourishing broadband constellation. Starlink Satellites: These are internet constellations, constructed by SpaceX for providing satellite Internet access. Constellation consists of thousands of mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO).

Recently, Penpa Tsering was sworn in as president of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the Dharamshala-based Tibetan Government in Exile. He is the 2nd democratically-elected Sikyong (president) of the 17th Parliament-in-Exile of the Central Tibetan Administration. Sonam Norbu Dagpo, the Chief Justice Commissioner, administered the oath to Penpa Tsering. Penpa Tsering succeeded Lobsang Sangay. Central Tibetan Administration (CTA): It consists of a judiciary branch, a legislative branch, and an executive branch. It is headquartered in Dharamshala.

Laurence des Cars, art historian and curator, has become the 1st woman to be appointed the president of the Louvre in its 228-year history. Louvre: It is the world’s largest art museum, based in Paris, located on the Right Bank of the Seine. It is best known for being the home of the Mona Lisa, a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci.

Recently, the United Kingdom’s Met Office led by the World Meteorological Organisation has released the Global Annual to Decadal 10-year Climate Update. Key Findings: The world will temporarily breach the 1.5-Celsius warming mark within 2021-2025. There is a 40% chance that the annual average global temperature will surpass 1.5C above pre-industrial temperatures. There is a 90% chance of 1 year in the period of 2021-2025 being the hottest on record. The annual average global temperature will be at least 1C warmer than pre-industrial levels between 2021-2025.

The Government of India (GOI) recently approved that BVR Subrahmanyam, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary, will take over as the new Commerce Secretary. Subrahmanyam, a 1987-batch IAS officer of Chhattisgarh cadre, will arrive at the Centre as Officer on Special Duty in the Commerce Ministry. The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved his posting as Secretary, Department of Commerce, upon the superannuation of Anup Wadhawan on June 30.