Daily Current Affairs MCQ- November 4, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) launched its groundbreaking National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) and Energy Efficient Fans Programme (EEFP). 

• It is a subset of the Clean Cooking Scheme.
• It focuses on Non-Solar/Electricity-based Induction Cookstoves, aligning with the Go- electric initiative by the Ministry of Power.
• This programme introduces induction-based cook-stoves.
• Target: To deploy 20 Lakh Induction cook-stoves across India.
• EESL seeks to reduce the environmental impact of cooking methods, ensuring cleaner air and improved health for citizens.
• EESL has also partnered with Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) for the large-scale deployment of induction cooktops.
• The deployment is expected to accelerate the acceptance and large-scale adoption of modern electric cooking devices in Indian kitchens.
• Benefit: It is offering a cost advantage of 25-30% over traditional cooking methods, promising both energy savings and cost-effective cooking solutions.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Election Commission of India has designed in-house software ENCORE for complete Candidate and election management.

• This ENCORE software stands for Enabling Communications on Real-time Environment.
• This provides a seamless facility for Returning Officers to process candidate nomination, affidavit, Voter turnout, counting, results and data management. 
• The ENCORE counting application is an end-to-end application for returning officers to digitize the votes polled, tabulate the round-wise data and then take out various statutory reports of counting.
• Another application called ENCORE Scrutiny Application allows Returning Officers to do scrutiny of the nominations filed by the candidates on-line.
• After verification of the nomination the status is marked as Accepted, Rejected or Withdrawn helping the Returning Officer to prepare the final list of contesting candidates and assign the symbols.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Indian Railways' technical advisor Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), with the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) has developed a special fuel Methanol Diesel-15.

• It is a special fuel developed by the Indian Railways’ Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL).
• It is a cost-effective blended fuel containing 15% methanol, 71% mineral diesel, and 14% indigenously developed additives by IOCL.

What are the benefits of MD-15?

• It offers superior performance, combustion, and emission characteristics compared to regular mineral diesel fuel.
• It has the potential to reduce diesel consumption by 15% and result in substantial annual savings.
• It significantly decreases harmful pollutant emissions, contributing to a cleaner and greener environment.
• The NOx emissions were significantly lower thus reducing the harmful pollutants, which causes smog and pollution,

Hence both statements are correct.

A celestial light show will grace the night sky, as the Taurid meteor shower reaches its peak.

• The Taurid meteors are debris from the periodic Comet 2P/Encke, which has the shortest known orbital period for a comet (takes only 3.3 years to make one complete trip around the sun).
• These showers are named after the constellation Taurus.
• It is unique in that it comprises two distinct streams (i.e., Southern and Northern Taurids), both of which have spread over time due to the gravitational influence of Jupiter.
• It can be seen with the naked eye and are best viewed at around midnight. 
• These are modest, offering fewer than 10 shooting stars per hour on peak nights.
• However, November is one of the better months for shooting stars because there are many sporadic meteors.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

According to Adaptation Gap Report, the money being made available to developing countries for adaptation measures has been declining, and nowhere close to the scale of requirement.

• It is annually published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) since 2014.
• The aim of the reports is to inform national and international efforts to advance adaptation.
• It provides an update on the global status and progress of the adaptation process across three elements: planning, financing, and implementation.
• It complements the Emissions Gap Report series, and explores the implications of failing to close the emissions gap.
• It is co-produced by the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre (UNEP-CCC) and the World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP).

Hence option a is the correct answer.

A controversy over alleged engineering lapses in the ₹1 lakh crore Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project on the Godavari River triggered an electoral slugfest in poll-bound Telangana recently.

About Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project:

• Location: KLIP is a multipurpose irrigation projecton the Godavari River i.e, at Kaleshwaram village in Telangana.
• The Pranhita-Godavari river confluence is the location of KLIP.
• The Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers, which together make up the seventh-largest drainage basin on the subcontinent, come together at the confluence of the Pranahita River. 
• It is claimed to be the world’s largest multi-stage and multi-purpose lift irrigation project.
• It was previously known as the Pranahita-Chevella Lift Irrigation Project.
• A key feature of the KLIP is a series of underground and surface water pumping stations, which are said to be the world’s largest such structures.
• Stretching over 300 km, the lift irrigation system raises large volumes of water up from river or reservoir sources, to be redistributed in channels and/or further reservoirs before pumping to the next stations.
• The project is aimed at supplying water to 45 lakh acres in Telangana.
• Started in 2016, the project will utilise around 283 TMC water of river Godavari and provide irrigation and drinking water to 13 districts of Telangana.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

A system of seven sweltering planets was recently revealed by the continued study of data from NASA’s retired Kepler space telescope.

About Kepler Space Telescope:

• It was NASA’s first planet-hunting mission, assigned to search a portion of the Milky Way galaxy for Earth-sized planets orbiting stars outside our solar system.
• It was launched on March 6, 2009.
• The spacecraft was named after the famed German astronomer Johannes Kepler (1571-1630).
• Its scientific goals included determining the abundance of earth-sized planets and the distribution of sizes and shapes of their orbits, estimating the number of planets in multiple-star systems, and determining the properties of stars that have planetary systems.
• In December 2011, NASA announced that Kepler had found its first planet, Kepler-22b, in the habitable zone of a star.
• On October 30, 2018, after nine years in deep space collecting data, NASA announced that Kepler had run out of fuel. The spacecraft was retired in its current, safe orbit, away from Earth.
• Kepler left behind a legacy of more than 2,600 planet discoveries from outside our solar system, many of which could be promising places for life.
• Features:
• Kepler detected planets by observing transits, or tiny dips in the brightness of a star that occur when a planet crosses in front of the star.
• The spacecraft was basically a single instrument - a specially designed 3-foot (1-meter) diameter aperture telescope and image sensor array – with a spacecraft built around it.
• The diameter of the telescope’s mirror was 4 feet, 7 inches (1.4 meters), making it one of the largest mirrors beyond Earth’s orbit.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

In a significant move towards enhancing its air defence capabilities, India is embarking on an ambitious project called 'Project Kusha.'

About Project Kusha:

• 'Project Kusha' is set to provide the Indian Air Force (IAF) with a long-range air defence system, with deployment targeted for 2028-29.
• The ambitious indigenous project will be developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at an estimated budget of Rs 21,700 crore. 
• Drawing parallels with Israel's renowned Iron Dome system, 'Project Kusha' is expected to not only match but potentially surpass the capabilities of its Israeli counterpart.
• It aims to detect and destroy various hostile targets, including cruise missiles, stealth fighter jets, and drones at extended ranges.
• Key Features:
• The long-range surface-to-air defence system (LR-SAM) incorporates advanced long-range surveillance and fire control radars, which empower the IAF to effectively monitor airspace and fend off enemy threats.
• Interceptor missiles, with ranges of 150 km, 200 km, and 350 km, provide the ability to detect and strike hostile targets at different distances.
• It will also be effective in providing strategic and tactical cover.
• The system reportedly has a single-shot kill chance of at least 80% and over 90% when two missiles are fired after each other.
• The firing units of 'Project Kusha' can seamlessly integrate with the IAF's air command and control system, facilitating coordination with a wide range of military radars.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

The Chief of Naval Staff recently announced that the prototype of the Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF), intended for Indian Navy aircraft carriers, will be ready within the next four to five years.

About Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter (TEDBF):

• It is a canard delta-wing, twin-engine, carrier-based, multirole combat aircraft currently under development for the Indian Navy.
• The TEDBF is being indigenously designed and developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and will be manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
• It is intended for carrier-based operations and is expected to replace the ageing MiG-29K fighters on the INS Vikramaditya and the upcoming INS Vikrant aircraft carriers.
• Key Features:
• The TEDBF's twin engines will enable shorter take-offs from the Indian Navy’s Short Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) aircraft carriers.
• It will have a maximum take-off weight of between 24 and 26 tons.
• The TEDBF fighters will be able to reach Mach 1.6 speeds.
• Designed specifically for carrier-based operations, the TEDBF will feature foldable wings for more compact storage, enhancing the flexibility of carrier operations.
• It will be equipped with various homegrown Indian weapon systems and avionics.
• It is intended to perform various missions, including air supremacy, air interdiction, anti-access/area denial (A2/AD), anti-ship warfare (ASW), and electronic warfare (EW) missions.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Manas National Park & Tiger Reserve announced that the population of swamp deer at the park has witnessed a rise.

• The swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) also called as barasingha is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent.
• It belongs to the family Cervidae (order Artiodactyla), found in open forests and grasslands of India and Nepal. 
• It eats predominantly wetland plants and herbaceous plants which are common in this deer’s natural habitat. 
• Its population is now restricted to isolated and scattered locations in Nepal, Assam and the northern areas of India.
• It is now extinct in both Bangladesh, and in Pakistan 
• There are three subspecies of swamp deer found in the Indian Subcontinent.
• The western swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) found in Nepal,
• Southern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) found in central and north India.
• Eastern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) found in the Kaziranga and Dudhwa National Parks.
• Conservation status
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Hence both statements are correct.