Daily Current Affairs MCQ - October 20, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

The Indian Army Aviation has recently got control of israeli Heron-I unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in the eastern sector — these were earlier with the Artillery — bringing all aviation assets under one roof and augmenting its ability to keep an eye on Chinese activities across the border.

• The move comes just months after the raising of a new Aviation Brigade at Missamari in Assam.
• The Army Aviation Brigade at Missamari was raised in March this year to enable better command and control of aviation resources.
• The Brigade operates the Cheetah and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv utility helicopters, Rudra weaponsied ALH and Heron-I UAVs.
• Three RPA flights are working under the Army Aviation squadrons which consists of around 14 UAVs.
• The Israeli Heron-I UAVs are in the process of being upgraded and officials said they will also be deployed in this sector in due course.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited the Sun temple at Martand. Located atop a hillock, the temple is one of the earliest known sun temples much older than Konark and Modhera.

• The Martand Sun Temple, also known as Pandou Laidan is a Hindu temple dedicated to Surya (the chief solar deity in Hinduism) and built during the 8th century CE.
• he Martand Sun Temple was built by the third ruler of the Karkota Dynasty, Lalitaditya Muktapida, in the 8th century CE. It is said to have been built during 725-756 CE.
• Martand is another Sanskrit synonym for Surya.
• It is now in ruins, as it was destroyed by the orders of Muslim ruler Sikandar Shah Miri.
• The temple is located five miles from Anantnag in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Union Minister of AYUSH, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated Ayush Van, a dedicated forest for Ayurvedic plants in a program held at the Deendayal Port Trust (DPT) – Rotary Forest in the city. The Ayush Van was set up in 30 acres of land allotted by DPT in green-belt area where tree plantation is being done to improve greenery in urban area and increase density of tree cover in the Kutch region.

Kandla Port was renamed as Deendayal Port Trust under the India port act of 1908.

Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that Northeast will be developed as India’s Bio-Economic Hub.

• The Eastern Himalayan Region is one of the mega-biodiversity rich zones and is among the 34 biodiversity Hotspots of the world. There is a need to put these invaluable genetic resources to use for the economic growth of the region through biotechnological interventions.
• He was speaking after visit to the Institute of Bio-resources and Sustainable Development in Imphal.
• Dr Jitendra Singh said, due to consistent and renewed focus of NDA Government, India will be recognized as a Global Bio-manufacturing Hub by 2025 and will figure among the top 5 countries of the world.
• He said, India’s Bio-Economy is on its way to achieve 150-billion-dollar target from the current 70 billion-dollar by 2025 and will contribute effectively to vision of a 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2024-25.
• Hence both statements are correct.

India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States have decided to launch a new quadrilateral economic forum, as External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar joined his counterparts at a videoconference from Jerusalem, where he is on a five-day visit.

• The quadrilateral builds on ongoing cooperation between the U.S., Israel and the UAE after the Abraham Accords last year, and the India, Israel and UAE cooperation that was launched since.
• Mr. Jaishankar’s travel to Israel is also routed via the UAE, on flights that started as a consequence of the Abraham Accords and the opening of diplomatic missions and flights between them.
• The grouping had decided to establish an international forum for economic cooperation, and specifically discussed “possibilities for joint infrastructure projects”.
• The four Ministers discussed “expanding economic and political cooperation in the Middle East and Asia, including through trade, combating climate change, energy cooperation, and increasing maritime security,” as well as ways to counter the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Hence both statements are correct.

• Recently, China’s National Bureau of Statistics has reported that third-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has slowed to 4.9%.
• Impact on India:
  • Imports: India’s bilateral trade with China has grown nearly 50% in the first nine months of 2021.
    • Further, India depends majorly on imports from China including smartphones and automobile components, telecom equipment, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and other chemicals.
    • Thus, slowing the Indian economy will have an impact on India’s consumer market and infrastructure development. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• Exports: Further, India’s buoyant iron ore exports, much of which is headed to China, could also see an impact if the twin crises in China triggers an extended slowdown in the Chinese real estate market. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Investments: Slowing Chinese economy can trigger an investment outflow from India. If India can expedite the economic reforms, it can become the next global manufacturing hub.
• Hence option D is correct.

• The ‘Buddha Path’ also refers to the Eight Great Places of Buddhist Heritage (referred in Pali as Atthamahathanani). They are:
  • Lumbini (Nepal)- Buddha was born.
  • Bodh Gaya (Bihar)- Attained enlightenment.
  • Sarnath (Varanasi, U.P.)- First sermon.
  • Kushinagar (Gorakhpur, U.P.)- Buddha died.
  • Rajgir (Bihar)- Where the Lord tamed a mad elephant.
  • Vaishali (Bihar)- Where a monkey offered honey to him.
  • Sravasti (U.P)- The Lord took his seat on a thousand petaled lotus and created multiple representations of himself.
  • Sankasya (Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh)- He descended from heaven.
• Hence, option D is correct. 

• Recently, a report from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) stated that Africa's rare glaciers will disappear in the next two decades due to climate change.
  • Their current glacial retreat rates are higher than the global average. If this continues, it will lead to total de-glaciation by the 2040s. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• As per the report, Africa is the continent that contributes least to global warming yet it is going to suffer the most. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • While African nations contribute less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the report underscored the outsize impact that changes in the climate are having on the continent’s 1.3 billion people.
• The last three mountain glaciers in Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania), Mount Kenya (Kenya) and the Ruwenzori Mountains (Uganda)) are receding at such a rapid pace that they could disappear within two decades. 

The University Grants Commission has issued notification recognizing Bachelor of Sowa Rigpa Medicine and Surgery (BSRMS) under the specified Degrees.

• Duration of the degree will be of minimum of five years and Ten plus Two (10+2) is fixed as entry qualification.
• In a gazette notification issued on 14th of October, UGC recognized BSRMS as a new degree under Medicine & Surgery, Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy and Health & Allied Sciences, Pharmacy, Paramedical and Nursing.
• Sowa Rigpa is a traditional and popular medicinal practice in the Himalayan region.
• So far, only two deemed to be universities, namely Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) in Leh and Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS) located in Saranath are offering the degree in Sowa Rigpa medicine.
• With UGC recognition, any university could offer BSRMS degree in their colleges.

Hence both statements are incorrect.

Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off Modi Van under the 'Seva Hi Sangathan' programme to commemorate Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 20 years as the Head of Government.

• Five Mobile Medical Vans will operate in five Assembly Constituencies in Kaushambi district of Uttar Pradesh. They will work under the aegis of Kaushambi Vikas Parishad run by BJP's National Secretary Vinod Sonkar.
• The Modi van will consist of a 32-inch television and a high-speed internet service which will broadcast PM Modi's monthly radio broadcast 'Mann Ki Baat'. The van will also consist of telemedicine. The van has is equipped with a machine that can test 39 blood samples in one go.
• This van will be used to administer the oath to the people of the village for cleanliness and plastic-free.
• PM Modi completed 20 years as the head of a government, including over 13 years as Gujarat chief minister this month. He served as Gujarat CM between 2001 and 2014.
• Hence both statements are correct.