Daily Current Affairs MCQ - October 6, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

U.S.-Japanese scientist Syukuro Manabe, Klaus Hasselmann of Germany and Giorgio Parisi of Italy won the Nobel Physics Prize for climate models and the understanding of physical systems.

• Dr. Manabe, 90, and Dr. Hasselmann, 89, share one half of the 10 million kronor ($1.1 million) prize for their research on climate models, while Dr. Parisi, 73, won the other half for his work on the interplay of disorder and fluctuations in physical systems.
• This is the first time climate scientists have been awarded the Physics Nobel.
• The IPCC had won the Peace Nobel in 2007, an acknowledgement of its efforts in creating awareness for the fight against climate change, while a Chemistry Nobel to Paul Crutzen in 1995, for his work on the ozone layer, is considered the only other time someone from atmospheric sciences has won this honour.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

41 Industrial Parks have been assessed as "Leaders" in the Industrial Park Ratings System Report released by DPIIT.

• 90 Industrial Parks have been rated as under Challenger category while 185 have been rated as under "Aspirers".
• The 2nd edition of the Industrial Park Rating System (IPRS) Report was launched by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry. The IPRS 2.0 Report will enhance India’s industrial competitiveness and attract investment.
• The IPRS pilot exercise was launched in 2018, with an objective of enhancing industrial infrastructure competitiveness and supporting policy development for enabling industrialization across the country
• Based on the learnings from the pilot stage, the Government started the IPRS 2.0 in 2020.
• All the States of India and 51 SEZs, including 29 Private, have participated the IPRS 2.0 Report. 24 Private Sector Industrial Parks have also been nominated.

India Industrial Land Bank (IILB)

• The Report is an extension of the India Industrial Land Bank which features more than 4,400 industrial parks in a GIS-enabled database to help investors identify their preferred location for investment. The portal is currently integrated with industry-based GIS system of 21 States and UTs and plot-wise information in these are updated on a real-time basis, he said.
• The India Industrial Land Bank (IILB) provides details of more than 5.6 lakh hectares, roughly the size bigger than 30-40 countries, on the click of a button and prospective entrepreneurs can apply sitting from anywhere across the world.
• The GIS-enabled IILB acts as a one-stop source of information on Industrial Infrastructure.
• Significant scaling up in coverage of Industrial Parks on this Land Bank has played a key role in facilitating the IPRS.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The fifth edition of India – Japan Maritime Bilateral Exercise, JIMEX, between the Indian Navy (IN) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), will be held in Arabian Sea from 06 to 08 October 2021.

• JIMEX series of exercises commenced in January 2012 with special focus on maritime security cooperation. The last edition of JIMEX was conducted in September 2020.
• JIMEX-21 aims to develop common understanding of operational procedures and enhance inter-operability through conduct of a multitude of advanced exercises, across the entire spectrum of maritime operations.
• Multi-faceted tactical exercises involving weapon firings, cross-deck helicopter operations and complex surface, anti-submarine and air warfare drills will consolidate coordination developed by the two navies.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare released UNICEF’s global flagship publication – “The State of the World’s Children 2021; On My Mind: promoting, protecting and caring for children’s mental health”.

• The report details the significant impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children’s mental health.
• The report has found that around 14 percent of 15 to 24-year-olds in India, or 1 in 7, reported often feeling depressed or having little interest in doing things. Across 21 countries, the median was one in five young people.
• In the UNICEF survey across 21 countries, only 41 per cent of young people in India were willing to seek support for mental health problems, compared to an average of 83 per cent for 21 countries.
• As per the report, India was the only one of 21 countries where only a minority of young people felt that people experiencing mental health issues should reach out to others. In every other country, a majority of young people (ranging from 56 to 95 per cent) felt that reaching out was the best way to deal with mental health issues.
• Over 286 million children up to grade 6 were out of school in India between 2020-2021. UNICEF's rapid assessment in 2021 found that only 60 per cent could access digital classrooms. Many would not be able to continue their education.
• Meanwhile, wide gaps persist between mental health needs and mental health funding. India has spent only 0.05 per cent of its health budget annually on mental health, according to Indian Journal of Psychiatry 2017.
• As the trend of nuclear family instead of joint family has increased in our society, mental health problems have become frequent in children.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Ministry of Ayush has recently noticed safety concerns on use of Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) that were published in social media and in some scientific journals.

• This advisory is being issued to confirm that Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) is safe to use but some similar looking plants like Tinospora crispa may be harmful.
• Guduchi is a popularly known herb, familiar as Giloy and is being used in therapeutics since long in AYUSH systems.
• Guduchi’s hepato-protective properties are also well established. Guduchi is known for its immense therapeutic applications and the practices are regulated in accordance with various applicable provisions.

Features of Tinospora cordifolia

• Stem: Green in colour; Not having small rounded projections; No milky secretion.
• Leaves: heart shaped with groovy notch at the base.
• Petals: Six in number
• Drupes (Bunch of fruit): Spherical or ball shaped; red in colour.
• Hence both statements are correct.

• In Chapter 107/108 of Mahabharata’s Shanti Parva, there is a detailed narration about the features of republics (called ganas) in India.
• The Buddhist Canon, both in Sanskrit (in which much of Mahayana Buddhist literature was written) and in Pali (in which much of Hinayana literature was written) has extensive reference to republics in India, e.g. the Lichchavi city of Vaishali.
  • It also describes in detail Vaishali’s rivalry with neighbouring Magadha, which was a monarchy. Had the Lichchavis won, the trajectory of governance may well have been non-monarchical in the Subcontinent.
• The Mahanibbana Sutta (Pali Buddhist work) and the Avadaana Shatak (a Sanskrit Buddhist text of the second century A.D) also mention that certain areas were under a republican form of government.
• Other sources appear in the Ashtadhyayi of Panini, the Arthashastra of Kautilya, etc.
  • Elements of State by Kautilya: Any state is thought of as composed of seven elements. The first three are swami or the king, amatya or the ministers (administration) and janapada or the people.
  • The king must function on the advice of the amatyas for the good of the people.
  • The ministers are appointed from amongst the people (the Arthashastra also mentions entrance tests).
  • As per the Arthashastra, in the happiness and benefit of his people lies the happiness and benefit of the King.
• Hence, option D is correct. 

• Aadhaar-enabled Payment System (AePS) is a bank led model which allows online interoperable financial transactions at PoS (Point of Sale/Micro ATM) through the Business Correspondent (BC)/Bank Mitra of any bank using the Aadhaar authentication. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • This system adds another layer of security to financial transactions as bank details would no longer be required to be furnished while carrying out these transactions.
• It was taken up by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) - a joint initiative of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). Hence, statement 2 is correct.

• The anti-defection law punishes individual Members of Parliament (MPs)/MLAs for leaving one party for another.
• The Tenth Schedule (popularly known as the Anti-Defection Act) was included in the Constitution via the 52^nd Amendment Act, 1985.
  • It sets the provisions for disqualification of elected members on the grounds of defection to another political party. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• However, it allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e. merge with) another political party without inviting the penalty for defection. And it does not penalise political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators.
  • As per the 1985 Act, a 'defection' by one-third of the elected members of a political party was considered a 'merger'.
  • But the 91^st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this and now at least two-thirds of the members of a party have to be in favour of a "merger" for it to have validity in the eyes of the law. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
• The members disqualified under the law can stand for elections from any political party for a seat in the same House. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
  • The decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection are referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, which is subject to ‘Judicial review’. 

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has notified constitution of the National Road Safety Board, along with Rules thereof, on 3rd September, 2021.

• The Head Office of the Board shall be in the National Capital Region and the Board may establish offices at other places in India.
• It shall consist of the Chairman and not less than three, but not exceeding seven Members, to be appointed by the Central Government.
• The Board shall be responsible for promoting road safety, innovation and adoption of new technology and for regulating traffic and motor vehicles.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Ministry of Textiles has approved continuation of Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) with a total outlay of Rs 160 crore.

• The scheme will continue up to March 2026.
• Infrastructural support, market access, design and technology up-gradation support etc will be provided to handicrafts artisans under this scheme.
• Objective of setting up these clusters is to assist the artisans & entrepreneurs to set up world-class units with modern infrastructure, latest technology, and adequate training and human resource development inputs, coupled with market linkages and production diversification.
• The focus will be on integration of scattered artisans, building their grass root level enterprises and linking them to SMEs in the handicrafts sector to ensure economies of scale.
• The mega handicraft clusters having more than 10,000 artisans will be selected for overall development under this scheme.
• Hence both statements are correct.