Daily Current Affairs MCQ- October 9, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

The first batch of about 50 members of the Ruddy Shelduk, popularly known as ‘Surkhab’ birds, arrived in Uttarakhand for a six month winter stay. 

• It (Tadorna ferruginea) belongs to the family Anatidae under the order Anseriformes.
• In India, it is known as the Brahminy duck.
• It is distributed in Europe, Asia, Indian Subcontinent and a few pockets in Africa.
  These ducks are migratory birds.
• They arrive in winter in the Indian Subcontinent, South India and Southeast Asia.
• They inhabit large wetlands, salt lakes, crater lakes, rivers with mud flats and shingle banks.
• It is a mainly nocturnal bird.
• It is omnivorous and feeds on grasses, the young shoots of plants, grain and water plants as well as both aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates.
• They are no sitting ducks; they scale the mighty Himalayas when flying to India from the north attaining heights of 6,800 metres.
• Conservation status
• IUCN : Least Concern

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

New research has revealed that Mont Blanc, France's highest mountain has witnessed a reduction in its height over the past two years.

• It is the highest peak (4,807 metres) in Europe.
• It is located in the Alps and lies along the French-Italian border and reaches into Switzerland.
• It is nicknamed as "the roof of Europe".
• Its name comes from the perennial snow cap that covers it, meaning literally “the white mountain”.
• The mountain stands in a range called the Graian Alps, between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Savoie and Haute-Savoie, France.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, scientists discovered massive, long-necked dinosaur 'titan' in Spain and named it as Garumbatitan morellensis.

• It was a Titanosaur species, which is a subgroup of sauropods.
• It was the only lineage to survive until the dinosaur-killing asteroid struck around 66 million years ago.
• These massive fossils, as per estimates, date back to the Lower Cretaceous period (some 145 to 66 million years ago).
• These titans belonged to the sub-group Somphospondyli.

Key facts about Titanosaur species

• They lived from the Late Jurassic Epoch (163.5 million to 145 million years ago) to the end of the Cretaceous Period (145 million to 66 million years ago).
• Titanosaur fossils have been found on all continents except Antarctica and include some 40 species.
• The group contains the largest terrestrial animals known, some even approaching the size of modern whales.
• Like other sauropods, titanosaurs were herbivorous quadrupeds with long tails, long necks, and small heads.
• Their bodies were stockier and their limbs produced a wider stance than other sauropods.
• They also possessed vertebrae with a honeycomb-like internal structure and six sacral vertebrae.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Chief recently unveiled a new Ensign for the force.

About Indian Air Force (IAF) Ensign:

• Only the IAF Crest will be incorporated into the new IAF Ensign.
• This crest prominently features the national symbol, the Ashoka Lion, at the top, with the words "Satyamev Jayate" in Devanagari script below it.
• Beneath the Ashoka Lion is a Himalayan eagle with outstretched wings, symbolizing the fighting spirit of the IAF.
• A ring in light blue colour encircles the Himalayan eagle with the words “Indian Air Force".
• The IAF motto, derived from the Bhagavad Gita, "Nabha Sparsham Deeptam", meaning "touching the sky with glory," is inscribed below the Himalayan eagle in golden Devanagari.
• IAF crest symbolises the source of inspiration and encouragement.
• IAF has adopted various crests for commands, squadrons and the other establishments.
• However, all the crests follow a standard frame, that contains the individual formation sign with a motto shown in the scroll at the foot of the frame. 
• History:
• During the British era, Indian Air Force was known as Royal Indian Air Force.
• Its ensign comprised of the Union Jack in the upper left canton and the RIAF roundel (Red, White & Blue) on the fly side.
• Post-Independence, the Indian Air Force ensign was created by replacing the Union Jack with the Indian tricolour and the RAF roundels with the IAF tri-colour roundel in the lower right canton.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Reliance General Insurance Company (RGIC), a subsidiary of Reliance Capital, recently received show cause notices amounting to nearly Rs 923 crore from the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI).

About Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI):

• Erstwhile Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI), now renamed as Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), is an apex intelligence organization functioning under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
• It is entrusted with the task of collection, collation, and dissemination of intelligence relating to the evasion of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the duties of Central Excise and Service Tax on an all India basis.
• History:
• It was earlier known as the Directorate General of Anti-Evasion (DGAE).
• It was established in 1979 as an independent wing under the control of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, New Delhi with the Regional Units located at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.
• It became a full-fledged Directorate in 1983, headed by a Director.
• In 1988, the Directorate was upgraded to Directorate General under a Director General.
• DGGI has been expanded since, and now it comprises of 04 offices of Director General (East, West, North, and South), 26 Zonal Units, and 40 Regional Units.
• The main responsibilities of the DGGI are:
• Intelligence gathering: The DGGI is responsible for gathering intelligence about potential violations of the GST law. This includes collecting information from various sources, such as GST returns, financial statements, and other documents.
• Investigation: The DGGI has the power to conduct investigations into suspected cases of GST evasion or non-compliance. This may involve summoning persons, examining records, and carrying out searches and seizures.
• Enforcement: The DGGI is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the GST law. This includes taking legal action against offenders, imposing penalties, and recovering any taxes or duties due.
• Other Functions:
• The DGGI works closely with other agencies, such as the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the State GST authorities, to ensure effective implementation of the GST law.
• It also plays a key role in creating awareness about GST compliance and educating taxpayers about their obligations under the law.
• It is also responsible for providing technical and legal assistance to field officers and other government agencies involved in the administration of the GST.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Mundra Port, the flagship facility of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, recently completed 25 years of operations.

About Mundra Port:

• It is the largest private port and the largest container port in India.
• Location: It is located on the north shores of the Gulf of Kutch, near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat. 
• It is a deep-draft, all-weather port.
• It is also a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
• As much as 33 per cent of India's container traffic flows through the port.
• Ownership: It is run by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), which is India’s largest commercial ports operator and accounts for nearly one-fourth of the country’s cargo movement.
• Handling Capacity:
• With a capacity of 260 MMT, the port handles over 155 MMT (FY 2022-23), which constitutes nearly 11% of India’s maritime cargo.
• The port has 26 berths and two single-point moorings, which allow it to accommodate a wide range of vessels.
• The port handles a wide variety of cargo, including containers, dry bulk, break bulk, liquid cargo, and automobiles.
• It also has the country’s largest coal import terminal, which facilitates faster cargo evacuation with minimal turnaround time.
• Mundra Port’s rail is connected to the national rail network, and cargo can be handled for any location in India.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, Udangudi ‘Panangkarupatti’ (palm jaggery/ gur) from Tamil Nadu has received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. 

• The palm jaggery preparation procedure in this area is traditional till date without inclusion of any additional modern strategies. 
• Uniqueness:
• The karupatti prepared from the palm sap from the region around Udangudi in Tiruchendur taluk in Thoothukudi district has some uniqueness.
• This is due to presence of red sand dune soil found in the region.
• This soil holds less groundwater. The moisture content in the atmosphere is less because of the dry climatic condition, which leads to high sucrose content, in turn adding taste.
• The region’s dry climate is also suitable for storage of karupatti for a longer duration.
• No chemical additives like Triple super phosphate and phosphoric acid are used in its preparation.

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Recently, Gabon announced a $500 million debt-for-nature swap which is the largest such deal signed by any country. 

• What it is? It allows heavily indebted developing countries to seek help from financial institutions in the developed world with paying off their debt if they agree to spend on conservation of natural resources.
• The notion of debt-for-nature swaps was first mooted in 1984 by Thomas Lovejoy, the former vice-president for science at the World Wildlife Fund-US, in response to the Latin American debt crisis.
• The first debt-for-nature swap was a third-party deal facilitated by Conservation International. Finalised in 1987, it involved foreign creditors agreeing forgive USD 650,000 of Bolivia’s debt in exchange for the country setting aside 1.5 million hectares in the Amazon Basin for conservation efforts.

Hence both statements are correct.

Researchers have named a recently discovered species of snake after actor Harrison Ford.

• Tachymenoides harrisonfordi was discovered in May 2022 by a team of researchers from the United States, Germany and Peru.
• It was discovered in the Peruvian Andes mountain region.
• Appearance:
• It measures 16 inches (40.6 centimeters) in length and is yellowish-brown with scattered black blotches, a black belly and a vertical streak over its copper-colored eye.
• This is the third animal species to be named after Ford. Earlier, an ant (Pheidole harrisonfordi) and a spider (Calponia harrisonfordi) were named after him. 

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Heavy rain and floods in Himachal Pradesh have battered the 94-km-long Kalka-Shimla railway line, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• It is specialized agency of the United Nations (UN).
• The constitution, which entered into force in 1946, called for the promotion of international collaboration in education, science, and culture.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• Parent Organisation : United Nations Economic and Social Council.
• Goal: The primary goals of UNESCO are to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, and culture, and to promote sustainable development and intercultural dialogue.
• UNESCO believes that these areas are crucial for building a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world.

Hence both statements are correct.