Daily Current Affairs MCQ- February 11, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The Ministry of Science and Technology announced the development of a new technological solution tailored for Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) based stations.

• It is a key part of a mobile network system that uses cellular radio connections to link individual devices to other parts of a network. 
• It comprises antennae, which transmits and receives signals to and from our smartphones or other compatible devices.
• The signal is then digitised in the RAN-base station and connected to the network.
• ORAN base station
• ORAN base station solutions represent a pivotal element in the evolution of telecommunications infrastructure.
• This innovation aims to deliver high-speed and dependable connectivity at a feasible cost, particularly targeting underserved and remote regions, as per a recent press release.
• Its focus lies in creating efficient wireless communication technology for 5G and 5G-advanced radio networks, ensuring spectral and energy efficiency.
• Significance
• A new niche technological solution for Open Radio Access Network (ORAN) base stations will help to facilitate high-speed and reliable connectivity at a cost that is viable for unconnected and far-flung areas.
• It provides access to different components of the network infrastructure making it easier, efficient and more economically viable to provide internet in remote areas.
• The breaking down of the Radio Access Network (RAN) functions help in bringing down network cost and complexity.
• Open RAN removes vendor lock-in and can facilitate smooth interoperation between cellular network equipment provided by different vendors.

Hence both statements are correct.

Chhattisgarh's Ocher Studio is helping to preserve India's 4,000-year-old craft- Dhokra Shilpkala

• The word "Dhokra" is believed to be derived from the Dhokra Damar tribes, who are the traditional metal smiths of Central India.
• The origins of Dhokra Shilpkala can be traced back to the tribal communities residing in the regions of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha, where it evolved as an integral part of their cultural and religious practices.
• Technique and Process: What sets Dhokra Shilpkala apart is its remarkable technique of metal casting, which involves using the lost wax casting method, also known as cire perdue.
• Artistry and Designs: 
• Its design has rustic charm and the organic nature of its designs.
• Artisans draw inspiration from nature, mythology, and everyday life, incorporating motifs such as animals, birds, deities, and tribal symbols into their creations.
• From miniature figurines and jewelry to larger-than-life sculptures and functional objects, Dhokra Shilpkala encompasses a wide range of artistic expressions. 
• Issues: The rapid pace of urbanization, coupled with the rise of mechanized production techniques, has threatened the livelihoods of traditional artisans and endangered this ancient craft.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, NASA's Earth Observatory posted a detailed analysis of the reason behind Aral Sea's disappearance. 

• It stands at the boundary between Kazakhstan to the north and Uzbekistan to the south.
• It was once a large saltwater lake of Central Asia and the world’s fourth largest body of inland water.
• The remnants of it nestle in the climatically inhospitable heart of Central Asia, to the east of the Caspian Sea.
• The Aral Sea depression was formed toward the end of the Neogene Period (which lasted from about 23 to 2.6 million years ago). 
• It was made by waters from the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers that were dependent on glacial melt.
• It drains Uzbekistan and portions of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Kyrgyzstan.
• Climate: The Aral Sea is located within the harsh climate region of Central Asia. The area experiences a desert-continental climate, characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and varying diurnal air temperature.
• Reason for its disappearance
• According to the space agency, in 1960 the Soviet Union undertook a major water diversion project where they diverted the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya rivers for irrigation projects.
• Though the project made the desert region surrounding the sea bloom, it had a devastating impact on the Aral Sea.
• The waterbody slowly started drying up and today it is on the verge of complete disappearance.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

According to a Crisil assessment called Prabhaav, the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) scheme has enabled investments to the tune of around 4x of the amount drawn with Rs 17,534 crore invested in 938 startups.

• The Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) Scheme was approved and established in 2016 with a corpus of Rs 10,000 crore.
• Funding to start ups: Under FFS, the Scheme does not directly invest in startups, instead provides capital to SEBI-registered AIFs, known as daughter funds, who in turn invest money in growing Indian startups through equity and equity-linked instruments.
• Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) has been given the mandate of operating this Fund through selection of suitable daughter funds and overseeing the disbursal of committed capital.
• AIFs supported under FFS are required to invest at least 2 times of the amount committed under FFS in startups.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) recently deferred the decision on diverting forest land from the Kali and Sahyadri tiger reserves for the construction of a part of the Karnataka government's Kalasa-Banduri Project.

About Kalasa-Banduri Project:

• The project involves the construction of dams and a canal system to divert water from the Mahadayi River, located in Goa, to the Malaprabha River (a tributary of the Krishna River) basin in Karnataka.
• The main goal of the project is to meet the drinking water needs of the districts of Belagavi, Dharwad, Bagalkot, and Gadag in Karnataka.
• Though the project was first proposed in the early 1980s, it has remained on paper owing to a dispute between Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.
• As per plans, barrages are to be built against Kalasa and Banduri streams — tributaries of Mahadayi — and water diverted towards Karnataka’s parched districts.

Key facts about Mahadayi River:

• Origin: It rises in the Western Ghats from the Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Khanapur taluk of Karnataka’s Belagavi district.
• The river travels 35 km in Karnataka, 82 km in Goa before joining the Arabian Sea at Panji (North-Goa).
• Also called Mandovi in Goa, Mahadayi is a rain-fed river that is shared between Karnataka and Goa for their water needs.
• The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on the island of Chorao in the Mandovi River.
• Major Tributaries: Kalasa Nala, Banduri Nala, Surla Nala, Haltar Nala, Poti Nala, Mahadayi Nala, Pansheer Nala, Bail Nala and Andher Nala.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Police in the United Kingdom said that the man who is wanted for the recent chemical attack likely jumped into the Thames River and drowned. 

About Thames River:

• It is a 346-km river that flows through southern England.
• It is the longest river in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom, right after the River Severn. 
• The Thames’ basin covers an area of approximately 16,130 sq.km.
• Its source is at Thames Head, near Kemble in the Cotswold Hills, Gloucestershire County.
• It flows into the North Sea via the Thames Estuary.
• The Nore is the sandbank that marks the mouth of the Thames Estuary and the confluence point of the Thames and the North Sea. 
• The river passes numerous popular cities along its way, such as London, Reading, Hendley-on-Thomas, Windsor and Oxford, where it is also called the Isis River.
• It provides two-thirds of London’s drinking water.
• It has been a vital transportation route since ancient times, facilitating trade and commerce between London and other parts of England.
• Main Tributaries: Lea, Leach, Churn, Coln, Windrush, Kennet, Evenlode, Ock, and Loddon.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Scientists have detected existence of high-frequency plasma waves in the Martian Upper Atmosphere with novel narrowband and broadband features that can help to understand plasma processes in the Martian plasma environment.

• These waves are often observed in the Earth’s magnetosphere, a magnetic field cavity around the Earth.
• In general, plasma waves are identified as the short-time scale fluctuations in the electric and magnetic field observations.
• These plasma waves play an important role in the energization and transport of the charged particles in the Earth’s magnetosphere.
• Some of the plasma waves like electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves act as a cleaning agent for the Earth’s radiation belt, which is hazardous to our satellites.
• Knowing this scenario, researchers are curious to understand the existence of various plasma waves in the vicinity of unmagnetized planets like Mars.
• The planet Mars do not have any intrinsic magnetic field therefore the high-speed solar wind coming from the Sun interacts directly with the Mars atmosphere, like an obstacle in the flow.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has utilised road construction technology i.e Rejupave technology to build high-altitude bituminous road sections at the Sela tunnel and LGG-Damteng-Yangste (LDY) road near the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh.

• It is developed by India’s oldest and premier road research organisation, CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI).
• It is beneficial in constructing high-altitude bituminous roads at low and sub-zero temperature conditions.
• This technology brings down the production and rolling temperature of bituminous mixes by 30 degrees Celsius to 400 degrees Celsius with negligible heat loss in the bituminous mix during transit, despite long haulage time amid snowfall. 
• This technology's asphalt modifier is a bio oil-based product, which significantly lowers the heating requirement of bituminous mixes besides preserving the bituminous mix temperature during transit.
• Significance
• Rejupave' asphalt modifier in cold climatic regions will have improved long-term durability and better resistance to thermal cracking under low-temperature conditions.
• It also bring down the greenhouse gas emissions in the pristine eco-sensitive mountainous environment of Arunachal Pradesh

Hence both statements are correct.

After 10 years, the Pallas fish eagle, was sighted in the Chilika during the bird census carried out by the Chilika wildlife division.

• It is also known as Pallas's sea eagle or band-tailed fish eagle, is a large, brownish sea eagle.
• It can be seen near lakes, marshes and large rivers, from lowlands to 5,000 metres of elevation.
• It feeds primarily on fish, but many other preys are part of its diet.
• It breeds usually near water in a large nest placed in tall tree.
• Distribution: It is found in east Palearctic in Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. 
• It is partially migratory.
• Conservation status
• IUCN Red List: Endangered
• Threats: Humans contribute to the decline of this species through habitat degradation, pollution, and draining or overfishing lakes.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, an inscription said to be of 10th century A.D. Kadamba period has been discovered in the Mahadeva temple at Cacoda in southern Goa.

• The Kadambas of Goa were the subordinates of Chalukyas of Kalyana.
• Chalukyan emperor Tailapa II appointed Kadamba Shasthadeva as mahamandaleshwara of Goa for his help in overthrowing the Rashtrakutas.
• Kadamba Shasthadeva conquered the city of Chandavara from the Shilaharas in 960 A.D.
• Later, he conquered the port of Gopakapattana (present Goa).
• Gundayya, the son of Talara Nevayya, may have participated in this battle, and won the port at the cost of his life.

Hence both statements are correct.