Daily Current Affairs MCQ- February 7, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, astronomers used NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope to directly measure the mass of a single, isolated white dwarf star.

• It is named in honour of the trailblazing astronomer Edwin Hubble and was launched by NASA. Hubble lies in a circular Low Earth Orbit at roughly 559 km altitude.
• It is a large, space-based observatory, which has revolutionized astronomy since its launch and deployment by the space shuttle Discovery in 1990.
• Hubble’s domain extends from the ultraviolet through the visible (which our eyes see) and into the near infrared.
• It is one of NASA's Great Observatories Programs. The other missions in the program include the visible-light Spitzer Space Telescope, Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO), and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory (CXO).

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

As per a new study, researchers are examining the fortress wall of Xi’an, an ancient city in China, by using tiny outer space particles called muons that can penetrate hundreds of metres of stone surfaces.

• Muons are subatomic particles raining from space.
• The muon was discovered as a constituent of cosmic-ray particle “showers” in 1936 by the American physicists' Carl D. Anderson and Seth Neddermeyer.
• They are created when the particles in Earth’s atmosphere collide with cosmic rays — clusters of high-energy particles that move through space at just below the speed of light.
• It has two forms, the negatively charged muon and its positively charged antiparticle.
• Muon tomography was first used in the 1960s, it has only recently gained widespread use among researchers, particularly in archaeology.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Gujarat government recently signed an agreement with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to conduct the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) test for students of government schools.

Key facts about Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD):

• It is an international organisation of 38 countries committed to democracy and the market economy.
• OECD members are typically democratic countries that support free-market economies.
• The OECD was established on Dec. 14, 1960, by 18 European nations, plus the United States and Canada.
• Headquarters: Paris, France.
• The stated goal of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is to shape policies that foster prosperity, equality, opportunity and well-being for all.
• The OECD publishes economic reports, statistical databases, analyses, and forecasts on the outlook for economic growth worldwide.
• The organization also seeks to eliminate bribery and other financial crime worldwide.
• The OECD maintains a so-called "black list" of nations that are considered uncooperative tax havens.
• India is one of the many non-member economies with which the OECD has working relationships in addition to its member countries. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

China has started promoting Rice bran as the staple food amid the ongoing food shortage in the country.

About Rice bran:

• Rice bran is one of the main byproducts in the process of the rice milling.
• It is the outer brown layer of brown rice and is separated during the milling process.
• The bran fraction contains 14-18% oil. 
• Rice bran oil is a good source of unsaturated fats, vitamin E, and other important nutrients.
• It is currently mostly used as animal feed.
• The health effects of RB including antidiabetic, lipid-lowering, hypotensive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects, while its consumption also improves bowel function. 

Hence both statements are correct.

The United Nations refugee agency recently reported that seven Haitian migrants have died in the Andean highlands of Peru as anti-government protests have prevented them from crossing into Bolivia.

About Andes Mountains:

• The Andes is the longest above water mountain range in the world.
• The Andes Mountains extend over seven countries: Argentina (Mount Aconcagua), Bolivia (Huayna Potosi), Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela, known as Andean States.
• It is about 5,500 miles (8,900 km) long and second only to the Himalayas in average elevation.
• It consists of a succession of parallel and transverse mountain ranges, or cordilleras, and of intervening plateaus and depressions.
• The highest elevation in the Andes is Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, which is 22,841 feet (6,962 m) above sea level.
• The Andes are also home to the world’s highest volcano when measured above sea level, the Ojos del Salado on the Chile-Argentina border.
• The Andes Mountains are over 50 million years old, they were created when the South American and Pacific tectonic plates collided. 

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the deadline of the PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha Evam Uttham Mahabhiyan) to install 30,000 MW solar power capacity in rural India by 2022, has been pushed to March 2026.

• PM-KUSUM Scheme was launched in 2019.
• The scheme envisages income generation for farmers from their infertile land with the establishment of solar power plants.
• Aim: To help farmers access reliable daytime solar power for irrigation, reduce power subsidies, and decarbonise agriculture.
• The Scheme consists of three components
  • Component A: 10,000 MW of solar capacity through the installation of small Solar Power Plants of individual plants of capacity up to 2 MW.
  • Component B: Installation of 20 lakhs standalone Solar Powered Agriculture Pumps.
  • Component C: Solarisation of 15 Lakh Grid-connected Agriculture Pumps.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Vice President of India said Parliament is the “North Star” of democracy.

• The North Star is also known as Pole Star.
• It is a very bright star — around 2,500 times more luminous than the Sun.
• It is part of the constellation Ursa Minor and is around 323 light years away from the Earth.
• The Northstar is less than 1° away from the north celestial pole, almost in direct line with the Earth’s rotational axis.
• It appears to sit motionless in the northern sky, with all the other stars appearing to rotate around it.
• Its position and brightness have allowed humans to use it for navigation since late antiquity.
• The elevation of the star above the horizon gives the approximate latitude of the observer.
• Upon crossing the equator to the south, however, the North Star is lost over the horizon and hence stops being a useful navigational aid.

Hence both statements are correct.

The story of Dhamaal performance traditions reveals the rich and complex mixing of cultures in a world shaped by human movement and history.

• Dhamaal is a mix of Sufi and African (mostly East African) musical and dance traditions.
• It refers particularly to the spiritual practices of the Siddis of Gujarat.
• Usually, Dhamaal songs and dances are performed to celebrate the anniversary of the birth and death of spiritual leaders.
• They are performed in two ways 
  • Dance Dhamaal: It is performed in both sitting and dance positions and the focus is more on the sounds of the instruments.
  • Baithaaki Dhamaal: is performed in the sitting position and the focus is more on the lyrics and less on the musical instruments.
• The spiritual songs that are sung during the Dhamaals are known as zikrs.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Central government is likely to increase the dearness allowance (DA) for its over one crore employees and pensioners by four percentage points to 42% from the existing 38%.

About Dearness Allowance (DA):

• What is it? DA is a cost of living adjustment that the Government pays to public sector employees and pensioners.
• Why is DA paid? To curb the effect of inflation.
• How is DA calculated?
• It is calculated as a percentage of the basic salary.
• DA for Central Government employees is calculated differently than that of public sector employees.
• The formula to calculate the DA was changed in 2006 by the Government.
• DA % for Central Govt Employees = {(All-India Consumer Price Index average (Base year 2001 =100) for the last 12 months -115.76)/115.76} x 100
• DA % for Public Sector Employees = {(All-India Consumer Price Index Average (Base year 2001 =100) for the last 3 months - 126.33)/126.33} x 100
• Since DA is based on the cost of living, this salary component is not fixed. DA varies from employee to employee based on their presence in the urban, semi-urban, or rural sectors.
• Taxability:
• DA is fully taxable for individuals who are salaried employees. 
• It is compulsory to declare the tax liability concerning DA when filing an ITR.

Hence both statements are correct.

A recent study has found widespread infection of white-tailed deer with the SARS-CoV-2 virus across the U.S. State of New York. 

Key facts about White-tailed deer:

• They are the smallest members of the North American deer family.
• Scientific name: Odocoileus virginianus
• Distribution: They are found in North America from southern Canada through Central America.
• Habitat:
• Includes areas along streams and rivers, mixed woodlands, farms, forests, and burned shrub fields.
• Open areas are used only when thick shrubs or forests are nearby.
• Features:
• It is tan or brown in the summer and grayish brown in winter.
• It has white on its throat, around its eyes and nose,  on its stomach, and on the underside of its tail.
• Only male deer grow antlers, which are shed each year.
• They are excellent runners. They can run at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour.
• IUCN Status: 'Least Concern’

Hence only statement 1 is correct.