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

Recently, Scientists from the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST) Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have introduced a new electrolyte called (NaBF4) which can help make electrochemical ammonia synthesis more efficient.

• The electrochemical ammonia synthesis is largely limited by the poor solubility of nitrogen (N2) in the aqueous electrolyte environment as well as the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction.
• Scientists have introduced a new electrolyte called (NaBF4), which not only acts as an N2 carrier in the medium but also works as a full-fledged “co-catalyst” along with active material transition metal-doped nanocarbon (MnN4) to deliver high-yield of ammonia (NH3) at absolutely ambient experimental conditions.
• This new aqueous electrolyte can help make electrochemical ammonia synthesis more efficient and will be useful for industries producing green energy or hydrogen.

What is Sodium tetrafluoroborate (NaBF4)?

• It is a salt that forms colourless or white water-soluble rhombic crystals and is soluble in water but less soluble in organic solvents.

What is an Electrolyte?

• An electrolyte is a substance that forms a solution that conducts electricity when dissolved in a polar solvent. Cations are positively charged ions and Anions are charged ions.
• Acids, bases, and salts are the most commonly known electrolytes.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

A recent study said that turning the tropical forests into natural rubber plantations in Tripura is negatively impacting non-human primate species and vegetation in the region.

• The report highlighted that culturing natural rubber in the last century has brought significant economic benefits for growers. But excessive rubber plantations are adversely affecting various wildlife and plant species.

Natural Rubber

• Natural rubber is a polymer made up of a chemical molecule called isoprene.
• It is a native of the Amazon basin which was introduced to countries in the tropical belts of Asia and Africa in the late nineteenth century.
• Climatic conditions required for Rubber
• Rubber trees require moist and humid climates with heavy rainfall of more than 200 cm.
• It grows well in equatorial climates and temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.
• Rubber trees require well-drained, weathered soils.

Rubber plantations in India

• India is the world’s largest producer and the third-largest user of natural rubber.
• Rubber Growing Areas in India
  • Traditional Areas: Primarily in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari District and Kerala.
  • Non-traditional regions: Coastal Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra’s Konkan Region, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, the northeastern provinces, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, among other places.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the central government informed States that the decennial census exercise has been postponed till September 2023 and the date of freezing of administrative boundaries has been extended till June 30, 2023.

• As per norms, a census can be conducted only three months after the freezing of boundary limits of administrative units such as districts, sub-districts, tehsils, talukas and police stations.
• The finalisation of boundaries of administrative units entails covering all jurisdictional changes between two consecutive censuses.

What is Census?

• It is a process of collecting, compiling, analyzing, evaluating, publishing and disseminating statistical data regarding the population.
• It is being conducted at an interval of 10 years. 
• In India, the census was first started under British Viceroy Lord Mayo in 1872 and the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. 

What are the key facts about India’s census?

• Nodal Ministry: The decennial Census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
• Census is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act, of 1948.
• The population census is a Union subject under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution.
• It is listed as serial number 69 of the seventh schedule of the constitution.

Hence both statements are correct.

Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Anurag Singh Thakur will launch the themes of the Y20 summit, logo, and website in New Delhi on January 6 in the curtain raiser event of Y20 Summit India.

• The Y20 is the official youth engagement group for the G20 (Group of 20), the forum for the world’s largest and most advanced economies.
• The Y20 is a process which brings together young leaders from across the globe, to discuss and debate global challenges and agree policy recommendations they would like to see G20 leaders take forward.
• The list of policy recommendations is known as a communiqué, which is announced publicly at the Y20 Summit and presented to world leaders as part of the official G20 summit.
• India is hosting the Y20 summit for the first time.
• In Youth 20 Engagement Group, India’s key focus is to bring young leaders from all across the globe together and discuss ideas for a better tomorrow and draft an agenda for action.
• The activities to be undertaken by Y20 during India’s presidency will focus on global youth leadership and partnership.
• In a run-up to the final Youth-20 Summit, for the next eight months, there will be Pre summits on the five Y20 themes along with various discussions and seminars at different Universities across the country.

Hence both statements are correct.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is recently chaired the national conference of Chief Secretaries in New Delhi.

• The three-day conference of Chief Secretaries began on January 5, 2022.
• The conference is focused on achieving rapid and sustained economic growth in partnership with the States.
• It will lay the ground for collaborative action for achieving a Viksit Bharat with a thrust on growth and job creation and inclusive human development.
• It will be another key step towards further boosting the partnership between the Centre and the State Governments.
• The discussion during the conference will be held on six identified themes.
• These are Thrust on MSMEs, Infrastructure, and Investments, Minimising Compliances, Women's Empowerment, Health and Nutrition, and Skill Development.
• The first such conference of Chief Secretaries was held in Dharamshala in June 2022.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, Union Home Minister inaugurated a 122-foot-high Sagol Kangjei (Polo) Statue at the Ibudhou Marjing complex at Heingang in Imphal.

What is Sagol Kangjei?

• Sagol Kangjei is the name of the game of polo played in Manipur.
• Sagol means pony/horse, Kang means a ball or round object, and jei is a stick used for hitting.
• In the state of Manipur, it has always been a game for the common man. It is played by seven players on each side and the players are mounted on ponies.
• Manipuri polo symbolises the immense cultural heritage of the state, and great efforts have been put made to raise the standard of this popular game.
• The prominent patrons of the game were King Kyamba and King Khagemba ( 1597-1672 A.D.), and King Chandra Kirti ( 1850 - 1886 A.D.). The latter, especially, is to be credited with popularising the sport in other parts of the world.
• There are no goalposts in this game. Goal lines determine the end of the two boundaries of the rectangular field. The ball ( hang drum ) is white. To score a goal the ball must cross the line.
• The polo stick is made of cane or wood, and is called Kang – hu and has a head of hardwood and the ball is made of bamboo root.
• The traditional attire consists of a chin - strap ( khadangchet ) and a turban, for protecting the head. Leg - guards ( khongyom ) are worn below the knee. Since no shoes are worn, the players use khumit - Khang. A leash of thick leather is held by the index finger of the left hand.
• This is a seasonal game and is played in the Manipuri month of September / October and in   June / July.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, India deploys a women-only platoon of peacekeepers to the UN Mission in Abyei on the border of Sudan and South Sudan as part of the Indian Battalion in the United Nations Interim Security Force, Abyei (UNISFA).

Why in news?

• The Indian contingent, which consists of two officers and 25 other ranks, will work as a platoon in an engagement and specialise in community outreach in addition to carrying out numerous security-related duties.
• This time India is deploying the largest single unit of female Blue Helmets in a UN mission since 2007.

What is UNISFA?

• It was established by the UN Security Council in response to the critical situation in the Abyei area of Sudan by resolution 1990 of 27 June 2011. 
• Resolution 1990 made provision for the deployment of 4,200 Ethiopian troops to provide security and protect civilians under imminent threat of violence in the disputed border region.

What is United Nations Peacekeeping Mission?

• This Peacekeeping operation is policing and peacebuilding actions carried out by the UN to bring order and stability to war-torn nations.
• The UN Peacekeepers are known as ‘Blue Helmets’ or ‘Blue Berets’.
• Peacekeepers are the military personnel of the UN that work alongside the UN Police and civilian colleagues to promote “stability, security, and peace processes”.
• Origin: When the UN Security Council approved the deployment of UN military observers to the Middle East in 1948, the UN Peacekeeping Forces were established.
• Nodal Agency: The United Nations Charter authorises the United Nations Security Council to take collective action to maintain international peace and security.
• Structure: The UN Peacekeeping force is supplemented by personnel from member nations. They are added to the force on a volunteer basis.
• India’s role: India is one of the largest troop-contributing nations to the U.N. peacekeeping missions. India is the second-highest military and fifth-highest police contributing country to the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has granted a conditional license for a vaccine for honeybees to curb American foulbrood (AFB).

What is AFB?

• It is a fatal bacterial disease which affects insects and it is caused by the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae.
• Infected honeybee broods usually die at the pre-pupal or pupal stage.
• The disease cannot be cured, meaning that the destruction of infected colonies and hives or irradiation of infected material is the only way to manage AFB.

What are the key facts about honeybees?

• There are almost 20,000 different species of bees in the world.
• In each bee colony, there are three types of bees, the queen bee, the worker bee, and the drone.
• The worker and the queen bee both are females, but only the queen bee can reproduce and all drones are male.
• India is home to four of the seven known bee species.
• Domesticated: Apis cerana (oriental honey bee) and Apis mellifera (European honey bee).
• Wild: Apis dorsata (giant/rock honey bee) and Apis florea (dwarf honey bee).
• Recently, a new species of endemic honeybee named Apis karinjodian has been discovered in the Western Ghats after a gap of more than 200 years.
• Common Name: Indian black honeybee.
• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (NT).
• It is distributed from the central Western Ghats and Nilgiris to the southern Western Ghats, covering the States of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

A Military Tattoo and Tribal Dance Festival - Aadi Shaurya - Parv Parakram Ka will be held at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in New Delhi on the 23 January.

• The two-day festival will showcase the prowess of the Armed Forces and the ethnic beauty of India’s tribal culture.
• The programme comprises a Military Tattoo - Paramotor Gliding, Hot Air Balloon, Horse Show, Motor Cycle Display, Air Warrior Drill, Navy Band and traditional dance performances by tribal artists from across the country.
• The aim of the festival is to remember the sacrifices of the country’s brave hearts and celebrate the rich cultural heritage which makes India so unique and diverse.
• The objective is to celebrate together the bravery of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, embrace the true spirit of India and renew the commitment to building a strong and prosperous New India.
• The Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs are jointly organising the event.

Hence both statements are correct.

Mascot, torch and anthem of Khelo India Youth Games recently unveiled in Bhopal.

• Madhya Pradesh is hosting the fifth edition of the Khelo India Youth Games. In this sports event, to be held from the 30th of January to the 11th of February, six thousand players will show their sports skills in eight different cities for 13 days. 
• For the first time water sports namely Kayaking Canoeing, Canoe Slalom and Fencing will be part of this edition of Khelo India Games.

Khelo India Youth Games

• Objective: To revive the sports culture in India at the grass-root level by building a strong framework for all sports played in our country and establish India as a great sporting nation.
• It is an annual event. The first edition was held in 2018 in Delhi in which Haryana won 38 golds.
• Talented players identified in priority sports disciplines at various levels by the High-Powered Committee will be provided annual financial assistance of INR 5 lakh per annum for 8 years.

Hence both statements are correct.