Daily Current Affairs MCQ- October 20, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the registration portal for Phase III of Yuva Sangam, under Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat (EBSB) was launched.

• It is an initiative by the Government of India to strengthen people-to-people connect between youth belonging to different States/UTs of India.
• Interested youth in the age group of 18-30 years, mainly students, NSS (National Service Scheme)/NYKS (Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan) volunteers, employed/self-employed persons, etc. may register through the YUVA SANGAM portal to participate in the forthcoming Phase.
• It was launched under EBSB, draws inspiration from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• It focuses on experiential learning and imbibing knowledge of the rich diversity of India on a first-hand basis.
• It is an on-going cultural exchange with the celebration of diversity at its core wherein participants gain an immersive experience of diverse facets of life, natural landforms, development landmarks, recent achievements, and youth connect in the host state.
• Twenty eminent institutions across India have been identified for Phase III of Yuva Sangam.
• During Phase III of Yuva Sangam, participants from 20 HEIs will be visiting 22 states and UTs.
• Significance
• Under this the youth will receive multi-dimensional exposure under five broad areas will be provided to them, which are Paryatan (Tourism), Parampara (Traditions), Pragati (Development), Paraspar Sampark (People-to-people connect), and Prodyogiki (Technology).

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, astronomers have created a beautiful atlas of 400,000 galaxies in the cosmic neighbourhood of Milky Way and named it as the Siena Galaxy Atlas.

• It is a digital atlas that was created to get to know our universe better through several of the known galaxies.
• It was created using data from three astronomical surveys collected between 2014 and 2017 at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO) and Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO). Together these surveys are known as the DESI Legacy Surveys.
• How is it different from other atlases?
• It is dependent on state-of-the-art digital images captured by advanced technology, unlike previous atlases which relied on antiquated equipment and photographic plates. 
• As it is built on the images captured with highly sensitive instruments, it boasts of having the most accurate data.
• It is also the first cosmic atlas to feature the light profiles of galaxies - a curve that describes how the brightness of the galaxy changes from its brightest point to its dimmest. 
• Significance
• Cosmic atlases help astronomers spot patterns that help categorise new discoveries, such as stars that suddenly flare and then disappear (thus called ‘transients’).
• These atlases also allow astronomers to identify which objects are contenders for detailed follow-up studies. 
• It helps in investigate everything from the births and evolutions of galaxies to the distribution of dark matter and propagation of gravitational waves through space. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Prime Minister of India will inaugurate the first leg of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), India’s first mass rapid system dedicated to regional connectivity.

• It is semi high-speed rail connectivity at its core; the RRTS is an integrated, mass transit network.
• It aims to ensure “balanced and sustainable urban development” through better connectivity and access across the National Capital Region (NCR).
• It is constructed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is a joint venture company of the Central government and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• It is modelled on systems such as the RER in Paris, Regional-Express trains in Germany and Austria as well as the SEPTA Regional Rail in the United States, among others.
• These trains will travel significantly faster than metro trains. These will operate at a speed of 160 km/hour but are designed to be able to run at speeds up to 180 km/hour. 
• Eight corridors will be developed under the project, of which three are being constructed under phase I: the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, the 164-km Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar, and the 103-km Delhi-Panipat corridors.
• Significance of this system
  • When compared with metros, the RRTS network is faster. It will cater to commuters who want to travel relatively longer distances across the NCR in a short time.
  • Compared with the Indian Railways, though the RRTS train will cover relatively smaller distances, it will do so at higher frequency and provide relatively more comfort than the average Railways coach.

Hence both statements are correct.

Under Operation ‘Nanhe Faristey’, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) plays an important role in reuniting the children lost/separated due to several reasons from their family.

• It was launched on Indian Railways and under this drive Children in need of care & protection who came in contact with Indian Railways were rescued and handed over to concerned authorities before being restored to their families.

Key facts about the Railway Protection Force

• The history of the RPF dates back to 1882 when various Railway companies appointed their own guards for protection of Railway property.
• It was declared as statutory force in the year 1957 by an enactment of Parliament and subsequently declared as an armed force of the Union of India in the year 1985.
• In 2003, the RPF partially took up the duties of escorting of passenger trains and access control at the railway stations”.
• It is led by a director-general.
• It is an armed force under the operational and administrative control of the Union Ministry of Railways.
• It is tasked with protecting and securing railway property, the passenger areas, and the passengers themselves.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Recently, archaeologists have discovered a rare inscription connected to the Alupa dynasty during a recent archaeological exploration at Someshwara near Mangaluru, Karnataka.

• Someshwara inscription is very significant in the study of Tuluva history and culture.
• It has two panels on the top and in between the two panels the first line is engraved.
• The rest of the inscription written below the panels is in the Kannada script and the language of 12th century characters announcing the death of Alupendra I.
• The human figures shown in the inscription represent Kulashekara Alupendra himself.
• In the first figure, he is shown standing in Tribhanga (tri-bent posture). He holds a sword in his right hand while the left hand rests on a gurani (shield).
• To the left of this panel, divided by a pillar, the King is again shown in a sitting posture on a mound resting both his palms on the centre of his legs in dhyana mudra.

Who was Kulashekara Alupendra?

• Kulashekara Alupendra I was a famous ruler of the Alupas of South Canara.
• He was responsible for the establishment of new city called Kulashekara in Mangaluru.
• He also laid down strict rules and regulations for temple administration, which are still followed in all temples in this region.
• He was the first ruler to give royal patronage to Tulu language and culture, ruling from both the capitals, Mangaluru and Barkuru.
• Alupendra I ruled Tulunadu from 1156-1215 A.D., as known from his other records.
• Though the present inscription is undated, it is datable to 12th century on the basis of paleography.

Hence both statements 1 and 2 are correct.

The water level in the Idukki dam, the main hydroelectric power generation station in Kerala, has continued to remain low in recent weeks.

About Idukki Dam:

• It is located in Kerala, India.
• It is built on the Periyar River.
• It is a 168.91 meter (554 ft) tall arch dam.
• It is one of the highest ten arch dams in the world and the third highest in India after the Tehri Dam (Uttarakhand) and Bhakra Nangal Dam (Himachal Pradesh). 
• It is the first dam in Asia that is constructed in a double-curvature arch dam type and the second in the world. 
• The dam stands between the two mountains, Kuravanmala (839m) and Kurathimala (925m).
• It supports a 780 MW hydroelectric power station.
• Construction:
• Construction of the dam commenced on 30th April, 1969, and was commissioned by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, in 1976.
• It was constructed and owned by the Kerala State Electricity Board. 
• The Government of Canada aided in the building of the dam with long-term loans and grants.
• This dam was constructed along with two other dams at Cheruthoni and Kulamavu.
• Together, the three dams have created an artificial lake that is 60 km² in area.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

At the Bhimashankar temple, tensions ran high recently when a brawl broke out between two sets of religious leaders known as Pujaris over who would lead the puja.

About Bhimashankar Temple:

• It is an ancient Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva.
• Location: It is located in the Sahyadri hills in the Pune District of Maharashtra.
• It is considered one of the 12 holy Jyotirlinga shrines in India.
• In recent times Bhimashankar has gained tremendous significance since it was declared as "Wildlife Sanctuary". This sanctuary is a part of the Western Ghats.
• Bhimashankar is the source of the river Bhima.
• History:
• It was built around the 13th century. It is a testament to the skills of the Vishwakarma sculptors. 
• Structures such as the shikhara (spires) were added by Maratha empire statesman, Nana Phadnavis, in the 18th century.
• The Maratha ruler, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, is also believed to have facilitated worship here through his endowments.
• Architecture:
• It is a composite of old and new structures in the Nagara style of architecture.
• The temple features huge court spaces, intricate carvings on walls, and colossal pillars. 
• The sanctum of the temple, called Garbhgriha, has been constructed at a lower level inside which the sacred Jyotirlinga is present.
• The Swayambhooor self-emanated Shiv Linga is precisely in the center of the floor of the Sanctum Sanctorum. 
• The massive pillars and doorframes of the temple are awash with exquisite mythological carvings of divine figures and holy symbols. 
• The temple also houses an ancient shrine of Lord Shani which is considered very auspicious by the devotees.
• The statue of Nandi, the revered bull who’s the vehicle of Shiva, is present right at the entrance of the temple.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

The Indian Army is planning to launch the Chanakya Defence Dialogue, a forum for discussing important security matters.

About Chanakya Defence Dialogue:

• It will serve as a regular forum, bringing together top minds from the global defense and strategic sectors to facilitate the exchange of insights and ideas.
• It aims to integrate intelligence, strategy, and expertise, fostering discussions on topics such as Neighbourhood Forces, the significant Indo-Pacific frontier, and the evolving impact of emerging technologies on defense and security.
• The Indian Army is collaborating with the renowned think tank, Centre for Land and Warfare Studies (CLAWS), to organize the event.
• This gathering will draw participants from a diverse range of nations, including Australia, France, Japan, and the United States.
• Scheduled as a two-day conference, the gathering will feature prominent speakers, military strategists, diplomats, and leading intellectuals in the fields of defense and strategic affairs. 
• Discussions will revolve around a broad spectrum of security challenges and strategies, focusing particularly in the pivotal regions of South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
• Additionally, cooperation in defence technology, military exercises, and nuclear proliferation concerns will be discussed.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The conservationists to script India's first captive breeding success story of the Himalayan vultures inside the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati. 

• The Himalayan vulture (Gyps himalayensis ) or Himalayan griffon vulture is an Old World vulture.
• It is one of the two largest Old World vultures and true raptors.
• It is a typical vulture which has a bald white head, wings that are very wide and short tail feathers.
• Distribution: It is native to the Himalayas and the adjoining Tibetan Plateau and also found in the Central Asian mountains.
• These are diurnal and mostly solitary species.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Near Threatened

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Minister of State for Education informed the Lok Sabha about the Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF), mentioned in the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020.

• The Gender Inclusion Fund will be utilised to ensure that all kids receive a high-quality education.
• It will also be used to guarantee that amenities such as secure and sanitary vending machines are included on GIF’s infrastructure checklist. 
• The NEP focuses on ‘Equitable and Inclusive Education’ which reverberates the idea that no child should be left behind in terms of educational opportunity because of their background and socio-cultural identities.
• It has taken into account the concerns of the Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) which includes girls and transgender individuals.
• NEP prescribes to approach gender as a cross-cutting priority to achieve gender equality in education with the partnership of states and local community organizations.
• The objectives of NEP for equitable and quality education for girl children are being met through specific provisions under Samagra Shiksha 2.0 by allocating dedicated resources for Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs).
• Under Samagra Shiksha, various interventions have been targeted for providing quality education to girls, which include:
• Opening of schools in the neighbourhood to make access easier for girls,
• Free uniform and text-books to girls up to class VIII,
• Additional teachers and residential quarters for teachers in remote/hilly areas,
• Appointment of additional teachers including women teachers,

Hence both statements are correct.