Daily Current Affairs MCQ- September 2, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

In an unprecedented effort, the European Space Agency plans to survey billions of galaxies using the Euclid Space Telescope which is to be launched on July 1.

• It is named after the Greek mathematician, Euclid of Alexandria.
• This mission is part of ESA’s Cosmic Vision programme which plans to explore the origin and components of the Universe and the fundamental laws that govern it. 
• The spacecraft will have a 1.2 metre-wide telescope and two instruments;
• A visible-wavelength camera (the VISible instrument): It will look for tiny distortions in the shapes of distant galaxies from different points in time to highlight the tussle between the pull of gravity and the push of dark energy. 
• A near-infrared camera/spectrometer (the Near-Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer): It will look at how quickly the galaxies are moving away from each other which will offer scientists insight into both dark energy and the working of gravity.
• The detectors of the near-infrared instruments have been supplied by NASA making the American agency an important part of the Euclid Consortium. 
• It will be floating 1.5 million kilometres above the Earth, and the telescope hopes to deliver images that are at least four times sharper than ground-based ones. 
• The spacecraft measures approximately 4.7 metres tall and 3.7 metres in diameter
• It will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and will remain operational for a minimum of six years. 

Hence, option b is the correct answer.

Recently, Senegal signed the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P) deal.

• It is a mechanism for multilateral financing by developed countries to support an energy transition in developing countries.
• It aims to reduce emissions in the energy sector and accelerate the coal phase-out.
• Transition describes the gradual movement towards lower carbon technologies, while ‘Just’ qualifies that this transition will not negatively impact society, jobs and livelihoods.
• It was launched at the COP26 in Glasgow with the support of the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (US), France, Germany, and the European Union (EU).
• Senegal has become the fourth country after South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam to sign the JET-P deal, with the International Partners Group comprising France, Germany, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada.
• India refused to give its consent saying that coal cannot be singled out as a polluting fuel, and energy transition talks need to take place on equal terms.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, a greater racket-tailed drongo bird was found in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary which is known for its loud musical whistling sound.

• It is located in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
• It lies alongside the northern tip of the River Ganga, flowing thru the districts of Muzzafarnagar and Bijnore.
• It has a variety of landforms and is a mixture of different habitats such as wetlands, marshes, dry sand beds and gently sloping ravines.
• Fauna: Swamp Deer, Leopard, Wild Cats, Wild Otter, Pythons etc.
• Under Crocodile Breeding Projects, baby crocodiles are released in the Ganga River near Hastinapur.
• Under the aegis of the World Wide Fund (WWF) the Turtle Rehabilitation Program also has its centre near the Hastinapur Sanctuary.
• It is a part of the "Asia Flyway" project and many migratory Birds, both local and foreign flock in numbers near the numerous water bodies present in the region.

Hence, option a is the correct answer.

The recently published report of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology said that halogens' contributions to cooling the environment could increase to 18-31 per cent by 2100.

• The term Halogen in Greek means salt-producing because it reacts with many metals to produce salts. 
• They are a group of elements located in Group 17 of the periodic table which includes fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), iodine (I), and astatine (At).
• In 1826, Swedish chemist Jons Berzelius coined the term halogen for the entire group of elements. 
• Unlike metals, they exist in all three different states of matter in their standard state.
• For example, fluorine is found naturally as a gas, bromine as a liquid, and the larger iodine is found naturally as a solid.
• Reactivity: Halogens are the most reactive nonmetals on the periodic table and are powerful oxidizing agents.

Hence both statements are correct.

According to recent reports, the United States is close to approving the supply of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) for Ukraine

About Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS):

• ATACMS is a conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon system capable of striking targets well beyond the range of existing Army cannons, rockets and other missiles.
• It is manufactured by the US defense company Lockheed Martin.
• It is also designated M39 by the US Army, and its Dept of Defence (DoD) designation is MGM-140.
• This weapon's known operators other than US are Bahrain, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan, and United Arab Emirates.
• Features:
• ATACMS are 24/7, all-weather, surface-to-surface, inertially guided missiles.
• It has a range of about 190 miles (305 km).
• Propulsion: Single-stage, solid propellant.
• It is typically deployed from modified Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) launch vehicles.
• Targets include air defense artillery sites, surface-to-surface missile units, logistics sites, command and control complexes, and helicopter forward operating bases.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

World Asteroid Day is observed on June 30 every year.

About World Asteroid Day:

• It is observed on June 30 every year.
• The day aims to raise awareness about asteroid impact hazards and crisis communication actions in case of a credible asteroid threat to planet Earth.
• The day also aims to educate people about the latest and upcoming asteroid research and technology through numerous events and activities held by organisations across the globe.
• History:
• The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed a resolution in December 2016, designating June 30 as International Asteroid Day. 
• The UNGA adopted the resolution based on the proposal made by the Association of Space Explorers, endorsed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
• The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the Tunguska asteroid’s impact over Siberia on June 30, 1908.

Tunguska Event:

• It is considered the biggest asteroid impact in recorded history when an asteroid exploded a few kilometers above the Tunguska region of central Siberia.
• It flattened more than 80 million trees in seconds, over an area spanning nearly 800 square miles (2,000 square kilometers) — but left no crater. 

Hence both statements are correct.

President of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly recently said the first segments of the UN Intergovernmental Negotiations framework (IGN) meetings are now webcast and a dedicated website on Security Council reform has been established.

About Intergovernmental Negotiations Framework (IGN):

• IGN is a group of nation-states working within the UN to further reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
• Composition: The IGN is composed of several different international organizations, namely:
• The African Union;
• The G4 nations (India, along with Brazil, Japan and Germany are pressing for a permanent seat in the reformed UNSC);
• The Uniting for Consensus Group (UfC), also known as the "Coffee Club";
• The L.69 Group of Developing Countries;
• The Arab League; and
• The Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
• Each group represents a different set of positions vis-a-vis reforming the UNSC.
• The group's conversations are considered "informal" in nature due to the lack of single text and thus, UNGA rules of procedure don't apply. 
• But in 2015, a framework document was agreed when it comes to the reform, which can be the basis for future talks.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

An elephant image shot at Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) has emerged as the winner in the Wildlife category of Siena Drone Photo Awards 2023 announced recently.

About Anamalai Tiger Reserve:

• Location:
• It is a protected area located at an altitude of 1400 m in the Anamalai Hills of Pollachi and Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu.
• It lies South of the Palakkad gap in the Southern Western Ghats. 
• It is surrounded by Parambikulum Tiger Reserve on the East, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Eravikulum National Park on the South Western side.
• The reserve is also surrounded by Nenmara, Vazhachal, Malayattur and Marayur reserved forests of Kerala.
• It was declared a Tiger reserve in the year 2007.
• Habitat:
• It supports diverse habitat types viz. Wet evergreen forests, semi-evergreen forests, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, dry thorn and shola forests.
• Other unique habitats like montane grasslands, savannah and marshy grass lands are also present.
• Flora:
• Around 2500 species of angiosperms are found in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve, with several species of Balsam, Crotalaria, Orchids and Kurinchi.
• The reserve is rich in wild relatives of cultivated species like mango, jackfruit, wild plantain, ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric, pepper (Piper longum), cardamom etc.
• Fauna: The important wild animals of the reserve include: Tiger, Asiatic elephant, Sambar, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Jackal, Leopard, Jungle cat etc.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Recently, hundreds of sea lions are found dead or sick on California beaches due to toxic offshore algae blooms.

• It is a marine mammal that belongs to the family Otariidae.
• These are known for their semi-aquatic lifestyle, spending a significant amount of time both on land and in the water.
• Appearance:
• They have a streamlined body with a large head and a long, flexible neck.
• They typically have a brown or tan coat, and adult males develop a thick mane of hair around their necks.
• Habitat:
• They inhabit rocky shorelines, islands, and sandy beaches.
• They can be found in various regions, including the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and parts of the Indian Ocean.
• Diet: Sea lions are carnivorous and primarily feed on fish, such as herring, anchovies, sardines, and squid.
• Currently, there are six subspecies of sea lions: Australian sea lions, California sea lions, Galapagos sea lions, New Zealand sea lions, South American sea lions, and Steller sea lions.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, in Manipur violence incidents nearly 30% of First Information Reports (FIRs) were ‘zero FIRs’, filed suo-motu by the police irrespective of jurisdiction.

• What it is? It refers to an FIR that is registered irrespective of the area where the offence is committed.
• The police in such a case can no longer claim that they have no jurisdiction.
• Such an FIR is then later transferred to the police station that has the actual jurisdiction so that the investigation can begin.
• It was introduced on the recommendation of the Justice Verma Committee formed at the backdrop of the brutal Nirbhaya gang rape in Delhi in 2012.
• This puts a legal obligation on the police to begin an investigation and take quick action without the excuse of the absence of jurisdiction.

What is a first information report (FIR)?

• It is the information given to a police officer in writing as per the provisions of Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
• From the point of view of an informant, the main purpose of an FIR is to set criminal law into motion.
• While for the police, the main purpose of an FIR is to obtain information about alleged criminal activity and take necessary steps to produce the perpetrator(s) before a court.

Hence both statements are correct.