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

Recently, some unusual rocks containing distinctive greenish crystals were found in the Erg Chech sand sea.

• What it is? These are the rocks containing distinctive greenish crystals, it turned out to be from outer space, left over from the dawn of the Solar System.
• They were all pieces of a meteorite known as Erg Chech 002, which is the oldest volcanic rock ever found.
• It is known as an “ungrouped achondrite” means their parent bodies and family relationships are unknown.
• Achondrites are rocks formed from melted planetesimals, which is what we call solid lumps in the cloud of gas and debris that formed the Solar System.
• Erg Chech 002 contains a high abundance of lead-206 and lead-207, as well as relatively large amounts of undecayed uranium-238 and uranium-235.
• Aluminium-26 was distributed quite unevenly throughout the cloud of dust and gas which formed the solar system.

Hence option (c) is the correct answer.

Recently, the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India approved the Scheme for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).

• The approved scheme envisages development of 4,000 MWh of BESS projects by 2030-31.
• Funding:
• Financial support of up to 40% of the capital cost as budgetary support in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is provided by the union government.
• The VGF shall be disbursed in five tranches linked with the various stages of implementation of BESS projects.
• By offering VGF support, the scheme targets achieving a Levelized Cost of Storage (LCoS) ranging from Rs. 5.50-6.60 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), making stored renewable energy a viable option for managing peak power demand across the country.
• To ensure that the benefits of the scheme reach the consumers, a minimum of 85% of the BESS project capacity will be made available to Distribution Companies (Discoms).
• The selection of BESS developers for VGF grants will be carried out through  transparent competitive bidding process, promoting a level playing field for both public and private sector entities.
• Significance:
• This will not only enhance the integration of renewable energy into the electricity grid but also minimize wastage while optimizing the utilization of transmission networks.
• This will reduce the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.
• The competitive bidding process approach will foster healthy competition and encourage   the growth of a robust ecosystem for BESS, attracting significant investments and generating opportunities for associated industries.
• This scheme is designed to harness the potential of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, the scheme aims to provide clean, reliable, and affordable electricity to the citizens.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, researchers discover rare leucistic (partially white) sambar deer in Cauvery wildlife sanctuary.

• The Sambar (Rusa unicolor) is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
• They are quite elusive and are most active at dusk and at night. 
• They are found in a broad range of forest habitats like dry deciduous forest, rainforest and mixed forests.
• These deer play an important role in the ecosystem they live in by dispersing seeds throughout their native range.
• Distribution: Their range is distributed from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains across southern Asia and reaching the islands of Taiwan, Sumatra and Borneo.
• Threats
• Hunting and habitat encroachment are the main threats.
• Sambar have developed more of a nocturnal activity pattern as a response to hunting by humans, who hunt them for trade and for food.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Vulnerable
• The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-III

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship launched the Malaviya Mission - Teachers Training Programme by the University Grants Commission at Kaushal Bhawan, New Delhi.

• It aims to provide tailored training programmes for teachers.
• This programme will work for the capacity building of faculty members in higher educational institutions (HEI).
• It will ensure continuous professional development and help in building capacities of 15 lakh teachers of HEIs through 111 Malaviya Mission centres across India in a time-bound manner.
• It aims to improve the quality of teachers’ training, build leadership skills in teachers and help realise the goals of NEP
• The capacity building under the Mission will be mapped to the credit framework to ensure career progression pathways for educators.
• The Indian Knowledge System has been included in the modules of the Programme.
• Human Resource Development Centres to be revamped and known as Madan Mohan Malaviya Teachers Training Centres

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

The second meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC) had concluded with the member states mandating the INC secretariat to develop a zero draft to end plastic pollution including in the marine environment.

• It is an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution including in the marine environment.
• The zero draft has 10 placeholders to discuss issues like the preamble, definitions, principles and scope, in addition to the institutional arrangements and the final provisions. 
• Member states such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and China at INC-2 stressed the importance of defining the scope of the legally binding instrument.
• India had agreed with this proposal.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, Dementia India Alliance (DIA), a non-profit organization launched a national dementia support line and DemClinic, an online memory screening clinic.

• It is a syndrome that can be caused by a number of diseases which over time destroy nerve cells and damage the brain,
• It will typically leads to deterioration in cognitive function. 
• Signs and symptoms
• Changes in mood and behaviour sometimes happen even before memory problems occur.
• Forgetting things or recent events
• Losing or misplacing things
• Getting lost when walking or driving
• Being confused, even in familiar places
• Losing track of time
• Treatment
• There is no cure for dementia.
• A lot can be done to support both people living with the illness and those who care for them.
• Currently more than 55 million people have dementia worldwide, over 60% of who live in low-and middle-income countries.
• World Health Organisation recognizes dementia as a public health priority.
• The World Health Assembly endorsed the Global action plan on the public health response to dementia 2017-2025.
• The Plan provides a comprehensive blueprint for action.
• To facilitate the monitoring of the global dementia action plan, WHO developed the Global Dementia Observatory (GDO), a data portal that collates country data on 35 key dementia indicators across the global action plan’s seven strategic areas. 

Hence both statements are correct.

Prime Minister recently arrived in Indonesia to attend the ASEAN-India and the East Asia summits.

About Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN):

• It is a regional intergovernmental organization of ten Southeast Asian countries.
• It was established on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration).
• Member States: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.
• It promotes intergovernmental cooperation and facilitates economic, political, security, military, educational, and sociocultural integration between its members and other countries in Asia.
• Secretariat: The ASEAN Secretariat, located in Jakarta, Indonesia, and led by a secretary-general, coordinates the work of ASEAN member states and their associated bodies. 
• Functioning:
• It is headed by a chair—a position that rotates annually among member states.
• Important decisions are usually reached through consultation and consensus guided by the principles of noninterference in internal affairs and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

What is East Asia Summit?

• It is a unique Leaders-led forum of 18 countries of the Asia-Pacific region formed to further the objectives of regional peace, security and prosperity.
• Established in 2005, EAS allows the principal players in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss issues of common interest and concern, in an open and transparent manner, at the highest level.
• The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA.
• EAS is an initiative of ASEAN and is based on the premise of the centrality of ASEAN.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) is planning to unveil a host of new measures, including 100 per cent cashless claim settlement in health cover.

About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):

• It is a statutory body formed under an Act of Parliament, i.e., Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999 (IRDAI Act 1999) for overall supervision and development of the Insurance sector in India.
• It is also responsible for registering and/or licensing insurance, reinsurance companies and intermediaries according to the regulations. 
• Entities regulated by IRDAI:
• Life Insurance Companies - Both public and private sector Companies
• General Insurance Companies - Both public and private sector Companies. Among them, there are some standalone Health Insurance Companies which offer health Insurance policies.
• Re-Insurance Companies
• Agency Channel
• Intermediaries which include the following:
• Corporate Agents
• Brokers
• Third Party Administrators
• Surveyors and Loss Assessors.
• Composition: It is a 10-member body- a chairman, five full-time members and four part-time members appointed by the Government of India.
• To protect the interests of policyholders, the IRDAI was granted significant responsibilities including
• Efficiently conducting insurance business and protecting the interests of the policyholders in matters concerning assigning of policy, nomination by policyholders, insurable interest, settlement of insurance claim, surrender value of the policy and other terms and conditions of contracts of insurance.
• Approving product terms and conditions offered by various insurers.
• Regulating investment of funds by insurance companies and maintaining a margin of solvency.
• Specifying financial reporting norms of insurance companies.
• Ensuring insurance coverage is provided in the rural areas and also to the vulnerable sections of society.
• IRDAI’s Head Office is at Hyderabad.

Hence both statements are correct.

Highly decomposed carcasses of two elephants were recently found in Satkosia Tiger Reserve.

About Satkosia Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the heartland of Odisha and spread over four districts viz. Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh.
• The river Mahanadi flows through the valleys in the middle of the Reserve.
• The Reserve has an area of 1136.70 sq km with 523.61sq km as core area. The area is also a part of the Mahanadi Elephant Reserve.
• Satkosia is the meeting point of two bio-geographic regions of India; the Deccan Peninsula and the Eastern Ghats.
• Landscape: The terrain is hilly, with moderate to steep slopes and narrow valleys.
• Vegetation: The forest vegetation comprises of North Indian tropical moist deciduous Forests and Moist peninsular low-level sal.
• Flora:
• The main tree species being sal, which grows in gregarious formations.
• Other associate species are Asan (Terminalia alata), Dhaura (Anogeissus latifolia), Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus), and Simal (Bombax ceiba).
• Fauna:
• The reserve has a low population of tiger, leopard, elephant, spotted deer, sambar, chowsingha, barking deer, bison, wild dog, sloth bear, jackal, giant squirrel and porcupine.
• It is the natural habitat of two endangered species viz. fresh water crocodile and the gharial.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has proposed to excise civil areas in 58 cantonments, with plans to merge them with State municipalities.

• It is an organization established to administer and manage the civilian population living in cantonment areas.
• It operates in accordance with the provisions of the Cantonment Act of 2006 and falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Defence Ministry. 
• The boards comprise elected representatives as well as ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006.
• Composition of the board
• A cantonment board consists of eight elected members, three nominated military members, three ex-officio members (station commander, garrison engineer and senior executive medical officer), and one representative of the district magistrate.
• The station commander of the cantonment is the ex-officio president of the board and an officer of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) or Defence Estates Organisation is the chief executive officer and member-secretary of the board.
• The boards have a term of five years.
• The boards are classified into four categories depending on their size and population.
• Category I cantonments are those with populations above 50,000;
• Category II between 10,000 and 50,000;
• Category III between 2,500 and 10,000,
• Category IV with populations below 2,500.
• There are a total 66 cantonment boards are present in India.
• A cantonment differs from a military station—the latter is exclusively devoted to the use and accommodation of military personnel and is established under an executive order.
• The cantonment, on the other hand, is an area that comprises both military and civilian populations.

Hence both statements are correct.