Daily Current Affairs MCQ- September 8, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

China is set to launch the Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFST) in September.

• It is the largest time-domain survey facility in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Objectives:
• The core scientific objective is to explore and monitor dynamic astronomical events and conduct time-domain astronomical observation research.
• This will enable researchers to detect faint and distant celestial signals, including those from galaxies beyond the Milky Way and galaxy clusters.
• It will also seek out planets or their moons in the Kuiper Belt and beyond.
• It has set out to find and track 10 lakh solar system objects for a comprehensive view of the solar system and its evolution.
• The telescope is located at the Lenghu astronomical observation base in northwest China's Qinghai Province.
• The base, which sits at an average altitude of about 4,000 meters, offers optimal conditions for stargazing due to its clear night skies, stable atmospheric conditions, dry climate, and minimal artificial light pollution.
• It is recognized as one of the best observatory sites on the Eurasian continent.
• The WFST project was launched in July 2019 through a collaboration between the University of Science and Technology of China and the Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology scientists, have for the first time in the country, found the presence of Clade 9 variant of varicella zoster virus (VZV).

• Varicella-zoster is a herpes virus that causes chickenpox, a common childhood illness.
• It is an exclusively human virus that belongs to the α-herpesvirus family.
• It is present worldwide and is highly infectious.
• Primary infection of this virus leads to acute varicella or “chickenpox”.
•  The infections can progress to the central nervous system involvement and severe complications.

Key Facts about Chickenpox

• It is a highly contagious disease.
• Symptoms
• It can cause an itchy, blister-like rash among other symptoms.
• The rash first appears on the chest, back, and face, and then spreads over the entire body.
• The virus is spread by:
• Coming in contact with someone who has chickenpox.
• Breathing air from an infected person who sneezes or coughs.
• Coming in contact with fluids from an infected child's eyes, nose or mouth.
• The incubation period of chickenpox is from 10 to 21days
• It can be serious, especially during pregnancy, in babies, adolescents, adults, and people with weakened immune systems (lowered ability to fight germs and sickness).

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) unveiled several new products with an aim to create an inclusive, resilient, and sustainable digital payments ecosystem. 

• It is an umbrella organisation for operating retail payments and settlement systems in India.
• It is an initiative of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, to create a robust Payment & Settlement Infrastructure in India.
• It has been incorporated as a “Not for Profit” Company under the provisions of Section 25 of the Companies Act 1956 (now Section 8 of the Companies Act 2013).
• It is promoted by ten major banks, including the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Citibank, Bank of Baroda, and HSBC.
• The regulatory board of the NPCI, headquartered in Mumbai, includes nominees from the RBI along with nominees from ten core promoter banks. 

Hence both statements are correct.

Scientists recently said they unearthed in Fujian Province the fossil of a Jurassic Period dinosaur they named Fujianvenator prodigiosus.

• Fujianvenator is a member of a grouping called avialans that includes all birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur relatives.
• Despite their modest beginnings, birds survived the asteroid strike 66 million years ago that doomed their non-avian dinosaur comrades.
• Features
• Its lower leg bone - the tibia - was twice as long as its thigh bone - the femur.
• Such dimensions are unique among theropods; it also had a long bony tail.
• The forelimb is generally built like a bird’s wing, but with three claws on the fingers, which are absent from modern birds. So you can call it wing. 

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

Hong Kong singer Jacky Cheung recently collapsed on stage during a concert recently, which was later attributed to Meniere's disease that causes dizzy spells, also known as vertigo.

About Meniere’s Disease:

• It is a rare inner ear disorder. 
• Cause:
• It is the result of a build-up of fluid in the inner ear, called labyrinth. It contains the organs of balancing and hearing.
• The fluid build-up in the labyrinth interferes with the normal balance and hearing signals between the inner ear and the brain.
• It can lead to severe dizziness (vertigo), ringing in the ears (tinnitus), hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. 
• It usually affects only one ear.
• Ménière’s disease can develop at any age, but it is more likely to happen to adults between 40 and 60 years of age.
• Major Symptoms: Vertigo is the most debilitating symptom and is a severe spinning sensation that can cause:
• Severe nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Sweating;
• Other symptoms may include:
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears);
• Loss of hearing or muffled hearing;
• Loss of the ability to hear low frequencies;
• Pressure in the affected ear;
• Loss of balance;
• Left untreated, Ménière’s disease symptoms get worse over time and may cause permanent hearing loss and ongoing balance problems.
• Treatment: There is no cure, but lifestyle tips and medical treatments can help ease the symptoms.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

State Bank of India has launched its ‘Nation First Transit Card’, a RuPay prepaid instrument under the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) that can be used nationwide.

About Nation First Transit Card:

• It aims to facilitate a seamless and convenient customer commuting experience and ensure easy digital ticketing fare payments in metro, buses, water ferries, parking, etc., through a single card.
• In addition, individuals can also use this card for making retail and e-commerce payments.
• It is powered by RuPay and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) technology.

Key Facts about National Common Mobility Card (NCMC):

• NCMC feature enables the Bank’s customers to use their Debit Cards as travel cards for travelling in Metro Rail and Buses where this facility is enabled.
• The idea of NCMC was floated by the Nandan Nilekani committee set up by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• NCMC is an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in India designed to promote cashless transactions and offer a unified payment platform for commuters. 
• It was launched on March 4, 2019.  
• It offers a unified contactless transport solution through the RuPay platform, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
• NCMC is an automatic fare collection system. It will turn smartphones into an inter-operable transport card that commuters can use eventually to pay for Metro, bus and suburban railway services.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Central Government recently sought public comments on the draft guidelines for the prevention and regulation of “dark patterns” on the Internet.

About Dark Patterns:

• Dark patterns are deceptive and manipulative user interface (UI) design techniques employed by websites, apps, and other digital platforms to trick or manipulate users into taking actions they may not intend to take or to make decisions that are not in their best interest.
• The term “dark patterns” was coined in 2010 by Harry Brignull, a user experience specialist.
• These patterns are often used to encourage users to sign up for services, make purchases, or share personal information, among other things.
• Dark patterns exploit cognitive biases and psychological principles to influence user behavior.
• They can range from subtle and mildly misleading to overtly aggressive tactics.
• There are 12 kinds of dark patterns: Friend spam, forced continuity, disguised ads, confirmshaming, bait and switch, hidden costs, roach motel, privacy zuckering, misdirection, price comparison prevention, trick questions, and sneak into basket.
• For Example: 'Confirmshaming' means using a phrase, video, audio or any other means to create a sense of fear, shame, ridicule or guilt in the mind of the user so as to nudge the user to act in a certain way.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

The Competition Commission of India recently released draft norms for regulation of combinations that would help bring high-value mergers and acquisitions with substantial India operations, particularly those in the tech sector, within the antitrust regulator’s ambit.

About Competition Commission of India (CCI):

• CCI, a statutory body of the Government of India, was established in March 2009 under the Competition Act, 2002.
• The goal of CCI is to create and sustain fair competition in the economy that will provide a ‘level playing field’ to the producers and make the markets work for the welfare of consumers.
• The priority of the Commission is to eliminate practices having adverse effects on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers, and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India. 
• Mandate: To implement provisions of The Competition Act, 2002 which –
• prohibits anti-competitive agreement sand abuse of dominant position by enterprises;
• regulates mergers and acquisitions (M&A) which can have an adverse effect on competition within India. Thus, deals beyond a certain threshold are required to get clearance from CCI.
• It oversees the operations of big enterprises to ensure they are not abusing their ‘dominant position’ or power by controlling supply, setting up high purchase prices, or adopting practices that are unethical and may harm budding enterprises.
• Composition:
• It has the composition of a quasi-judicial body, with one chairperson and six additional members.
• All members of the CCI are appointed by the Central Government. 
• Headquarters: New Delhi.

Hence both statements are correct.

A project of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for gender sensitivity in Rajasthan has received support from the experts working for the elimination of customs promoting patriarchy.

• It is an international development agency created in 1968 to support the execution of projects and programmes in the area of population and sexual and reproductive health.
• Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.
• In 1987, it was officially renamed as the United Nations Population Fund but the original abbreviation UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities) was retained.
• Headquarters: New York
• It is not directly responsible for the collection of primary statistics; it plays an important role in the technical and financial support of statistical activities in countries, such as population censuses and thematic surveys etc.
• UNFPA funds assistance, research, and advocacy programs in three major areas:
• Reproductive health, including family planning, safe motherhood, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases,
• The population problems of developed and developing countries and possible strategies for addressing them.
• Issues related to the status of women, including the gender gap in education.
• UNFPA assistance programs are undertaken only in response to government requests.

Hence both statements are correct.

Railways Ministry will establish Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras at railway stations across the country. 

• These are set up under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana, which was launched by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in November 2008.
• Objective: To provide quality medicines at affordable prices for all, particularly the poor, so as to reduce out-of-pocket expenses in healthcare.
• They provide generic drugs, which are available at lesser prices but are equivalent in quality and efficacy as expensive branded drugs.
• All therapeutic medicines are made available from Jan Aushadhi Stores.
• Jan Aushadhi stores also sell allied medical products commonly sold in chemist shops so as to improve the viability of running the Jan Aushadhi store.
• Pharmaceutical & Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI) has been established under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt. of India, with the support of all the CPSUs for co-coordinating procurement, supply, and marketing of generic drugs through the PMBKs.
• Who can open a Jan Aushadhi Kendra?
  • • State Governments or any organization / reputed NGOs / Trusts / Private hospitals / charitable institutions / Doctors / Unemployed pharmacists/ individual entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the new Jan Aushadhi Kendra.
    • The applicants shall have to employ one B Pharma / D Pharma degree holder as Pharmacist in their proposed store.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.