Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 26, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, on the occasion of Good Governance Day the Union Minister of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions launched the Extended Version of Mission Karmayogi, at a function in New Delhi.

• Mission Karmayogi - National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) aims to prepare Civil Servants for the future by making them more creative, constructive & innovative through transparency and technology.
• This unique programme will help to lay the foundation for civil servants in the country.
• There will be more focus on 'on-site learning' in complementing "off-site learning".
• On 2nd September 2020, Government approved the National Programme for Civil Services Capacity Building (NPCSCB) with six key pillars including Policy Framework, Institutional Framework, Competency Framework, Digital Learning Framework (iGOT-Karmayogi), the electronic Human Resource Management System (e-HRMS) and the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
• The Programme will cover all civil servants (including contractual employees) across different ministries, departments, organizations and agencies of the Union Government.
• Three new features launched on the iGOT Karmayogi platform are 
• My iGOT:  It delivers targeted training courses on home page of individual officer that directly address the unique capacity building needs of  the officer as identified  in the Capacity-Building Plan for their Ministries/Departments.
• Blended Programs: This programme will facilitate equitable access to training methodologies across all levels to meet dynamic training needs of the officials. 
• Blended Programs integrate traditional offline (in person) classroom courses with online learning components.
• It enables officers and faculty to leverage the flexibility and convenience of online courses while retaining the invaluable benefits of face-to-face classroom interactions. 
• Curated Programs: These are designed to cater to diverse learning needs of the Ministries/Departments and Training Institutions. T
• This Course Providers will be able to curate relevant content, resources, and assessments from the repository of iGOT with a Programmatic approach to provide a tailored learning journey. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

In an unprecedented extension of its celestial duties, the spacecraft that delivered asteroid samples from Bennu, OSIRIS-REx has embarked on a new mission, and NASA has renamed it as OSIRIS-APEX.

• It is a mission to study the physical changes to asteroid Apophis that will result from its rare close encounter with Earth in April 2029.
• That year, Apophis’ orbit will bring it within 20,000 miles (32,000 kilometers) of Earth’s surface — closer to Earth than our highest-altitude satellites.
• The mission aims to observe the physical changes induced by Earth's gravitational pull during Apophis' flyby.
• These changes could include alterations in the asteroid's orbit, rotation speed, and surface features such as quakes or landslides.
• Additionally, the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft will dip toward the surface of Apophis.

Key facts about Apophis

• It was discovered on June 19, 2004.
• It is a stony "S-type" asteroid made of silicate (or rocky) material and a mixture of metallic nickel and iron
• It is a remnant from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
• It originated in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
• Over millions of years, its orbit was changed primarily by the gravitational influence of large planets like Jupiter so that it now orbits the Sun closer to Earth.
• As a result, Apophis is classified as a near-Earth asteroid, as opposed to a main-belt asteroid.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Prime Minister of India will participate in the Veer Baal Diwas function at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. 

• It is commemorated to honour the martyrdom of Baba Fateh Singh and Zorawar Singh, sons of 10th Guru Govind Singh Ji on 26th December every year.
• History
• Guru Gobind Singh, the leader of the Sikhs in Punjab during the Mughal reign, had four sons. They were referred as the four Sahibzade Khalsa.
• In 1699, Gobind Singh has established the Khalsa.
• This elite warrior band had devout Sikhs with the aim to protect the innocent from religious persecution.
• While two of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons were killed fighting the Mughals, two other sons were bricked alive on the orders of Aurangzeb’s governor of Sirhind.
• The two younger sons, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh ji, attained martyrdom after being sealed alive in a wall.

Key facts about Guru Gobind Singh

• He was the 10th Sikh guru.
• He became the Sikh guru at the age of nine, following the demise of his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru.
• Contribution to Sikh religion
• He is known for his significant contributions to the Sikh religion, including the introduction of the turban to cover hair.
• He is renowned for founding the principles of Khalsa or the Five ‘K’s i.e kesh (uncut hair), kanga (wooden comb), kara (iron or steel bracelet), kirpan (dagger) and kachera (short breeches).
• He fought against the Mughals later in the battle of Muktsar in 1705.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the union Minister of Health and Family Welfare launched MedTech Mitra portal.

• It is an online portal that aims to assist medtech innovators in clinical evaluation, regulatory facilitation, and uptake of new products.
• The portal will be coordinated collaboratively by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), under the guidance of NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission.
• The MedTech Mitra platform, along with the recent medical devices policy and the production-linked incentive scheme, will together provide a boost to the medical devices sector and encourage domestic manufacturing of these devices, 
• Significance
• The new initiatives would facilitate indigenous development of affordable, quality MedTech devices and diagnostics, leading to a considerable reduction in the import dependence of this sector.
• It will ensure ease of innovation and doing R&D for emerging start-ups.
• It would provide end-to-end guidance to startups, making their journey from idea to product smooth. The platform will also help them bridge gaps and help in animal as well as clinical trials.
• It would also foster partnerships between engineers, scientists and clinicians, which was lacking in the sector.

Hence both statements are correct.

Himachal Pradesh Police recently cracked down on an SUV owner for allegedly driving his vehicle across the Chandra River in Lahaul and Spiti district. 

About Chandra River:

• It is one of the two rivers (other being the Bhaga River) that merge to form the Chenab River in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh.
• Course:
• Origin: It rises in the snows lying at the base of the main Himalayan range in the Lahaul and Spiti districts, Himachal Pradesh.
• It flows for a considerable distance along the base of this range in a southeasterly direction before turning completely and taking a southwesterly course in the Spiti Valley.
• It flows on to merge with the Bhaga River downstream of Keylong.
• The beautiful Chandra Tal Lake has formed at its source.
• The upper and middle catchments of this river are made up of a topography that has been carved out by glacial action.
• The entire area is a vast, cold desert that receives little or no rain as it lies in the rain shadow of the Pir Panjal range of the Himalayas.
• Throughout its course, the river is fed by a number of glaciers, the   biggest being the Shigri on its left bank, and the Samundari on its right. 
• Many small snow-fed tributaries join the Chandra at different places.
• Koksar is the only important human ssettlement along this river. 

Hence option c is the correct answer.

In a continuing aerial strike on Ukraine, Russia recently employed its AS-24 KILLJOY hypersonic missile, which the country has projected as an “invincible weapon”.

About AS-24 Killjoy:

• It is the western reporting name of the Kh-47M2 (Kinzhal), a nuclear-capable, Russian air-launched hypersonic ballistic missile.
• It was one of six “next generation” weapons unveiled by Russian President Vladimir Putin during a speech in March 2018.
• Features:
• It can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 (12,350 km/hr).
• It can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads with a payload of up to 480 kg and a thermonuclear option with a 10-50 kt warhead.
• It has a reported range of 1,500-2,000 km.
• It has a length of 8 m, a body diameter of 1 m, and a launch weight of approximately 4,300 kg.
• It is designed to be launched from MiG-31 fighter jets at altitudes of about 18 km (59,000 ft).
• This missile manoeuvres during all stages of its flight to overcome hostile air defence systems.

What are Hypersonic Weapons?

• Hypersonic weapons fly at speeds of at least Mach 5 and are highly maneuverable and able to change course during flight.
• They are different from ballistic missiles, which can also travel at hypersonic speeds (of at least Mach 5) but have set trajectories and limited maneuverability.
• There are two main categories of hypersonic weapons: hypersonic glide vehicles and hypersonic cruise missiles.
• Hypersonic glide vehicles are launched from a rocket. The glide vehicle then separates from the rocket and “glides” at speeds of at least Mach 5 toward a target.
• Hypersonic cruise missiles are powered by high-speed, air-breathing engines.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Breathtaking patterns of giant trees appeared on the frozen Qiantang River in east China's Zhejiang Province amid a continuing cold wave.

About Qiantang River:

• It is a southeast Chinese River that originates on the borders of Anhui and Jiangxi provinces.
• It runs for 459 kilometers through Zhejiang, passing through the capital city - Hangzhou and Yanguan Town, Haining, Jiaxing City before flowing into the East China Sea via Hangzhou Bay.
• The river is also the southern terminal of the ancient Grand Canal that links five major rivers in China from north to south, enabling traffic north to Beijing from Hangzhou via the Canal.
• It is encircled by a group of economically booming cities, including Shanghai, the leading industrial and commercial hub of the country, and Ningbo, one of China's leading port cities.
• The spectacular Qiantang River Tidal Bore is known as one of the largest tidal bores in the world. The highest tidal bore can reach up to 9 meters (30 feet) high.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Forest department personnel in Odisha recently arrested four poachers and two timber smugglers from Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj district during patrolling.

About Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR):

• Location: STR is located within the Mayurbhanj District, in the northernmost part of Odisha.
• It was declared a 'Tiger Reserve' in 1956 and included under the national conservation programme 'Project Tiger' in 1973.
• It is surrounded by high plateaus and hills, the highest peak being the twin peaks of Khairiburu and Meghashini (1515m above mean sea level).
• The STR, along with a 'transitional area' of 2250 sq. km, was included as a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in 2009.
• Terrain:
• The terrain is mostly undulating and hilly, interspersed with open grasslands and wooded areas.
• The inclined plateau has risen abruptly from the low coastal plains. The steep side faces the Bay of Bengal and runs northwards to finally merge with Chhota Nagpur.
• The water level is high, and the tract is woven with perennial water sources converging into rivers like Budhabalanga, Salandi, and many tributaries of the Baitarani River flowing from the Reserve.
• Vegetation: It is a mix of different forest types and habitats, with Northern tropical moist deciduous dominating some semi-evergreen patches.
• It is the only landscape in the world that is home to melanistic tigers.
• The region around STR is home to a variety of tribes, including Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia, and Sahara.
• Flora:
• An astounding 1078 species of plants, including 94 species of orchids, are found here.
• Sal is the dominant tree species here.
• Fauna: Leopard, Gaur, Elephant, Langur, Barking and Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear Mongoose, Flying Squirrel, Porcupine, Turtle, Monitor Lizard, Python, Sambar, Pangolin etc.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Researchers from Visva-Bharati University discovered a new plant growth-promoting bacteria species which they named Pantoea Tagorei, in homage to Rabindranath Tagore’s agricultural promotion efforts. The bacteria has unique properties that enhance soil nutrients.

Recently, 1467 projects of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have been brought under the Bhoomi Rashi Portal. The objective of Bhoomi Rashi portal is to provide a single point platform for online processing of land acquisition notifications to accelerate highway infrastructure development projects in India and payment of compensation for land acquisition.