Daily Current Affairs MCQ- June 2, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, The James Webb Space Telescope has smashed its own record for detecting the most distant known galaxy.

About New Galaxy:

• The galaxy called JADES-GS-z14-0, is revealed as it was just 290m years after the big bang, at the dawn of the universe. The telescope’s previous record holder was a galaxy seen at 325m years after the big bang, which happened nearly 14bn years ago.
• The newly observed galaxy is much brighter than expected, suggesting that the first generation of stars were either more luminous or formed much more rapidly than conventional cosmological theories have predicted.
• The impressive size and brightness of JADES-GS-z14-0 is likely being fueled by young and actively forming stars, rather than a supermassive black hole.
• In JADES-GS-z14-0, Webb can see a significant amount of oxygen, which tells researchers the galaxy is already quite mature.

About James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

• It was launched in 2021 as a joint endeavour of the US, European and Canadian space agencies.
• It is a large infrared telescope with an approximately 6.5 meter primary mirror.
• It does not orbit around the Earth like the Hubble Space Telescope, it orbits the Sun 1.5 million kilometers away from the Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2.
• It was designed specifically to see farther across the cosmos and further back in time than any previous astronomical tool.
• One of its key objectives was to find the very first stars to ignite in the nascent Universe.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Recently, India said that it was one of the first countries to recognise Palestine and has long supported the two-state solution to end the Israel-Palestine conflict.

About two-state solution:

• The two-state solution has long been proposed as the best hope for peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• It would see an independent Palestinian state established alongside the existing one of Israel - giving both peoples their own territory.

What are Two-State Solutions' origins?

• In 1947, the United Nations agreed a plan partitioning Palestine into Arab and Jewish states with international rule over Jerusalem. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, which gave them 56% of the land.
• The state of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948. A day later, five Arab states attacked. The war ended with Israel controlling 77% of the territory.
• Some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes, ending up in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria as well as in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
• In a 1967 war, Israel captured the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from Jordan and Gaza from Egypt, securing control of all territory from the Mediterranean to the Jordan valley.
• The Palestinians remain stateless, with most living under Israeli occupation or as refugees in neighbouring states.

Is there a way forward?

• After Hamas attacked on Israel in Oct, 2023, Israel aims to annihilate Hamas and says it will not agree to any deal that leaves it in power. Prime minister of Israel has said Gaza must be demilitarised and under Israel’s full security control.
• On another side, Hamas says it expects to survive and has said any arrangements for Gaza that exclude it are an illusion.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

China's space agency said that China landed an uncrewed spacecraft on the far side of the moon on 2nd of June.

About Chang'e-6:

• The Chang'e-6 craft successfully landed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the back of the moon.
• It is the first human sampling and return mission from the far side of the moon for the first time.
• It was launched by a Chinese Long March-5 rocket from Wenchang Space Launch Center on the southern island of Hainan before 53 days.
• Chang'e-6 consists of an orbiter, a returner, a lander and an ascender.
• The lander was equipped with multiple sensors, including microwave, laser and optical imaging sensors which can measure distance and speed, and identify obstacles on the lunar surface.
• The probe is scheduled to complete sampling within two days. It has adopted two methods of moon sampling, which include:
• Using a drill to collect subsurface samples
• Grabbing samples on the surface with a robotic arm.
• It has achieved a breakthrough in the design and control technology of the lunar retrograde orbit and aims to realize key technologies of intelligent and rapid sampling.
• It marks the second time a mission has successfully reached the far side of the moon. China first completed that historic feat in 2019 with its Chang’e-4 probe.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

As the world gears up for the 29th Conference of Parties (COP) to UNFCCC later this year, the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has called on developed countries to fulfill their financial obligations in the fight against climate change.

Why in News?

• The 60th meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60), will take place in Bonn, Germany from June 3-13, 2024.

About 60th meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60)

• The mid-year climate conference, also known as the 60th meeting of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB60) will bring together countries that are signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• National delegates and civil society representatives will make up a significant part of the around 6,000 participants expected to attend the meetings.
• The meeting will serve as a crucial midpoint between the 28th CoP in Dubai and CoP29 in Azerbaijan and its outcomes will set the stage for the next phase of global climate negotiations.
• It will focus on critical issues such as-
• Climate finance
• Advancing progress on the next round of national climate action
• plans (Nationally Determined Contributions- NDCs)
• Timely submission of countries’
• First Biennial Transparency Reports
• Work on National Adaptation Plans
• Accelerating climate action through a just transition
• It will feature the inaugural Annual Global Stocktake (GST) Dialogue, which aims to foster a sharing of effective strategies and lessons learned on how countries are incorporating the GST outcomes into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), promoting collaborative learning and progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement's goals.

About Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)

• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is a public interest research organisation based in New Delhi.
• It researches and communicates the urgency of development that is sustainable and equitable.
• It works as a think tank on environment-development issues in India, poor planning, climate shifts devastating India's Sundarbans and advocates for policy changes and better implementation of the already existing policies.
• The Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) has designated Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) as a "Centre of Excellence" (CoE) for sustainable water management.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

According to a recent report, the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, lost an Iris-T missile, sparking serious concerns about the crucial technology being compromised.

About Iris-T Missile:

• It is a next-generation short-range air-to-air missile.
• The IRIS-T is a six-nation program under German lead, with Diehl BGT Defence (a German defense company) acting as industrial prime contractor.
• The IRIS-T programme sees Germany, Greece, Norway, Italy, Spain, and Sweden unite to provide access to technology and expertise. Diehl Defence is the main contractor.
• It is rated for short-range and medium-range air defense.  
• The IRIS-T SLM is designed to neutralize threats posed by a variety of enemy aerial systems, such as aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and helicopters operating at ranges of up to 40 km (25 miles).
• IRIS-T is characterized by an extreme maneuverability for close-in air-to-air combat.
• Equipped with an innovative infrared seeker, thrust-vector control, and a dogfight optimized motor, the Iris-T Missile can engage any target from point-blank up to maximum range.
• IRIS-T can also successfully engage targets behind the launching aircraft and be used in lock-on before and after launch operations.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

Indian researchers recently discovered a new ant species named Paraparatrechina neela from Arunachal Pradesh’s remote Siang Valley. 

About Paraparatrechina neela:

• It is a new ant species discovered from Siang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
• This new species belongs to the rare genus Paraparatrechina and has been named Paraparatrechina neela.
• The word “neela” signifies the colour blue in most Indian languages—a fitting tribute to the ant's unique colour.
• This discovery signifies the first new species of Paraparatrechina in 121 years since the description of the sole previously known species, P. aseta (Forel, 1902), in the Indian subcontinent.
• Features:
• It is a small ant with a total length of less than 2 mm.
• Its body is predominantly metallic blue, except for the antennae, mandibles, and legs.
• The head is subtriangular with large eyes and has a triangular mouthpart (mandible) featuring five teeth.
• This species has a distinct metallic blue colour that is different from any other species in its genus.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Indian naval ship (INS) Shivalik on Saturday departed Singapore for Yokosuka in Japan, and is scheduled to participate in Japan-India maritime exercise (Jimex) and Rim of Pacific (Rimpac) military exercise.

About INS Shivalik:

• It is the lead ship of her class of stealth multi-role frigates built for the Indian Navy.
• It is the first stealth warship built by India.
• It is built at the Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL), located in Mumbai.
• It was commissioned into the Indian Navy on April 29, 2010.
• Features:
• It has a length of 142.5 m (468 ft) overall, a beam of 16.9 m (55 ft), and a draft of 4.5 m (15 ft).
• The ships displace about 4,900 tonnes (4,800 long tons; 5,400 short tons) at normal load and 6,200 tonnes (6,100 long tons; 6,800 short tons) at full load. 
• Maximum Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)
• It features improved stealth and land-attacking features over the preceding Talwar-class frigates. 
• It is also the first Indian Navy ship to use the CODOG propulsion system.
• It is equipped with a mix of Russian, Indian, and Western weapon systems.
• These include the 3.0-inch Otobreda naval gun, Klub and BrahMos supersonic anti-ship missiles, Shtil-1 anti-aircraft missiles, RBU-6000 anti-submarine rocket launchers, and DTA-53-956 torpedo launchers. 

Hence option c is the correct answer.

A team from the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage has uncovered rock shelter paintings estimated to be around 2,500 years old near Pampa Lake in the Hampi World Heritage Area.

About Pampa Lake:

• Pamba Lake/Pampa Sarovar is situated in Koppal district near Hampi in Karnataka.
• It is located to the south of the Tungabhadra River. 
• It is one of the five sacred lakes known as Panch-Sarovar in Hindu mythology, which are namely, Man Sarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar, and Pushkar Sarovar.
• In Hindu mythology, Pampa Sarovar is regarded as the place where Pampa, a form of Shiva’s consort Parvati, performed penance to show her devotion to Shiva.
• It is also one of the Sarovars that finds a mention in the Hindu epic, Ramayana as the place where Shabhari, a devotee of Lord Rama, waited for the arrival of Rama.
• The lake is surrounded by hills and temples and filled with lotuses.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

A sarcophagus fragment discovered beneath the floor of a religious center belongs to Ramesses II, one of the best-known ancient Egyptian pharaohs, according to a new study.

About Sarcophagus:

• A sarcophagus is a highly decorated coffin or box-like container that holds a coffin.
• They were intended to be displayed above ground, but they were sometimes entombed or placed in burial chambers.
• Sarcophagi were used to hold and protect important people who died throughout history, dating as far back as ancient Egypt, Rome, and Greece. 
• The word sarcophagus comes from the Greek "sarx" meaning "flesh," and "phagien" meaning "to eat," so that sarcophagus literally translates as "eater of flesh."
• First used in Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece, the sarcophagus gradually became popular throughout the ancient world. 
• It carried over through the later years of European society, often used for high status members of the clergy, government, or aristocracy.
• Features:
• They differ in detail from one culture to another. 
• They are almost always made of stone, limestone being the most popular, but sometimes of granite, sandstone, or marble.
• Sarcophagi were elaborately decorated with carvings, images, and writing, usually including the name of the person who died.
• Archaeological Significance:
• Sarcophagi are important artifacts for archaeologists and historians because they provide insights into the art, culture, and beliefs of the societies that created them.
• The carvings and inscriptions on sarcophagi often contain valuable historical information.
• Example: The most famous Egyptian sarcophagus is perhaps the golden sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Recently, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the fourth global mass coral bleaching event has been triggered by extraordinary ocean temperatures.

• Corals are essentially animals, which are sessile, meaning they permanently attach themselves to the ocean floor.
• Corals share a symbiotic relationship with single-celled algae called zooxanthellae.
• The algae provides the coral with food and nutrients, which they make through photosynthesis, using the sun’s light.
• They use their tiny tentacle-like hands to catch food from the water and sweep into their mouth.
• Each individual coral animal is known as a polyp and it lives in groups of hundreds to thousands of genetically identical polyps that form a ‘colony’.
• Corals are largely classified as either hard coral or soft coral. It is the hard corals that are the architects of coral reefs — complex three-dimensional structures built up over thousands of years.
• Hard corals have stony skeletons made out of limestone that are produced by coral polyps. When polyps die, their skeletons are left behind and used as foundations for new polyps.
• Coral reefs, also referred to as “rainforests of the sea”, have existed on the Earth for nearly 450 million years.
• Significance of corals: Coral reefs have a crucial role in marine ecosystems. Thousands of marine species can be found living on one reef. 

What is Coral Bleaching?

• It happens when corals experience stress in their environment due to changes in temperature, pollution or high levels of ocean acidity.
• Under stressed conditions, the zooxanthellae or food-producing algae living inside coral polyps start producing reactive oxygen species, which are not beneficial to the corals.
• So, the corals expel the colour-giving zooxanthellae from their polyps, which exposes their pale white exoskeleton, giving the corals a bleached appearance.
• This also ends the symbiotic relationship that helps the corals to survive and grow.
• Reasons for Coral Bleaching
• Change in Ocean Temperature: Increased Ocean temperature caused by climate change is the leading cause of coral bleaching.
• Runoff and Pollution: Storm generated precipitation can rapidly dilute ocean water and runoff can carry pollutants, which can bleach near shore corals.
• Overexposure to sunlight: When temperatures are high, high solar irradiance contributes to bleaching in shallow water corals.
• Extremely low tides: Exposure to the air during extremely low tides can cause bleaching in shallow corals.

Hence both statements are correct.