Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 17, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, China has unveiled plans to restrict exports of graphite — a mineral crucial to the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) — on national security grounds.

• It is an opaque, non-metallic carbon polymorph that is blackish silver in colour and metallic to dull in sheen.
• Since it resembles the metal lead, it is also known colloquially as black lead or plumbago.
• It is formed by the metamorphosis of sediments containing carbonaceous material.
• It is a naturally occurring form of crystalline carbon.
• It is extremely soft, cleaves with very light pressure, and has a very low specific gravity.
• In contrast, it is extremely resistant to heat and nearly inert in contact with almost any other material.
• These extreme properties give it a wide range of uses in metallurgy and manufacturing.
• It is a good conductor of electricity.
• Molecular structure
• It consists of a ring of six carbon atoms closely bonded together hexagonally in widely spaced layers.
• The bonds within the layers are strong but the bonds between the layers are less in number and therefore are weaker.
• Graphite is the stable form of carbon.
• Applications: It is used in pencils, lubricants, crucibles, foundry facings, polishes, arc lamps, batteries, brushes for electric motors, and cores of nuclear reactors.
• It is mined extensively in China, India, Brazil, North Korea, and Canada.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, Kerala Tourism has launched a 2.9-crore rupees project to improve civic amenities around the Edakkal Caves in Wayanad.

• These caves are located 3,900 ft above the sea level on the majestic Ambukuthi hills of Kerala state.
• The name Edakkal itself means “a stone in between”.
• The unique intricate stone carvings that date back to the Neolithic and Mesolithic ages.
• The caves are two natural formations that are believed to have been formed by a large split in a huge rock. 
• These feature Neolithic-era pictorial writings believed to be dating to at least 6,000 BCE.
• Features:
• The caves sport human and animal figures besides symbols and letters.
• Inside the caves are pictorial drawings and engravings that indicate the presence of ancient human settlements in the region.
• Despite their name, the Edakkal Caves are not actually caves. They are part of a pre historic rock shelter, formed naturally when one huge boulder got wedged between two bigger ones.
• Human figures, animals, tools, vehicles, day-to-day occurrences and scripts in different language scripts have been discovered here.
• The diversity of the engravings suggest that the Edakkal caves were inhabited several times at different points in history.
• The Muniyaras, or ancient burial sites that have been discovered in these hills have yielded a rich collection of ancient earthenware and pottery.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.

Recently, the paintbrush swift butterfly has been photographed and documented for the first time in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district. 

• It is a butterfly species of the Hesperiidae family.
• The species has never been photographed in Himachal Pradesh since its discovery in 1878.
• This is the first time that we have photographed and documented it.
• It was first described by lepidopterist Frederic Moore, more than 145 years ago.
• It is identified based on two separated spots in the upper forewing cell. 
• The species’ larvae feed on bamboo and some other grass species. 
•  Habitat: Its habitat is distributed in northeast, central and south India, and rare in Uttarakhand.
• Threats: Habitat loss and scarcity of larval host plants are major causes of the decline in the butterfly population. An increase in pesticide use, deforestation, and climate change.
• Conservation status
• This species is legally protected in India under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Recently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) and the Skill Council for Persons with Disability (SCPwD) at IICA Campus in Manesar, Gurugram.

• It was registered as a society on September 12, 2008 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. 
• It is an institution established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), Government of India.
• It is an autonomous body act as a think-tank and a Centre of Excellence to support the growth of the corporate sector in India through an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach.
• It offers its capacity-building and advisory solutions through various Schools and Centres.
• The School of Business Environment at IICA works in the areas of Environmental-Social Governance (ESG), Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) and Business & Human Rights (BHR).

Significance of the recent MOU

• It will synergise the expertise of the SCPwD and the IICA with the aim of equipping the corporates in terms of knowledge, skills and competencies for building and managing a diverse workforce through the various entities created under the aegis of SCPwD and IICA.
• SCPwD, in collaboration with the IICA, will take the initiative through skill courses on “Qualification – Job Coach for Inclusivity (JCI)” programmes or otherwise in diverse areas.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Supreme Court (SC), in its full court meeting held recently, decided to confer senior designations on 47 former judges of the High Courts.

Who is a Senior Advocate?

• Under Section 16 of the Advocates Act 1961, two classes of advocates are classified: Senior Advocate and Junior or those who are not designated as seniors.
• The senior advocates play the role of legal experts in India who have significant knowledge in the field of law.
• They are associated with many prominent cases as they are good contributors to the principle of the Rule of Law.
• Special Provisions:
• A senior advocate shall not appear without an advocate on record in the SC or without an advocate in any other court.
• A senior advocate shall not accept instructions to draft pleadings or affidavits, advice on evidence, or to do any drafting work of an analogous kind in any Court or Tribunal or before any person or other authority.
• A senior advocate shall not accept directly from a client any brief or instructionsto appear in any Court or Tribunal or before any person or other authority in India.

Guidelines for Designation of Senior Advocates by the Supreme Court of India, 2023:

• The candidates need to be at least ten years' standing as an Advocate or ten years' combined standing as an Advocate and as a District and Sessions Judge or as a Judicial Member of any Tribunal in India to be designated as Senior Advocates at the SC.
• They must practice mainly in the Supreme Court, but advocates with domain expertise in practising before specialised tribunals may be given concession.
• The age limit for applying for the designation of senior advocate is now 45 years, unless the age limit is relaxed.
• The age limit can be relaxed by the Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates or if the name has been recommended by the Chief Justice of India or a SC judge.
• Criteria:
• The new guidelines have a revised point system for evaluating candidates.
• The new criteria include the number of years of practice and the body of work.
• Number of years of practice: Applicants will get a maximum of 20 points, 10 points for 10 years of practice, and 1 point each for every additional year of practice.
• Judgements reported and unreported; pro bono work; domain expertise (such as constitutional: 50 points
• Publication of academic articles, experience of teaching assignments in the field of law, guest lectures delivered in law schools and professional institutions connected with law: 5 points
• Test of personality and suitability based on the interview:  25 points
• Selection:
• The selection for the designation of senior advocates will be done by the Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates. The Committee is headed by CJI as the Chairperson.
• The applications will be invited once a year, and the committee will meet twice a year.
• It will also have a permanent secretariat, whose members will be selected by the CJI and the committee.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) recently extended the registration date for the CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child, 2023.

About CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme for Single Girl Child:

• It was launched by the Ministry of Education.
• The scheme is aimed at recognizing the efforts of parents in promoting education among girls and to providing encouragement to meritorious students.
• The objective of the scheme is to provide scholarships to meritorious single girl students, who are the only children of their parents; and have passed the CBSE Class X Examination with 60% or more marks, and are continuing their further school education in Class XI and XII.
• It provides financial aid every month to the selected students, so they can continue their higher education.
• Eligibility Criteria:
• The applicant should be the single girl child of her family.
• The applicant should have secured 60% or more marks in the CBSE Class 10th Examination and be studying Class 11th and 12^th in school (affiliated with CBSE).
• The tuition fee should not be more than ₹1,500/- per month during the academic year. In the next two years, the total enhancement in tuition fees in such a school shall not be more than 10% of the tuition fee charged.
• The applicant must be an Indian National.
• The student must continue her school studies in Classes 11th and 12th.
• Applicants who have the status of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) are also eligible to apply. The tuition fee for the NRIs has been decided maximum of Rs. 6,000/- per month.
• Benefits:
• The scholarship offers a maximum of Rs. 500 per month.
• The amount is payable for a maximum period of two years. Payment will be made through ECS/NEFT.
• The scholarship is eligible for renewal annually upon successful completion of class XI, contingent upon the scholar's achievement of 50% or more aggregate marks in the exam determining promotion to the next class.
• Renewal or continuation of the scholarship requires the prior approval of the Board if the scholar discontinues the current course of study or changes schools.
• Satisfactory conduct and regular attendance are necessary for maintaining the scholarship.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Researchers recently discovered a freshwater crab species, ‘Ghatiana sanguinolenta’ from the Balekoppa village of Sirsi district in northern Karnataka.

About Ghatiana sanguinolenta:

• It is a newly discovered species of freshwater crab.
• The crab gets its name from the Latin word ‘sanguinolenta’, meaning ‘red’ or ‘blood-coloured’.
• The crab’s blood-red colour and the outwardly curved article of the first part of the male ‘gonopod’ (genetalia) distinguish it from other species in the Ghatiana subgenus.
• It is currently known only from the type locality, which is situated in the Central Western Ghats of India. 
• Features:
• It is about 1.1 inch wide and about 0.7 inches long.
• It has a “broad,” “strongly arched” body and small eyes. 
• Its body has a rich and relatively uniform burgundy red coloring, while the tips of its claws are a lighter cherry red.
• It predominantly resides in water collected within tree trunks and exhibits heightened activity during the rainy season.
• Their diet consists of insects and algae.
• Male and female crabs share the same coloration.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, renowned for its population of one-horned rhinoceros, welcomed tourists once again as it officially reopened recently.

About Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located on the southern bank ofthe river Brahmaputra in Morigaon district, adjacent to Guwahati in Assam.
• It was declared a reserve forest in 1971 and a wildlife sanctuary in 1987.
• It is home to the highest population density of the Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros species (around 102 rhinos in an area of 38.8 sq. km).
• Landscape: It is dominated by alluvial lowlands and marshland.
• The Brahmaputra River offers a natural boundary tothe premises of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary on the north, while the Garanga Beel offers a natural boundaryto its south.
• Flora:  
• 72% of Pabitora consists of wet savannah of Arundo donax, Erianthus ravennae, Phragmites karka, Imperata cylindrica, and Saccharum spp.
• Water hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) is a major problem, especially to waterfowl, as it forms thick mats on the water surface.
• Fauna:
• Besides rhinoceros, the other animals are leopard, wild boar, Barking deer, wild buffalo, etc.  
• It is also home to more than 375 species of resident and migratory birds,such as the Indian pied Hornbill, Osprey, Hill Myna, Kalij Pheasant, etc.

Key Facts about Indian One Horned Rhinoceros:

• The greater one-horned rhino (or “Indian rhino”) is the largest of the rhino species.
• Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis
• It is identified by a single black horn about 8-25 inches long and a grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives it an armor-plated appearance.
• Distribution:
• It can be found in India and Nepal, particularly in the foothills of the Himalayas, in riverine (floodplain) grasslands, and adjacent woodland.
• Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has the largest population with 2,613 animals.
• Conservation Status:
• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has released the draft of revised lesser penalty regulations that provides for introduction of a “leniency plus” programme.

• It is a new cartel detecting tool, and sheds light on how the competition watchdog intends to operationalise it.
• The “Leniency Plus” regime was part of the Competition (Amendment) Act 2023
• Leniency Plus is a proactive antitrust enforcement strategy aimed at attracting leniency applications by encouraging companies already under investigation for one cartel to report other cartels unknown to the competition regulator. 
• The benefit that would entail from such disclosure is reduction of penalty in the first cartel to the person disclosing the information, without prejudice to the company obtaining lesser penalty regarding the newly disclosed cartel.
• This “leniency plus” regime is already recognised in jurisdictions like the UK, US, Singapore and Brazil.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Union coal ministry has said that Coal India Limited’s (CIL) 40 coal blocks in and around the Lemru Elephant Corridor (LEC) will not be auctioned on the request of the Chhattisgarh government.

• It is located in the Korba district of Chhattisgarh.
• It seeks to give elephants a permanent habitat while also minimizing property damage and human-animal conflict.
• The reserve as part of an elephant corridor that connects Lemru (Korba), Badalkhol (Jashpur), Tamorpingla (Surguja).
• Elephant reserves in India- There are 33 notified Elephant Reserves (ERs) in the country spread over 14 states. 

What is Project Elephant?

• It was launched by the Government of India in the year 1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with following objectives:
• To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
• To address issues of man-animal conflict
• Welfare of captive elephants
• Through the Project (being mainly implemented in 16 States or UTs), the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, provides financial and technical support to major elephant range states in the country.

Hence option (d) is the correct answer.