Daily Current Affairs MCQ- November 5, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, researchers discovered a new species of jumping spider from the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary.

• The new species belongs to the jumping spider genus Pancorius Simon, 1902, and Salticidae family,
• It has been named Pancorius sebastiani after the late spider taxonomist P.A. Sebastian.
• The Pancorius genus of Asian jumping spiders is primarily distributed in southeast Asia.
• Its distribution was hitherto limited to the east and northeastern regions in India.
• The new species is the first to be reported from the south.
• Features
• The males and the females of Pancorius sebastiani exhibit reddish brown carapace, yellowish abdomen with black patches and chevron-shaped markings posteromedially.
• An analysis of Salticidae species in the country shows that only two States, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have reported high numbers, while the others including those harbouring biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats and northeastern India have relatively few numbers of species.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Researchers from the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad have developed new eDNA sequencing method to assess biodiversity.

• Environmental DNA (eDNA) is DNA shed by all organisms into their surroundings through natural processes during their lifetime or after death.
• Source: It originates from cellular material shed by organisms (via skin, excrement, etc.) into aquatic or terrestrial environments that can be sampled and monitored using new molecular methods.

Key points about new method

• The new non-invasive method can assess the total biodiversity of any ecosystem by sequencing the DNA fragments found in the environmental samples such as water, soil or air.
• This method can detect all kinds of organisms, including viruses, bacteria, archaea, and eukaryotes such as fungi, plants, insects, birds, fish and other animals.
• This method requires just a few litres of water sample without any direct capture or counting of species.
• The researchers filter out eDNA from environmental samples, read their sequences, and thus, identify the source of the eDNA.

Significance

• Such methodology is important for the early detection of invasive species as well as the detection of rare and cryptic species.
• eDNA can also reveal the presence of human remains
• The new method is cheaper, faster, and highly scalable to large freshwater and marine ecosystems which can help in monitoring and conserving the rich biodiversity of our country.

Hence both statements are correct.

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have successfully created “sustainable plastic,” which is based on an epoxy resin vitrimer.

• These represent a relatively recent category of plastics known for their impressive strength at low temperatures.
• They also possess the unique ability to be reshaped numerous times when exposed to higher temperatures. 
• It is also partially biodegradable.
• Nonetheless, they do have a notable drawback - extreme brittleness, as they cannot be stretched far before breaking.
• To address this issue, researchers introduced a molecule called polyrotaxane into the plastic synthesis process, resulting in a novel plastic variant they've dubbed VPR, an abbreviation for "vitrimer incorporated with polyrotaxane." 
• VPR is over five times as resistant to breaking as a typical epoxy resin vitrimer.
• At high temperature of around 150 degrees Celsius, VPR start to recombine, allowing the material to take on different forms.
• It also repairs itself 15 times as fast, can recover its original memorised shape twice as fast and can be chemically recycled 10 times as fast as the typical vitrimer.
• It even biodegrades safely in a marine environment, which is new for this material,”

Hence both statements are correct.

Scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have discovered a new species of epiphytic plant Lysionotus namchoomii from Pakke-Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

• It is named as Lysionotus namchoomii.
• Range: The native range of the genus Lysionotus is the Himalayas to Japan and Indo-China, and about 50% of the species found are endemic.
• Species of the genus are mostly epiphytic, lithophytic, or terrestrial evergreen erect or climbing subshrubs.
• The new species bears thick leaves and attractive purple flowers.
• The conservation status of this new species is provisionally assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’, in accordance with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. 
• It is epiphytic in nature and grows another plant.
• Epiphytic plants are mostly found in tropical and subtropical forests,

Key Facts about Botanical Survey of India

• It is the apex taxonomic research organization of the country which is under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.
• It was established on 13^th February 1890 under the direction of Sir George King.
• The mandate of the organization has been broadened to biosystematics research, floristic studies, documentation, databasing of National Botanical collection, digitization of herbarium specimens etc.
• Headquarter: Kolkata

Hence option a is the correct answer.

Physicists recently found evidence that tellurium is produced in neutron star mergers.

About Tellurium:

• Tellurium is a semi-metallic, lustrous, crystalline, brittle, silver-white element.
• Atomic Number: 52
• It has the properties of both the metals and the nonmetals.
• It forms many compounds corresponding to those of sulfur and selenium.
• When burned in the air, tellurium has a greenish-blue flame and forms tellurium dioxide as a result.
• Tellurium is a semiconductor material and is slightly photosensitive.
• It is one of the only elements that readily combine with gold (Au).
• Sources:
• Tellurium is sometimes found free in nature. 
• More commonly, it is found combined with metals, such as in the minerals calaverite (gold telluride, AuTe2) and sylvanite (silver-gold telluride).
• Commercially, tellurium is obtained as a byproduct of electrolytic copper refining.
• Applications:
• Tellurium is alloyed with copper and stainless steel to makethese metals more workable.
• It is added at very low levels to lead to decreases the corrosive actionof sulfuric acid in batteries and to improve the lead’s strength and hardness.
• It is used as a coloring agent in ceramics.
• It is also used in the electronics industry, for example, with cadmium and mercury to form photosensitive semiconductors.
• It is used in vulcanizing rubber, andin catalysts for petroleum cracking, and in blasting caps for explosives.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) recently decided to withdraw its elite CoBRA force from Jammu and Kashmir following objections to its deployment from some senior officials of the paramilitary force.

About Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA):

• Established in 2008, CoBRA is a specialized unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
• It is one of the few units of the CRPF in the country that is specifically trained in guerilla tactics and jungle warfare.
• They are also known as ‘jungle warriors’.
• Originally established to counter the left wing extremism (Naxalite problem), CoBRA is deployed within India to address any insurgent group engaging in asymmetrical warfare.
• Personnel for CoBRA are selected from CRPF, as CoBRA is an integral part of CRPF.
• They undergo rigorous commando and jungle warfare training before being posted to CoBRA units for operations.
• It has 10 units, raised between 2008 and 2011
• The majority of CoBRA teams are deployed in various Maoist violence-affected states while a few are based in the northeastern states to undertake counter-insurgency operations.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Around 50 Odonata species were identified on the first day of the two-day Odonata survey that commenced in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) recently.

About Odonata Species:

• Odonata is an insect order consisting of three groups: Anisoptera (which includes dragonflies), Zygoptera (which includes damselflies), and Anisozygoptera (a relict group represented by only two living species).
• It is one of the ancient orders of insects. 
• Odonata is a diverse group, with over 6,000 known species.
• Distribution:
• They are globally distributed, from the tropics, where they are most numerous and varied, to the boreal forests of Siberia and North America.
• They are also found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, with the exception of Antarctica.
• India is highly diverse, with more than 500 known species.
• Habitat: They are found in a variety of habitats, such as freshwater environments like ponds, rivers, and lakes, and are typically associated with bodies of water during their larval stage.
• Features:
• Many characteristics distinguish Odonata from other groups of insects: minute antennae, extremely large eyes (filling most of the head), two pairs of transparent membranous wings with many small veins, a long slender abdomen, and an aquatic larval stage (nymph).
• The abdomen is almost always longer than any of the wings.
• More than 80% of their brain is devoted to analyzing visual information.
• Large, active by day, and often strikingly coloured, they are usually seen flying near water.
• Their mouths have been adapted for biting, making them efficient hunters.
• Adult odonates are voracious predators, as are the aquatic larvae.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

Punjab National Bank was imposed a penalty by the RBI for violating SMS charges regulations.

The NITI Aayog Indo-AU workshop focused on three key themes: inclusive growth, sustainable infrastructure, and migration management. Climate change adaptation was not a specific theme of the workshop, but it was discussed in the context of sustainable infrastructure and migration management.

All of the factors listed in the options have contributed to the recent growth in cruise tourism in India. The waiver of cabotage fees has made it easier for foreign cruise vessels to operate in Indian waters, the development of modern cruise terminals has improved the passenger experience, and the introduction of e-visa facilities has made it easier for tourists to obtain visas.