Daily Current Affairs MCQ- January 4, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, to ensure smooth rail operations, Indian Railways have provisioned 19,742 Fog Pass Devices during the foggy weather.

• It is a GPS based navigation device that helps the loco pilot to navigate during dense fog conditions.
• It provides on-board real-time information (Display as well as voice guidance) to Loco Pilots regarding location of fixed landmarks such as Signal, Level Crossing gate (Manned & Unmanned), Permanent Speed Restrictions, Neutral Sections etc.
• It displays approach indications of next three approaching fixed landmarks in geographical order accompanied with voice message approximately 500m on approach.
• General features of Fog Pass Device
• Suitable for all types of sections like single line, double line, electrified as well as non electrified sections.
• Suitable for all types of electric and diesel locomotives, EMUs/MEMUs/ DEMUs.
• Suitable for train speeds up to 160 KMPH.
• It has built-in re-chargeable battery back-up for 18 hrs.
• It is portable, compact in size, light in weight (not more than 1.5 Kg including battery) and of robust design.
• Loco Pilot can carry the device easily with him to the locomotive on resuming his duty.
• It can be easily placed on the cab desk of locomotive.
• It is a standalone system.
• It is unaffected by weather conditions like Fog, Rain or Sunshine.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Prime Minister of India in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, inaugurated Kochi-Lakshadweep islands submarine optical fiber connection (KLI-SOFC) project.

• It is the submarine cable connectivity project from Mainland (Kochi) to eleven Lakshadweep Islands namely, Kavaratti, Agatti, Amini, Kadmat, Chetlet, Kalpeni, Minicoy, Androth, Kiltan, Bangaram and Bitra has been extended.
• The project is funded by Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF), Department of Telecommunication.
• Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) was the Project Executing Agency and the work was awarded to M/s NEC Corporation India Pvt Ltd through Global Open Tendering process.
• The major activities related to the project include Marine Route Survey, Submarine Cable laying, Civil Construction of CLS stations, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of End Terminals (SLTE).
• Significance of the project
• The KLI-SOFC project will lead to an increase in internet speed unlocking new possibilities & opportunities.
• For the first time since independence, Lakshadweep will be connected through Submarine Optic Fibre Cable.
• The dedicated submarine OFC will ensure a paradigm shift in communication infrastructure in the Lakshadweep islands, enabling faster and more reliable internet services, telemedicine, e-governance, educational initiatives, digital banking, digital currency usage, digital literacy etc.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Government of India has accorded its approval for India’s participation in the international mega science project, Square Kilometer Array (SKA), at an estimated cost of 1250 Cr rupees.

• It is a state of the art, mega science international facility to build the world’s biggest and most sensitive radio telescope for addressing a wide variety of cutting-edge science goals.
• The SKAO, collocated in Australia (SKA-Low) and South Africa (SKA-Mid) with operational headquarters in the UK, is expected to revolutionize radio astronomy, while driving the growth of many important new state-of-the-art technologies.
• Other ten countries involved are - Australia, Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, and the Netherlands.

India and SKAO

• Subsequent to this approval, India will be signing the SKAO treaty to become a full-fledged member of the SKA Observatory and thus join the growing list of countries participating in the project.
• This approval covers funding support for the construction phase of the international SKA Observatory (SKAO) spread over the next 7 years. 
• The project will be jointly funded by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and Department of Science and Technology (DST), with DAE as the lead agency. 
• The Indian participation in SKA is a truly nationwide, inclusive project led by a consortium of more than 20 academic and research institutes (with NCRA-TIFR as the nodal institute).

Hence both statements are correct.

The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) along with National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) has launched 'SMART 2.0' program.

• Scope for Mainstreaming Ayurveda Research among Teaching professionals (SMART) program promotes robust clinical studies in priority areas of Ayurveda with Ayurveda academic institutions/hospitals across the country through mutual collaboration.
• The objective of ‘SMART 2.0’ is to generate a tangible evidence to demonstrate efficacy and safety of Ayurveda interventions using interdisciplinary research methods and translating it into public health care.
• The study aims at safety, tolerability and adherence to Ayurveda formulations in the priority research areas of Bal Kasa, malnutrition, insufficient lactation, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Osteoporosis in post-menopausal women and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) II.

What is CCRAS?

• It is an autonomous body of the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), Government of India.
• It is an apex body in India for the formulation, coordination, development and promotion of research on scientific lines in Ayurveda and Sowa-Rigpa system of medicine.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Kármán line lacks a specific national demarcation, resembling the concept of international waters.

About Swadesh Darshan Scheme:

• It was launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations in the country. 
• It is 100% centrally funded scheme.
• Under the scheme, the Ministry of Tourism provides financial assistance to State governments, Union Territory Administrations or Central Agencies for development of tourism infrastructure in the country.
• Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of the projects sanctioned under Swadesh Darshan Scheme is the responsibility of the respective State Government/UT Administration.
• Swadesh Darshan 2.0:
• The Ministry of Tourism has revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) for development of sustainable and responsible tourist destinations covering tourism and allied infrastructure, tourism services, human capital development, destination management and promotion backed by policy and institutional reforms. 
• The objective for the Swadesh Darshan 2.0 scheme envisage increase in private sector investment in tourism & hospitality.
• It may help in increasing Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in the field of tourism and operation and maintenance of the created assets under the scheme.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The Quality Council of India (QCI) and Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) recently signed an initial pact to enhance the quality of the latter's products, train artisans, and introduce 'Made in India' label for Khadi.

About Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC):

• It is a statutory body established under the Khadi and Village Industries Commission Act of 1956.
• It is an apex organization under the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, with regard to khadi and village industries within India.
• The KVIC is charged with the planning, promotion, organisation and implementation of programmes for the development of Khadi and other village industries in rural areas in coordination with other agencies engaged in rural development wherever necessary.
• The functions of the KVIC are as follows:
• To build a strategic reserve of raw materials and implements for supply to producers.
• To create common service facilities for processing raw materials as semi-finished goods and provisions for facilities for marketing KVI products.
• To enhance the sale and marketing of Khadi and other products of village industries or handicrafts.
• To be responsible for encouraging and promoting research in the production techniques and equipment employed in the Khadi and Village Industries sectors.
• To provide financial assistance to institutions and individuals for developing and guiding the Khadi and Village industries through the supply of designs, prototypes, and other technical information.
• To assure the genuineness of the products and to set standards for the quality of products from Khadi and Village Industries.
• At the state level, Khadi & Village Industries Boards were set up to effectively implement the schemes of KVIC in their respective states.
• The following are the schemes covered under the KVIC:
•  Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
•  Market Promotion Development Assistance (MPDA)
• Interest Subsidy Eligibility Certificate (ISEC)
• Workshed Scheme for Khadi Artisans
• Strengthening the infrastructure of existing weak Khadi institutions and assistance for marketing infrastructure
• Khadi Reform and Development Programme (KRDP)
• Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI)
• Honey Mission

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Three cubs were born to the Namibian cheetah Aasha at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district recently.

About Kuna National Park:

• Location:
• It is located in the Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh.
• It is nestled near the Vindhyan Hills.
• It is named after the Kuno River (one of the main tributaries of the Chambal River) that cuts across it.
• Initially established as a wildlife sanctuary, it was only in 2018 that the government changed its status into a national park.
• It was selected under ‘Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India’. It has gained international recognition for conservation and restoration because of the recent reintroduction of cheetahs.
• Vegetation: The vegetation in the park varies from tropical dry deciduous forest to savannah grasslands. 
• Landscape: It is characterized by rocky hills, ravines, and plateaus.
• Flora: Kardhai, Salai, and Khair trees dominate the forested area.
• Fauna:
• The protected area of the forest is home to the jungle cat, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Indian wolf, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox, and dhole, along with more than 120 bird species.
• It is known for its population of Asiatic lions, which were translocated from Gir National Park in Gujarat in 2021 as part of a conservation effort to establish a second population of the species.

Hence option a is the correct answer.

The Prime Minister received a warm welcome in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep, recently as he arrived to inaugurate and lay the foundation for numerous development projects.

About Kavaratti Island:

• Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep (smallest Union Territory of India) and its most developed island.
• It lies 360 km of the coast of the State of Kerala.
• It is located in the centre of the Lakshadweep archipelago. It is located between Agatti Island on the west and Andrott Island on the east.
• It has an area of 4.22 sq km. The maximum length of the island is 5.8 km, and width is 1.6 km. 
• The island is 2 to 5 m above the mean sea level on the western side and 2 to 3 m on the eastern side.
• There is a shallow lagoon on the western side of the island, and coconut palms grow on the northern side. 
• The island is home to 12 atolls, five submerged banks, and three coral reefs. 
• Strangely, Kavaratti has a small inland lake at its northern end.
• Kavaratti town is noted for the carved wooden pillars and roofs of its mosques and the carved stones of its graveyards. 
• It has the maximum percentage of non–islanders as residents.
• Languages Spoken: Malayalam and Mahl
• Karavatti has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under the flagship Smart Cities Mission.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, India and Sweden launched Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) 2.0 during the COP28 World Climate Action Summit, hosted in Dubai.

• Since its inception in 2019, LeadIT has grown into a collaborative effort involving 18 countries and 20 industry-leading companies. 
• The LeadIT initiative, initially centered around pivotal sectors such as iron, steel, cement, and aluminum, focused on industry transition and knowledge sharing.
• LeadIT has played a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of low-carbon technologies, aligning with global environmental goals.
• Three core areas of LeadIT 2.0:
• Inclusive and Just Industry Transition: Ensuring that industry transitions are not only efficient but also equitable, promoting fairness and inclusivity in the process.
• Low Carbon Technology Development and Transfer : Placing renewed emphasis on the development and seamless transfer of low-carbon technologies, crucial for achieving sustainable practices across industries.
• Emerging Economy Technology Transfer: Facilitating the expedited transfer of innovative solutions to emerging economies, assisting in their transition to more sustainable practices.
• It serves as a platform for public-private collaboration, fostering sector-specific and cross-sectoral learning, especially concerning innovation opportunities and new technologies.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, Vaishali Rameshbabu and her younger brother Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa have become the first-ever Grandmaster brother-sister duo in history.

• Grandmaster is the highest title or ranking that a chess player can achieve.
• The Grandmaster title and other chess titles is awarded by the International Chess Federation, FIDE (acronym for its French name FédérationInternationale des Échecs),
• The title is the badge of the game’s super-elite, recognition of the greatest chess talent on the planet, which has been tested and proven against a peer group of other similarly talented players in the world’s toughest competitions.
• Besides Grandmaster, the Qualification Commission of FIDE recognises and awards seven other titles: International Master (IM), FIDE Master (FM), Candidate Master (CM), Woman Grandmaster (WGM), Woman International Master (WIM), Woman FIDE Master (WFM), and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) are also be given.
• All the titles, including that of Grandmaster, are valid for life, unless a player is stripped of the title for a proven offence such as cheating.
• Revocation of title
• The “use of a FIDE title or rating to subvert the ethical principles of the title or rating system may subject a person to revocation of his title”.
• In case it is found after a title has been awarded that the player was in breach of the Anti-Cheating Regulations in one or more of the tournaments on which the title application was based, then the title may be removed by the Qualification Commission”.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.