Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 1, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, the union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) assessment, Dashboard for IPHS and Spot Food Licence Initiative to provide “Healthcare for All” and promote wellness.

• National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) assessment has been launched for Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM) and Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHL) in compliance with IPHS standards.
• IPHS is a digital platform for real-time monitoring of public health facilities that provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment and compliance status of public health facilities.

What is Spot Food Licence Initiative?

• It is for the instant issuance of licenses and registrations through the pan-India IT platform designed to address all food safety regulatory needs i.e Food Safety and Compliance System (FoSCoS).
• This new provision supplements the existing procedures for applying and obtaining licenses and registrations as prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011.
• Instant issuance of licenses without the intervention of a licensing authority will be available for select categories such as wholesalers, distributors, retailers, transporters, storage without atmospheric control + cold, importers, food vending agencies, direct sellers and merchant-exporters.
• This scheme will not apply to businesses involved in high-risk food categories like milk, meat and fish.

What are Ayushman Arogya Mandirs?

• These have been established and operationalized to provide comprehensive, accessible healthcare services for all citizens.
• These are led by Community Health Officers, the primary healthcare teams at AAM are trained to manage initial care, triage, and refer patients to appropriate facilities for further treatment.
• This approach reduces the burden on secondary and tertiary care facilities by providing primary care services closer to the community with adequate referral linkages.
• The early identification and management of health issues help prevent disease progression, necessitating advanced care.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Department of Commerce has extended the Interest Equalisation Scheme for pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit for Micro, Small and Medium-scale (MSME) exporters till August 31.

• It was first implemented on 1st April, 2015, to provide pre- and post-shipment export credit to exporters in rupees.
• It was initially valid for 5 years, up to 31.3.2020. The scheme has been continued thereafter, including a one-year extension during COVID and further extensions and fund allocations. 
• Implementing agency: It is being implemented by the RBI through various Public and non-Public Sector banks who provide pre- and post-shipment credit to the exporters. 
• The Scheme is jointly monitored by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and the RBI through a consultative mechanism.
• The scheme helps the identified export sectors to be internationally competitive and to achieve a high level of export performance.
• Features:
• An eligible exporter has to submit a certification from the external auditor to the concerned bank to claim this benefit.
• Banks provide IES benefits to the eligible exporters and claim a reimbursement from the RBI based on the external auditor certification furnished by the exporter.
• Currently, the Scheme provides an interest equalisation benefit at the rate of 2% on pre- and post-shipment rupee export credit to merchant and manufacturer exporters of 410 identified tariff lines at 4-digit level and 3% to all MSME manufacturer exporters. 
• The Scheme has now been made fund-limited, and the benefit to individual exporters has been capped at Rs 10 Crore per annum per IEC (Import Export Code). 
• In addition, the banks that lend to exporters at an average rate of more than Repo + 4% would be debarred under the Scheme.

Hence both statements are correct.

National Statistics Day is celebrated in India on June 29 every year.

• It is celebrated in recognition of the notable contributions made by Professor (late) Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis in the fields of statistics and economic planning.
• The main objective of celebrating Statistics Day is creation of public awareness, especially among the younger generation, on the role and importance of statistics in socio-economic planning and policy formulation for development of the country.
• Since 2007, Statistics Day is celebrated every year with a theme of contemporary national importance. 
• The theme for Statistics Day, 2024 is "Use of data for decision-making".
• The concept of data driven decision making is important for making informed decisions in any field, and it is one of the pre-requisites for better understanding of statistical information, emanating from official statistics and for facilitating evidence-based decision making.

Who is Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis?

• He was born on 29 June 1893.
• He is known as the father of Indian statistics and was an Indian scientist and statistician. His role in India's post-independence economic planning is undeniable.
• He established the Indian Statistical Institute in 1931. It is one of the premier institutions for statistical research and training .
• He was awarded one of the highest civilian awards, the Padma Vibhushan from the Government of India for his contribution to science.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Meghalaya Lokayukta recently issued notifications to the former chief secretary and other former officials of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) for their alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme in the state.

About Saubhagya Scheme:

• The Government of India launched Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (SAUBHAGYA) in October, 2017
• Objective: Achieving universal household electrification, by providing electricity connections to all un-electrified households in rural areas and all poor households in urban areas in the country.
• Under the Saubhagaya scheme, LED bulbs, wire, holders, switches, etc are to be provided to BPL families free of cost. 
• Salient features of the scheme were:
• Providing last-mile connectivity and electricity connections to all un-electrified households in rural areas.
• Providing Solar Photo Voltaic (SPV)-based standalone systems for un-electrified households located in remote and inaccessible villages / habitations where grid extension is not feasible or cost effective.
• Providing last mile connectivity and electricity connections to all remaining economically poor un-electrified households in urban areas. Non-poor urban households are excluded from this scheme.
• In the rural areas, families other than BPL families electricity connection has to be provided for Rs. 500. The consumer has to pay the amount in 10 equal installments of Rs. 50 in each bill, in the urban areas, the BPL families will be provided free power connection.
• It is a provision that families of rural areas, which are not possible to issue electrical assemblies through grid supply, have to be published through solar energy.
• Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) has been designated as its nodal agency for the Saubhagya scheme.
• The beneficiaries for free electricity connections will be identified using Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) 2011 data.

Hence both statements are correct.

Italy reported its first-ever case of Oropouche fever, a mosquito-borne disease, recently.

About Oropouche Fever:

• It is an emerging zoonotic arboviral disease caused by the Oropouche Virus (OROV). 
• OROV is part of the orthobunyavirus family, with an incubation period of 4 to 8 days.
• It was first discovered in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.
• Symptoms:
• The symptoms of Oropouche fever often mimic those of other viral infections, including fever, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, and nausea.
• However, severe cases can lead to meningitis or encephalitis, posing significant health risks, especially to vulnerable populations.
• Most patients recover in about a week, but for some, symptoms linger for weeks.
• Transmission:
• It is spread to humans through the bite of an infected midge (small fly) or mosquito.
• Factors such as urbanization, deforestation, and climate change contribute to the proliferation of its vector, escalating the risk of transmission.
• Treatment:
• There are no vaccines to prevent Oropouche fever. 
• There is no specific treatment for Oropouche fever.
• Medical care aims to control the symptoms and help with recovery.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

India recently said it opposes unilateral actions seeking to change the status quo by force in South China Sea amid concerns over China’s escalatory moves against the Philippines’ maritime operations in the region.

About South China Sea:

• It is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland. 
• It embraces an area of about 1,423,000 square miles (3,685,000 square km), with a mean depth of 3,976 feet (1,212 metres).
• Boundaries:
• It is bordered by China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Vietnam.
• The southern boundary of the South China Sea is a rise in the seabed between Sumatra and Borneo, and the northern boundary stretches from the northernmost point of Taiwan to the coast of Fujian province, China, in the Taiwan Strait.
• It is connected by the Taiwan Strait with the East China Sea and by the Luzon Strait with the Philippine Sea (both marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean).
• The South China Sea and the East China Sea together form the China Sea.
• The two major archipelagos are known as the Paracel Islands, controlled by China, and the Spratly Islands.
• Climate: The weather in the sea is tropical and largely controlled by monsoons.
• It is the second most used sea lane in the world. It is a significant trade route for crude oil from the Persian Gulf and Africa through the Strait of Malacca to Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. 
• Major Ports: Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.

Hence both statements are correct.

Five soldiers died after a tank was swept away by strong water currents in the Shyok river during a military training in Ladakh recently.

About Shyok River:

• It is a river that flows through northern Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, India, and enters the Pakistan-administered region of Gilgit-Baltistan, where it joins the Indus River.
• It is a tributary of the Indus River.
• Course:
• It originates from the Rimo Glacier; one of the tongues of the Siachen Glacier, and gets its name from a Ladakhi word meaning 'the river of death'. 
• The alignment of the Shyok river is very strange, originating from the Rimo glacier, it flows in a South-East direction and at joining the Pangong range, it takes a north-west turn and flows parallel to its prior path.
• The Shyok, flowing in a broad valley, rapidly enters a narrow gorge after Chalunka and then joins the Indus at Skardu (Pakistan).
• The total length of the river is around 550 km (340 mi).
• It is fed by meltwater from numerous glaciers on its journey.
• It meanders through the high-altitude deserts and mountain ranges of Ladakh before converging with the Indus. 
• Its main right-bank tributary is the Nubra River.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Director General of Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched the mobile application-Sangyaan App.

• It is designed and developed by the Tech Team of RPF.
• It is a practical tool for anyone seeking to stay informed about the latest legal developments in India.
• It aims to educate and empower RPF Personnel by providing comprehensive information to understand the provisions of both new and old criminal laws, while highlighting the relevance of these new acts in the context of RPF operations.
• It will provide in-depth information on three new Criminal Acts: the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) 2023.
• Key Features
• Comprehensive Legal Access
• Comparison of Laws
• Section wise analysis
• Advanced Search Tools
• Inclusive Legal Database
• User-Friendly Design

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development launched web portal for faster bank settlements of interest subvention claims under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund along with Krishi Katha platform.

• It showcases the voice of the Indian farmers, dedicated to amplifying the experiences, insights and success stories of farmers across the country.
• It aims to provide a comprehensive and immersive storytelling space where the narratives of India's agricultural community can be shared and celebrated. 
• The objectives behind this initiative will be helpful in raising awareness, facilitating exchange of knowledge, fostering collaboration and empowering farmers.

Key facts about Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Scheme

• It was launched in 2020.
• Objective: Development of post-harvest management infrastructure for reducing losses, realisation of better value to farmers, innovation in agriculture and attracting investments for creation of Agriculture infrastructure with a total outlay of ₹ 1 lakh crore funding through the banks and financial institutions upto 2025-26.
• The scheme provides for 3% interest subvention to beneficiaries of the scheme for the loans given by banks upto ₹ 2 crore for a maximum period of 7 years, besides  reimbursement of credit guarantee fee paid by banks.  

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Legal Metrology Division of the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India has unveiled new draft rules for Evidential Breath Analysers under the Legal Metrology (General) Rules, 2011. 

• It is an Instrument that measures and displays the breath alcohol mass concentration of exhaled human breath within specified error limits.
• It provides a non-invasive way to measure blood alcohol content, offering quick and painless sample collection.
• Working of Breath Analyser
• In the case of alcohol detection, a precise amount of a person’s exhaled breath is passed through a solution of potassium dichromate and sulfuric acid in the analyzer.
• The change in the colour of the solution is proportional to the amount of alcohol in the air sample, which in turn is directly related to the alcohol content of the blood. 
• Evidential Breath Analysers needs to be verified and stamped according to the Legal Metrology Act, 2009, to ensure their accuracy.
• The rapid analysis capabilities allow law enforcement officers to make swift, informed decisions, enhancing the effectiveness of roadside checks.
• This verification protects individuals from wrongful penalties due to faulty equipment and helps maintain the integrity of legal and workplace policies.
• The availability of stamped and verified Evidential Breath Analysers to the public can raise awareness about the effects of alcohol on impairment and the legal limits for safe operation of vehicles and machinery. This encourages responsible behavior and informed decision-making.
• The rules are applicable to those types of Evidential Breath Analysers that use mouthpieces for sampling the breath. 

Hence both statements are correct.