Test: Weekly Current Affairs: January 8 to 14, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Statement 3 is incorrect.
The Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) has overturned the Securities and Exchange Board of India’s (Sebi) fine on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in the dark-fibre case.
The investigation focused on potential violations of regulations and circulars related to fraudulent and unfair trade practices.
About Dark Fiber:

• Dark fibre, also known as unlit fibre, is unused fibre-optic cable and infrastructure. It’s available for purchase or rent from network service providers.
• Dark fibre is used for private networking, internet access, and internet infrastructure networking. It’s typically used for telecom and network communications.
• Dark fibre is different from “lit fibre” which refers to cables that are actively being used. Dark fibre is inactive because no information is passed through it, so no light pulse is transmitted.

Logistics refers to the management and coordination of the flow of goods, services, and information from the point of origin to the point of consumption. It involves various activities such as transportation, storage, handling, and distribution to ensure the efficient movement of products within the supply chain.
India has ranked 38 out of 139 countries in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index 2023 (2018 rank of India was 44)
The unorganized sector amounts to over 90% of the logistics sector.

Cropping pattern: It is a dynamic concept because it changes over space and time. It can be defined as the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time. In other words, it is a yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of sowing and fallow on a given area. In India, the cropping pattern determined by rainfall, climate, temperature, soil type and technology. 

The Dare to Dream Contest, initiated in memory of former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, is an annual initiative by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

Launched in 2019, the contest provides a unique opportunity for start-ups, innovators, entrepreneurs, and individuals above 18 years old to address key challenges in emerging technologies, ultimately contributing to enhancing India’s defence and aerospace capabilities.

Statement 1 is incorrect.

• Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) program, a collaborative effort between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), was recently launched in Saint Lucia.
• India has been selected as the Partner Administrationand will contribute Tax Experts to the 12-18-month initiative. This marks the seventh TIWB program supported by India through the provision of Tax Experts.
• Aim: The program’s focus is on the effective use of automatic exchange of information under the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) framework. TIWB will facilitate the transfer of tax audit knowledge and skills to developing country tax administrations using a practical, “learning by doing” approach.

Statement 1 is incorrect.

• The fourth unit of the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-4) in Gujarat, with a capacity of 700 MWe, achieved criticality recently, marking the initiation of a controlled fission chain reaction.
• The Kakrapar facility, houses the largest indigenous nuclear power reactors built by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL).
• These pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) utilize natural uranium as fuel and heavy water as coolant and moderator.
• The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station includes two operating PHWRs with a capacity of 220 MWe each, known as KAPS-1 and -2.
• The NPCIL, a public sector undertaking of the Department of Atomic Energy, already operates indigenous PHWRs at other facilities.

Only Statement 1 is correct.

India’s engagement with the Arctic began when it signed the Svalbard Treaty in February 1920 in Paris between Norway, the US, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Ireland, and the British overseas Dominions and Sweden concerning Spitsbergen. Ever since then, India has been closely monitoring all the developments in the Arctic region.

India has launched its first winter expedition to Himadri, its Arctic Research Station at Ny-Ålesund in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.  The station, which was previously operational for about 180 days annually, will now remain operational throughout the year. This move makes India one of the few countries to operate its Arctic research bases during winter.

Statement 3 and 4 is correct.

Statement 2 is incorrect.
Advantages of Indian raw sugar in the International Market:

• Season advantage: India’s crushing is from October to April, whereas Brazilian mills operate from April to November. Hence, importers are utilising Indian raw sugar during Brazil’s off-season.
• Freight cost savings: India is much closer to its major sugar importers (compared to Brazil) and therefore less freight cost.
• Indian sugar is free of dextran: Dextran is a bacterial compound formed when sugarcane stays in the sun for too long after harvesting.

Indian raw sugar has no dextran, as it is produced from fresh cane crushed within 12-24 hours of harvesting (compared to 48 hours or more in Brazil) India’s sugar has a higher % of sucrose present.

The Prime Minister’s Farmer Income Protection Scheme also known as PM AASHA is an umbrella scheme of the Government of India to ensure a price policy such as a minimum support price are fulfilled. It includes the former Price Support Scheme (PSS), a Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and a Private Procurement & Stockist Scheme (PPPS).

Statement 1 is incorrect.

• The Mission on Advanced and High Impact Research has been launched jointly by the Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
• It is aimed to identify emerging technologies and areas of future relevance for the Global power sector and to take up indigenous end to end development of relevant Technologies.
• the mission will run for an initial period of 5 years from 2023-24 to 2027-28.
• It will be funded by Ministry of Power, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Central Public Sector Enterprises under these ministries
• additional funding if required, will be provided from budgetary sources of the central government.
• The mission will serve as a catalyst for National priorities such as achieving Net Zero emissions and promoting initiatives like Make in India and Start Up India
• it will also contribute towards achieving United Nations’ Sustainable Development goals.
• The project will support pilot projects of indigenous Technologies developed especially by Indian startups and facilitate their commercialisation.

MAHIR will work with premier institutions such as IITs, IIMs, NITs, IISR and universities on one hand and public and private power sector startups and established industries with the government acting as an enabler for creating an innovation ecosystem in the country.

Ectotherm, any so-called cold-blooded animal—that is, any animal whose regulation of body temperature depends on external sources, such as sunlight or a heated rock surface. The ectotherms include the fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates. The body temperature of an aquatic ectotherm is usually very close to the temperature of the surrounding water.

Europe’s most active volcano Mount Etna erupted on May 21, 2023.

Mount Etna is in an almost constant state of activity and it’s considered a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site.

The volcano’s height increased by over 30 metres following a six-month period of activity. This sudden growth spurt is the result of about 50 eruptions at the southeastern crater since February 16, 2021. The height grew due to the amount of volcanic material it spewed.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

About the Committee on Subordinate Legislation in Rajya Sabha

It is formed under Rule 204 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States. Its mandate involves scrutinizing and reporting to the House on the proper exercise of powers to make rules, regulations, bylaws, schemes, etc., as conferred by the Constitution or delegated by Parliament.

Ecotone is a zone of junction between two or more diverse ecosystems. For e.g. the mangrove forests represent an ecotone between marine and terrestrial ecosystem. Other examples are – grassland, estuary and river bank.
Characteristics of Ecotone

• It may be very narrow or quite wide.
• It has the conditions intermediate to the adjacent ecosystems. Hence it is a zone of tension.
• It is linear as it shows progressive increase in species composition of one in coming community and a simultaneous decrease in species of the other outgoing adjoining community.
• A well-developed ecotone contains some organisms which are entirely different from that of the adjoining communities.

Only Statement 3 is correct.

Jallikattu, also known as eruthazhuvuthal, is a bull-taming sport traditionally played in Tamil Nadu as part of the Pongal harvest festival. The festival is a celebration of nature, and thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, of which cattle-worship is part.

The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory advisory body on Animal Welfare Laws and promotes animal welfare in the country. Established in 1962 under Section 4 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Entry 17 of List III of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution which relates to the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Only Statement 3 is correct.

Let's analyze each statement regarding the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR):

1. Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) is the percentage of deposits which a bank must keep as cash reserves with the banks themselves.

   • This statement is incorrect. The CRR is the percentage of a bank's total deposits that must be maintained as reserves with the central bank (e.g., the Reserve Bank of India), not with the banks themselves.

2. This is a legal requirement and is binding on the banks.

   • This statement is correct. Banks are legally required to maintain the specified CRR as a regulatory measure.

3. Banks don’t earn returns on money parked as CRR.

   • This statement is correct. The funds kept as CRR with the central bank do not earn any interest for the banks.

4. The Central Bank controls the liquidity in the Banking system through CRR.

   • This statement is correct. By adjusting the CRR, the central bank can control the amount of liquidity in the banking system.

Based on the analysis:

• Statement 1 is incorrect.
• Statements 2, 3, and 4 are correct.

Therefore, three of the statements are correct.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Decisions taken under Chapter VII, such as economic sanctions or other sections like international security, are binding on UN members; the Security Council is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions. The UNGA can only make recommendations in this regard.

Decisions that are vetoed by the P-5 cannot be submitted for the review of the UNGA. Also, the UNSC is the authority under the UN charter to take action in situations threatening international peace and security.

While Uttaramerur has multiple inscriptions spanning centuries, the most famous one is from the reign of Parantaka I (907-953 AD). These provide a detailed description about the village’s self-governance and have been cited by historians and political leaders alike as evidence of India’s history of democratic functioning.

Uttaramerur lies in present-day Kanchipuram district, approximately 90 km southeast of Chennai. It is known for its historic temples built during Pallava and Chola rule.

The inscription found there is like a local constitution for the gram sabha. It tells how the assembly should be run, what should be the qualification of members, what should be the process to elect the members, and how a member would be disqualified.

Only Statement 2 is correct.

The European Space Agency (ESA) launched the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice, mission from its spaceport in French Guiana on an Ariane 5 launcher. Planned to reach Jupiter in 2031, the mission aims to carry out a detailed exploration of the Solar System’s largest planet and its icy moons, which potentially have habitable environments.

Only two other spacecraft have ever examined Jupiter: the Galileo probe, which orbited the gas giant between 1995 and 2003, and Juno, which has been circling the planet since 2016. Notably, by the time Juice reaches Jupiter, another spacecraft, NASA’s Europa Clipper, would already be orbiting the planet — scheduled to be launched in October this year, Europa Clipper would arrive at Jupiter in 2030 and aims to study its Europa moon.

According to ESA’s website, the Juice “will make detailed observations of the giant gas planet and its three large ocean-bearing moons — Ganymede, Callisto and Europa”, by using remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments.

Scientists for quite some time have known that these three moons of Jupiter possess icy crusts, which they believe contain oceans of liquid water underneath, making them potentially habitable. Juice will help probe these water bodies by creating detailed maps of the moons’ surfaces and enable the scientists, for the first time, to look beneath them.

Earthquakes can result in Tsunamis if a large amount of water gets displaced. 

Tectonic events with a strong vertical slip element are more likely to raise or lower the water column compared to horizontal slip elements”. “Thus, knowing the slip type at the early stages of the assessment can reduce false alarms and enhance the reliability of the warning systems.

Relying on seismographs and buoys attached by bottom-pressure sensors is not always the right method, as all earthquakes do not result in Tsunamis, and the buoys can detect Tsunamis only when one passes them, leaving less time to react and evacuate. In such cases, time is of the essence.

(The European Commission’s website describes the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) as giving “developing countries a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance”, in return for which “the EU cuts its import duties to zero on more than two thirds of the tariff lines of their exports”.)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

The Dancing Girl figurine was discovered in Mohenjodaro in 1926.

Even though Mohenjodaro and Harappa became part of Pakistani territory after the Partition, the Dancing Girl remained in India as part of an agreement. Today, the bronze figurine sits in the National Museum of India.

The Dancing Girl is evidence of the civilisation’s knowledge of metal blending and lost-wax casting – a complicated process by which a duplicate sculpture is cast from an original sculpture to create highly detailed metallic artefacts.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

In a ‘narco’ or narco analysis test, a drug called sodium pentothal is injected into the body of the accused, which transports them to a hypnotic or sedated state in which their imagination is neutralised. In this hypnotic state, the accused is understood as being incapable of lying and is expected to divulge information that is true.

Because the drug is believed to weaken the subject’s resolve to lie, it is sometimes referred to as a “truth serum”.

However, narco tests must not be confused with polygraph tests, which, although having the same truth-decoding motive, work differently.