Daily Current Affairs MCQ - April 12, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

A neural network is a series of algorithms that endeavor to recognize underlying relationships in a set of data through a process that mimics how the human brain operates. In this sense, neural networks refer to neurons' systems, either organic or artificial in nature. Neural networks can adapt to changing input; so the network generates the best possible result without needing to redesign the output criteria. The concept of neural networks, which has its roots in artificial intelligence, is swiftly gaining popularity in the development of trading systems.

The Asiatic cheetah, which once roamed India's vast forests and grasslands, was declared extinct here in 1952, after decades of human intervention, hunting and habitat degradation. The IUCN Red List classifies the species as critically endangered globally. The Asiatic cheetah is now found only in Iran. The Asiatic cheetah is arguably the most distinct of the cheetah subspecies. It is lighter in weight, has a smaller head and shorter legs. It faces many threats, including persecution killing, habitat loss (prey depletion), targeted poaching for skins, body parts and live trade, and even road-kill. Cheetahs are fairly adaptable and present across varied climate and habitats in their extant range. However, they require specialized prey and do not tolerate landscapes that have medium to high human populations. Cheetahs have wide climatic tolerances but the impacts of climate change and increasing human populations are placing pressure on cheetah habitats.

Orchids are not often called ugly, but that is how the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, described a new species of the normally vibrant and delicate flower discovered in Madagascar's forests. Gastrodia agnicellus, one of 156 plants and fungal species named by Kew scientists and their partners worldwide in 2020, has been crowned "the ugliest orchid in the world".

The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) is an 810 km stretch between the river Yamuna in the west and the river Bagmati. The Bagmati River is a river in south-central Nepal and northern Bihar state. Comprises the Shivalik hills, the adjoining bhabhar areas and the Terai flood plains. The bhabhar is that part of the Indian Northern Plains where the rivers, after descending from the mountains, deposit pebbles. It is a narrow belt, having a width of about 8 to 16 km and lying parallel to the slopes of the Shiwaliks. All the streams disappear in this bhabar belt. South of this belt, the streams and rivers re-emerge and create a wet, swampy and marshy region known as terai. It is spread across the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, and Nepal's low lying hills. It boasts of some of India’s most well-known Tiger Reserves and Protected Areas such as Corbett Tiger Reserve (Uttarakhand), Rajaji National Park (Uttarakhand), Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh), Valmiki Tiger Reserve (Bihar). In total, the landscape has 13 Protected Areas, 9 in India and 4 in Nepal, covering a total area of 49,500 km2, of which 30,000 km2 lies in India. The forests are home to three flagship species, the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), the greater one horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (Uttar Pradesh) is located in Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. It was notified as Tiger Reserve in 2014. In 2020, it bagged international award TX2 for doubling up the number of tigers in the past four years. It forms the part of Terai Arc Landscape in the upper Gangetic Plain. The northern edge of the reserve lies along the Indo-Nepal border while the southern boundary is marked by the river Sharada and Khakra.

The budget goes through the following six stages in the Parliament: Presentation of budget: Since 2017, the budget presentation has been advanced to 1st of February. General discussion: The general discussion on budget takes place in both the Houses of Parliament. Scrutiny by departmental committees: After the general discussion on the budget is over the 24 departmental standing committees of Parliament examine and discuss in detail the demands for grants of the concerned ministers and prepare reports on them. Voting on demands for grants: The Lok Sabha takes up voting of demands for grants. The voting of demands for grants is the Lok Sabha's exclusive privilege. Passing of appropriation bill: An appropriation bill is introduced to provide for the appropriation, out of India's Consolidated Fund. Passing of finance bill: The Finance Bill is introduced to give effect to the Government of India's financial proposals for the following year.

Consolidated Fund of India is constituted under Article 266 (1) of India's Constitution. It is made up of: All revenues received by the Centre by way of taxes (Income Tax, Central Excise, Customs and other receipts) and all non-tax revenues. All loans raised by the Centre by issue of Public notifications, treasury bills (internal debt), foreign governments, and international institutions (external debt). The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India (CAG) audits the fund and reports the management's relevant legislatures.

Young people have hurled bricks, fireworks, and gasoline bombs at police and set hijacked cars and a bus on fire during a week of violence on Northern Ireland's streets. The chaotic scenes have stirred memories of decades of Catholic-Protestant conflict, known as “The Troubles”. A 1998 peace deal ended large-scale violence but did not resolve Northern Ireland’s deep-rooted tensions. Geographically, Northern Ireland is part of Ireland. Politically, it’s part of the United Kingdom. Ireland, long dominated by its bigger neighbour, broke free about 100 years ago after centuries of colonisation and an uneasy union. Twenty-six of its 32 counties became an independent, Roman Catholic-majority country. Six counties in the north, which have a Protestant majority, stayed British. Northern Ireland’s Catholic minority experienced discrimination in jobs, housing and other areas in the Protestant-run state. In the 1960s, a Catholic civil rights movement demanded change, but faced a harsh response from the government and police. The 1998 Good Friday accord saw the paramilitaries lay down their arms and established a Catholic-Protestant power-sharing government for Northern Ireland. The question of Northern Ireland’s ultimate status was deferred: it would remain British as long as that was the majority’s wish, but a future referendum on reunification was not ruled out.

Researchers from IIT Guwahati have developed a technique to improve rechargeable lithium-ion batteries' performance, which power most of the portable devices used today. The 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was jointly awarded to Stanley Whittingham, John Goodenough and Akira Yoshino for work that led to lithium-ion batteries' development. These batteries are used in most mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops and power banks, among other devices. Today, most Electrical Vehicles (EV) use Li-ion batteries as well, but are slowly reaching their theoretical limits to provide roughly up to 300-watt hour per kilogram of energy. These batteries can also be used to store solar and wind power, which means that it may even be possible to live in a fuel-free society with their widespread use. Disadvantages Some of the disadvantages of Li-ion batteries include their susceptibility to overheating and their being prone to damage at high voltages since they are made with flammable and combustible materials. Such batteries also start losing their capacity over time — for instance, a laptop battery in use for a few years does not function and a new one. Alternatives to Li-ion batteries In January 2020, researchers from Australia claimed that they developed the world’s most efficient lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery, capable of powering a smartphone for five continuous days — the equivalent of an electric car being able to drive a distance of over 1,000 km. Li-S batteries are generally considered the successors of Li-ion batteries because of their lower production cost, energy efficiency and improved safety. Their cost of production is lower because sulfur is abundantly available.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration, established by treaty in 1899, is an intergovernmental organization providing a variety of dispute resolution services to the international community.