Daily Current Affairs MCQ - March 5, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

Centre has approved the proposal for continuation of the seven existing sub schemes under the Umbrella Scheme Relief and Rehabilitation of Migrants and Repatriates.

• The approval has been given for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26 with a total outlay of 1,452 crore rupees.
• The umbrella scheme enables migrants and repatriates, who have suffered on account of displacement, to earn a reasonable income and facilitate their inclusion in mainstream economic activities.
• Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the move will ensure that assistance continues to reach beneficiaries. The Central government at different points of time had started different such schemes. They include
  • the Relief and Rehabilitation of displaced families of Pakistan Occupied Areas of Jammu and Kashmir and Chhamb,
  • the relief assistance to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees,
  • the relief assistance to Brus lodged in relief camps in Tripura and
  • the enhanced relief to 1984 Anti-Sikh Riot Victims.
• The government is also providing grants-in-aid to West Bengal government for infrastructure development in 51 erstwhile Bangladeshi enclaves in India, situated in Cooch Behar District and for resettlement of 922 returnees from erstwhile Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.

Hence both statements are correct.

While Indians accept women as political leaders, they mostly favour traditional gender roles in family life, says a report titled “How Indians view gender roles in families and society” and released by the Pew Research Center, a Washington DC-based non-profit.

• According to the report, while 55% of Indians believed that men and women make equally good political leaders, “nine-in-ten Indians agree with the notion that a wife must always obey her husband”.
• Indian women were only slightly less likely than Indian men to agree with this sentiment (61% versus 67%).
• Although most Indians expressed egalitarian views on gender roles, with 62% saying that both men and women should be responsible for child care, traditional norms still held sway, with 34% convinced that child care “should be handled primarily by women”.
• Similarly, while a “slim majority (54%) says that both men and women” should be responsible for earning money, as many as 43% believed that earning an income is mainly the obligation of men.
• Also, 80% of Indians agreed with the idea that when there are few jobs, men should have more rights to a job than women.
• While Indians valued both sons and daughters, nearly 94% said it is very important for a family to have at least one son, with the corresponding figure for daughters being 90%.
• About 64% of Indians also said that sons and daughters should have equal rights to inheritance from parents. But while four-in-10 adults said that sons should have the primary responsibility to care for ageing parents, only 2% said the same about daughters.

Hence both statements are correct.

Nepal’s House of Representatives passed by voice vote the Millennium Challenge Corporation Nepal Compact, a $500 million grant from the US to build power and road infrastructure projects.

• The biggest American financial pledge to Nepal so far, it was signed in 2017 by MCC, but ratification was delayed by criticism that it undermined Nepal’s sovereignty.
• The deal was approved with a note stating that it has no military or security component and nothing to do with the US strategy in the Indo-Pacific — and that Nepal would be free to pull out if the US violated this understanding.
• MCC is an independent bilateral foreign aid agency established by the US Congress in 2004.

US, China, India

• This increases tussle between the US, China and India in Nepal.
• Nepal is surrounded by India on three sides and China on the fourth.
• After becoming PM for the first time in September 2015, Oli took Nepal close to China, retaliating against the months-long economic blockade launched by India
• China’s involvement in four key areas — energy, tourism and hospitality, post-earthquake reconstruction, and trade and investment — has increased substantially since then.
• In recent years, it has begun to openly exercise its influence and preferences in Nepali politics.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

After its proposal to amend the All India Service Rules that would allow it to call any IAS, IPS or IFoS officer on central deputation with or without the state’s consent, the Centre has issued another order on central deputation of Deputy Inspector General-level IPS officers that may not be palatable to the states.

• In an order issued on February 10, the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has said that IPS officers coming to the Centre at DIG level would no longer be required to be empanelled at that level with the Union Government.
• According to existing rules, a DIG-ranked IPS officer with a minimum experience of 14 years could only be deputed to the Centre if the Police Establishment Board empanelled them as DIGs at the Centre. The board chooses the panel on the basis of officers’ career and vigilance records. Only Superintendent of Police-level officers do not require empanelment at the Centre.
• The new order makes the entire pool of DIG-level officers in a state eligible for central deputation.
• The move is aimed at increasing the pool of DIG-level IPS officers for central deputation in the backdrop of massive vacancies in central police organisations (CPOs) and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

Hence both statements are correct.

• Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called ‘Sea Cow’ is one of the four surviving species in the Order Sirenia and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Dugongs are an important part of the marine ecosystem and their depletion will have effects all the way up the food chain.
• Distribution and Habitat: They are found in over 30 countries and in India are seen in the Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Bay, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
  • Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix I

• Wet bulb temperature is the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water into the air at a constant pressure. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• WBT is a limit that considers heat and humidity beyond which humans can not tolerate high temperatures. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• The Wet Bulb temperature is the temperature of adiabatic saturation. This is the temperature indicated by a moistened thermometer bulb exposed to the air flow.
  • An adiabatic process is one in which no heat is gained or lost by the system.
• Wet Bulb temperature can be measured by using a thermometer with the bulb wrapped in wet muslin.

Konark Temple

• Konark Sun Temple, located in the East Odisha near the sacred city of Puri.
• Built in the 13^th century by King Narasimhadeva I (AD 1238-1264). Its scale, refinement and conception represent the strength and stability of the Eastern Ganga Empire as well as the value systems of the historic milieu. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The temple is designed in the shape of a colossal chariot and is dedicated to the Sun God.
• The Konark temple is widely known not only for its architectural grandeur but also for the intricacy and profusion of sculptural work.
  • It marks the highest point of achievement of Kalinga architecture depicting the grace, the joy and the rhythm of life in all its wondrous variety.
• It was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1984. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• Sailors once called this Sun Temple of Konark, the Black Pagoda because it was supposed to draw ships into the shore and cause shipwrecks. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • Konark is the invaluable link in the history of the diffusion of the cult of Surya, which originating in Kashmir during the 8th century, finally reached the shores of Eastern India.

Montreux Convention

• The international agreement was signed by Australia, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Japan, Romania, Yugoslavia, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and Turkey and has been in effect since November 1936.
• The Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits gives Turkey control over the water route between the Black Sea.
  • Russia has a major navy base at Sevastopol, on the Crimean Peninsula.
  • However, for ships to move to and from the Mediterranean – and beyond – they have to pass through two straits controlled by Turkey under the Montreux Convention.
• It sets limits on the passage of civilian vessels and military warships through the Dardanelles and the Bosporus straits. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• The key elements in the Montreux Convention are:
  • In the event of a war, the pact gives Turkey the right to regulate the transit of naval warships and to block the straits to warships belonging to the countries involved in the conflict.
  • Any country with coastline on the Black Sea – Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia or Ukraine – must notify Turkey eight days in advance of its intention to send vessels of war through the straits.
    • Other countries, the ones that don’t border the Black Sea, must give Turkey 15 days’ advance notice.
• Turkey has used the convention’s powers before. During World War II, Turkey prevented the Axis powers from sending their warships to attack the Soviet Union – and blocked the Soviet navy from participating in combat in the Mediterranean. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

Sagar Parikrama

• It is a navigation journey to be conducted in all coastal states/Union Territories through a pre-decided sea route to demonstrate solidarity with all fisherfolk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders. Hence statement 1 is correct.
• It is envisioned as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’ saluting our great freedom fighters, sailors and fishers. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• The Parikrama will start from Mandvi, Gujarat in Ist phase and will be organised in other districts of Gujarat and other State/UTs in subsequent phases.
  • The first leg of ‘Sagar Parikrama’ shall start on 5th March 2022 from Mandvi and end at Porbandar on 6^th March 2022.
  • The entire distance will be covered from the coastline of Mandvi on the coast of the Arabian Sea in the Kutch district of Gujarat, situated at the estuary where the river Rukmavati meets the Gulf of Kutch.
  • The Rukmavati River is a south flowing river originating in the central Kutch District and empties into the Arabian Sea
• It will also conduct interaction programmes with fishermen, fisher communities and stakeholders in these locations and districts in order to know the problems of Coastal Fisher folk. Hence statement 3 is correct.
• It is envisaged in the sea across the coastal belt demonstrating solidarity with all fisher folk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders as a spirit of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

Daylight Harvesting

• Daylight Harvesting is a method of saving the energy costs associated with lighting. It makes use of the available sunlight. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • The solar energy spectrum has 45% energy as visible light and this can be used to harvest building illumination for about 9-11 hours a day.
• It is one of the most advanced techniques used in sustainable lighting designs for contemporary buildings.
• It automatically dims or adjusts the brightness of light in response to the amount of natural light available in a space. Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Utilising natural daylight coming through the windows or skylights minimises the amount of energy used in artificial lighting.
• The daylight harvesting system employs light sensors, also known as photocell sensors, to detect the prevailing light level in the environment.
• It then sends the intensity of light received to a controller, which is connected to the lighting control system. The control system in turn adjusts the electric lights automatically according to the measured light level.