Daily Current Affairs MCQ- August 29, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

The Government of India has exempted Boeing 787 aircraft in India from complying with the indigenously developed GAGAN navigation system until December 2025 as the aircraft manufacturer has said that it involves a major design change.

• The GPS-aided GEO augmented navigation (GAGAN) is an implementation of a regional satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) by the Government of India.
• GAGAN helps aircraft with guided landing at airports that do not have an instrument landing system.
• It is a system to improve the accuracy of a GNSS receiver by providing reference signals.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet appointed Samir V. Kamat as Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development and Chairman, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

• Incumbent chairman G. Satheesh Reddy has been made the Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister. Mr. Kamat will retain his post till the age of 60 or further orders.
• The DRDO is charged with the military's research and development under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence. It was formed in 1958.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Asok Kumar, the Director General of the National Mission for Clean Ganga, spoke about the Arth Ganga model during his virtual keynote address to the Stockholm World Water Week 2022.

• PM Modi first introduced the concept during the first National Ganga Council meeting in Kanpur in 2019, where he urged for a shift from Namami Gange, the Union Government’s flagship project to clean the Ganga, to the model of Arth Ganga.
• The latter focuses on the sustainable development of the Ganga and its surrounding areas, by focusing on economic activities related to the river.
• At its core, the Arth Ganga model seeks to use economics to bridge people with the river.
• Since 1991, the Stockholm International Water Institute has been organising the World Water Week every year to address global water concerns.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the proposal for amendment of policy of exemption for Wheat or Meslin Flour (HS Code 1101) from export restrictions/ ban.

• Impact: The approval will now allow to put a restriction on the export of Wheat Flour which will ensure a curb on rising prices of wheat flour and ensure food security of the most vulnerable sections of the society.
• Implementation: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) shall issue a notification to this effect.

Hence both statements are correct.

A newly identified gene can hold the key to prevent fungal infection Candidiasis that often affects intensive-care unit (ICU) patients, cancer patients and patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.

• The gene called CSA6 has been identified in Candida albicans a fungal species infamous for causing high rates of morbidity and mortality under certain immuno-compromised conditions such as AIDS or during cancer treatment.
• The fungal species residing in mucosal linings of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tract of healthy individuals turns into a pathogen under immuno-compromised conditions breaching the host defense causing superficial as well as life-threatening systemic infection.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Supreme Court has raised the ceiling limit of iron ore mining for Bellary, Chitradurga, and Tumkur districts in Karnataka.

The court ruled that conservation of the ecology and environment must go hand in hand with the spirit of economic development.

• With the total resources of over 33.276 billion tonnes of haematite and magnetite, India is amongst the leading producers of iron ore in the world.
• Of the two, haematite is considered to be superior because of its higher grade.
• About 79% haematite ore deposits are found in the Eastern Sector (Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha & Uttar Pradesh) while about 93% magnetite ore deposits occur in Southern Sector (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, & Tamil Nadu).
• Karnataka alone contributes 72% of magnetite deposit in India
• India is the third-largest producer of iron ore in the world.

Hence both statements are not correct.

Nepal has postponed the recruitment rallies which were to be held in that country to recruit Gorkha soldiers for the Indian Army under the Agnipath scheme.

• The decision to postpone these rallies has been taken by the Nepalese government as it is of the opinion that this new form of entry into the Indian military is not covered under the Tripartite Agreement signed between Nepal, Indian and UK governments in 1947, soon after Indian independence.
• As per the terms of this agreement four regiments of Gorkha soldiers – 2nd, 6th, 7th and 10th – were transferred to the British Army while the rest – 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th and 9th – remained with the Indian Army.
• A new Gorkha Regiment, the 11th Gorkha Rifles, was raised by India soon after Independence.
• The agreement also provides for the terms and conditions of the Nepal-domiciled Gorkha soldiers in the Indian Army and for their post-retirement benefits and pensions.

Hence both statements are correct.

California has approved a ban on the sale of new petroleum-powered vehicles by 2035 — a landmark policy intervention that could have an impact throughout most other American states, and in countries outside of the US.

• The rule would kick in with a 35 per cent limit on new passenger vehicle sales to be “zero emission” (or Battery Electric Vehicles) by 2026, which then goes up to 68 percent by 2030, and 100 per cent in 2035.
• California, besides being the biggest US state, is one of the largest markets for car sales in the world. So, California’s position on new car sales is extremely important.
• India has a target of meeting at least 65 per cent of all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2030.
• Progress has been patchy though, with 6.38 lakh EVs registered in India since 2012 – less than 1 per cent of the total vehicle count.
• What is encouraging is that over 15 states have issued or adopted EV policies so far.

Hence both statements are correct.

Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah inaugurated office of National Investigation Agency (NIA) at New Raipur in Chhattisgarh. He also extended his greetings to the people of Chhattisgarh on the occasion of the ‘Teeja Pola ‘ festival.

• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is the primary counter-terrorist task force of India.
• The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on 31 December 2008, which was passed after the deadly 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.
• Headquartered in New Delhi, the NIA has branches in various cities.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Ministry of Culture along Sangeet Natak Akademi, the designated nodal agency for ICH, in collaboration with the National Museum and National Museum Institute,organized the celebration of the successful inscription of ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ on the Representative List of ICH of Humanity in 2021.

• ‘Durga Puja in Kolkata’ was inscribed on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of Humanity during its 16th session held in Paris, France from 13th to 18th December 2021.
• India now has 14 intangible cultural heritage elements on the prestigious UNESCO Representative List of ICH of Humanity.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.