Daily Current Affairs MCQ- December 19, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

According to a report by the World Bank, curbing air pollution in India needs efforts across South Asia

• According to the report, existing measures by the government can reduce particulate matter, significant reduction is possible only if the territories spanning the airsheds implement coordinated policies.
• Currently over 60% of South Asians are exposed to an average 35 g/m3 of PM2.5 annually.
• In some parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) it spiked to as much as 100 g/m3 – nearly 20 times the upper limit of 5 g/m3 recommended by the World Health Organisation.
• According to the report, India has six large airsheds, some of them shared with Pakistan, between which air pollutants move.
• The six major airsheds in South Asia where air quality in one affected the other were:
  • West/Central IGP: Punjab (Pakistan), Punjab (India), Haryana, part of Rajasthan, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh;
  • Central/Eastern IGP: Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bangladesh;
  • Middle India: Odisha/Chhattisgarh;
  • Middle India: Eastern Gujarat/Western Maharashtra;
  • Northern/Central Indus River Plain: Pakistan, part of Afghanistan; and
  • Southern Indus Plain and further west: South Pakistan, Western Afghanistan extending into Eastern Iran.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has allowed the conversion of regular vehicle registrations into Bharat Series (BH) numbers as part of measures to widen the scope of the BH series ecosystem.

• The BH series registration mark vide General Statutory Rule (GSR) 594(E) was introduced on August 26, 2021. 
• This has come into force with effect from 15th September, 2021. 
• It has been incorporated in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.
• The implementation of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 is under the purview of the State Governments/UT administration.

Eligibility:

• It has been introduced for citizens working in Government offices or in private organizations with offices in four or more States/UTs, on voluntary basis.
• Applicants, working in Government offices, can avail BH Series facility on the basis of their official ID Card.
• Private Sector employees are required to submit a working certificate, certifying that their organization has offices in 4 or more States/UTs.
• Currently, only new vehicles are being registered under the BH Series. 

Implementation:

• So far, 24 states and UTs have rolled out the new Bharat Series (BH-series) for vehicle registration and so far over 20,000 vehicles have been registered across the states.

Hence both statements are correct.

Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister (EAC-PM) will release the Social Progress Index (SPI) for states and districts of India on December 20, 2022. 

• SPI is a comprehensive tool intended to be a holistic measure of the Social Progress made by the country at the national and sub-national levels. 
• The report has been prepared by Institute for Competitiveness, headed by Dr Amit Kapoor and the Social Progress Imperative, headed by Michael Green.
• It was mandated by Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India.

What is objective of the SPI?

• The report aims to provide a systematic account of the social progress made at all levels in the country with state and district-wise rankings and scorecards.
• The report also sheds light on the achievements of the districts that have performed well on the index and the role of the states in achieving social progress.
• A special section of the report provides an analysis of the Aspirational Districts of India, leading to a broader understanding of the social progress at the grassroots level. 
• The report will act as a critical enabler and tool for policymakers in the coming years for achieving sustained socio-economic growth.  

Components:

• SPI assesses the performance of states and districts on three dimensions of social progress: Basic Human Needs, Foundations of Wellbeing, and Opportunity. Within each dimension, there are four components. 
• The dimension of Basic Human Needs assesses the performance of states and districts in terms of Nutrition and Basic Medical Care, Water and Sanitation, Personal Safety and Shelter. 
• The dimension of Foundations of Wellbeing evaluates the progress made by the country across the components of Access to Basic Knowledge, Access to Information and Communication, Health and Wellness, and Environmental Quality. 
• The dimension of Opportunity focuses on aspects of Personal Rights, Personal Freedom and Choice, Inclusiveness, and Access to Advanced Education. 

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Eco-tourism has been identified as one of the Niche Tourism areas for development in the country, including Odisha, by the Ministry of Tourism.  

• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Tourism.
• Type of Scheme: Central Sector Scheme.
• Launched in: 2014-15. 
• Objective: 
  • Developing critical tourism infrastructure to make India a world class tourist destination.
  • This scheme is envisioned to synergise with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, Make in India etc. with the idea of positioning the tourism sector as a major engine for job creation, the driving force for economic growth, building synergy with various sectors to enable tourism to realise its potential.
• Circuits:
  • Under the Scheme 15 circuits have been identified for development namely Himalayan Circuit, North East Circuit, Krishna Circuit, Buddhist Circuit and Coastal Circuit, Desert Circuit, Tribal Circuit, Eco Circuit, Wildlife Circuit, Rural Circuit, Spiritual Circuit, Ramayana Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Tirthankar Circuit and Sufi Circuit. 

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The 5th edition of Youth Co:Lab was launched on December 15th 2022. 

• Youth Co:Lab is an initiative launched in 2019 by UNDP India in partnership with Atal Innovation Mission, NITI Aayog.
  • Youth Co:Lab was co-created in 2017 by UNDP and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab.
  • It is a multi-dimensional and multi-level response to tackle the challenges young people face by positioning youth at the forefront in finding solutions to global challenges tackling Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• It aims to establish a common agenda for Asia-Pacific countries to invest in and empower youth to accelerate implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• The Youth Co:Lab initiative, till date, has been implemented in 28 countries and territories, reaching over 200,000 participants, benefitting more than 11,000 young social entrepreneurs and supporting over 1,240 social enterprises.
• Through Youth Co: Lab, 30 early-stage start-ups would be supported by the springboard programme, and the best would be provided a seed grant for scaling up their start-up.
• The 5 focus thematic areas for Youth Co: lab 2022-23 are:
  • Digital and Financial Literacy for Youth
  • Gender Equality and Women Economic Empowerment
  • Developing FinTech Solutions focused on Biodiversity Conservation
  • Promoting Biodiversity-friendly Lifestyles through Technological Solutions in Finance
  • Accelerating Circular Economy through Upcycling Innovations
  • Behavioural Nudges for LiFE ( Lifestyle For Environment)

Hence both statements are correct.

India has successfully conducted night trials of nuclear-capable ballistic missile Agni V.

• Type: It is a surface-to-surface Nuclear Capable Ballistic missile.
• Warhead: It can carry both nuclear and traditional weapons.
• Range: Agni-V, with a range of over 5,000 km, is India’s longest-range ballistic missile and can reach most parts of China, making it the mainstay of India’s triad to deliver nuclear weapons.
• Dimensions: it is a 17-meter long missile with two-meter diameter.
• Development: It has been indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
• Technologies: Agni-V is the most advanced missile in the Agni series featuring many new technologies, including the very high accuracy Ring Laser Gyro based Inertial Navigation System (RINS) and Micro Navigation System (MINS) which improves the accuracy of the missile.
• With the Agni-V, India joins an elite club of countries like US, Russia, the UK, France and China, which boast Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) capabilities.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

China has set up a ropeway near the Torsa Nala near Doklam and is strengthening roads and other infrastructure along the entire eastern sector.

• Doklam, or Donglang in Chinese, is an area spread over less than a 100 sq km comprising a plateau and a valley at the trijunction between India, Bhutan and China.
• It is surrounded by the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, Bhutan’s Ha Valley and Sikkim.
• Doklam is strategically located close to the Siliguri Corridor, which connects mainland India with its north-eastern region.
• The corridor, also called Chicken’s Neck, is a vulnerable point for India.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the Supreme Court rejected a review petition filed by Bilkis Bano.

• Article 137 of the Constitution gives Supreme Court the power to review any of its judgments or orders.
• The court has the power to review its rulings to correct a “patent error” and not “minor mistakes of inconsequential import”.
• Grounds for review petition:
  • In a 2013 ruling, the Supreme Court itself laid down three grounds for seeking a review of a verdict it has delivered —
    • the discovery of new and important matter or evidence which was not within the knowledge of the petitioner or could not be produced by him;
    • mistake or error apparent on the face of the record; or
    • any other sufficient reason which means a reason that is analogous to the other two grounds.
• Who can file a review petition?
  • It is not necessary that only parties to a case can seek a review of the judgment on it.
  • Any person aggrieved by a ruling can seek a review.
• Time frame:
  • As per 1996 rules framed by the Supreme Court, a review petition must be filed within 30 days of the date of judgment or order.
  • While a judgment is the final decision in a case, an order is an interim ruling that is subject to its final verdict.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) has recently said it will start branding and labelling of Indian cotton under the ‘Kasturi’ brand from the current season. Texprocil and the Cotton Corporation of India had signed an MoU to this effect.

• The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council is the first Council set up after Independence by the Government of India in 1954 is an autonomous, non-profit body dedicated to promotion of exports.
• The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council, popularly known as TEXPROCIL has been the international face of cotton textiles from India facilitating exports worldwide. 
• Texprocil has a membership of around 3,000 companies spread across major textile clusters in India. 
• Its members are well established manufacturers and exporters of cotton textile products like Cotton, Yarns, Fabrics and Home Textiles, showcasing a dazzling array of products across the value chain.
• The Council connects international buyers with appropriate suppliers and facilitates interaction that enables them to source their specific needs. 
• It also provides information on India's competitive advantages, its export environment and updated position in the global market place.
• The Council promotes exports of 
  • Raw Cotton
  • Cotton Yarns and Blended Yarns (50% or more cotton) Grey and Processed ( doubled, gassed, mercerized, dyed, melange); Cotton and Blended (50% plus cotton)
  • Woven and Knitted fabrics , Grey and Processed
  • Home Textiles ( Bed linen, Kitchen linen, Bath towels and Other linen)
  • Technical textiles ( Protective, Performance, Medical and Geo textiles)

Hence both statements are correct.

Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud recently said that no Vacation Benches will be available in the Supreme Court during the winter break.

• Who constitutes vacation bench? 
  • A Vacation Bench of the Supreme Court is a special bench constituted by the Chief Justice of India.
• When is vacation bench constituted? 
  • The Supreme Court takes two long vacations each year, the summer and winter breaks, but is technically not fully closed during these periods.
• Urgent matters:
  • Litigants can still approach the Supreme Court during vacations and, if the court decides that the plea is an “urgent matter”, the Vacation Bench hears the case on its merits.
  • While there is no specific definition as to what is an “urgent matter”, during vacations the court generally admits writs related to habeas corpus, certiorari, prohibition and quo warranto matters for enforcement of any fundamental right.
• Underlying rules: 
  • Under Rule 6 of Order II of The Supreme Court rules, 2013, the Chief Justice may appoint one or more Judges to hear during summer vacation or winter holidays all matters of an urgent nature.

Hence both statements are correct.