Daily Current Affairs MCQ- February 14, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

A recent analysis by a group of scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad, has revealed that two villages in Banaskantha, Gujarat hit by Aubrite meteorites.

• The pieces that fell in the two villages have been named the Diyodar meteorite, after the taluka in which the villages are located.
• Aubrite meteorites are coarse-grained igneous rocks that are formed in oxygen-poor conditions.
• They contain a variety of exotic minerals that are not found on Earth.
• The recently found aubrite meteorite in Gujarat is composed of orthopyroxene.

Hence both statements are correct.

The capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), recently proposed to review the role and accountability of trustees of mutual funds with an aim to protect unitholders’ interests.

About Mutual Fund Trustees:

• The trustees serve as an independent body to protect the interests of the investors and ensure compliance with the SEBI Mutual Fund regulations.
• Powers and Functions:
• The Board of trustees or trustee company holds the property of the mutual fund in trust for the benefit of the unit holders.
• They appoint an Asset Management Company (AMC) to float schemes for the mutual fund and manage the funds mobilized under various schemes.
• The trustee will set the responsibilities of the AMC and monitor any new scheme that is introduced.
• The trust also ensures that all the key personnel of a mutual fund is appointed with adequate qualifications and skills.
• It has the authority to request any information from the AMC pertaining to the operations of the fund.
• The trustee is also authorized to initiate action against the AMC or even penalize the AMC if SEBI regulations are not complied with or if the interests of the unit holders are not protected. 

Structure:

• Every mutual fund must have a minimum of 4 trustees, or they can appoint a trustee company with a minimum of 4 directors. 
• Two-thirds of the trustees will have to be independent.
• Trustees cannot be appointed from within the same group to which the AMC belongs.

Hence both statements are correct.

According to the World Health Organization, the African continent is likely to see its worst cholera crisis this decade, driven by extreme weather events and poor water supply and sanitation infrastructure.

• It is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.
• Symptoms: Profuse watery diarrhoea, Vomiting, Leg cramps etc.
• It is transmitted to humans through water or food which is contaminated with the cholera bacterium.
• Currently, there are three WHO pre-qualified oral cholera vaccines (OCV), Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus. All three vaccines require two doses for full protection.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The first-ever bird survey in Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary was conducted recently, and the volunteers recorded 186 species of birds.

About Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary:

• Location: It is located in the Thane District of Maharashtra, 90 km northeast of Mumbai in the foothills of the Western Ghats.
• It is known to be a paradise for birdwatchers.
• It has two rivers, the Tansa and Vaitarna, and the sanctuary gets its name from the former, which divides the sanctuary into two parts.
• The sanctuary forms the catchment area of Tansa lake, along with the surrounding forests of Khardi, Vaitarna, Wada, and Shahapur ranges.
• Tansa reservoir, along with Vaitarna and Bhatsa reservoirs, is the major source of water for the cities of Mumbai and Thane. 
• Within Tansa Sanctuary is a fort at Mahuli, situated on a 762 m high hilltop.
• Vegetation: The Sanctuary has Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest, with a few patches of Evergreen forest. 
• Flora: It consists of trees like Kalamb, Bibla, Khair, Hed, Teak, and Bamboo.
• Fauna:
• At least 54 species of animals and 200 species of birds exist in the sanctuary.
• Major wild animals are Panther, Barking deer, Mouse deer, Hyena, Wild boar, etc.
• Two Critically Endangered Gyps species of vultures, the Vulnerable Pallas’s Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus leucoryphus, is also seen here.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Recently, NASA’s astronomer explained the formation of the Mammatus clouds.

• Mammatus clouds refer to distinctive cloud formations that are separated by a bulge or protrusion emerging from the base of another cloud.
• They are usually formed in association with large cumulonimbus clouds.
• Typically, turbulence within the cumulonimbus cloud will cause Mammatus to form, especially on the underside of the projecting anvil as it rapidly descends to lower levels.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

India’s first frozen lake marathon is set to be held in Ladakh’s Pangong Tso.

About Pangong Tso:

• Pangong Lake or Pangong Tso is a long narrow, endorheic (landlocked) lake situated at a height of more than 14,000 ft (4,350 meters) in the Ladakh Himalayas.
• The lake is 5 kilometers wide and 134 kilometers long, with one-third of it lying in India & the other two-thirds in China. 
• It is the world's highest saltwater lake.
• The lake is also very deep and reaches a maximum depth of almost 328 feet.
• It is also known to change colors, appearing blue, green, and red at different times.

Hence both statements are not correct.

Against the backdrop of the revolutionary transition in AI brought in by ChatGPT, the government is expanding the INDIAai initiative in partnership with Indian tech companies, startups, and academic institutions.

• It is the National artificial intelligence Portal of India which was launched on 28th May 2020.
• It is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY), National e-Governance Division (NeGD) and NASSCOM.
  • NeGD: In 2009, NeGD was created as an Independent Business Division under the Digital India Corporation (a not-for-profit company set up by MeitY).
  • NASSCOM: It is a not-for-profit industry association and the apex body for the IT and IT-enabled products and services sector in India.

Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

OPEC’s Secretary General urged countries to invest much more in oil to meet the world’s future energy needs and said climate policies need to be more “balanced and fair.”

About the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC):

• What is it? It is a permanent intergovernmental organization of oil-exporting countries.
• Mission:
• To coordinate and unify the petroleum policies of its Member Countries.
• Ensure the stabilization of oil prices in the international oil markets, with a view to eliminating harmful and unnecessary fluctuations.
• Formation: It was established in 1960 by the five founding members Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. 
• Currently, it has 13 members, including Algeria, Angola, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Nigeria, and the United Arab Emirates
• Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The recent bird survey conducted at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve has resulted in the recording of 290 bird species, including a few migratory ones.

• Nagarahole is an important Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and is a major hub of conservation under Project Tiger and Project Elephant.
• Nagarahole Tiger Reserve previously known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park was named after the river Nagarahole.
• This tiger reserve forms a critical connecting habitat for tigers and elephants to other areas of the Western Ghats through the Brahmagiri wildlife sanctuary and to the Eastern Ghats through the Bandipur Tiger reserve.

Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue was struck by lightning recently, and the photos of the lightning went viral on social media.

About Christ the Redeemer statue:

• Location: It is located at the summit of Mount Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. 
• It depicts Christ standing with his arms crossed and looking at the city.
• It was completed in 1931 and stands 98 feet (30 metres) tall.
• Its horizontally outstretched arms span 92 feet (28 metres).
• It is made of reinforced concrete and is the largest Art Deco-style sculpture in the world.

Hence option d is the correct answer.