Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 27, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Recently, scientists from the University of Oxford have come up with a new way to obtain fluorine atoms, used to manufacture important chemical compounds used in industry and research, in a much safer and less energy-intensive way.

• Fluorine comes from a calcium salt called calcium fluoride, or fluorspar.
• Fluorspar is mined and then treated with sulphuric acid at a high temperature to release hydrogen fluoride (HF).
• Hydrogen fluoride is then made to react with other compounds to create fluorochemicals.
• Fluorine is a highly reactive element used to make fluorochemicals.
• It is used to produce plastics, agrochemicals, lithium-ion batteries, and drugs.
• Issues with hydrogen fluoride
• A major downside of this process is that HF is an extremely poisonous and corrosive liquid that irritates the eyes and respiratory tract even at low concentrations.
• It also requires special transportation and storage requirements.
• Hydrogen fluoride spills have occurred numerous times in the last decades, sometimes with fatal accidents and detrimental environmental effects.

Hence both statements are correct.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) recently wrote to the Manipur DGP, directing it to take cognizance and file an FIR against three persons for posting photographs of a minor that they alleged was involved in an incident in Manipur  in which two women were paraded naked.

About National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR):

• NCPCR is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, the Commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005.
• It works under the aegis of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• The Commission began operational on 5 March 2007.
• As defined by the commission, a child includes a person up to the age of 18 years.
• Mandate: The Commission is mandated under section 13 of the CPCR Act, 2005 "to ensure that all Laws, Policies, Programmes, and Administrative Mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights perspective as enshrined in the Constitution of India and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child."
• The Commission is further mandated to monitor the proper and effective implementation of
• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
• Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.
• Right to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009.
• Members:
• A chairperson who, is a person of eminence and has done outstanding work for promoting the welfare of children.
• Six members, out of which at least two are women, who are having experience in Education, Child Health, Juvenile justice, Elimination of child labour, Child psychology or sociology Laws relating to children.
• The members are appointed by the Central Government for a term of 3 years.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently confirmed a case of the potentially fatal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Abu Dhabi.

About Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS):

• MERS is a viral respiratory disease caused by the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
• Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Coronavirus disease-2019.
• MERS Symptoms:
• Typical MERS symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath.
• Pneumonia is common but not always present.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported.
• Fatality Rate: Approximately 35% of MERS cases reported to WHO have died.
• Prevention and Treatment:
• No vaccine or specific treatment is currently available.
• Treatment is supportive and based on the patient’s clinical condition.

What is MERS‐CoV?

• It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted between animals and people, and it is contractable through direct or indirect contact with infected animals.
• The origins of the virus are not fully understood but, according to the analysis of different virus genomes, it is believed that it originated in bats and was transmitted to camels sometime in the distant past.
• Human-to-human transmission: The virus does not appear to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact, such as providing unprotected care to an infected patient.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The International Seabed Authority's member nations recently agreed on a two-year roadmap for the adoption of deep sea mining regulations.

About International Seabed Authority (ISA):

• It is an  international organization established in 1994 to regulate mining and related activities in the international seabed beyond national jurisdiction, an area that includes most of the world’s oceans.
• The ISA came into existence upon the entry into force of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which codified international law regarding territorial waters, sea lanes, and ocean resources. 
• Headquarters: Kingston, Jamaica
• Members: As of May 2023, ISA has 169 Members, including 168 Member States and the European Union.
• Functions:
• The ISA is responsible for granting licenses and regulating activities related to the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in the international seabed. 
• Its ensures that these activities are carried out in a manner that protects the marine environment and promotes the equitable and efficient utilization of resources.
• Structure:
• The supreme authority of the ISA is the assembly, in which all ISA members are represented. 
• The assembly sets general policies, establishes budgets, and elects a 36-member council, which serves as the ISA’s executive authority. 
• The council approves contracts with private corporations and government entities for exploration and mining in specified areas of the international seabed.
• The council oversees implementation of the seabed provisions of the UNCLOS and establishes provisional rules and procedures (subject to approval by the assembly) by which the ISA exercises its regulatory authority. 
• The secretary-general of the ISA is nominated by the council and is elected by the assembly to a four-year term.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is set to finish conservation and restoration work on the central dome of Safdarjung Tomb soon, officials familiar with the matter said recently.

About Safdarjung Tomb:

• Safdarjung Tomb is the last garden tomb constructed in the late Mughal Empire Style. 
• Location: At the Intersection of Safdarjung Road and Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi, India.
• It was built in 1753- 54 as mausoleum of Safdarjung, the viceroy of Awadh under the Mughal Emperor, Mohammed Shah. It was built by his son, Nawab Shujaud Daula.
• Architecture:
• Also known as ‘Safdarjung ka Maqbara,’ the tomb is built on a square plan and has a central dome and is made of marble and sandstone.
• The dome is surrounded by four smaller domes and four minarets.
• The exterior of the tomb is decorated with intricate latticework and calligraphy.
• The interior of the tomb is decorated with marble and gold leaf.
• The tomb is surrounded by lush green gardens. The garden is in the Mughal charbagh garden style, and is a smaller version of the garden of Humayun Tomb.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has proposed to excise civil areas in 58 cantonments, with plans to merge them with State municipalities.

• It is an organization established to administer and manage the civilian population living in cantonment areas.
• It operates in accordance with the provisions of the Cantonment Act of 2006 and falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Defence Ministry. 
• The boards comprise elected representatives as well as ex-officio and nominated members as per the Cantonments Act, 2006.
• Composition of the board
• A cantonment board consists of eight elected members, three nominated military members, three ex-officio members (station commander, garrison engineer and senior executive medical officer), and one representative of the district magistrate.
• The station commander of the cantonment is the ex-officio president of the board and an officer of the Indian Defence Estates Service (IDES) or Defence Estates Organisation is the chief executive officer and member-secretary of the board.
• The boards have a term of five years.
• The boards are classified into four categories depending on their size and population.
• Category I cantonments are those with populations above 50,000;
• Category II between 10,000 and 50,000;
• Category III between 2,500 and 10,000,
• Category IV with populations below 2,500.
• There are a total 66 cantonment boards are present in India.
• A cantonment differs from a military station—the latter is exclusively devoted to the use and accommodation of military personnel and is established under an executive order.
• The cantonment, on the other hand, is an area that comprises both military and civilian populations.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the heritage Byculla Railway station which has been restored to its original glory, received the UNESCO award.

• The UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation is supported by a partnership between UNESCO and Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation since 2021.
• UNESCO introduced the new category, ‘Special Recognition for Sustainable Development’, in 2020, together with an updated set of Awards Criteria.
• It is to acknowledge the role and contribution of cultural heritage to sustainable development within the broader framework of the UN 2030 Agenda.
• Since 2000, UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation have been recognizing the achievement of the private sector and public-private initiatives in successfully conserving or restoring structures, places and properties of heritage value in the region.

Key facts about Byculla Railway station

• It was originally built in 1853.
• The first train of the country passed through Byculla station almost one-and-a-half centuries ago.
• It has been restored to its original Gothic, heritage, architectural glory.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, scientists at Raman Research Institute (RRI), an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology, have developed an algorithm called STARFIRE.

• It is called as the Simulation of TerrestriAl Radio Frequency Interference in oRbits around Earth (STARFIRE) algorithm.
• Advantages of this model
• It can estimate the Radio Frequency Interference emitted by FM radio stations, WiFi networks, mobile towers, radar, satellites, and communication devices, and use this calculation for designing and fine-tuning the antennas.
• It is capable of estimating and mapping the unwanted Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) signals in space.
• It can help design instruments that are capable of offering optimal operations in the presence of RFI and thereby, enriches the data obtained from the future space-based Astronomy missions.
• This algorithm can also be handy in orbit selection for future missions.
• The scientists used information on the FM transmitter stations from six countries in the world. Data from Canada (number of stations - 8,443), USA (28,072), Japan (Tokyo - 21), Australia (2,664), Germany (2,500), and South Africa (1,731) were used as inputs for developing this model.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Panama Canal recently limited average crossings to 32 ships a day as a prolonged drought continues.

About Panama Canal:

• It is a constructed waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans across the Isthmus of Panama.
• It is one of the two most strategic artificial waterways in the world, the other being the Suez Canal. 
• It is approximately 80 kilometers long.
• The canal was built by the United States between 1904 and 1914, and it was officially opened on August 15, 1914.
• It is owned and administered by the Republic of Panama since the oversight of the Canal was transferred from the United States to Panama in 1999.
• The Panama Canal consists of a series of locks that raise and lower the water level to facilitate the passage of ships through the continental divide.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is celebrated every year on July 26.

About International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem:

• It is celebrated every year on July 26.
• This International Day was adopted by the General Conference of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2015.
• Purpose: To raise awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses.

What are Mangroves?

• Mangroves are unique coastal ecosystems found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world.
• They are characterized by dense, salt-tolerant trees and plants that thrive in the intertidal zones, where land and sea meet.
• They are typically found in sheltered coastal areas, estuaries, lagoons, and tidal flats, where they play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.
• Some common species of mangrove trees include the Red Mangrove (Rhizophora spp.), Black Mangrove (Avicennia spp.), White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), and the Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus).
• Features:
• Respiratory or knee roots:
• They have specialized adaptations to cope with high salt levels in both the soil and water, such as unique root systems called "prop roots" or "pneumatophores" that help with gas exchange in waterlogged soils.  
• They project above the mud and have small openings (lenticels) through which air enters, passing through the soft spongy tissue to the roots beneath the mud.
• They can survive extreme weather conditions and require low oxygen levels to survive.
• They cannot survive freezing temperatures and thus are found mainly in tropical and subtropical latitudes.
• Mangrove forests can store ten times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. 
• They can store carbon up to 400 per cent faster than land-based tropical rainforests.
• Mangroves improve water quality by filtering pollutants and trapping sediments from the land, and they reduce coastal erosion.

Hence both statements are correct.