Test: November 2023 Weekly Current Affair - 2 - UPSC MCQ

• Madhya Pradesh, known as the “tiger state” of India due to its substantial tiger population, has officially designated a new protected area for these magnificent creatures called the ‘Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve.’
• This newly established reserve becomes the seventh tiger reserve in the state.
• Madhya Pradesh has consistently held the title of the “tiger state,” with its tiger population increasing from 526 in 2018 to 785 in the 2022 census.
• The Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve incorporates the previously recognized eco-sensitive zone of Nauradehi and Veerangana Durgavati sanctuaries, along with surrounding forest areas, into the buffer zone.

• This annual exercise is a collaborative effort between the Indian Army and the United States Army.
• The theme of “EXERCISE YUDH ABHYAS-23” centres on the ‘Employment of an Integrated Battle Group in Mountain/Extreme Climatic Conditions,’ following Chapter VII of the United Nations mandate.

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic farming approach that focuses on improving soil health, biodiversity, and sustainability by minimizing soil disturbance, diversifying crops, using cover crops, and integrating livestock. It aims to enhance resources rather than deplete them, by adhering to principles such as conservation tillage, crop diversification, soil cover with cover crops, and integration of livestock.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

• The 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) was held in Bengaluru, and organized by the International Coffee Organization (ICO), a UN body focused on highlighting the economic importance of coffee.
• It is being held for the first time in an Asian coffee-producing country.
• ICO (established in 1963, under the UN; HQ: London) serves as the only intergovernmental organization for coffee. It administers the International Coffee Agreement (ICA), an important instrument for development cooperation. Aims to strengthen the coffee sector and promote sustainable growth for the Global Coffee Value Chain (G-CVC). It is the sole intergovernmental coffee organization, uniting exporting and importing governments. It has 43 exporting members (including India) and 6 importing members.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

• The GOBARdhan initiative, a multi-ministerial effort, aims to transform organic waste, including cattle dung, agricultural residues, and biomass, into valuable resources like biogas, CBG, and organic manure. This initiative supports high-value Biogas/CBG production and promotes the use of bio-slurry to improve soil health, carbon content, and water retention.
• The Market Development Assistance (MDA) scheme, launched by the Department of Fertilizers aims to promote the production and adoption of organic fertilizers generated from GOBARdhan plants. It seeks to encourage sustainable/organic agricultural practices, reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, and boost the use of bio-slurry in agriculture.

Only Statement 3 is correct.

• The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has announced that Indian standards on biofuels will significantly support the objectives of the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA).
• BIS has developed nine Indian standards on biofuels, including specifications for anhydrous ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, biodiesel-diesel fuel blends, hydrous ethanol, E85 fuel, E20 fuel, aviation turbine fuel containing synthesized hydrocarbons, and ethanol as a fuel for spark-ignition engine-powered vehicles.
• Additionally, BIS is working on a standard for paraffinic (green) diesel derived from 2G feedstock.
• The G20 leaders launched the GBA during the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi, and it aims to facilitate the adoption of biofuels worldwide. India, the USA, and Brazil are major producers and consumers of biofuels, contributing significantly to the global ethanol market.

The Kole wetlands in Kerala, an internationally important Ramsar site known for its high biodiversity, are facing a new threat from an invasive alien plant species called Cabomba furcuta, also known as Pink Bloom.

This species, originating from Central and South America, has been introduced to Kerala as an aquarium plant and has now become a menace to the Kole fields, alongside existing threats like water hyacinth and Salvinia molesta.

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• Under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), NGOs and associations registered to receive foreign contributions must now annually declare details of movable and immovable assets created using those contributions.
• FCRA was enacted during the Emergency in 1976 amid apprehensions that foreign powers were interfering in India’s affairs by pumping money into the country through independent organisations.
• The law sought to regulate foreign donations to individuals and associations so that they functioned in a manner consistent with the values of a sovereign democratic republic.

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has introduced India’s first green hydrogen-powered bus, which emits only water vapour as its by-product.
• Green hydrogen is an environmentally friendly option as it only emits water vapour when burned and has three times the energy density of other fuels. It requires 50 units of renewable electricity and 9 kg of deionized water to produce one kilogram of green hydrogen.

• Exchange rate of a currency may be fixed by a central bank or left to the market forces of demand and supply. When the value is changed by the central bank it is called devaluation. If market forces bring down the value due to demand falling behind supply of the currency, it leads to depreciation.
• In the Balance of Payments, the movements of money without exchange for goods or services called ‘remittances’ and charities are part of Current account.

In October 2018, 120 UN member countries signed the Astana Declaration, vowing to strengthen primary healthcare and achieve universal health coverage by 2030. This is the second time the world took this pledge. In 1978, 134 nations signed the Alma-Ata Declaration with the same pledge. Though Alma-Ata was signed to ensure health for all, its progress was uneven, with several countries missing out on several indicators set under the declaration.

Bauxite is the ore which is used in manufacturing of aluminium. Bauxite is found mainly in tertiary deposits and is associated with laterite rocks occurring extensively either on the plateau or hill ranges of peninsular India and also in the coastal tracts of the country. Odisha happens to be the largest producer of Bauxite.

Article 29: Protection of interests of minorities
(1) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same
(2) No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Critical minerals

• These are minerals that are essential for economic development and national security, and the lack of availability of these minerals or the concentration of extraction or processing in a few geographical locations could potentially lead to “supply chain vulnerabilities and even disruption of supplies”. This is true for minerals such as lithium, graphite, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements, which are essential for the advancement of many sectors, including hightech electronics, telecommunications, transport, and defence.
• Australia refers to critical minerals as: “metals, non-metals and minerals that are considered vital for the economic well-being of the world’s major and emerging economies, yet whose supply may be at risk due to geological scarcity, geopolitical issues, trade policy or other factors”.
  

Aspartame is one of the world’s most common artificial sweeteners and is used in a wide range of diet soft drinks, sugar-free chewing gum, sugar-free ice cream, sugar-free breakfast cereals, etc.

Statement 2 is incorrect.

• AQI is a number, which is a measure of air quality. The higher the AQI, the worse the air. 
• The colour-coded AQI index was launched in India in 2014, and it helps the public and the government understand the condition of the air and what subsequent measures are to be taken to combat the situation, based on its severity. There are six categories of AQI, namely ‘Good’ (0-50), ‘Satisfactory’ (50-100), ‘Moderately polluted’ (100-200), ‘Poor’ (200-300), ‘Very Poor’ (300-400), and ‘Severe’ (400-500).

TRAI regularly issues orders and directions on various subjects such as tariffs, interconnections, quality of service, Direct To Home (DTH) services and mobile number portability.

• The Indian government has announced the extension of export benefits under the Scheme for Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) for an additional year, until June 2024.
• The RoDTEP scheme provides exporters with refunds for taxes, duties, and levies incurred during the manufacturing and distribution of goods, which are not reimbursed through other mechanisms at the central, state, or local levels.
• This move is expected to assist the exporting community in negotiating international export contracts under the current global economic conditions.
• The RoDTEP scheme replaced the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS), which concluded the previous year.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

• The Breakthrough Agenda Report 2023 is an annual collaboration between the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the United Nations Climate Change High-Level Champions.
• Its focus is on strengthening international cooperation to accelerate the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions.
• The report evaluates progress made since 2022 in priority areas for global collaboration.
• It offers recommendations for countries to work together in these sectors to reduce emissions over the next decade and mitigate the worst effects of climate change.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

• In Munnar, a popular tourist destination in India, balsams (genus Impatiens) are in full bloom, providing a delightful visual spectacle.
• Balsams are sometimes referred to as ‘touch-me-not’ due to their tendency to burst and distribute mature seeds upon touch.
• Balsams are considered significant indicator species for climate change, reflecting alterations in plant populations when climate change occurs.
• Idukki district, where Munnar is located, is renowned for its diverse range of balsams, earning it the nickname of a “balsam paradise” among scientists. The high-altitude areas surrounding Anamudi, the highest mountain in the Western Ghats, are particularly known for their rich diversity of wild balsams.
  

Only Statement 1 is correct.

• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has successfully raised Rs 1,040.50 crore through a five-year social bond.
• The social bonds issued by NABARD have received ‘AAA’ ratings from CRISIL and ICRA, and they will be listed on the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange).
• Social bonds are a type of financial instrument or investment vehicle issued by governments, companies, or organizations to raise capital for projects or initiatives with a specific social or environmental purpose. These bonds are typically designed to fund projects that have a positive impact on society or address social and environmental challenges.

Statement 1 is incorrect.

• The Battle of Haifa (1918), fought during WWI as part of the Sinai and Palestine campaign, was historically overlooked until research by Brig. M S Jodha shed light on the contributions of Indian soldiers.
• The Battle of Haifa had significant long-term effects, leading to the partition of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of several modern states. Indian soldiers from princely states like Jodhpur (Jodhpur Lancers) played a crucial role, providing resources and troops to the British Indian Army.
• Haifa Day commemorations were initiated in 2010, acknowledging the Indian soldiers’ contributions. Teen Murti Chowk in India was renamed Teen Murti Haifa Chowk in honour of the Battle of Haifa’s centenary.
• Haifa is a northern Israeli port city built in tiers extending from the Mediterranean up the north slope of Mount Carmel.
  

Statement 3 is incorrect.

UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund):

• It is a UN agency (founded 1969; HQ: New York) dedicated to enhancing global reproductive and maternal health. It works on national healthcare strategies, access to birth control, and campaigns against child marriage, gender-based violence, obstetric fistula, and female genital mutilation. Operating in over 144 countries across four regions, it’s a key member of the United Nations Development Group, focusing on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. UNFPA has been operating in India since 1974