Daily Current Affairs MCQ- May 19, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, organised a LEAPS Valedictory Session in New Delhi recently.

About LEAPS (Logistics Excellence, Advancement and Performance Shield) Initiative:

• It is a flagship initiative by the logistics division of DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, designed to acknowledge and celebrate the best practices and innovations within the logistics industry.
• It would celebrate the demonstrated leadership of the logistics sector in transforming the Indian logistics industry and realizing the combined vision of the National Logistics Policy 2022 and PM GatiShakti.
• The National Logistics Policy was introduced to create a single-window e-logistics market, focusing on the need for skill development, economic growth, and competitiveness in the logistics sector. It aims to reduce logistics costs, improve India’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index, and establish a data-driven decision support mechanism.
• The PM Gati Shakti Programme aims to understand current gaps in logistics connectivity and facilitate the development of logistics infrastructure (creating connectivity between roadways, rail transport, waterways, and air transport) so as to reduce logistics costs. The programme has an estimated cost of ₹100 trillion.
• LEAPS will create a new benchmark globally by not only recognizing players in the logistics sector, but also the MSMEs, Startups and logistics sector enablers who have been providing innovative solutions across the logistics ecosystem.
• From air and sea freight service providers to educational institutions contributing to skill development in logistics, the awards span a broad spectrum of the industry. 

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Researchers recently identified the RAD51 protein as a key player in preventing DNA re-replication.

About RAD51:

• RAD51 recombinase (RAD51) is a gene that encodes a protein that functions in homologous recombination and DNA repair. 
• RAD51 has the function of finding and invading homologous DNA sequences to enable accurate and timely DNA repair. 
• Breaks in DNA can be caused by natural and medical radiation or other environmental exposures and also occur when chromosomes exchange genetic material in preparation for cell division. 
• The RAD51 protein binds to the DNA at the site of a break and encases it in a protein sheath, which is an essential first step in the repair process.
• In the nucleus of many types of normal cells, the RAD51 protein interacts with many other proteins, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, to fix damaged DNA.
• The BRCA2 protein regulates the activity of the RAD51 protein by transporting it to sites of DNA damage in the nucleus.
• The interaction between the BRCA1 protein and the RAD51 protein is less clear, although research suggests that BRCA1 may also activate RAD51 in response to DNA damage.
• By helping repair DNA, these three proteins play a role in maintaining the stability of a cell's genetic information.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

The Ministry of Jal Shakti  (MoJS) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore for the establishment of an International Centre of Excellence for Dams (ICED).

• It will act as a technological arm of the Ministry to provide specialised technical support in investigations, modelling, research and innovations, and technical support services for the Indian and overseas dam owners.
• This MoA will remain valid for ten years or till the duration of the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) Phase-II and III Scheme, whichever is earlier, from the date of signing this MoA.
• The Centre will work on dam safety to support the Ministry and provide solutions to various emerging challenges faced in dam safety through scientific research.
• It will also offer area specific academic courses (including training programs and workshops) and carry out applied research and technology transfer in dam safety management at local, regional, national and international levels. 
• Funding: The Ministry of Jal Shakti will provide a grant of 118.05 crore rupees for the procurement of goods, and machinery for the establishment of new laboratories as well as strengthening of existing laboratories, initiation of research activities, and construction and modernisation of infrastructure for setting up and functioning of ICED.
• It will carry out research in two core areas:
• Advanced construction and rehabilitation materials & Material testing for dams and
• Comprehensive (multi-hazard) risk assessment of dams
• ICED will give the right impetus towards building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and will also provide a window of opportunity for disseminating knowledge and expertise in the dam safety area to many underdeveloped and developing nations in future.
• ICED, IISc Bangalore is the second International Centre in the area of Dam Safety.
• The first ICED has been institutionalized at IIT Roorkee upon signing of MoA in February 2023.

Hence both statements are correct.

Minister of Communications, Railways, and Electronics & Information Technology will launch NITI Aayog’s NITI For States platform and Viksit Bharat Strategy Room’ at Rang Bhawan auditorium, New Delhi.

• It is a cross-sectoral knowledge platform designed to become a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for Policy and Good Governance.
• The significant features of the platform include
• A multi-sectoral live repository of 7,500 Best Practices, 5,000 Policy documents, 900+ datasets, 1,400 data profiles, and 350 NITI publications.
• The knowledge products on the platform span 10 sectors including Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health, Livelihoods and Skilling, Manufacturing, MSME, Tourism, Urban, Water resources & WASH across two cross-cutting themes - Gender and Climate Change.
• The platform is an intuitive and user-friendly interface that allows users to easily navigate; and it is accessible through multiple devices including mobile phones.
• This platform will facilitate the digital transformation of governance by equipping government officials with robust, contextually relevant, and actionable knowledge and insights, thereby enhancing the quality of their decision-making.
• It will also support cutting-edge level functionaries like district collectors and block-level functionaries by giving them access to innovative best practices across various States and UTs.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the traditional Majuli masks and Majuli manuscript painting in Assam were given a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

• These are handmade masks traditionally used to depict characters in bhaonas, or theatrical performances with devotional messages under the neo-Vaishnavite tradition, introduced by the 15th-16th century reformer saint Srimanta Sankardeva.
• Srimanta Sankardeva established this art of masks through a play called Chinha Jatra.
• The word means explaining through images. At that time, to attract ordinary people to Krishna bhakti.
• The masks can depict gods, goddesses, demons, animals and birds — Ravana, Garuda, Narasimha, Hanuman, Varaha Surpanakha all feature among the masks.
• They can range in size from those covering just the face (mukh mukha), to those covering the whole head and body of the performer (cho mukha).
• Material used: The masks are made of bamboo, clay, dung, cloth, cotton, wood and other materials available in the riverine surroundings of their makers
• Traditional practitioners are working to take the art out of their traditional place in sattras, or monasteries, and give them a new, contemporary life.
• Sattras are monastic institutions established by Srimanta Sankardev and his disciples as centres of religious, social and cultural reform.
• Majuli has 22 sattras, and the patent application states that the mask-making tradition is by and large concentrated in four of them — Samaguri Sattra, Natun Samaguri Sattra, Bihimpur Sattra and Alengi Narasimha Sattra.

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and Meta have announced the launch of Frontier Technology Labs (FTLs).

• It is an advanced version of Atal Tinkering Lab.
• The initiative aims to advance the government’s agenda of digital inclusion, skilling and growth.
• Collaboration: Atal Innovation Mission and Meta will partner to set up FTLs in schools of strategic importance to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds across India will have equal opportunities to learn and engage with frontier technologies.
• Funding: The FTLs will be funded by Meta and Atal Innovation Mission will be the knowledge partner.
• It is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, including all components of the Tinkering Lab to empower students to innovate using technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Augmented & Virtual Reality, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Internet of Things.
• The FTLs are a part of Meta’s Education to Entrepreneurship initiative, launched in September 2023, to seamlessly connect students, youth, workforce, and micro-entrepreneurs with futuristic technologies, taking digital skilling to the grassroots.
• These labs will be managed by Meta’s partner 1M1B (One Million for One Billion).
• Significance: The labs support the Government’s focus on equipping youth with digital skills to succeed in the evolving landscape of technology and the global economy.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Prime Minister recently inaugurated a metro train service between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade in Kolkata, marking the opening of India’s first under-river metro tunnel.

About India's First Under-River Metro Tunnel:

• It is a part of Kolkata Metro’s East-West Corridor.
• It passes under the Hooghly River in the city's northeast, with the tunnel 13 meters below the riverbed and 37 meters below ground level.
• It forms part of the 4.8 km underground section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade.
• It is the second section of the East-West Metro corridor and has been built at a cost of Rs 4,965 crore.
• The stretch also has the deepest metro station in the country, the Howrah Maidan station, at 32 metres below ground level.
• The metro is expected to cover the 520-meter stretch under the Hooghly River in 45 seconds.

Key Facts about River Hooghly:

• The Hooghly River, also known as the Bhagirathi-Hooghly and Kati-Ganga Rivers, is one of the significant rivers in West Bengal.
• It is a distributary or arm of the Ganges River, about 260 km long.
• Course:
• It is formed in Murshidabad, where the Ganga splits into two parts, while the part flowing through Bangladesh is called the Padma.
• The other part is the Hooghly, which flows through a heavily industrialized area of West Bengal.
• The Hooghly River is silted up above Kolkata, and the river flows to the west and south to the estuary of Rupnarayan and then south and southwest to enter the Bay of Bengal through a 32-kilometer-wide estuary.
• The Hooghly’s majority of water comes from the Farakka Feeder Canal instead of natural water. 
• The Farakka Barrage is a dam that diverts water from the Ganges into a canal near the town of Tildanga in Malda district. This supplies the Hooghly with adequate water even in the dry season.
• Haldi, Ajay, Damodar, and Rupnarayan are the rivers that feed the lower reaches of the Hooghly. 
• The important cities near the Hoogli River are Jiaganj, Azimganj, Murshidabad, and Baharampur.
• It is spanned by a cantilever bridge between Haora and Kolkata and by the Bally Bridge between Bally and Baranagar.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

The Supreme Court of India recently rendered a landmark judgment clarifying the exercise of discretionary powers under Section 319 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

About Section 319 of the CrPC:

• This Section confers power on the Court to proceed against persons, other than those named as accused in the chargesheet, appearing to be guilty of offence.
• Section 319 CrPC finds its roots in this powerful doctrine, “Judex damnatur cum nocens absolvitor”, which means the judge is condemned when the guilty is acquitted.
• It conveys the significant principle that a wrongdoer must not be spared from the hands of justice. 
• Essentials of Section 319 CrPC:
• Additional Accused Persons: Section 319 empowers the court to summon and try other persons, in addition to those already named as accused in the case, if it appears that they have also committed the offence being tried.
• Evidence During Trial: The court can exercise this power either on its own or based on an application by the prosecution or the defense. This means that if during the trial, the court becomes aware of the involvement of other individuals, it can summon them for trial.
• Sufficient Evidence: The court must have sufficient evidence against the additional accused persons to justify summoning them for trial. The provision doesn't allow the court to act solely on suspicion; there must be some prima facie evidence connecting them to the offense.
• Opportunity to be Heard: Before summoning any additional accused, the court should provide them with an opportunity to be heard. This ensures that they can present their side of the story and contest the decision to add them as accused.
• Joined in the Same Trial: Once the additional accused are summoned and brought before the court, they will be tried along with the original accused in the same trial.
• Separate Trial if Necessary: In case the court finds that the evidence against the additional accused requires a separate trial, it may direct such a separate trial.
• Protection of Rights: The rights and safeguards available to the original accused, including the right to a fair trial and legal representation, also extend to the additional accused.
• Discretion of the Court: The decision to summon additional accused persons rests on the discretion of the court. The court will consider factors such as the nature of the offense, the evidence available, and the interests of justice before making a decision.However, the Supreme Court held that
• It should be employed sparingly and when the situation clearly calls for it.
• Only when there is clear and convincing evidence against a person in the evidence provided to the court should this power be used, and not arbitrarily or carelessly.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

The famous silver filigree (Rupa Tarakasi) of the millennium Cuttack city in Odisha recently received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Rupa Tarakasi:

• It is one of the most exquisite silver crafts.
• This centuries-old, sophisticated craft is practised in the silver city of Cuttack, Odisha.
• Origin:
• While the exact origin of the filigree art in Cuttack is not clear, it is known to have existed as far back as the 12th century.
• The art form received considerable patronage under the Mughals.
• Over the years, as Cuttack transitioned through the hands of different rulers, the silver filigree took on a new form with each.
• Process:
• In this work of craft, silver bricks are transformed into thin, fine wires (tara) or foils, from which silver filigree is made with all designs (kasi).
• While different grades of silver are used in the main metal alloy, the craftsmen also use other metals like copper, zinc, cadmium, and tin.
• The artists involved with this filigree work are called “Rupa Banias” or “Roupyakaras” (in Odia). 
• This craftsmanship extends to creating various items, including jewellery worn by Odissi dancers, decorative artifacts, accessories, and religious and cultural pieces.

Hence option d is the correct answer.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports inaugurated the unique Khelo India Rising Talent Identification (KIRTI) programme amidst much enthusiasm at the Sector 7 sports complex, in Chandigarh.

• It is aimed at school children between nine and 18 years.
• The nation-wide scheme will have two main objectives:
• To hunt talent from every nook and corner of the country and
• To use sports as a tool to curb addiction towards drugs and other gadgetry distractions.
• KIRTI made a solid launch across 50 centres in India. Fifty thousand applicants are being assessed in the first phase across 10 sports, including athletics, boxing, wrestling, hockey, football and wrestling.
• KIRTI aims to conduct 20 lakh assessments across the country throughout the year to identify talent through notified Talent Assessment Centres.
• It wants to reach out to every block in the country and connect with those kids who want to play a sport but don’t know how.
• KIRTI’s athlete-centric programme is conspicuous by its transparent selection methodology based on Information Technology.
• Data analytics based on Artificial Intelligence is being used to predict the sporting acumen in an aspiring athlete.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Hence both statements are correct.