Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 3rd September 2024 - UPSC MCQ

The BioE3 Policy introduced by the Government of India primarily focuses on promoting sustainable development through bioenergy and bioproducts. This policy aims to boost the production and use of bioenergy as a renewable energy source, encourage the development and commercialization of bioproducts, and enhance environmental sustainability by minimizing the use of non-renewable materials.

- Statement-I is correct. India indeed relies entirely on imports for its semiconductor needs.

- Statement-II is also correct. The lack of local semiconductor manufacturing severely impacted India during the COVID-19 lockdown, as mentioned in the source.

- Statement-II explains why Statement-I is significant, showing the impact of this reliance during a critical time like the COVID-19 lockdown. Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains the relevance of Statement-I.

Statement-I correctly describes the focus and objectives of the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) as mentioned in the source material. NIAB indeed engages in advanced research in animal biotechnology to improve animal health, productivity, and welfare.

Statement-II accurately reflects the key objectives of the BioE3 Policy introduced by the Government of India, which aims to promote sustainable development through various measures like boosting bioenergy production, expanding the bioeconomy, addressing environmental sustainability concerns, and generating employment opportunities. Therefore, Statement-II complements and explains the broader context of Statement-I, making Option A the correct choice.

The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) aims to develop a thriving semiconductor ecosystem within the country. This initiative, launched in 2022, focuses on enhancing semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and design capabilities in India. By fostering a robust semiconductor industry, ISM seeks to reduce India's dependence on semiconductor imports, boost domestic production, and strengthen the country's technological capabilities in the electronics sector.

Statement-I correctly describes the objective of the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), which is to establish a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in India. Statement-II accurately characterizes the focus of the Digital Agriculture Mission, which aims to build Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the agricultural sector. While both statements are individually correct in representing their respective missions, they are not interconnected or explanatory of each other, making option (b) the correct answer.

Statement 1 is correct. The National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) is indeed working to decode the genetic blueprints for the conservation of indigenous cattle breeds using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data and genotyping technology. This effort aims to establish molecular signatures for registered cattle breeds.

Statement 2 is incorrect. NIAB is part of the Department of Biotechnology, but it is under the Ministry of Science and Technology, not the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Statement 3 is correct. NIAB is producing bio-scaffolds for tissue repair, including natural and 3D printed types, for applications like cell delivery and drug delivery using animal stem cells.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3 only. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

The "Chips to Startup (C2S)" programme is an initiative by the Government of India to boost the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing industry. The programme aims to train 85,000 engineers in Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) over a period of five years. This initiative is part of the broader goal to make India self-reliant in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing.

All three statements provided are correct and accurately reflect the initiatives taken by the Indian government to promote the semiconductor industry in India:

1. Statement 1 is correct. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was indeed launched in 2022 with the objective of developing a thriving semiconductor ecosystem within the country. This mission is a part of the Digital India Corporation and focuses on enhancing semiconductor manufacturing, packaging, and design capabilities.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The SemiconIndia Programme was approved in 2021 with a substantial budget of INR 76,000 crore. The goal of this program is to establish a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in India by offering attractive incentives to businesses involved in semiconductor-related sectors, such as Silicon Semiconductor Fabs, Display Fabs, and Semiconductor Packaging.

3. Statement 3 is correct. The Chips to Startup (C2S) programme aims to train 85,000 engineers in Electronic System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) over a period of five years. This initiative is part of the broader effort to build a skilled workforce capable of supporting the semiconductor industry in India.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option D: 1, 2 and 3.

1. India Semiconductor Mission (ISM):
- Statement 1 is correct. The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) was indeed launched in 2021 with a financial outlay of ₹76,000 crore. The mission is backed by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and aims to create a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in India by offering financial support to firms investing in this sector.

2. Digital Agriculture Mission:
- Statement 2 is correct. The Digital Agriculture Mission aims to establish Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) in the agricultural sector. The total budget allocated for this mission is ₹2,817 crore, with a significant portion allocated by the Central government and the rest from states and Union Territories. The mission seeks to replicate successful e-governance models to create a comprehensive digital framework for agriculture.

3. Bundestag Downsizing:
- Statement 3 is incorrect. Although the German Constitutional Court upheld the move to downsize the Bundestag, the approved plan is to limit the Bundestag to 630 members by eliminating overhang and balance seats. However, the statement does not specify the exact current status or contextual details that might mislead the understanding of proportionality maintenance, thus it's kept out of the correct statements.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

The India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) aims to create a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem in India. This initiative involves providing financial support to firms investing in semiconductor and display manufacturing and design, with the vision of transforming India into a global hub for semiconductor and display production. Semiconductor manufacturing plays a crucial role in various electronic devices, and fostering this industry domestically can lead to technological advancements and economic growth for the country.