DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th March 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims – Defense

Context: Recently, P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy arrived in Guam, USA to participate in ‘Exercise Sea Dragon 23’.

About Exercise Sea Dragon 23:-

• Exercise Sea Dragon 23 is a biennial coordinated multilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise for long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
• The exercise is conducted by the United States Navy.
• Participating countries include India, the USA, Japan, Canada, and South Korea.
• It was held for the first time in 2015.
• This is the third edition of the Sea Dragon Exercise.
• The exercise aims to achieve high levels of synergy and coordination between the participating countries based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
• The exercise’s primary objective is to improve coordination among participating countries in the multilateral anti-submarine warfare drills.
• Other Exercises between India and USA include Malabar, Yudh Abhyas, and VAJRA PRAHAR.

MUST READ: Exercise Sea Breeze

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) India is a member of which of the following? (2015)

1. Asia-Pacific economic corporation.
2. Association of South-East Asian Nations.
3. East Asia Summit

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 1, 2, and 3
4. India is a member of none of them

Q.2) With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, Consider the following statements: (2015)

1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills
2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Syllabus

• Prelims – Government Schemes and Environment and Ecology

Context: The Union Minister of renewable energy & power R.K. Singh recently informed the Lok Sabha that the Green Hydrogen Mission can reduce Rs. 1 lakh crore of fossil fuel imports.

About the PM-KUSUM scheme:-

• The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched in 2019.
• It is under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
• The scheme is aimed at ensuring energy security for farmers in India.
• It also targets to honour India’s commitment to increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources to 40% by 2030 as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

Objectives:-

• to support the installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and reduce dependence on the grid, in grid-connected areas.
• to enable farmers to set up solar power generation capacity on their barren lands and sell it to the grid.

The scheme has 3 components:-

• Component-A: For Setting up 10,000 MW of Decentralized Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land.
• Component-B: Under this Component, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar Agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP for replacement of existing diesel Agriculture pumps / irrigation systems in off-grid areas, where grid supply is not available.
• Component-C: Under this Component, individual farmers having grid-connected agriculture pumps will be supported to solarise pumps.

About Atal Jyoti Yojana:-

• The Atal Jyoti Yojana scheme was launched in 2016.
• It is under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

Objective: installation of solar street lighting (SSL) systems in states with less than 50% of households covered with grid power (as per Census 2011). 

• Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL)  is implementing Atal Jyoti Yojana (AJAY).
• It is a sub-scheme under the Off-Grid and Decentralized Solar Application Scheme of MNRE.
• Under AJAY, Solar LED Lights are being installed in rural, semi-urban and urban areas which don’t enjoy adequate coverage of power.
• Funding: the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy will provide 75% of the cost of street lights and the remaining 25% will come from Member of Parliament Local Area Development funds (MPLADS).
• Under AJAY phase-I and II, EESL has installed over 1.97 lakh Solar LED street lights in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

MUST READ: National Green Hydrogen Mission and Green Hydrogen

SOURCE: NEWSOnAIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to solar water pumps, consider the following statements (2020)

1. Solar power can be used for running surface pumps and not for submersible Pumps.
2. Solar power can be used for running centrifugal pumps and not the ones with pistons.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2 

Q.2) Consider the following statements: (2015)

1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during 1996-97 to provide loan assistance to poor farmers.
2. The Command Area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 for the development of water-use efficiency.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Syllabus

Syllabus

• Prelims – Geography and Environment and Ecology

Context: National Institute of Ocean Technology to set up a green, self-powered desalination plant in Lakshadweep soon.

About the National Institute of Ocean Technology:-

• It is an autonomous institute under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• It was established in 1993.
• Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Objectives:-

• to develop reliable indigenous technologies
• to solve various engineering problems associated with the harvesting of non-living and living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.

About Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination technology:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Schematic diagram of low-temperature thermal desalination plant using… | Download Scientific Diagram (researchgate.net)

• It is a desalination process that uses low-grade thermal energy, typically below 70°C, to evaporate seawater and produce fresh water.
• The technology is designed to be efficient and cost-effective, in providing potable water.

Working:-

• Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination exploits the difference in temperature (nearly 15°C) in the ocean water at the surface and at depths of about 600 feet.
• This cold water is used to condense water at the surface.
• The water at the surface is warmer and is maintained at low pressure using vacuum pumps.
• Water evaporates at ambient temperatures at such low pressures.
• This resulting vapour when condensed with the help of cold water from the depth is free of salts and contaminants and is fit to consume.

MUST READ: Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) and Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2020)

1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the southwestern Indian Ocean during January — March.
2. OMT collected during January — March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in the monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) Where was the first desalination plant in India to produce one lakh litre of freshwater per day based on the low-temperature thermal desalination principle commissioned? (2008)

1. Kavaratti
2. Port Blair
3. Mangalore
4. Valsad

Syllabus

• Prelims –Science and technology

Context: Scientists got the first direct geological evidence of an active volcano on Venus recently.

About Venus:-

IMAGE SOURCE: venus solar system – Bing images 

• Venus is the second planet from the sun.
• It is Earth’s closest planetary neighbour.
• It is similar in structure but slightly smaller than Earth. Therefore, Venus has been called Earth’s twin.
• Venus is wrapped in a thick, toxic atmosphere filled with carbon dioxide that traps heat.
• Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system.
• The temperature of Venus is too high, and its atmosphere is highly acidic.
• Surface temperatures reach a scorching 880 degrees Fahrenheit (471 degrees Celsius), hot enough to melt lead.
• On Venus, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the East.
• One day on Venus is equivalent to 243 Earth days because of its backward spinning, opposite to that of the Earth and most other planets.
• Venus does not have a moon and no rings.

Venus in news:

• Analysis of radar images obtained more than three decades ago has yielded new evidence indicating Venus, is currently volcanically active – a dynamic world with eruptions and lava flows.
• The new findings suggest there are eruptions on Venus about every few months.
• These are similar to some Earth volcanoes in places like Hawaii, the Canary Islands and Iceland.
• This is the latest evidence that Venus, lacking the plate tectonics that gradually reshapes Earth’s surface, is not the geologically dormant world some scientists had once considered it

MUST READ: Shukrayaan I

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) If a major solar storm (solar flare) reaches the Earth, which of the following are the possible effects on the Earth? (2022)

1. GPS and navigation systems could fail.
2. Tsunamis could occur in equatorial regions.
3. Power grids could be damaged.
4. Intense auroras could occur over much of the Earth.
5. Forest fires could take place over much of the planet.
6. Orbits of the satellites could be disturbed.
7. Shortwave radio communication of the aircraft flying over polar regions could be interrupted.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2, 4 and 5 only
2. 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 only
3. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Q.2) Which one of the following is a reason why astronomical distances are measured in light-years?(2021)

1. Distance among stellar bodies does not change
2. The gravity of stellar bodies does not change
3. Light always travels in straight lines
4. The speed of light is always the same

Syllabus

• Prelims –Environment and Ecology

Context:  According to the recently released World Air Quality Report 2022, Delhi ranked fourth on a list of 50 of the world’s most polluted cities.

About the World Air Quality Report:-

• It is prepared by IQ Air.
• This 2022 World Air Quality Report presents PM2.5 air quality data from 7,323 cities across 131 countries, regions, and territories.
• It incorporates the 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines and interim targets as a basis for data visualization and risk communication.
• The WHO guideline for annual PM2.5 levels is 5 μg/m3.
• Delhi had an average PM2.5 level of 92.6 μg/m3 in 2022, a little below the average of 96.4 μg/m3 in 2021.
• The most polluted city in the world was found to be Lahore, followed by Hotan in China, and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan.
• Chad is the most polluted capital city in the world.
• India is behind Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Kuwait on this list
• A total of 39 Indian cities (including ‘Delhi’ and ‘New Delhi’) are on the list of 50 of the world’s most polluted cities in 2022.
• These include cities like Noida, Gurgaon, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Charkhi Dadri, Jind, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Greater Noida.

About IQAir:-

• It is a Swiss group that measures air quality levels based on the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5.
• Objectives:-
• to engage, educate, and inspire governments, researchers, Non-Government Organisations, companies, and citizens to work together to improve air quality and create healthier communities and cities.
• to facilitate an informed dialogue and inspires action that improves air quality and the health of global communities and cities.

MUST READ: IQ Air’s Global air pollution Report 2021

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In the Guidelines, statements: the context of WHO consider the Air Quality following (2022)

1. The 24-hour mean of PM2.5 should not exceed 15 ug/m³ and the annual mean of PM 2.5 should not exceed 5 µg/m³.
2. In a year, the highest levels of ozone pollution occur during periods of inclement weather.
3. PM10 can penetrate the lung barrier and enter the bloodstream.
4. Excessive ozone in the air can trigger asthma.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

1. 1, 3 and 4
2. 1 and 4 only
3. 2, 3 and 4
4. 1 and 2 only

Q.2) Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution? (2020)

1. Automobile exhaust
2. Tobacco smoke
3. Woodburning
4. Using varnished wooden furniture
5. Using products made of polyurethane

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 2 and 3 only
2. 2 and 4 only
3. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Syllabus

• Prelims –Geography

Context: As per recent document published in the journal Earth’s Future, the large-scale pollution from untreated agricultural drainage and wastewater is putting existential pressure on the delta system of the Nile river.

About the Nile river:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Nile River (geography.name)

• The River Nile is located in Africa.
• It originates in Burundi, south of the equator, and flows northward through northeastern Africa, eventually flowing through Egypt and finally draining into the Mediterranean Sea.
• Source: The source of the Nile is sometimes considered to be Lake Victoria, but the lake itself has feeder rivers of considerable size like the Kagera River.
• The Nile River is considered one of the longest rivers in the world.
• Nile basin includes parts of Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Congo (Kinshasa), and Kenya.
• The Nile River forms an arcuate delta as it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
• Arcuate delta: Deltas with triangular or fan-shaped are called arcuate (arc-like) deltas.
• The Nile is formed by three principal streams: the Blue Nile, the Atbara, and the White Nile.

MUST READ: West Nile Virus and Lake Chad

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert? (2022)

1. Lake Victoria
2. Lake Faguibine
3. Lake Oguta
4. Lake Volta

Q.2) Consider the following pairs: (2020)

Rivers  Flows into

1. 1. Mekong       Andaman Sea
2. 2. Thames       Irish Sea
3. 3. Volga           Caspian Sea
4. 4. Zambezi      Indian Ocean

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2 and 4 only

Syllabus

• Prelims – Geography and Polity

Context: Tamil Nadu is waiting for Centre’s next course of action as the three-month deadline fixed by the Supreme Court had expired recently.

About Pennaiyar river:-

• The river originates in the Nandi Hills in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka.
• It flows through Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
• It is the second largest interstate East flowing river basin among the 12 basins lying between Pennar and Cauvery basins.
• It covers a large area in the State of Tamil Nadu besides the areas covered in the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Bangalore, Hosur, Tiruvannamalai, and Cuddalore are the important cities on the banks of South Pennar river.
• Major tributaries are the Chinnar, Markanda, Vaniar, and Pamban.

MUST READ: Linking Rivers

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following Rivers: (2021)

1. Brahmani
2. Nagavali
3. Subarnarekha
4. Vamsadhara

Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

1. 1 and 2
2. 2 and 4
3. 3 and 4
4. 1 and 3

Q.2) With reference to the Indus River system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of the which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct? (2021)

1. Chenab
2. Jhelum
3. Ravi
4. Sutlej

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (Society) and GS 2 (Governance)

Context: ISRO plans to start ‘Space Tourism’ for passenger by 2030.

About Space Tourism:

• Space tourism is another niche segment of the aviation industry that seeks to give tourists the ability to become astronauts and experience space travel for recreational, leisure, or business purposes.
• Companies including Virgin Atlantic, SpaceX, XCOR Aerospace, Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin and Armadillo Aerospace are working on providing space tourism services to people.

Major highlights of the proposal:

• Price: The per ticket price is estimated to be around Rs 6 crore and People who take the trip will also be able to call themselves astronauts.
• Type of Space Travel: The module is likely to feature sub-orbital space travel which generally involves spending 15 minutes at the edge of space, experiencing a few minutes in a low-gravity environment before the spaceflight descends back to Earth.
• Partnership with Private Firms: ISRO is likely to partner with private firms for the development of the space travel module via the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe).
• Safety Measures: ISRO will also be using the Reusable Launch Vehicle—Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) to gain more knowledge about the safety of the spaceflights as space experiences are being brought to the common people.

Advantages of the Space Tourism:

• Boost to economy: Space tourism will increase the commercial activity in the time of poor state of world economy.
• Draw FDI Investors: It will renew interest in space exploration. This will draw more investors for more financial backing to support more innovations in the industry.
• Generate Employment: Space tourism will give employment to thousands of people. Manufacturing of new and better spacecraft will give employment to many skilled people.
• Pave ways to protect Earth: It would also help in identifying potential hazards dangerous for our planet.
• New resources: Help to find new minerals and other precious materials in space and other planets. This will be of great help to the people of Earth where natural resources are depleting fast.
• Adventure Tourism: Open a new avenue for adventure tourists.
• Technological advancement: Opens avenues for advanced technology which can be applied to other domains apart from space missions.

Major challenges of space tourism:

• Exposure to Sun’s Radiation: Space travel technology at the nascent stage can make entering space a dangerous venture.
  • Space travelers are likely to get exposed to harmful radiations from the sun.
• Health: Spending long hours in zero gravity condition can be dangerous for the person’s cardiovascular and musculoskeletal system.
  • If people accidentally get exposed to high-energy ionizing cosmic rays, it may lead to cancer.
• Safety: Space tourism involves a high degree of risk, and safety will be a major concern for both tourists besides operators and the Spacecraft and launch vehicles must be reliable, and emergency procedures must be in place in case of any contingencies.
• Exposure to harmful organisms: We may unwittingly introduce some harmful microorganism from space into the atmosphere of Earth.
• Inequity: Space tourism is meant for the super-rich only.
  • For example, a single 2 ½ hour flight ticket in Virgin Galactic’s upcoming space ship costs $ 250,000.
• Not a panacea: It is great to imagine people walking on the surface of Mars. It would not be wise to consider the escape to space will help in escaping the problems of earth.
  • There is nowhere in the solar system where we can find the environment as congenial as that available on earth.

Space Tourism modules of other countries:

• United States: It is a leader in space tourism, with several private companies such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic which has already completed several test flights, and plans to launch commercial flights in the near future.
• Russia: It has been involved in space tourism since 2001, and has sent several paying tourists to the International Space Station (ISS) on its Soyuz spacecraft.
• United Arab Emirates: The UAE recently sent its first astronaut to the ISS, and has expressed interest in developing space tourism as part of its efforts to diversify its economy.

Way Forward:

As a whole, ISRO’s space tourism module, which is both safe and reusable is a significant step towards advancing India’s space exploration programs and providing the public with an opportunity to experience space travel. As technology continues to advance, space tourism could become more accessible and affordable, in future and thus allowing more people to experience the wonder and excitement of space exploration.

MUST READ:  IN-SPACe

Source:  Hindustan Times

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (Governance)

Context: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Department of Consumer Affairs has formed a committee to develop a comprehensive framework for the Right to Repair in India.

About Right to Repair:

Image source: iFixitnews

• The Right to Repair refers to government legislation that is intended to allow consumers the ability to repair and modify their own consumer electronic devices, where otherwise the manufacturer of such devices require the consumer to use only their offered services.
• When customers buy a product, it is inherent that they must own it completely, for which the consumers should be able to repair and modify the product with ease and at reasonable cost, without being captive to the whims of manufacturers for repairs.
• The idea originally originated from the USA where the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act 2012, required the manufacturers to provide the necessary documents and information to allow anyone to repair their vehicles.

Proposed Sectors for Implementation:

• Farming equipment
• Mobile phones/ tablets
• Consumer durables
• Automobiles/automobile equipment

Significance of Right to repair for India

• Reducing electronic waste: India is one of the largest generators of electronic waste in the world, and the right to repair can help reduce e-waste by extending the lifespan of electronic devices and appliances.
• Promoting transparency and collaboration: The right to repair framework aims to build a consumer-centric ecosystem that promotes transparency and collaboration between manufacturers, sellers, and consumers.
• Lowering costs for consumers: By providing access to third-party technicians, the right to repair can reduce costs for consumers who may not be able to afford expensive repairs or replacement devices.
• Empowering consumers: By giving consumers the ability to repair their own devices or choose where to have them repaired, the right to repair empowers consumers to make informed choices and take control of their own devices.
• Supporting small businesses: The right to repair can also support small businesses that provide repair services, by creating a level playing field with manufacturers who may have previously had a monopoly on repairs.

Challenges of implementing right to repair in India

• Lack of Awareness: Consumers lack awareness about their rights to repair and the benefits of repairing their devices leading to a lack of demand for repair services, limiting the growth of the repair industry.
• Limited Availability of Spare Parts: The availability of spare parts is often limited in India, particularly for older or less common models of devices makes it difficult for repair technicians to perform repairs or for consumers to find reliable repair services.
• Lack of Regulation: Currently, there is no comprehensive regulation in India that governs the right to repair which can lead to confusion among consumers and repair technicians about their rights and responsibilities, and may limit the growth of the repair industry
• Opposition from Manufacturers: Some manufacturers may oppose the right to repair, arguing that it could compromise their intellectual property rights or lead to safety concerns making it difficult to pass legislation or regulations to support the right to repair.
• Limited Access to Information: Many manufacturers do not provide adequate information to consumers about repair options or how to repair devices, which can make it difficult for consumers to exercise their right to repair.

Way Forward:

• Avoiding blanket waiver: While necessary clauses to maintain the quality of the product can be included, a blanket waiver should be avoided.
  • For instance, the quality assurance clause can be incorporated for use of company-recommended spare parts and certified repair shops.
• Making available the repair manual: Making repair manuals available to certified business owners could go a long way in balancing the rights of consumers and manufacturers.
• Sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect IP rights: Manufacturers can sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect the IP with certified repairers/businesses.
• Allotting certification/license: Further, the lack of certification/licensing of repair workers is seen as a reflection of their lack of skills.
• Insert right to repair in Consumer protection Act: The ‘right to repair’ can be said to be implicit in Section 2(9) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
• Reparability parameter: The product liability clause under Section 84 can be amended and expanded to impose product liability concerning various reparability parameters of the product.
• Duration of product liability: The duration of imposing product liability may vary depending on the product and its longevity.

Source: LiveMint

Q.1) Consider the following:

1. Tanzania
2. Burundi
3. Rwanda
4. Kenya

Which of the above countries comes under the Nile river basin?

1. 1 3 and 4 only
2. 1 2 and 3 only
3. 2 3 and 4 only
4. 1 2 3 and 4

Q.2) Consider the following statements regarding the National Institute of Ocean Technology:

1. It is an autonomous institute under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology
2. It aims to solve various engineering problems associated with the harvesting of non-living and living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.3) Consider the following statements regarding the Atal Jyoti Yojana:

1. The scheme was launched in 2016 as a sub-scheme under the Off-Grid and Decentralized Solar Application Scheme.
2. It is under the Ministry of Power
3. The scheme is implemented by the Energy Efficiency Services Limited

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 3 only
4. 1 and 3 only

Comment the answers to the above questions in the comment section below!!

ANSWERS FOR ’ 18th March 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – b