DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 17th April 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –Polity

Context: Recently, the Supreme Court told the authorities to not delay decisions on mercy petitions of death row convicts.

About Mercy petitions:-

• A mercy petition is filed by a convict to change his/her punishment (especially capital) into a lesser form of punishment.
•  It is also called clemency petition/plea or executive clemency.
• It is the convict’s basic right to ask mercy from the Republican head of the State.
  • In India, that is the President.
• It can be exercised after all the legal remedies were exhausted.
• A petition can be filed with the President (under Article 72 of the Indian Constitution) or the governor (under Article 161 of the Constitution).
• A convict under a death sentence is eligible to make the mercy petition.
•  But it should be filed within seven days, after the dismissal of her/his appeal by the Supreme Court and intimation of the same to the convict by the Superintendent of the Police (SP).

The procedure of Mercy Petition:-

• A convict under the sentence of death is allowed to file a mercy petition within a period of seven days after the date on which the Superintendent of Jail informs him about the dismissal of the appeal or special leave to appeal by the Supreme Court.
• The petitions are to be presented to the President of India.
  •  The President office seeks cabinet advice.
  • The appeal is examined by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry before giving recommendations to the President, takes the view of the State concerned.
• There is no written procedure to deal with mercy petition.

• President’s pardon/rejection/delay is also subjected to judicial review.

• However, if a court finds that the process of the decision taken by the President under Article 72 was not arbitrary or unreasonable, the decision then cannot be interfered with.

MUST READ: Death Penalty in India

SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such an accused is locked up a in police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

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) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. When a prisoner makes out a sufficient case, parole cannot be denied to a such prisoner because it becomes a matter of his/her right.
2. State Governments have their own Prisoners Release on Parole Rules.

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

• Prelims –Science and Technology

Context: Recently, the researchers in the UK, have found that graphene displays an anomalous giant magnetoresistance (GMR) at room temperature.

About Magnetoresistance:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Magnetoresistance Effect uses – Bing images

• Magnetoresistance is a phenomenon where the electrical resistance of a conductor is affected by magnetic fields in adjacent materials.
• When the materials are magnetised in the same direction, the electrical resistance in the conductor is low.
• When the directions are opposite each other, the resistance increases.
• The magnetoresistance observed in the graphene-based device was found to be “almost 100 times higher than that observed in other known semimetals in this magnetic field range.”

Uses:-

• It is used in hard disk drives and magnetoresistive RAM in computers, biosensors, automotive sensors, microelectromechanical systems, and medical imagers.
• GMR-based devices are particularly used to sense magnetic fields.

MUST READ: Synthetic biology

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2022)

1. Other than those made by humans, nanoparticles do not exist in nature.
2. Nanoparticles of some metallic oxides are used in the manufacture of some cosmetics.
3. Nanoparticles of some commercial products which enter the environment are unsafe for humans.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q.2) With reference to street lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps? (2021)

1. Sodium lamps produce light at 360 degrees but it is not so in the case of LED lamps.
2. As street lights, sodium lamps have a longer life span than LED lamps.
3. The spectrum of visible light from sodium lamps is almost monochromatic while LED lamps offer significant colour advantages in street lighting.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –Modern Indian History

Context: Recently, Mahad Satyagraha by Ambedkar and the foundation event of the Dalit movement were recalled.

About Mahad Satyagraha :-

IMAGE SOURCE: Ambedkar – Peacockride Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Life Should Be Great Abstract Wall Poster Vinyl A3 Multicolour Amazon In Electronics | itmoneymaking (manainfinito.com)

• Mahad Satyagraha was first collective protest of untouchables under the leadership of Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
• Every year, March 20 is observed as Social Empowerment day in India to commemorate the Mahad Satyagraha.

Background:-

• The untouchables were not allowed to use water from Mahad tank.
• In 1926, Municipal Board of Mahad, Maharashtra passed orders to throw open the famous tank of Mahad city to all communities.
• High caste Hindus opposed this order of Municipal Board.
•  In response, Ambedkar organised a conference to support the decision of Municipal Board.
•  Ambedkar, in his presidential address, stressed the necessity of rooting out ideas of highness or lowness and inculcating self-elevation through self-help, self-respect and self-knowledge.
• A Satyagraha Conference was organised at Mahad in 1925 which demanded that Hindu society should be organised on the basis of equality and absence of casteism.
• It was also resolved to burn Manusmriti, as according to Ambedkar, it perpetuated the social, economic, religious and political slavery of the untouchables.

MUST READ: B R Ambedkar and Women Empowerment

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following freedom fighters: (2022)

1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh
2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
3. Rash Behari Bose

Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

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

Q.2) Who among the following was associated as Secretary with Hindu Female School which later came to be known as Bethune Female School? (2021)

1. Annie Besant
2. Debandranath Tagore
3. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
4. Sarojini Naidu

Syllabus

• Prelims –Important Personalities

Context: Recently, Indian government launches Ambedkar circuit tourist train.

About Ambedkar circuit:-

• The Ambedkar Circuit was proposed in 2016.
•  It  covers Five Key Sites or The “Panchateerths ”as follow:-
  • Mhow: His Birthplace
  • Nagpur: Where he studied
  • London: Where he resided and studied
  • Delhi: Where he breathed his last
  • Mumbai: Where he was cremated

Other sites of relevance:-

• Raigarh, Maharashtra:–
  • Dr. Ambedkar led the Mahad Satyagraha, one of the greatest incidents of expression of freedom for Dalits in 1927, the Mahad Satyagraha.
• Pune, Maharashtra:
  • Where he held the first negotiations with Mahatma Gandhi in Yerwada jail
  • The result was the Poona Pact signed by Dr. Ambedkar on behalf of the depressed classes and by Madan Mohan Malviya on behalf of upper caste Hindus.
• Kolhapur, Maharashtra:
  • In March 1920, another legendary social reformer, Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, declared Dr. Ambedkar as the true leader of the oppressed classes in India.
• Sri Lanka: Where he attended a Buddhist conclave that is said to have influenced him to convert to Buddhism.

MUST READ: Dr B R Ambedkar’s views on moral democracy

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following pairs: (2019)

Movement/Organization                                                        Leader

1. All India Anti-Untouchability League                          Mahatma Gandhi
2. All India Kisan Sabha                                                  Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
3. Self-Respect Movement                                             E. V. Ramaswami Naicker

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

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

Q.2) With reference to Indian freedom struggle, consider the following events: (2017)

1. Mutiny in Royal Indian Navy
2. Quit India Movement launched
3. Second Round Table Conference

What is the correct chronological sequence of the above events?

1. 1-2-3
2. 2-1-3
3. 3-2-1
4. 3-1-2

Syllabus

• Prelims –Important Institutions

Context: Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) has been accorded the status of Miniratna Category-I Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) recently.

About Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI):-

• Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd. (SECI) is a company of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.
• It was established to facilitate the implementation of the National Solar Mission (NSM).
• It is the only Central Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) dedicated to the solar energy sector.
• The company’s mandate has been broadened to cover the entire renewable energy domain and the company will be renamed to Renewable Energy Corporation of India (RECI).
• The SECI was registered as Section 25 under the Companies Act, 1956 (now Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013) in 2011.
• It was set up as a Non-for-Profit Company to promote solar energy in India.
• It was established to facilitate the implementation of Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM).
• The company is responsible for implementation of a number of government schemes, major ones being the VGF schemes for large-scale grid-connected projects under JNNSM, solar park scheme and grid-connected solar rooftop scheme, along with a host of other specialised schemes such as defence scheme, canal-top scheme, Indo-Pak border scheme etc.

MUST READ: India’s solar power energy targets

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) What is the purpose of ‘Vidyanjali Yojana’? (2017)

1. To enable the famous foreign educational institutions to open their campuses in India.
2. To increase the quality of education provided in government schools by taking help from the private sector and the community.
3. To encourage voluntary monetary contributions from private individuals and organizations so as to improve the infrastructure facilities for primary and secondary schools.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q.2) Who among the following can join the National Pension System (NPS)? (2017)

1. Resident Indian citizens only
2. Persons of age from 21 to 55 only
3. All State Government employees joining the services after the state of notification by the respective State Governments
4. All Central Government employees including those of Armed Forces joining the services on or after 1^st April, 2004

Syllabus

• Prelims –Governance

Context: The global Conference on Compressed Biogas is to be held in New Delhi soon.

About Global Conference on Compressed Biogas :-

• It is organized by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas.
• The theme of the conference is – Towards Progressive Policy Framework for a Robust CBG Foundation and Growth.
• The objectives:-
  • to apprise the industry regarding the initiatives taken by the government of India for the development of compressed biogas industry and
  •  to identify the areas where policy modifications are required.
• India is dedicated to achieving a net zero target by 2070 and the government has taken several initiatives to reduce emissions.
•  Compressed Biogas (CBG) has higher calorific value and properties similar to CNG.
• It can be utilized as alternative green renewable and can replace CNG in automotive, industrial and commercial areas, given the abundance of biomass availability within the country.
• The discussion will focus on the feedstock availability, CBG offtake, fermented organic manure, carbon credits, incentives, investment and financing for the CBG industry and biofuel policies of different states + CBG producers on state policies & international experiences.
• TERI, NAMA Facility, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and LCB Forum (Low Carbon Biofuel Forum), Greece are the institutional partners.
• Indian Oil Corporation, Verbio India, Canara Bank, IndianOil Adani Ventures Limited – IAV Biogas, SBI Capital, SIDBI, Praj Industries and Maschinenfabrik Bernard KRONE GmbH are also supporting this conference.

MUST READ: National Bioenergy Programme

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: The nation-wide ‘Soil Health Card Scheme’ aims at (2017)

1. expanding the cultivable area under irrigation.
2. enabling the banks to assess the quantum of loans to be granted to farmers on the basis of soil quality.
3. checking the overuse of fertilizers in farmlands.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Q.2) What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’? (2017)

1. Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities.
2. Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
3. Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power.
4. Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them.

Syllabus

• Prelims –Governance

Context: Recently, the Home Ministry developed an online module for timely disposal of criminal cases called Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).

About Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS):-

• Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) is a national platform for enabling integration of the main IT system used for delivery of Criminal Justice.
• It operates in the country by five pillars namely:-
  • Police (Crime and Criminal Tracking and Network Systems),
  • e-Forensics for Forensic Labs,
  • e-Courts for Courts,
  • e-Prosecution for Public Prosecutors
  • e-Prisons for Prisons.
• It is invested under the CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems)  project of the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs).
  •  ICJS enables a nationwide search on police, prisons & courts databases across all States/ UTs in the country.
  • It also provides for data Analytics for Forecasting/ Predictive Trends in Crimes reported region-wise, category-wise, and basis other parameters for effective management & control of crimes in future.
• The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will be responsible for the implementation of the project in association with National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• The project will be implemented in collaboration with the States and Union Territories.
• In Phase-I (2018-2022) of the ICJS project, individual IT systems have been implemented and stabilized; also search of records have been enabled on these systems.
• Under Phase-II (2022-26), the system is being built on the principle of ‘one data one entry’ whereby data is entered only once in one pillar and the same is then available in all other pillars without the need to re-enter the data in each pillar.
• The ministry also tracks investigations into sexual assault cases across the country, every two months through its analytics tool, the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences.
• This system was launched in February 2018.
• The compliance rate increased from 43% in 2018 to 60% in 2023.
• The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018 amended Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to provide for completion of investigation in rape cases within two months.

MUST READ: Forensic Labs & Criminal Justice System

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of “Digital India” Plan of the Government of India ? (2018)

1. Formation of India’s own Internet companies like China did.
2. Establish a policy framework to encourage overseas multinational corporations that collect Big Data to build their large data centres within our national geographical boundaries.
3. Connect many of our villages to the Internet and bring Wi-Fi to many of our schools, public places and major tourist centres.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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

Q.2) Regarding DigiLocker’, sometimes seen in the news, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)

1. It is a digital locker system offered by the Government under Digital India Programme.
2. It allows you to access your e-documents irrespective of your physical location.

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –International Institutions:

Context: Recently, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) informed the DGCA that India meets the international standards for aviation safety oversight of the Chicago Convention and continues to retain FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 status.

About Chicago Convention:-

• The Convention on International Civil Aviation, more commonly known as the ‘Chicago Convention’ was drafted in 1944.
• The convention established the core principles permitting international transport by air.
• It also led to the creation of the specialized agency which has overseen the convention ever since – the International Civil Aviation Organization(ICAO).
• The convention provides Nine freedoms of air, but only the first five freedoms have been officially recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO):-

• ICAO is a United Nations (UN) specialized agency, established in 1944.
• It laid the foundation for the standards and procedures for peaceful global air navigation.
• The Convention on International Civil Aviation was signed on 7th December 1944 in Chicago.
• India is among its 193 members.
• Headquarters:  Montreal, Canada
• It established the core principles permitting international transport by air, and also led to the creation of the ICAO.
• It’s one of the objectives is to foster the planning and development of international air transport so as to ensure the safe and orderly growth of international civil aviation throughout the world.

MUST READ: UN High Seas Treaty

SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following adopted a law on data protection and privacy for its citizens known as ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ in April 2016 and started implementation of its from 25th May, 2018?

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. The European Union
4. The United States of America

Q.2) Recently, India signed a deal known as ‘Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field’ with which of the following countries?  (2018)

1. Japan
2. Russia
3. The United Kingdom
4. The United States of America

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 2 (Governance) and GS 3 (Economy)

Context: Recently, the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) released a white paper on ‘Making India a Global Power House in the Farm Machinery Industry’.

Key Highlights:

• NCAER is India’s oldest and largest independent, non-profit, economic policy research think tank.
• Established in New Delhi in 1956, It is one of a handful of think tanks globally that combine rigorous analysis and policy outreach with deep data collection capabilities.
• NCAER has analysed the non-tractor farm machinery industry from both demand and supply side perspectives, bringing out the challenges in the sector, and recommending measures & reforms by benchmarking global practices in their report.
• In India, Farm mechanization is at 40-45 percent, which remains low compared to the rest of the world; in the US it is 95 percent, Brazil 75 percent, and China 57 percent.

About Farm mechanisation:

• Farm mechanisation refers to the development and use of machines that can replace human and animal power in agricultural processes with the end objective of enhancing overall productivity and production with the lowest cost of production.

Significance of Farming in India

Food security:

• Issues like rapid urbanisation, population explosion and climate change increase the risk of food shortage.
• These recommendations are crucial to ensure food security for urban as well as rural communities. This benefit has long been highlighted in arguments for urban farming.

Fulfilling nutrition demand:

• 2010 report by M S Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, notes that 50 percent of women and children in urban areas are anaemic due to lack of adequate nutrition.
• The study also recommends focussing on agriculture.

Poverty alleviation:

• Globally, in 2020, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization acknowledged that urban and peri urban farming can contribute to local food and nutritional needs, enable jobs and reduce poverty.

Demand and Supply-side Challenges:

Lack of adequate Information and Awareness:

• There is a lack of adequate information and awareness amongst farmers about the technology and the management of machinery.
• Consequently, their selection of machinery is poor, often making it a wasted investment.

Stark mismatch:

• The paper reveals a mismatch between what the organised industrial sector is producing, especially in the non-tractors segment, and what the small and marginal Indian farmers want.
• The farm machinery industry is characterised by both demand and supply-side challenges.

Lack of awareness:

• There is a lack of adequate information and awareness amongst farmers about the technology and the management of machinery.
• Consequently, their selection of machinery is poor, often making it a wasted investment.

Skills Shortage:

• It is resulting in a low-equilibrium trap for the industry.
  • Village craftsmen, who fall at the bottom of the pyramid in the industry, form the largest group and are the ones who end up largely catering to the Indian farmers in terms of supply, repair, and maintenance of farm machinery.
• On the supply side, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) suffer from a lack of skilled personnel.
• Fabrication of agricultural tools and machinery is often done by semi-skilled workers without proper equipment.

The following suggestions are need of hour:

Engaging various institutions:

• The Agricultural Skills Council of India should work at the district level to address skilling shortages on the demand side; public-private partnerships with Custom Hiring Centres may be especially useful.

Addressing demand & supply-side constraints:

• Extension programmes need to be strengthened to address demand-side issues.
• On the supply side, the District Industries Centre should work with local industrial clusters so that ITIs can provide relevant courses with the latest available technical knowledge and skills.

Skilling:

• State agricultural universities, ICAR and other institutes that have tractor training centres, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and industry (through their dealers) should be made responsible for training young farmers/owners/operators on how to select, operate and service farm machinery.

Setting up of Service centres:

• Service centres at the regional and State levels may be promoted in the private and industrial sectors.
• This will alleviate the need for each farmer to own machinery and learn skills to operate the individual machines.

Vocational skilling programmes:

• Dual vocational skilling programmes will greatly benefit industrial clusters located in tier-II and tier-III cities.
• MSMEs should also leverage the Apprentices Policy of the Central Government. This may be a win-win situation for the youth.

Way Forward:

Sustainable mechanization considers technological, economic, social, environmental, and cultural aspects when contributing to the sustainable development of the food and agricultural sector along with improved agricultural practices for increased production and enhanced food security.

Source:  The Hindu

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3 (Disaster Management)

Context: As per a recent study, flash droughts occurred more often than conventional ‘slow’ droughts in tropical places like India, Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Amazon basin.

About Flash Droughts:

• A considerably long dry spell with significantly low precipitation anomalies during the monsoon results in an increase in air temperature. Increased air temperature and precipitation deficit together cause a rapid depletion of soil moisture leading to flash drought.
• There is little known about flash droughts or ‘hidden hazards’ when compared to research available on long-term droughts.
• Flash droughts can occur in the monsoon season as well, primarily caused by the monsoon breaks and these can also occur due to delayed onset of the summer.
• Atmospheric anomalies (variations), anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and ongoing climate change can lead to flash droughts.
• Early-warning systems (EWS), that could identify trends in climate and sources of water, are used to detect the emergence or probability of the occurrence of flash droughts.

About Droughts:

• A drought is a period of unusually persistent dry weather that persists long enough to cause serious problems such as crop damage and/or water supply shortages.
• The severity of the drought depends upon the degree of moisture deficiency, the duration, and the size of the affected area.

Causes of Droughts:

Causes of Meteorological Droughts:

• Lean monsoon and below average rainfall
• Late onset or early withdrawal of monsoons
• Prolonged breaks in Monsoon

Causes of Hydrological Droughts :

• Large scale deforestation
• Ecologically hazardous mining
• Excessive pumping of ground water

Causes of Agricultural Droughts:

• Excessive use of HYV(High Yielding Varieties) seeds
• Change in cropping pattern e.g. with introduction of green revolution

Impacts:

• Drought causes economic, environmental and social impacts.
  • The first round impacts on agriculture and water resources account for a significant proportion of drought impacts.
  • Others are follow-up impacts on the population immediately affected by droughts, such as farmer incomes and the health, nutrition, and education status of drought-affected populations.
  • A third level is on downstream activities, such as industries reliant on agriculture and water.
  • Finally, there are the diffuse and longer-term impacts on growth, trade, foreign exchange, fiscal balance, and so on.
• Crop Weather Watch Group (CWWG), an inter-Ministerial mechanism, evaluates information and data furnished by IMD and other scientific and technical bodies to determine the likely impact of meteorological events and other environmental parameters on agriculture.

Drought Prone Areas in India

• In India, around 68% of the country is prone to drought to varying degrees.
• The 35% area which receives rainfall between 750 mm and 1125 mm is considered drought prone while 33% receiving less than 750 mm is chronically drought prone.

Steps being taken at the global level:

• THE DELHI DECLARATION OF 2019, signed by 14th CoP of the UNCCD (Refer this link for Bonn Challenge, Great Green Wall Initiative: etc) , called for better access and stewardship over land, and emphasised gender-sensitive transformative projects.
• THE BONN CHALLENGE: To bring 150 million hectares of the world’s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
• GREAT GREEN WALL: Initiative by Global Environment Facility (GEF), where eleven countries in Sahel-Saharan Africa have focused efforts to fight against land degradation and revive native plant life to the landscape.
• PEACE FOREST INITIATIVE: It is an initiative of South Korea to use ecological restoration as a peacebuilding process and aims at addressing the issue of land degradation in conflict-torn border areas.
• INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR ACTION ON SAND AND DUST STORMS (SDS): SDS source base map will be developed with the goal of improving monitoring and response to these storms.

Way Forward: National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines for Drought Management

• NDMA guidelines include developing vulnerability profiles for regions, communities, population groups, and others to compile critical information which when integrated into the planning process can enhance the outcome of the process of identifying and prioritizing specific areas.
• Specific Drought Management cells should be created at the state level under SDMA.
  • These DMCs will be responsible for the preparation of vulnerability maps for their respective states.
  • Arid and semi-arid areas that are most vulnerable should be given priority where drought is a recurring feature occurring with varying magnitudes.
• Specific guidelines for use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and role of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) for online interaction and availability of real-time drought-related information that will help in the assessment and early warning.
• Assessment of damage expected will include agricultural production, depletion of water resources, livestock population, land degradation, and deforestation as well as human health.

Source:  Indian Express

Q.1) Consider the following statements regarding International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO):

1. ICAO is funded and directed by 200 national governments to support their diplomacy and cooperation in air transport.
2. The Chicago Convention established the core principles permitting international transport by air, and led to the creation of the ICAO.
3. India is part of the Chicago Convention.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q.2) Consider the following statements regarding giant magnetoresistance (GMR):

1. It is the tendency of a material (often ferromagnetic) to change the value of its electrical resistance in an externally-applied magnetic field.
2. It is used in hard disk drives, computers, biosensors, automotive sensors, microelectromechanical systems, and medical imagers.
3. GMR-based devices are particularly used to sense magnetic fields.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Q.3) Dr B R Ambedkar associated with which of the following events/organisations?

1. Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha
2. The Mahad Satyagraha
3. Poona Pact

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’ 17th April 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – c