DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 15th November 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –IMPORTANT DAYS

Context: President  Droupadi Murmu stressed the need to inspire children from childhood to help others and have a feeling of love and respect for the environment on National Children’s Day.

Background:-

• The President stated this while addressing the children from various schools and organisations at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Children’s Day.

About National Children’s Day:-

• Children’s Day is also known as ‘Bal Diwas’ in India.
• Children’s Day is the annual celebration in the country that falls on the birthday of India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, on November 14.
• Its celebrations date back to 1956, when the day was observed as ‘Universal Children’s Day’ on November 20, keeping with the United Nations.
• But, after Pt Nehru died in 1964, it was decided the celebrations be moved to commemorate his birth anniversary.
• Pt Nehru’s love for children was well-known.
• He was hailed as ‘Chacha Nehru’ owing to his popularity among children.
• It is said that he considered them to be the future assets of the country, for whom an all-rounded education would be of importance for their career, and for the country. (Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE))
• Thus, Pt Nehru became a role model for many future generations.
• He also established pioneer scientific institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), and the National Institutes of Technology (NIT).

Significance:-

• The day stands for the rights of children and prioritizes their needs and voices. (The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021)
• It also raises awareness of the need for the education of children to enable them to be better citizens of the country in the coming years.

MUST READ: Child Marriage in India

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017? (2019)

1. Pregnant women are entitled to three months of pre-delivery and three months of post-delivery paid leave.
2. Enterprises with creches must allow the mother a minimum of six creche visits daily.
3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Q.2) With reference to the ‘stand up India scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)

1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
2. It provides for refinancing through SIDBI.

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 RELATIONS

Context: Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh attended the 10th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus).

Background:-

• It will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from the 16th of November to the 17th of November,2023.
• Since 2017, the ADMM-Plus Ministers have been meeting annually to bolster cooperation between ASEAN and the Plus countries.

About ASEAN:-

• Establishment: 8 August 1967.
• Secretariat: Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Members: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
• Bangkok Declaration, 1967, formally established the ASEAN.
• The first ASEAN Summit was in 1976.
• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional association that was founded to maintain social stability and political equilibrium among Asia’s post-colonial states amid escalating conflicts.
• “One Vision, One Identity, One Community” is its motto.
• The 8th of August is celebrated as the ASEAN Day.

Institutional mechanism of ASEAN:-

• ASEAN Summit: It meets annually to discuss regional issues and set policy directions.
• ASEAN Coordinating Council (ACC): It oversees the implementation of ASEAN agreements and decisions.
• ASEAN Secretariat: It supports and facilitates ASEAN’s activities and initiatives.
• ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): It is a platform for dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues among ASEAN member countries and their partners.
• Decision Making: It is done through consultation and consensus.

Significance of ASEAN for India:-

• India needs a close diplomatic relationship with ASEAN nations both for economic and security reasons.
• Connectivity with the ASEAN nations can allow India to improve its presence in the region. (India-ASEAN conclave)
• These connectivity projects keep Northeast India at the centre, ensuring the economic growth of the northeastern states.
• Improved trade ties with the ASEAN nations would mean a counter to China’s presence in the region and economic growth and development for India.
• ASEAN occupies a centralized position in the rules-based security architecture in the Indo-Pacific, which is vital for India since most of its trade is dependent on maritime security.
• Collaboration with the ASEAN nations is necessary to counter insurgency in the Northeast, combat terrorism, tax evasion etc.

MUST READ: India-ASEAN FTA

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System? (2023)

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Israel
4. Japan

Q.2) With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements: (2018)

1. PSLVs launch satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-stage launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors, and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENC AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: The National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases has made quick detection of drug-resistant ‘Helicobacter pylori possible recently.

Background:-

• A two-step PCR-based assay of a small region of the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria can help detect H. pylori infection and also identify clarithromycin-resistant bacteria and those that are drug-sensitive in six-seven hours has been developed by a team of researchers from the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (ICMR-NICED), Kolkata.

About Helicobacter pylori:-

• H pylori is a bacterium that infects the stomach lining.
• It is linked to gastrointestinal issues like peptic ulcers and stomach cancer.
• About two-thirds of the world’s population has it in their bodies.
• For most people, it never causes any symptoms.
• In India, H. pylori infection affects 60-70% of the population.
• This usually happens during childhood and remains in the stomach throughout their life if not treated with antibiotics effectively.

Symptoms:-

• An ache or burning pain in your stomach (abdomen)
• Stomach pain that may be worse when your stomach is empty
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent burping
• Bloating
• Unintentional weight loss

Treatment:-

• Clarithromycin is an antibiotic commonly used to treat H. pylori infections, but drug-resistant strains in India have raised concerns about its effectiveness.

Diagnosis:-

• Traditional H. pylori infection diagnosis and antibiotic sensitivity testing involved time-consuming bacterial culture, taking weeks.
• Delayed diagnosis and sensitivity testing can result in ineffective treatment and antibiotic resistance.
• The National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (ICMR-NICED) in Kolkata created a two-step PCR-based assay for diagnosing H. pylori infection.
• This assay amplifies a specific DNA segment, targeting a critical mutation linked to clarithromycin resistance.

Significance of discovery:-

• The PCR-based assay offers a faster and more accurate alternative to traditional culturing methods, aiding in prompt diagnosis and effective treatment.
• The assay has demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity. (Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs))

MUST READ: Rare Diseases

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. The Serum Institute of India produced a COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using an mRNA platform.
2. The Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using a vector-based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

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

Q.2) With reference to recent developments regarding ‘Recombinant vector Vaccines’, consider the following statements: (2021)

1. Genetic engineering is applied in the development of these vaccines.
2. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors.

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 – ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: A recent Survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve has identified 50 Odonata species.

Background:-

• Around 50 Odonata (the insect order comprising dragonflies) species were identified on the first day of the two-day Odonata survey that commenced in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) recently.

About Odonata Species:-

• Odonata is an order of flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies.
• They are globally distributed, from the tropics, where they are most numerous and varied, to the boreal forests of Siberia and North America.
• It is one of the ancient orders of insects.
• Odonata is a diverse group, with over 6,000 known species.
• All Odonata have aquatic larvae called naiads (nymphs).
• All of them, larvae and adults, are
• The adults can land but rarely walk.
• Their legs are specialized for catching prey.
• They are almost entirely
• The largest living odonate is the giant Central American helicopter damselfly Megaloprepus coerulatus.
• The abdomen is almost always longer than any of the wings.
• More than 80% of their brain is devoted to analyzing visual information.
• Large, active by day, and often strikingly coloured, they are usually seen flying near water. (Wildlife Institute of India (WII))

MUST READ: Blackbuck

SOURCE: THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following is not a bird? (2022)

1. Golden Mahseer
2. Indian Nightjar
3. Spoonbill
4. White Ibis

Q.2) Consider the following animals

1. Hedgehog
2. Marmot
3. Pangolin

To reduce the chance of being captured by predators, which of the above organisms rolls up/roll up and protects/protect its/their vulnerable parts? (2021)

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY- SPACE

Context: Recently, the Orionid Meteor Shower was seen.

About Orionid Meteor Shower:-

• October month every year, Earth passes through the tail of debris left behind by Halley’s comet.
• This comet orbits the sun approximately every 76 years.
• The Orionid meteor shower, an annual phenomenon that lights up the night sky every October.
• It is produced when Earth passes through the debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
• The result is what NASA calls “one of the most beautiful showers of the year”: the Orionid meteor shower.( Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet)
• This shower lasts until November 22, but don’t wait to get out there and look up, because it’s about to peak this weekend.
• Halley’s Comet was predicted, by the calculations by English astronomer Edmond Halley.
• Interestingly, the comet is named after its orbit calculator rather than its discoverer.
• Halley’s Comet measures about five by nine miles in size and loses between three to ten feet of material on each passage through the inner solar system.
• Halley’s Comet has a unique history of predictable returns and has been observed throughout history, with recorded sightings dating back to 240 CE.

MUST READ: Exoplanets

SOURCE: CNN

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q.2)  Which one of the following statements best reflects the idea behind the “Fractional Orbital Bombardment System” often talked about in media? (2022)

1. A hypersonic missile is launched into space to counter the asteroid approaching the Earth and explode it in space.
2. A spacecraft lands on another planet after making several orbital motions.
3. A missile is put into a stable orbit around the Earth and deorbits over a target on the Earth.
4. A spacecraft moves along a comet with the same surface. speed and places a probe on its

Syllabus

• Prelims –DEFENSE

Context: Recently, INS Sumedha made a port call at Walvis Bay, Namibia.

Background:-

• INS Sumedha in continuation with Indian Navy’s mission-based deployment to West Africa and Atlantic made a port call at Walvis Bay, Namibia from 10-13 November 23.
• This port call is a manifestation of India’s warm ties with Namibia, its commitment to enhance maritime security and demonstrate solidarity with friendly nations.

About INS SUMEDHA:-

• Built by: Goa Shipyard Limited.
• INS Sumedha is an indigenously built Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel.
• It is part of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Fleet based at Visakhapatnam.
• It is the third ship of the indigenous Naval Offshore Patrol Vessel (NOPV) Project to be inducted into the Indian Navy.
• It is deployed for multiple roles independently and in support of Fleet Operations.
• Its primary role is to undertake EEZ surveillance, anti-piracy patrols, fleet support operations, providing maritime security to offshore assets and carry out escort operations for high value assets.

Significance:-

• It is a highly potent platform that can be deployed for a variety of operational missions.
• It bears testimony to the capabilities of the Indian ship building industry. (INS Mormugao)

MUST READ: Dunagiri, a Project 17A Frigate

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2023)

Statement-I:

Switzerland is one of the leading exporters of gold in terms of value.

Statement-II:

Switzerland has the second-largest gold reserves in the world.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q.2) With reference to Home Guards, consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Home Guards are raised under the Home Guards Act and Rules of the Central Government.
2. The role of the Home Guards is to serve as an auxiliary force to the police in the maintenance of internal security.
3. To prevent infiltration on the international border/ coastal areas, the Border Wing Home Guards Battalions have been raised in some states.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q1) Consider the following pairs:

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q2) Consider the following statements

Statement-I :

Halley’s Comet orbits the sun approximately every 56 years.

Statement-II :

Halley’s Comet was predicted, by the calculations by English astronomer Edmond Halley.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
3. Statement-I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
4. Statement-I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

Q3) With reference to the ASEAN, consider the following statements:

1. The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
2. 7th August is observed as ASEAN Day.
3. ASEAN Secretariat is in Indonesia, Jakarta.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  15th November 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – d