DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 16th November 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims – SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recently, the World’s Leading Theory on Alzheimer’s in Crisis fail After Major Drug Trials.

Background:-

• In two trials, a drug designed to eradicate the sticky plaques has failed to preserve the cognitive abilities of people with early Alzheimer’s disease compared to people given a placebo.
• The monoclonal antibody gantenerumab did significantly reduce the amount of amyloid beta in the brain as intended, but this did not translate into improvements in cognitive function.

About Alzheimer’s Disease:-

• Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder.
• It causes brain cells to degenerate and die.
• This leads to loss of memory, problems with words in speaking or writing, poor judgment, changes in mood and personality, confusion with time or place, etc.
• It is a brain disorder that gets worse over time.
• Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia among older adults.
• Alzheimer’s is an incurable disease, as the death of brain cells cannot be reversed.
• Women have a higher risk of having Alzheimer’s disease than men.

Causes:-

• Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by the abnormal build-up of proteins in and around brain cells.
• One of the proteins involved is called amyloid, deposits of which form plaques around brain cells and the other protein is called tau.
• Tau is a protein that when it occurs in tangled formations in the brain of Alzheimer patients, disrupts the ability of neurons to communicate with one another in the brain.

Symptoms:-

A gradual decline in some, most or all of the following:-

• Reasoning and handling of complex tasks.
• Understanding visual form and space relationship.

Management and Treatment:-

Medication:

• There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but certain medications can temporarily slow the worsening of dementia symptoms.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of drugs to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease:
  • Cholinesterase inhibitors.
  • NMDA antagonists.

Managing behaviour changes:-

• Maintaining a familiar environment for them.
• Monitoring patients’ comfort.
• Providing comfort objects, such as a favourite stuffed animal or blanket.

MUST READ: Need for stronger mental health strategy

SOURCE: SCIENCE ALERT

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) ‘Microsatellite DNA’ is used in the case of which one of the following? (2023)

1. Studying the evolutionary relationships among various species of fauna
2. Stimulating ‘stem cells’ to transform into diverse functional tissues
3. Promoting clonal propagation of horticultural plants
4. Assessing the efficacy of drugs by conducting a series of drug trials in  a population

Q.2) ‘Aerial metagenomics’ best refers to which one of the following situations? (2023)

1. Collecting DNA samples from air in a habitat at one go
2. Understanding the genetic makeup of avian species of a habitat
3. Using air-borne devices to collect blood samples from moving animals
4. Sending drones to inaccessible areas to collect plant and animal  samples from land surfaces and  water bodies

Syllabus

• Prelims – GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: Recent data shows that over 18.88 lakh new workers enrolled under the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme in September 2023.

Background:-

• Over nine lakh young employees, up to the age group of 25 years, constitute the majority of new registrations.

About Employees’ State Insurance Scheme:-

IMAGE SOURCE: AIR

• The Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESI)is an integrated measure of social Insurance embodied in the Employees’ State Insurance Act, of 1948. ( ESIC)
• Objectives: ESI Scheme is designed to accomplish the task of protecting ’employees’ as defined in the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 against the impact of incidences of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury and to provide medical care to insured persons and their families. (Draft Social Security Code )
• Implementing Agency: Employees’ State Insurance Corporation.

Applicability of ESI Scheme:-

• It applies to factories and other establishments Road Transport, Hotels, Restaurants, Cinemas, Newspaper, Shops, and Educational/Medical Institutions wherein 10 or more persons are employed.
• However, in some States threshold limit for coverage of establishments is still

Beneficiary Selection:-

• Employees of the aforesaid categories of factories and establishments, drawing wages up to Rs.15,000/- a month, are entitled to social security cover under the ESI Act.
• ESI Corporation has also decided to enhance the wage ceiling for coverage of employees under the ESI Act from Rs.15,000/- to Rs.21,000.

Coverage of the ESI Scheme:-

• 1952: In the beginning, the ESI Scheme was implemented at just two industrial centres in the country, namely Kanpur and Delhi.
• The Scheme today, stands implemented at over 830 centres in 31 States and Union Territories.

Funding of ESI Scheme:-

• The Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESI Scheme) is financed by contributions from employers and employees.
• The rate of contribution by employer is 3.25% of the wages payable to employees.
• The employees’ contribution is at the rate of 75% of the wages payable to an employee.

Benefits under the ESI Scheme:-

The main benefits provided under ESI Scheme are:

• Sickness Benefit
• Disablement Benefit
• Dependants’ Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• Medical Benefit
• Other benefits: Confinement Expenses, Funeral Expenses, Vocational Rehabilitation, Physical Rehabilitation, Unemployment Allowance (RGSKY) and Skill Upgradation Training.

MUST READ: Finding Unemployment Benefits

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In India, which one of the following compiles information on industrial disputes, closures, retrenchments, and lay-offs in factories employing workers? (2022)

1. Central Statistics Office
2. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
3. Labour Bureau
4. National Technical Manpower Information System

Q.2)Consider the following statements with reference to India: (2023)

1. According to the ‘Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006’, ‘medium enterprises are those with investments in plant and machinery between (‘ 15 crores and ’25 crore).
2. All bank loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises qualify under the priority sector.

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 – ART AND CULTURE

Context: Veteran artist Jatin Das inaugurated two curated Exhibitions at Rabhindra Bhavan recently.

Background:-

• Lalit Kala Akademi, the apex cultural body under Ministry of Culture, Government of India, presents two exhibitions, namely ‘Imag(in)ing the Immediate- Curating from a National Collection’ and ‘The Afghan Journal’, both curated by Akademi’s Assistant Editor and renowned curator and art historian, JohnyML.

About Rabhindra Bhavan:-

• Architect: Ar. Habib Rahman.
• Location: Feroz Shah Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi
• Area: 3.5 Acres
• Project year: 1961
• Idea: building that would mark the birth centenary of Rabindranath Tagore.
• Rabindra Bhavan was built to mark the birth centenary of Tagore, who in addition to being a poet and novelist, was an artist, playwright and composer.
• The building is thus the home of three National Academies: Lalit Kala (Plastic Arts), Sangeet Natak (Dance, Drama and Music) and Sahitya (Literature).
• The building is divided into three major blocks- administrative building, exhibition gallery and theatre.
• The administrative block, which is the biggest of all, occupies prominent amount of space on the site.
• The Y – shape is chosen very thoughtfully to cover the maximum area on the site Reinterpreted form of chajjas in continuous horizontal louvers.
• Lighting through natural means.
• This building also serves as a memorial museum for studies on Tagore.
• It is also the hub for research studies on Rabindranath Tagore.
• These include old photographs which show his lifestyle.
• The wider range of artefacts and personal items of Shri Rabindranath Tagore attracts a large number of visitors.

MUST READ: Visva-Bharati University

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: (2022)

1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Which of the above are Jaina’s texts

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

Q.2) Kalamkari painting refers to (2015)

1. a hand-painted cotton textile in South India.
2. a handmade drawing on bamboo handicrafts in Northeast India.
3. a block-painted woolen cloth in the Western Himalayan region of India.
4. a hand-painted decorative silk cloth in North-Western India.

Syllabus

• Prelims – IMPORTANT DAYS

Context: Recently, National Press Day was celebrated.

Background:-

• The day is observed on 16th November every year to commemorate a free and responsible press.

About National Press Day:-

• It is observed in honour of the Press Council of India (PCI).
• Press Council of India (PCI) was established by the Parliament On 4 July 1966.
• The day is meant to mark the presence of the free and responsible press in India.
• Evolution of authority of maintaining the ethics of journalism:
• First Press Commission, 1956:
• In the year 1956, the First Press Commission decided to form a body bestowed with statutory authority, meant to fulfill the responsibility of maintaining the ethics of journalism.
• In 1966, on 16the November, the PCI was formed.
• The National Press Day has been celebrated ever since on 16th November, every year to commemorate the establishment of the council.
• Various seminars and workshops are organized to raise multiple issues faced by the Indian press.

MUST READ: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1)Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of the “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 centers 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 centers.

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 the 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 – SPACE

Context: Recently, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured new views of a stunning nebula, the Crab Nebula.

Background:-

• NASA released a new image of the Crab Nebula, clearly showing a small white dot at its centre.

About Crab Nebula:-

• Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant located 6,500 light-years away.
• It is located in the constellation Taurus. (SpaceTech Innovation Network (SpIN))
• A nebula is a formation in space which is constituted mostly of helium, dust, and other gases in various concentrations.
• The shape and size of a nebula vary, and as such there can be various types of formations having different sizes.
• The Crab Nebula has continued to draw attention and additional study as scientists seek to understand the conditions, behaviour, and after-effects of supernovae through a thorough study of the Crab, a relatively nearby example.
• The discovery of the object as a nebula is attributed to the English physician and amateur astronomer John Bevis in about 1731.
• It is one of the few astronomical objects from which radiation has been detected over the entire measurable spectrum, from radio waves through infrared and visible wavelengths to ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays.

MUST READ: IN-SPACe

SOURCE: SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

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. 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 – Geography

Context: Recently, The Union Cabinet recently approved royalty rates in respect of 3 critical and strategic minerals, including niobium, and Rare Earth Elements.

Background:-

• The other two were lithium and Rare Earth Elements.

About Niobium:-

• Niobium is a beautiful, white metal that changes to varying shades of blue, yellow and green when exposed to the air and the elements.
• It is a rare, soft, malleable, ductile, grey-white metal.
• It has a relatively high melting point, and in its elemental form, its melting point can go up to 2,468 °C.
• Niobium has a density that is lower than most other refractory metals. (Rare Earth Metals)
• It is anti-corrosive.
• It has high superconductivity properties.
• It usually forms layers of dielectric oxides when exposed to air.
• It is almost identical in terms of size, to tantalum atoms and exhibits Lanthanide contractions.
• It is not found free in nature but in minerals such as columbite and tantalite.
• Commercially, niobium is extracted by first forming the oxide (Nb2O5).
• The oxide is then reduced using carbon or hydrogen.
• Brazil is the world’s largest supplier, with Canada trailing far behind.

Applications:-

• It is utilized in the manufacture of high-temperature-resistant alloys and specific stainless steels.
• It is also utilized to construct superconducting accelerating structures for particle accelerators in their pure form.
• Because they do not react with human tissue, niobium alloys are employed in surgical implants.
• Niobium carbide is used in the manufacture of cutting tools.
• As wires for superconducting magnets capable of producing extremely powerful magnetic fields, niobium-tin, and niobium-titanium alloys are utilized.

MUST READ: Indian Bureau of Mines

SOURCE: THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

1. Bulgaria
2. Czech Republic
3. Hungary
4. Latvia
5. Lithuania
6. Romania

How many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?

1. Only two
2. Only three
3. Only four
4. Only five

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? (2019)

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

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 :

Alzheimer’s disease  is a brain disorder that gets better with time.

Statement-II :

It causes brain cells to degenerate and die.

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 Niobium , consider the following statements:

1. It is anti-corrosive.
2. It has high superconductivity properties.
3. It usually forms layers of dielectric oxides when exposed to air.

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 ’  16th November 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – c