DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th November 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/ GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, Zimbabwe announced the construction of its first utility geothermal power plant.

Background:-

• The project aims to reduce Zimbabwe’s reliance on hydropower energy sources, which are under threat due to climate change.

About Zimbabwe:-

IMAGE SOURCE: WorldAtlas

• Location: Southern Africa.
• Capital: Harare.
• Zimbabwe is a landlocked country.
• Zimbabwe shares its borders with Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, and Botswana.
• The country boasts diverse landscapes, including savannas, mountains (such as the Eastern Highlands), and plateaus.
• It has the iconic Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.
• Zimbabwe, lies to the north of the Tropic of Capricorn.
• It is completely within the tropics but enjoys subtropical conditions.
• It is dominated by Savvanah grasslands.

Major Rivers:-

• Zambezi River: The Zambezi, one of Africa’s largest rivers, flows through Zimbabwe, creating the iconic Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls.
• Limpopo River: Forms part of Zimbabwe’s southern border with South Africa and serves as a vital water source for the region.
• Save River: A major river in southeastern Zimbabwe, it is a key waterway supporting agriculture and wildlife in the region.

Mountains and Highlands:-

• Eastern Highlands: This mountainous region, bordering Mozambique, features high peaks, lush forests, and fertile valleys. Mount Nyangani is the highest peak in Zimbabwe, part of the Eastern Highlands.
• Chimanimani Mountains: A subrange of the Eastern Highlands, known for its scenic beauty, diverse flora, and popular hiking trails.
• Matobo Hills: Located in the southwest, these granite hills are renowned for their unique rock formations, ancient rock art, and spiritual significance to the local communities.

MUST READ: India-Africa Relationship

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

The region often mentioned in the news:   Country

1. Anatolia                                                    Turkey
2. Amhara                                                   Ethiopia
3. Cabo Delgado                                          Spain
4. Catalonia                                                   Italy

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

1. Only one pair
2. Only two pairs
3. Only three pairs
4. All four pairs

Q.2) With reference to the “G20 Common Framework”, consider the following statements (2022)

1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club.
2. It is an initiative to support Income Countries with unsustainable debt.

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 –SPORTS

Context: Recently, the competitive phase of the ISSF World Cup Final 2023 began.

Background:-

• The ISSF World Cup Final 2023 began with 10m Air Pistol Men and women events.

About ISSF World Cup Final 2023:-

• Date: November 18th, to 26th November, 2023.
• Venue: Doha, Qatar.
• The competition will witness 13 Indian shooters competing for top honours across various shooting disciplines.
• This season finale will showcase the top 15 shooters from this year’s World Cup circuit across 12 shooting events. (Grand Slam)
• India currently holds the third position in the World Cup medal standings with three gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
• China is leading the table with seven gold medals.
• Serbia is in second spot with the same number of golds as India and an additional silver medal.
• Leading the Indian contingent will be Aishwarya Pratap Singh Tomar, a multiple medal-winner at the Asian Games 2022 and Rudrankksh Balasaheb Patil, a former world number one.
• Apart from these two, the team comprises the Paris Olympics 2024 quota holders Mehuli Ghosh, Akhil Sheoran, Sarabjot Singh, Anish Bhanwala, and Asian Games 2022 bronze medalist Ramita Jindal.
• Tokyo Olympian Elavenil Valarivan is another key member of the team.

MUST READ: Sports Code

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements in respect of the 32nd Summer Olympics:

1. The official motto for this Olympics is ‘A New World’.
2. Sport Climbing, Surfing, Skateboarding, Karate and Baseball are included in this Olympics.

Which of the above statements is/are correct? (2021)

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 and 2

Q.2) Consider the following statements in respect of the ICC World Test Championship:

1. The finalists were decided by the number of matches they won.
2. New Zealand was ranked ahead of England because it won more matches than England.

Which of the above statements is/are correct? (2021)

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 and 2

Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recently, Black Stork was spotted for the first time in Hastinapur.

Background:-

• A Black Stork, a species rarely seen, has been spotted in the Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, India.

About Black Stork:-

• Scientific Name: Ciconia nigra.
• FAMILY: Ciconiidae.
• The black stork is a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. (Blackbuck)
• It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae.
• Measuring on average 95 to 100 cm (37 to 39 in) from beak tip to end of tail with a 145-to-155 cm (57-to-61 in) wingspan.
• The adult black stork has mainly black plumage, with white underparts, long red legs and a long pointed red beak.
• It is a widespread but uncommon species.
• It breeds in scattered locations across Europe (predominantly in Portugal and Spain, and central and eastern parts), and east across the Palearctic to the Pacific Ocean.
• It is a long-distance migrant, with European populations wintering in tropical Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asian populations in the Indian subcontinent.
• When migrating between Europe and Africa, it avoids crossing the Mediterranean Sea and detours via the Levant in the east or the Strait of Gibraltar in the west.
• An isolated, non-migratory, population occurs in Southern Africa.
• Conservation status:-
  • IUCN: Least concern

 MUST READ: Atapaka Bird Sanctuary

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q1. Which of the following organisms perform the waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the

distance to a source of their food? (2023)

1. Butterflies
2. Dragonflies
3. Honeybees
4. Wasps

Q2. Consider the following fauna : (2023)

1. Lion-tailed Macaque
2. Malabar Civet
3. Sambar Deer

How many of the above are generally nocturnal or most active after sunset?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –SPACE

Context: India and the US will launch the joint microwave remote sensing satellite for Earth observation named NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) soon.

Background:-

• The Department of Space in a statement said that NISAR is targeted for launch onboard India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

About NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar):-

• Launch year :2024.
• Agency: NASA and ISRO.
• The NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR) Mission will measure Earth’s changing ecosystems, dynamic surfaces, and ice masses providing information about biomass, natural hazards, sea level rise, and groundwater.
• It will support a host of other applications.
• NISAR will observe Earth’s land and ice-covered surfaces globally with 12-day regularity on ascending and descending passes, sampling Earth on average every 6 days for a baseline 3-year mission.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will provide one of the radars for the satellite, a high-rate communication subsystem for science data, GPS receivers and a payload data subsystem.
• NISAR will be equipped with the largest reflector antenna ever launched by NASA.
• The Indian Space and Research Organisation (ISRO) will provide the spacecraft bus, the second type of radar (called the S-band radar), the launch vehicle and associated launch services.

Objectives:-

• Tracking subtle changes in the Earth’s surface,
• Spotting warning signs of imminent volcanic eruptions,
• Helping to monitor groundwater supplies, and
• Tracking the rate at which ice sheets are melting.

Significance:-

• NISAR’s data can help people worldwide better manage natural resources and hazards, as well as provide information for scientists to better understand the effects and pace of climate change.

MUST READ: India – USA space cooperation

SOURCE: AIR

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 do not change
2. Gravity of stellar bodies does not change
3. Light always travels in straight line
4. Speed of light is always same

Syllabus

• Prelims –IMPORTANT INSTITUTIONS

Context: Recently, it was revealed that ISRO chose to land Chandrayaan in moon’s south pole region for water molecules.

Background:-

• The Chandrayaan-3 Project Director said India has a road map for its space programmes until 2047.

About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):-

• Establishment: 1969.
• Agency: Department of Space (DOS).
• HQ: Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Objective: to harness space technology for national development while pursuing space science research and planetary exploration.

Historic Background:-

• ISRO was previously the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), set up by the Government of India in 1962, as envisioned by Dr. VikramA Sarabhai.
• ISRO was formed on August 15, 1969 and superseded INCOSPAR with an expanded role to harness space technology.

Salient Features:-

• ISRO is the space agency under the Department of Space of Government of India.
• The organization is involved in science, engineering and technology to harvest the benefits of outer space for India and the mankind.
• ISRO is a major constituent of the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India.
• The department executes the Indian Space Programme primarily through various Centres or units within ISRO.
• Functions: Space Science & Exploration Satellites.
• Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL) is a Marketing arm of ISRO for the promotion and commercial exploitation of space products, technical consultancy services, and transfer of technologies developed by ISRO.

ISRO Milestones:-

• The first Indian-made sounding rocket was the RH-75 (Rohini-75).
• The first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was built by the ISRO.
• Development of the PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) for placing satellites into polar orbits and the GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) for placing satellites into geostationary orbits.
• ISRO also launched the first IRS (remote-sensing satellite) in 1988.
• ISRO launched its first lunar mission Chandrayaan I in 2008.
• In January 2014, ISRO used an indigenously built cryogenic engine for a GSLV-D5 launch of the GSAT-14 satellite making it one of the only six countries in the world to develop a cryogenic technology.
• It also launched the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) or the Mangalyaan in 2014.
• India launched Chandrayaan-2, its second lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan-1 on 22nd July 2019.
• India launched Chandrayaan-3 in 2023.

 MUST READ: IN-SPACe

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to the Earth’s atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct? (2023)

1. The total amount of insolation received at the equator is roughly about 10 times that received at the poles.
2. Infrared rays constitute roughly two-thirds of insolation.
3. Infrared waves are largely absorbed by water vapour that is concentrated in the lower atmosphere.
4. Infrared waves are a part of the visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves of solar radiation.

Q.2) Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System? (2023)

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recently, a new Swine Flu Strain has been discovered in a Human in the UK For the First Time.

Background:-

• The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) verified that a person tested positive for Influenza A H1N2v, a distinct but similar virus to the flu viruses spreading in pigs across the country.

About Swine Flu:-

• The H1N1 flu, sometimes called swine flu, is a type of influenza A virus.
• Influenza viruses such as H1N1 infect the cells that line your nose, throat and lungs.
• The virus spreads through the air in droplets released when someone with the virus coughs, sneezes, breathes or talks.
• The virus enters your body when you breathe in contaminated droplets. (Disease Surveillance System)

Symptoms:-

• Fever, but not always.
• Aching muscles.
• Chills and sweats.
• Cough.
• Sore throat.
• Runny or stuffy nose.
• Watery, red eyes.
• Eye pain.
• Body aches.
• Headache.
• Tiredness and weakness.
• Diarrhea.
• Feeling sick to the stomach, vomiting, but this is more common in children than adults.

Preventions:-

• Wash hands often.
• Cover the coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid touching face.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces.

MUST READ: African Swine Fever

SOURCE: SCIENCE DIRECT  

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements in respect of probiotics: (2022)

1. Probiotics are made of both bacteria and yeast.
2. The organisms in probiotics are found in foods we ingest but they do not naturally occur in our gut.
3. Probiotics help in the digestion of milk sugars.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q.2) Which one of the following statements best describes the role of B cells and T cells in the human body? (2022)

1. They protect the environmental allergens. body
2. They alleviate the body’s pain and inflammation.
3. They act as immunosuppressants in the body.
4. They protect the body from the diseases caused by pathogens.

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 :

NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) is planned to be launched in year 2024.

Statement-II :

It is joint effort of Agency NASA and ESA.

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 Zimbawe, consider the following statements:

1. Its Capital is Harare.
2. Zimbabwe is a landlocked country.
3. Zimbabwe does not share its borders with Botswana.

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

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  29th November 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – b