DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th November 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Context: Recently, Finland announced that it will close its last remaining road border with Russia due to its concerns over migration.

Background:-

• Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has said, that Finland will close its last remaining road border with Russia due to its concerns over migration, as the country accused Moscow of undermining Finland’s national security.

About Finland:-

IMAGE SOURCE: BRITANNICA

• Capital: Helsinki
• Finland, a country located in northern Europe.
• Finland is one of the world’s most northern and geographically remote countries.
• It is subject to a severe climate.
• Finland forms a symbolic northern border between Western and Eastern Europe.

Bilateral relations:-

• Finland has excellent relations with India.
• Finland established diplomatic relations with India in 1949, after the country had gained independence in 1947.
• In recent years, the consolidation of the political and economic cooperation between the countries has been reflected in an increase in joint initiatives and the active exchange of delegations.

Trade and economic relations:-

• Finland’s trade and economic relations with India rely on the export of paper, machinery, equipment and industry services from Finland to India.
• India’s exports to Finland are correspondingly centred on pharmaceutical, chemical and textile products.
• Services – particularly in the area of ICT and digital solutions also have a significant role in Indian exports to Finland. ( Finland gets world’s youngest PM) 

MUST READ: Finlandization

SOURCE: AIR

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 –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Pirola, has seen a threefold increase in cases over a two-week period.

Background:-

• Pirola is predominantly circulating in the US northeast, where it ranks as the second most prevalent variant (13%) following HV.1.

About Pirola:-

• Pirola or 2.86 Variant is a new strain of COVID-19 with 35 mutations, causing concerns about immune evasion and vaccine efficacy.
• It demonstrates distinct symptoms like rashes, conjunctivitis, and diarrhoea. (Second Wave of COVID-19)
• The Pirola variant has been detected in several countries, including the US, the UK, and others.
• The fact that these cases are unrelated suggests some degree of international transmission, which is concerning.
• The concern with such mutations is that they could potentially make the virus more transmissible or resistant to immunity gained from previous infections or vaccinations.
• The WHO has classified BA.2.86 as a variant under monitoring.
• The spike protein of the Pirola variant has over 30 mutations, which is the protein that the virus utilizes to bind to human cells.
• This indicates that the Pirola variant could be more contagious or evade vaccines more than other Omicron subvariants.

MUST READ: iNCOVACC

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

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.

Syllabus

• Prelims –DEFENSE

Context: Recently, Indo-US Special Forces Exercise Vajra Prahar Began.

Background:-

• Indian and US special forces on Tuesday started joint exercise “Vajra Prahar” at the Joint Training Node, in Umroi, Meghalaya.

About VAJRA PRAHAR:-

• Date: November 21 to December 11, 2023.
• Time period: it is conducted annually.
• Venue: Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya.
• Vajra Prahar is an annual exercise alternately hosted by the Special Forces of India and the United States.
• These Special Forces units are dedicated to covert operations, counterterrorism, and other specialized military tasks.
• It is crucial for addressing the security challenges both nations face in the current global context.
• VAJRA PRAHAR has evolved as a platform to exchange ideas, enhance interoperability, and strengthen defence cooperation between the Special Forces of both India and the United States.
• The exercise is conducted in two phases, involving combat conditioning, tactical-level special missions training exercises, and a subsequent validation phase to assess and confirm the training received by both contingents.
• Key activities include Combat Free Fall insertion of troops, Waterborne insertion of troops, Precision engagement of targets at long ranges, Combat air controlling of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft, and Airborne insertion and sustenance of troops.

 MUST READ: India-USA relations

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin? (2023)

1. Cameroon
2. Nigeria
3. South Sudan
4. Uganda

Q.2) With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from a baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recently, amid reports of a surge in Pneumonia among children in China, the Karnataka government’s health department has placed its healthcare infrastructure on alert statewide.

Background:-

• The advisory emphasizes seasonal flu, an infectious disease lasting five to seven days, known for its low morbidity and mortality rates.

About Pneumonia:-

• Pneumonia is an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs.
• The air sacs may fill with fluid or pus (purulent material), causing cough with phlegm or pus, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing.
• A variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, can cause pneumonia.

Symptoms:-

• Chest pain when you breathe or cough
• Confusion or changes in mental awareness (in adults age 65 and older)
• Cough, which may produce phlegm
• Fatigue
• Fever, sweating and shaking chills
• Lower than normal body temperature (in adults older than age 65 and people with weak immune systems)
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath

Risk factors:-

• Being hospitalized.
• Chronic disease.
• Smoking.
• Weakened or suppressed immune system.

Prevention:-

• Get vaccinated. (Disease Surveillance System)
• Make sure children get vaccinated.
• Practice good hygiene.
• Don’t smoke.

Treatment:-

• Vaccine: Pneumonia caused by bacteria is easily preventable with vaccines. 3 doses of the primary vaccine (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) to prevent it are recommended.
• A new vaccine for one of the main viral causes of pneumonia is under development.
• India has introduced a nationwide rollout of PCV under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP).

MUST READ: National Centres for Disease Control (NCDC)

SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following: (2022)

1. Aarogya Setu
2. COWIN
3. DigiLocker
4. DIKSHA

Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms?

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

Q.2) What is the cas9 protein that is often mentioned in the news? (2019)

1. molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing.
2. A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients.
3. A gene that makes plants pest-resistant
4. A herbicidal substance synthesized in generally modified crops

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Context: Recently, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra received a warm welcome.

Background:-

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi today virtually interacted with beneficiaries of the central government’s welfare schemes under the outreach programme Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra.

About Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra:-

• Launched: 2023.

Objectives:-

• Reaching the unreached – reach out to the vulnerable who are eligible under various schemes but have not availed of benefits so far.
• Dissemination of information and generating awareness about schemes.
• Learning from the citizens – Interaction with beneficiaries of government schemes through personal stories/experience sharing.
• Enrolment of potential beneficiaries through details ascertained during the Yatra.

Salient Features:-

• It aims to promote and publicize government welfare schemes.
• The schemes that will be publicized through the yatra include Ayushman Bharat; PMJAY PM Garlb Kalyan Anna Yojana;  Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana among others.
• Five specially designed IEC (Information, Education and Communication) Vans will carry the message of the Government’s flagship welfare programmes.
• The target is to cover over 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats and over 3,600 urban local bodies by 25th January 2024.
• In order to have synergy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs will be the nodal Ministries for rural areas with significant Scheduled Tribe populations.
• For urban areas, the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs will be the Nodal Ministries. Government of India proposes to appoint Nodal Officers at States/ Districts for effective coordination

MUST READ: Digital India Programme

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

Statement-I:

India’s public sector healthcare System largely focuses on curative care with limited preventive, promotive and rehabilitative care.

Statement-II:

Under India’s decentralized approach to health care delivery, the States are primarily responsible for organizing health services.

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) Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under the Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy : (2023)

1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for preschool children, adolescents and pregnant women.
2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of childbirth.
3. It provides for periodic deworming. to children and adolescents.
4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with a special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

 Context: Recent studies show that, Hybrid puffins may have emerged in the 20th century due to warming.

Background:-

• Two distinct subspecies of Atlantic puffins are now interbreeding in Norway, possibly as a result of Arctic warming forcing some birds away from their usual habitat.

About Hybrid Puffins:-

• Scientific Name: Fratercula arctica.

Habitat:-

• During the breeding season they roost on rocky cliffsides.
• Outside the breeding season the Atlantic puffins spend all their time at

Distribution:-

• Atlantic puffins are the only species of puffin to live on the Atlantic Ocean.
• The other three puffin species live in the Pacific Ocean.
• They are spread around the coast of Europe from Russia’s northwest to France and all around the UK coastline.

Physical Appearance:-

• The Atlantic puffin is a short creature.
• Its face is white with a black stripe running along the bottom of the eye.
• Their bill is as tall as their face and is triangular in shape when viewed from the side.
• Atlantic puffins are
• Most of their diet is fish with some shrimp, crustaceans, molluscs and polychaete worms also being taken on occasion.
• Reproduction: These monogamous birds lay their eggs.

 MUST READ: Kerala Bird Atlas (KBA)

SOURCE: NEW SCIENTIST

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) 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

Q.2) Consider the following statements regarding the Indian squirrels: (2023)

1. They build nests by making burrows in the ground.
2. They store their food materials like nuts and seeds in the ground.
3. They are omnivorous.

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 :

Vajra Prahar is conducted biannually.

Statement-II :

The 2023 edition will take place in Umroi Cantonment, Meghalaya.

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 Pirola, consider the following statements:

1. Pirola is also called BA.2.86 .
2. It demonstrates distinct symptoms like rashes, conjunctivitis, and diarrhoea.
3. The Pirola variant has only been detected in the US.

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 ’  30th November 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – c