DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 12th December 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: As per recent data, the PM Vishwakarma Scheme, launched by the Centre has received over 21 lakh applications in two and a half months.

Background:-

• The highest number of applications came from Karnataka (6.28 lakh), followed by West Bengal (4.04 lakh), Assam (1.83 lakh), Uttar Pradesh (1.53 lakh) and Andhra Pradesh (1.21 lakh).

About PM Vishwakarma Scheme:-

• Launched: September 2023.
• Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
• It is a Central Sector Scheme.

Objectives of PM Vishwakarma scheme:-

• To strengthen and nurture the Guru-Shishya parampara or family-based practice of traditional skills by artisans and craftspeople working with their hands and tools.
• To improve the quality, as well as the reach of products and services of artisans and craftspeople.
• To ensure that the Vishwakarmas are integrated with the domestic and global value chains.

Salient Features of PM Vishwakarma scheme:-

• The artisans and craftspeople will be provided recognition through a PM Vishwakarma certificate and ID card.
• Credit Support: Credit of up to Rs.1 lakh (First Tranche) and Rs.2 lakh (Second Tranche) will be given with a concessional interest rate of 5%.
• Skill learning: The Scheme will further provide Skill Upgradation, Toolkit Incentives, Incentives for Digital Transactions, and Marketing Support.
• Training: Skill development programs encompass both basic and advanced training.
• Stipend: Participants are entitled to a stipend of Rs 500 per day during their training period.
• Modern Tools and Equipment: Beneficiaries are eligible for financial support of up to ₹15,000 to procure modern tools, enhancing their efficiency and productivity.
• Sectors: Eighteen traditional trades will be covered in the first instance under PM Vishwakarma.
• These trades include (i) Carpenter (Suthar); (ii) Boat Maker; (iii) Armourer; (iv) Blacksmith (Lohar); (v) Hammer and Tool Kit Maker; (vi) Locksmith; (vii) Goldsmith (Sonar); (viii) Potter (Kumhaar); (ix) Sculptor (Moortikar, stone carver), Stone breaker; (x) Cobbler(Charmkar)/ Shoesmith/Footwear artisan; (xi) Mason (Rajmistri); (xii) Basket/Mat/Broom Maker/Coir Weaver; (xiii) Doll & Toy Maker (Traditional); (xiv) Barber (Naai); (xv) Garland maker (Malakaar); (xvi) Washerman (Dhobi); (xvii) Tailor (Darzi); and (xviii) Fishing Net Maker.

Eligibility Criteria: –

• Indian Citizenship: Applicants must be Indian.
• Artisan or Craftsman: The applicant should be a traditional artisan or craftsman.
• Age Limit: No Age Limit for applying to the scheme. (Production Linked Incentive Scheme and its Implications)

Benefits of PM Vishwakarma scheme:-

• The scheme will provide support to artisans and craftspeople in rural and urban areas across India.
• It caters to both urban and rural areas, facilitating employment. ( MSME Sustainable (ZED) Certification Scheme)
• Funding for training programs to enhance traditional skills.

MUST READ: Small savings schemes

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) 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

Q.2) With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements : (2018)

1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy.
3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ECONOMY

Context: As per a recent government release, the Kavach system, has so far been deployed on 1465 route km and 139 locomotives on South Central Railway sections.

Background:-

• The sections include Lingamapalli – Vikarabad – Wadi and Vikarabad – Bidar section (265 Rkm), Manmad-Mudkhed-Dhone-Guntkal section (959Rkm) and Bidar-Parbhsection (241Rkm).

About Kavach system:-

IMAGE SOURCE: newssimplified.in

• KAVACH is an Automatic Train Protection (ATP) electronic system designed to help the Indian Railways achieve Zero Accidents.
• Objective: to achieve safety in train operations across Indian Railways.
• Development:-
  • It has been indigenously developed.
  • It was developed by the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian industry.
    • Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO): it is a research and development organisation under the Ministry of Railways.
  • Working:-
    • It has a set of electronic devices and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) devices installed in locomotives, in the signalling system as well as the tracks. (RFID)
    • These connect to each other using ultra-high radio frequencies to control the brakes of trains.
    • It also alerts drivers, all based on the logic programmed into them. (KAVACH)
  • It is a Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL-4) certified technology.
    • Safety Integrity Level (SIL): it comes from two voluntary standards used by plant owners/operators to quantify safety performance requirements for hazardous operations.
    • There are four SIL Levels (1-4).
    • A higher SIL Level means a greater process hazard and a higher level of protection.
  • KAVACH will be the world’s cheapest automatic train collision protection system.
  • First successful trial: between Gullaguda–Chitgidda Railway stations of South Central Railway in 2022.

Salient features:-

• Automatic activation of the train braking system if the driver fails to control the train speed.
• Preventing collision between two Locomotives equipped with a functional KAVACH system.
• Sending continuous updates of Movement. (Mobile Train Radio Communication (MTRC) )
• Auto Whistling while approaching Level Crossing Gates
• Sending SoS Messages during emergency situations.
• Centralised live monitoring of train movements through the Network Monitor System.

 MUST READ: Vande Bharat 2.0

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following communication technologies: (2022)

1. Closed-circuit Television
2. Radio Frequency Identification
3. Wireless Local Area Network

Which of the above are considered Short-Range devices/technologies?

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

Q.2) In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of (2020)

1. Digital security infrastructure
2. Food security infrastructure
3. Health care and education infrastructure
4. Telecommunication and transportation infrastructure

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Comet Halley reached the farthest point from the sun recently.

Background:-

• The comet will reached the farthest point from the sun on December 9, 2023.
• It’ll come closest to the sun again on July 28, 2061.

About Halley’s Comet:-

IMAGE SOURCE: SlideShare

• Comet Halley is the most famous of all comets.
  • A comet is icy and when it comes near the sun it warms and starts releasing gases filled inside it: this is outgassing which creates a tail in a comet.
• A Halley’s comet consists of water and many gases e.g. methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide etc etc.
• As it’s an icy cool rocked structure and its path is also elliptical so as soon as it reaches the soon gases and ice inside it expands and develop into a tail which later appears like a beautiful shooting star from the observation point or from earth.
• The comet is officially called 1P/Halley.
• It was the first comet ever predicted to return.
• It is named after English astronomer Edmond Halley, who examined reports of a comet approaching Earth in 1531, 1607 and 1682.
• He concluded that these three comets were actually the same comet returning over and over again, and predicted that it would return in 1758.
• This comet has been heading away from the sun since its last closest approach in 1986.
• Now it’s reaching the end of its outward journey, due to arrive at its farthest point from our sun on December 9, 2023.
• Afterwards, it’ll start making the trip back toward the sun, due to arrive in our vicinity by 2061.
• Helley’s is also known as the short-period comet as its orbit is lasting 200 years or less.

 MUST READ: Bernardinelli-Bernstein comet

SOURCE: EARTHSKY

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 –HISTORY

Context: Recently, two temples, were discovered in the ancient megacity of Girsu in Iraq.

Background:-

• Archaeologists found the two temples, one buried atop the other.

About Girsu:-

• Location: Iraq.
• Girsu was a Sumer civilization city.
• It was discovered in the nineteenth century.
• The first excavations took place in the 1880s by the French archaeologist Ernest de Sarzec.
• It was noteworthy because it first revealed the existence of the Sumerian civilization to the world.
• It also brought to light some of Mesopotamian art and architecture’s most important monuments.
• Sumer Civilization was one of the earliest known civilizations, flourishing between approximately 4100 and 1750 BCE in the historical region of southern Mesopotamia.
• The Sumerians were responsible for many technological advancements, including measurements of time as well as writing.
• They essentially “invented” time by dividing day and night into 12-hour periods, hours into 60 minutes, and minutes into 60 seconds.
• They built the first known cities as well as creating the first known code of law. (Rakhigarhi)

 MUST READ: Language in Indus Valley Civilization

SOURCE: LIVESCIENCE

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2017)

1. Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
2. Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
3. Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q.2) Which of the following characterizes/characterize the people of Indus Civilization? (2013)

1. They possessed great palaces and temples.
2. They worshipped both male and female deities.
3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare.

Select the correct statement/statements using the codes given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. None of the statements given above is correct

Syllabus

• Prelims –POLITY

Context: Recently, PM Modi wrote that ‘The SC verdict on Article 370 has strengthened the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.

Background:-

• On December 11, the honourable Supreme Court of India delivered a historic judgment on the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35(A).
• Through its judgment, the court has upheld the sovereignty and integrity of India, something that is cherished by every Indian.
• The court rightly observed that the decision taken on August 5, 2019 was done with the purpose of enhancing constitutional integration and not disintegration.
• The court has also recognised the fact that Article 370 was not permanent in nature.

About Article 370:-

• Article 370 of the Indian constitution dealt with the provision of certain special powers to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
• It grants a ‘temporary’ autonomous status to the state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
• The article was an outcome of Kashmir’s accession to India after the Independence. (Delimitation in Jammu and Kashmir)

Provisions of Article 370:-

• It permitted J&K to draft its own Constitution.
• It further restricted the Indian Parliament’s legislative powers in the state.
• Except for Defense, Foreign Affairs Finance and Communications, the Indian Government was required State Government’s nod to apply all other laws.
• The central govt. had no power to impose financial emergencies in the state.
  • Emergency could be imposed only on the grounds of internal disturbances and imminent danger from a foreign enemy.
• Indian nationals belonging to other states cannot buy land or property in the state of J&K.
• woman who marries a person belonging to any other state loses her right to ownership.

Background:-

• Post independence: Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) acceded to the Dominion of India by signing the Instrument of Accession on 26 October 1947 with certain special provisions.
• On the same line, Article 370 was added to the Indian constitution in
  • It was added as a ‘temporary provision’, giving certain exemptions to the state of Jammu & Kashmir.
• These provisions gave the state government control over how it needs to govern the state without worrying about the consent of the central government.

Removal of Article 370

• In accordance with the authority afforded by Clause (1) of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, the President of India issued the Constitution (Implementation to Jammu and Kashmir) Order, 2019 on August 5, 2019, repealing the special status previously accorded to Jammu and Kashmir.
• Resulting Consequences:-
  • Jammu and Kashmir no longer has its own constitution, flag, or anthem.
  • Its population no longer has dual citizenship as a result of the repeal of Article 370.
  • Jammu and Kashmir now abide by all legislative amendments made by the parliament, including the Right to Information Act and the Right to Education Act.
  • Jammu & Kashmir is fully covered by the Indian Constitution and all 890 Central legislation.

 MUST READ: Operation Sadbhavana

SOURCE: THE HINDU

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) ‘Right to Privacy’ is protected under which Article of the constitution of India? (2021)

1. Article15
2. Article 19
3. Article 21
4. Article 29

Q.2) Other than the Fundamental Rights, which of the following parts of the Constitution of India reflect/reflect the principles and provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)? (2020)

1. Preamble
2. Directive Principles of State Policy
3. Fundamental Duties

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ENVIRONMENT AD ECOLOGY

Context: Recently, the First EVER Pregnant Megamouth Shark Washes Up On Philippines Beach.

Background:-

• The 18-foot shark was discovered in Aurora, the Philippines, and was pregnant with seven pups that had been ejected from her body.

About Megamouth Shark:-

• Scientific Name: Megachasma pelagios
• It was first discovered in 1976 off the coast of Hawaii.
• Size: Up to 5.5 meters (18 feet) in length.
• It has a large mouth, bulbous head, rubbery lip, and dark grey/black body with a white underbelly.
• Diet: Filter feeder, consuming plankton, jellyfish, and small fish.
• It swims with its mouth wide open, filtering water for plankton and jellyfish. (National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases)
• It is recognizable from its large head with rubbery lips.
• A relatively poor swimmer, the megamouth has a soft, flabby body and lacks caudal keels.
• Reproduction is

Conservation Status:-

• IUCN: Least Concern.

 MUST READ: Zebrafish

SOURCE: TIMES NOW

 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 :

Halley’s Comet is officially called 1P/Halley.

Statement-II :

It was the first comet ever predicted to return.

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 Kavach system, consider the following statements:

1. It has been indigenously developed.
2. KAVACH will be the world’s cheapest automatic train collision protection system.
3. The First successful trial was between Gullaguda–Chitgidda Railway stations of South Central Railway in 2020.

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

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  12th December 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – c

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – a