DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 20th December 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –ECONOMY

Context: Recently, RBI directed banks to refrain from investing in any scheme offered by Alternative Investment Funds.

Background:-

• RBI has further directed banks to liquidate their investment from such AIFs within thirty days.

About Alternative Investment Funds:-

• Alternative investment funds (AIF) are effectively non-traditional privately pooled investment vehicles that cater to the funding needs of relatively high-risk ventures across a broad spectrum of the investing universe.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), under the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012 (the “AIF Regulations”) regulates all pooling structures in India, including AIFs. (National Investment and Infrastructure Fund)

Categories of AIFs:-

• Category I: Mainly invests in start-ups, SME’s or any other sector which Govt. considers economically and socially viable
• Category II: private equity funds or debt funds for which no specific incentives or concessions are given by the government or any other Regulator
• Category III: hedge funds or funds which trade with a view to making short term returns or such other funds which are open-ended and for which no specific incentives or concessions are given by the government

Benefits of AIF:-

• Security against volatility – These schemes do not put their funds in investment options that trade publicly. Hence, they are not related to the broader markets and do not fluctuate with their ups and downs.
• Excellent portfolio diversification to a wide array of assets
• Profitable returns – as these funds have numerous investment options, They are a better source of passive income. Further, returns are less prone to fluctuations as these schemes are not linked to the stock market.

 MUST READ: Ubharte Sitaare Alternative Investment Fund

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

1. In India, credit rating agencies are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
2. The rating agency popularly known as ICRA is a public limited company.
3. Brickwork Ratings is an Indian credit rating agency.

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

Q.2) What does venture capital mean? (2014)

1. A short-term capital provided to industries
2. A long-term start-up capital provided to new entrepreneurs
3. Funds provided to industries at times of incurring losses
4. Funds provided for the replacement and renovation of industries

Syllabus

• Prelims –MEDIEVAL HISTORY

Context: Recently, Karnataka HC asked authorities to remove the encroachments of Bahmani Sultans’ fort in Kalaburagi.

Background:-

• The High Court bench in Kalaburagi instructed civic authorities to clear 62 houses constructed inside the fort and 114 houses that have emerged in the surroundings of the fort.

About Bahmani Kingdom:-

• The Bahmani Sultanate was a significant medieval Muslim state in the Deccan region of South India.
• It is also known as the Bahmanid Empire.
• It was established in 1347.
• The Bahmani Sultanate was founded by Hasan Bahman Shah, a governor appointed by the Delhi Sultanate.
• He declared independence and established his capital at Gulbarga.
• It lasted until 1527 when it fragmented into five smaller states.
• The Sultanate was administratively divided into four provinces (Daulatabad, Bidar, Berar, and Gulbarga) with tarafdars or subedars governing each.
• The sultanate was governed through a decentralized feudal system.
• Trade and commerce flourished in the Bahmani Sultanate due to its strategic location. The region was a center for international trade, particularly in horses, textiles, and spices.
• Around 1518, Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire defeated the last ruler of the Bahmani Empire. (Kingdom of Vijayanagara)

Art and Architecture:-

• The Bahmanis followed the Indo-Islamic style of architecture with a few changes.
• The buildings were constructed using local materials.
• An influence of Persian architecture could be seen in the buildings of this period.
• Examples of architecture could be found at Gulbarga (Shah bazaar mosque, Hafta Gumbaz, Jama masjid), at Bijapur (Gol Gumbaz, Ibrahim Roza, Bara Kaman, etc.), and at Bidar (Rangeen mahal, Janata mahal).
• It was during this period when a new dialect, ‘Dakhini Urdu’ prevailed.

MUST READ: Malik Ahmed and Ahilyabai Holkar

SOURCE: THE LAST MINUTE

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as “Kulah-Daran”? (2022)

1. Arab merchants
2. Qalandars
3. Persian calligraphists
4. Sayyids

Q.2) According to Portuguese writer Nuniz, the women in the Vijayanagara empire were expert in which of the following areas? (2021)

1. Wrestling
2. Astrology
3. Accounting
4. Soothsaying

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, an earthquake in northwestern China killed at least 131 people.

Background:-

• It has been the deadliest in 9 years.

About Earthquake:-

• An earthquake is the shaking or trembling of the earth’s surface.
• It is caused by the seismic waves or earthquake waves that are generated due to a sudden movement (sudden release of energy) in the earth’s crust (shallow-focus earthquakes) or upper mantle (some shallow-focus and all intermediate and deep-focus earthquakes).
• Earthquake are by far the most unpredictable and highly distructive of all the natural disasters

Causes of Earthquakes:-

• Fault Zones
• Plate tectonics (Anatolian Plate)
• Volcanic activity
• Human-Induced Earthquakes

Measurement of Earthquakes:-

• The energy from an earthquake travels through Earth in vibrations called seismic waves.
• Scientists can measure these seismic waves on instruments called
• A seismograph, or seismometer,is an instrument used to detect and record earthquakes.
• Richter magnitude scale is the scale to measure the magnitude of energy released by an earthquake.
• Hypocentre/Focus:The point where the energy is released.
• Epicentre:The point on the surface directly above the focus.
• Isoseismic line: A line connecting all points on the surface where the intensity is the same.

About China:-

IMAGE SOURCE: guideoftheworld.com

• Capital: Beijing.
• Continent: Asia.
• China, lies in East Asia.
• It is the largest of all Asian countries.
• Its topography encompasses the highest and one of the lowest places on Earth.
• Its relief varies from nearly impenetrable mountainous terrain to vast coastal lowlands.
• Its climate ranges from extremely dry, desertlike conditions in the northwest to tropical monsoon in the southeast.
• The country is bounded by Mongolia to the north; Russia and North Korea to the northeast; the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea to the east; the South China Sea to the southeast; Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), India, Bhutan, and Nepal to the south; Pakistan to the southwest; and Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan to the west.
• China has more than 50,000 rivers with individual drainage areas exceeding 40 square miles (100 square km).
• Of the total annual runoff, about 95 percent drains directly into the sea (more than 80 percent into the Pacific Ocean, 12 percent into the Indian Ocean, and less than 1 percent into the Arctic Ocean and 5 percent disappears inland.

 MUST READ: (Volcano)

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

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) consider the following statements: (2020)

1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –DEFENCE/ DISASTER MANAGEMENT

Context: Recently, the Indian Coast Guard has deployed its ships, aircraft and disaster relief teams in flood-affected areas of South Tamil Nadu.

Background:-

• Coast Guard said, they have saved 200 lives stranded in flood waters of Tuticorin and adjoining areas.

About the Indian Coast Guard:-

• Established: August 1978.
• HQ: New Delhi.
• Ministry: Ministry of Defense.
• ICG was established by the Coast Guard Act, of 1978 as an independent Armed force of India.
• It is the fourth largest Coast Guard in the world.
• It has jurisdiction over the territorial waters of India, including its contiguous zone and exclusive economic zone.
• It is an Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency .
• For effective command and control, the Maritime Zones of India are divided into five Coast Guard Regions, namely:
  • North-West ( Regional Headquarters in Gandhinagar)
  • West (Regional Headquarters at Mumbai)
  • East (Regional Headquarters at Chennai)
  • North-East (Regional Headquarters at Kolkata)
  • Andaman & Nicobar (Regional Headquarters at Port Blair)

Functions:-

• Preventing Smuggling. (Defence Acquisition Council)
• It is responsible for marine environment protection in maritime zones of India and is the coordinating authority for response to oil spills in Indian waters.
• It has also rescued approximately 13,000 personnel till date during various ‘Aid to Civil Authority’ operations viz. assistance provided to civil authorities during floods, cyclones and other natural calamities; most recently during the recent floods in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.
• It is also working in close coordination with Central and State agencies to put in place a robust coastal security mechanism.
• It is responsible for marine environment protection in maritime zones of India. 

MUST READ: Self-reliance in defence

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1)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

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

Syllabus

• Prelims – GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: Recently, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that  Indian Railways’ ‘Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana’ graduates are not preferred for railway jobs.

Background:-

• The statement comes as a response to a query by BJP MP Narayana Koragappa regarding job preferences for the trained youth.

About Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana:-

• Launched: September, 2021.
• Ministry: Ministry of Railway.
• Objective: imparting training skills to the youth across several trades to bring qualitative improvement.
• Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana is a skill development scheme with a special focus on providing training for jobs that are relevant to the Railways.
• It is a sub-scheme under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).

Salient Features:-

• The training is imparted in fourteen (14) industry-relevant technical trades such as Electrician, Welder, Machinist, Fitter etc.
• The training is provided free of cost to the candidates.
• There is no provision for providing employment under this scheme.
• Participants will be selected from applications received online, following a transparent mechanism based on marks in matriculation.
• Candidates, who have passed class X and are aged between 18 and 35 are eligible to apply.
• After the end of the program, trainees have to pass a standardized assessment followed by a certificate in the allotted trade by the National Rail and Transportation Institute.

Significance:-

• It will improve the employability of the youth as well as upgrade the skills of self-employed.
• It will also cater to those who are working with contractors through re-skilling and up–skilling.

MUST READ: PM SVANidhi scheme

SOURCE: FINANCIAL EXPRESS

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, and 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/IMPORTANT REPORTS

Context: LEADS report 2023 was released recently.

Background:-

• Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, and Textiles, Sh. Piyush Goyal released the “Logistics Ease Across Different State (LEADS) 2023” report in New Delhi on 16th December 2023.
• Tamil Nadu has retained the top slot in the logistics ease across different states (LEADS) 2023 rankings.

About LEADS report:-

• Launched:2018.
• Ministry: Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
• The LEADS index was launched by the Commerce and Industry Ministry and Deloitte.
• It was inspired by the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) of World Bank and has evolved over time.
• It ranks states on the score of their logistics services and efficiency that are indicative of economic growth.
• States are ranked based on the quality and capacity of key infrastructure such as road, rail and warehousing as well as on operational ease of logistics.

Key Highlights of LEADS Report 2023:-

• The 5th edition of the LEADS annual exercise,signaled a positive shift in States’ performance across the key pillars – Logistics Infrastructure, Logistics Services and Operating and Regulatory Environment.
• This report is based on a pan-India primary survey, conducted between May and July 2023, covering over 7,300 responses across 36 States/UTs. Additionally, over 750 stakeholder consultations, facilitated by National, Regional, and State Associations, significantly contributed to this comprehensive evaluation.

Performance Highlights:

• Coastal Group
• Achievers: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
• Fast Movers: Kerala, Maharashtra
• Aspirers: Goa, Odisha, West Bengal

• Landlocked Group
• Achievers: Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh
• Fast Movers: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand
• Aspirers: Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand

• North-East Group
• Achievers: Assam, Sikkim, Tripura
• Fast Movers: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland
• Aspirers: Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram

• Union Territories
• Achievers: Chandigarh, Delhi
• Fast Movers: Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Puducherry
• Aspirers: Daman & Diu/ Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

Statement-I:

India accounts for 3·2% of the global export of goods.

Statement-II:

Many local companies and some foreign companies operating in India have taken advantage of India’s ‘Production-linked Incentive’ scheme.

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) In the context of finance, the term ‘beta’ refers to (2023)

1. the process of simultaneous buying and selling of an asset from different platforms ·
2. an investment strategy of a portfolio manager to balance risk versus reward
3. a type of systemic risk that arises where perfect hedging is not possible
4. a numeric value that measures the fluctuations of a stock to changes in the overall stock market.

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 :

Tamil Nadu has retained the top slot in the logistics ease across different states (LEADS) 2023 rankings.

Statement-II :

This was the 6th edition of the LEADS Reports.

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 Rail Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements:

1. The training is provided free of cost to the candidates.
2. There is a provision for providing employment under this scheme.
3. Candidates, who have passed class X and are aged between 18 and 35 are eligible to apply.

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 ’  20th December 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – c