DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 25th December 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNANCE

Context: Good Governance Day was celebrated recently.

Background:-

• There are many examples of good governance in Bharat’s long history.

About Good Governance Day:-

• Origin: 2014.
• Good Governance Day will be celebrated today on the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• The day is celebrated on the 25th of December every year.
• Objective: to foster awareness among the people of the country about accountability in Governance and Government.
• Good governance is concerned with the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development.
• The concept is related to the responsibility of governments and governing bodies to meet the needs of the masses.

Elements of good governance:-

• Participation: People should be able to voice their own opinions through legitimate immediate organisations or representatives.
• Consensus-oriented Oriented: Mediates differing interests to meet the broad consensus on the best interests of a community. Example: GST council- centre and states together.
• Equity and Inclusiveness: People should have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being. Example: affirmative policies for women, children and backward classes.
• Effectiveness and Efficiency: Processes and institutions should be able to produce results that meet the needs of their community while making the best of their resources.
• Accountability: Governmental institutions, private sectors, and civil society organizations should be held accountable to the public and institutional stakeholders. Example: elections.
• Transparency: Information should be accessible to the public and should be understandable and monitored. Example: RTI, Draft bills made public to get feedback.
• Responsiveness: Institutions and processes should serve all stakeholders, and respond to their grievances. (Global Digital Governance)

Significance:-

• Spread Awareness on Governance
• Fair Treatment of Citizens
• Promote e-governance

MUST READ: Corruption

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Maternity Benefit Amendment Act, 2017? (2019)

1. Pregnant women are entitled to three months of pre-delivery and three months of post-delivery paid leave.
2. Enterprises with creches must allow the mother a minimum of six creche visits daily.
3. Women with two children get reduced entitlements.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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

Q.2) With reference to the ‘stand up India scheme’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2016)

1. Its purpose is to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST and women entrepreneurs.
2. It provides for refinancing through SIDBI.

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 –ECONOMY

Context: Recently, Forex reserves jumped $2.816 billion to $606.859 billion.

Background:-

• India’s forex reserves jumped $2.816 billion to $606.859 billion in the week ended December 8, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on December 15.

About Forex reserves:-

• Foreign Exchange Reserves are assets held on reserve by a central bank in foreign currencies.
• This can include bonds, treasury bills and other government securities.
• Reserves are denominated and expressed in the US dollar, which is the international numeraire for the purpose.
• RBI is the custodian of the Foreign exchange reserves in India.
• India’s Forex Reserve includes:-

Foreign Currency Assets(FCA)

• Assets that are valued based on a currency other than the country’s own currency.
• It is the largest component of the forex reserve.

Gold reserves

Special Drawing Rights

• Assets that are valued based on a currency other than the country’s own currency.
• It is the largest component of the forex reserve.

Reserve position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

• It is the largest component of the forex reserve.

Significance:-

• They are used to back liabilities on their own issued currency, support the exchange rate and set monetary policy.
• It serves as a cushion in the event of a Balance of Payment (BoP) crisis on the economic front.
• To ensure that RBI has backup funds if their national currency rapidly devalues or becomes altogether insolvent.
• If the value of the Rupee decreases due to an increase in the demand for foreign currency, and then RBI sells the dollar in the Indian money market so that depreciation of the Indian currency can be checked.
• Reserves will provide a level of confidence to markets and investors that a country can meet its external obligations.
• A good forex reserve helps in attracting foreign trade and earns a good reputation with trading partners.

MUST READ: Rupee Depreciation

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2021)

The effect of the devaluation of a currency is that it necessarily

1. Improves the competitiveness of the domestic exports in the foreign markets
2. Increase the foreign value of the domestic currency
3. Improves the trade balance

Which of the above statements is/are

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

Q.2) Which one of the following is not the most likely measure the Government/RBI takes to stop the slide of the Indian rupee? (2019)

1. Curbing imports of non-essential goods and promoting exports
2. Encouraging Indian borrowers to issue rupee-denominated Masala Bonds
3. Easing conditions relating to external commercial borrowing
4.  Following an expansionary monetary policy

Syllabus

• Prelims –HISTORY/ IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES

Context: PM remembered Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya on his birth anniversary recently.

Background:-

• On the occasion of the 162nd birth anniversary of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will release first series of 11 volumes of ‘Collected Works of Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya’.

About Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya:-

• The birth anniversary of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya is celebrated on 25^th
• He is an Indian educationist and politician notable for his role in the Indian Independence movement.
• Madan Mohan Malaviya, the illustrious founder of Banaras Hindu University.
• He occupies a leading place among the makers of modern India.
• He is remembered as an outstanding scholar and freedom fighter who worked immensely to raise national consciousness among people.

Contributions:-

• He Founded Hindu Mahasabha in 1906.
• He Founded Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1915.
• He served as Vice-Chancellor from 1919 to 1938.
• He joined the Indian National Congress at its Calcutta session in 1886.
• He was president of INC four times – in 1909, 1918, 1932 and 1933.
• He was a successful legislator, serving as a member of the Imperial Legislative Council for 11 years (1909–20).
• Malviya espoused free and compulsory primary education, opposed the system of indentured labour in the British Empire, and supported the nationalization of railways.

Achievements:-

• He is referred to as ‘Mahamana’.
• In 2015, the government bestowed Malviya with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, 68 years after his death.
• In 2016, the Indian Railways started the Varanasi-New Delhi Mahamana Express in the leader’s honour.
• Books – A Criticism of Montagu-Chelmsford Proposals of Indian Constitutional Reform, Speeches and Writings.

MUST READ: Satyendra Nath Bose

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following freedom fighters: (2022)

1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh
2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
3. Rash Behari Bose

Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

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

Q.2) Who among the following is associated with ‘Songs from Prison’, a translation of ancient Indian religious lyrics in English? (2021)

1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
2. Jawaharlal Nehru
3. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
4. Sarojini Naidu

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Ketamine drug was reported to be involved in actor Matthew Perry’s death recently.

Background:-

• In recent years, ketamine has been a subject of widespread debate due to its growing use for treating depression and other serious mental health issues.

About Ketamine:-

• Ketamine is an anaesthetic listed as a hallucinogen by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
• It is derived from Phencyclidine (PCP), a hallucinogenic drug.
• It operates by blocking the NMDA receptor in the brain and spinal cord.
• It increases the release of the neurotransmitter glutamate.
• It is used for treating mental illnesses in conventional therapy-resistant patients.
• It is also used as a recreational drug.
• A recreational drug is any drug that is used for inducing pleasure or altering one’s state of mind.
• Their types include:
  • Stimulants: Increase alertness and energy. E.g., cocaine, methamphetamine, and caffeine.
  • Depressants: Produce a calming effect. E.g., alcohol, marijuana, and benzodiazepines.
  • Hallucinogens: Produce hallucinations. E.g., LSD, psilocybin, and DMT.

Applications:-

• It is classified as a dissociative anaesthetic with psychedelic properties.
• It is used strictly under medical supervision for anaesthesia.
• Also employed in the treatment of conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, end-of-life distress, chronic pain, and substance abuse issues.

Regulatory Status in India:-

• It is classified as a Schedule X drug in India.
• It is Subject to stringent control and monitoring on a case-specific basis by the prescribing doctor.
  • Schedule X drugs are categorized as “restrictive drugs” under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules. (National Fund to Control Drug Abuse)
  • The classification of drugs under Schedule X signifies a high level of regulatory control and monitoring.

MUST READ: Bisphenol A

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Bisphenol A (BPA), a cause of concern, is a structural/key component in the manufacture of which of the following kinds of plastics? (2021)

1. Low-density polyethylene
2. Polycarbonate
3. Polyethylene terephthalate
4. Polyvinyl Chloride

Q.2) “Triclosan” is considered harmful when exposed to high levels for a long time, is most likely present in which of the following? (2021)

1. Food preservatives
2. Fruit-ripening substances
3. Reused plastic containers
4. Toiletries

Syllabus

• Prelims –IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES

Context: Recently, PM remembers former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his birth anniversary.

Background:-

• Praising his dedication towards the nation, he said that Shri Vajpayee will always remain a source of inspiration.
• The Prime Minister posted on X:
• “पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री आदरणीय अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी जी को उनकी जयंती पर देश के सभी परिवारजनों की ओर से मेरा कोटि-कोटि नमन। वे जीवनपर्यंत राष्ट्र निर्माण को गति देने में जुटे रहे। मां भारती के लिए उनका समर्पण और सेवा भाव अमृतकाल में भी प्रेरणास्रोत बना रहेगा”

About Atal Bihari Vajpayee:-

• Birth: 25, December 1924.
• Born in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
• Died: 16, August 2018.
• Sadaiv Atal: the Samadhi of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
• He was Prime Minister thrice in 1996, 1998-1999, and 1999-2004.

Political Career:-

• He was the first non-Congress PM to have finished a full term.
• He was elected 10 times to the Lok Sabha from four different States.
• He was twice a member of the Rajya Sabha.
• His birthday, December 25, is observed as Good Governance Day by the government.

Awards:-

• 2015: He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna.
• 1992: He was also awarded Padma Vibhushan. (Padma awards)

Ideology:-

• He advocated and practised positive nationalism.
• He proudly took Hindi to the UN first time and spoke it in the General Assembly.

Important Initiatives:-

• He conducted the nuclear test in Pokhran in 1998.
• He himself rode a bus to Lahore in 1999 for Indo-Pak peace.
• He initiated the Delhi Metro rail as a mass transit system.
• He brought in the National Highway Development Project leading to the East-West North-South Corridor or the Golden Quadrilateral.
• He envisaged and executed the first round of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana which connected rural India greatly.
• The New Telecom Policy of 1999 brought in by him was also a crucial part of the Indian telecom revolution.

 Flagship Policy Initiatives:-

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: Launched in 2000-2001 to provide free and compulsory education to children between 6 to 14 years.
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana: it was launched on 25th December 2000 to provide all-weather access to unconnected habitations.
• Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: these conventions have been held every year since 2003. (Inauguration of Atal Tunnel)

MUST READ: Shaheed Bhagat Singh

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) The world’s second tallest statue in the sitting pose of Ramanuja was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India at Hyderabad recently. Which one of the following statements correctly represents the teachings of Ramanuja? (2022)

1. The best means of salvation was devotion.
2. Vedas are eternal, self-existent, and wholly authoritative.
3. Logical arguments were meant for the highest bliss.
4. Salvation was to be obtained through meditation.

Q.2) Consider the following freedom fighters: (2022)

1. Barindra Kumar Ghosh
2. Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee
3. Rash Behari Bose

Who of the above was/were actively associated with the Ghadar Party?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ART AND CULTURE/ WORLD HISTORY

Context: Recently, the PM wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

Background:-

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, extended his warm wishes to the masses on the occasion of Christmas today.
• He asked people to recall the noble teachings of Lord Christ.
• The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! May this festive season bring joy, peace and prosperity to all. Let’s celebrate the spirit of harmony and compassion that Christmas symbolizes, and work towards a world where everyone is happy and healthy. We also recall the noble teachings of Lord Christ.”

About Christmas:-

• Christmas is celebrated every year on 25th December around the globe.
• It is an annual festival, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 in the Gregorian calendar around the world.
• It is believed that Joseph and Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, considered to be the son of God, on December 25 in Bethlehem.
• Jesus of Nazareth was a spiritual leader whose teachings formed the foundation of Christianity.
• Although the Bible does not mention a specific date for his birth, Emperor Constantine designated December 25 as Christmas, which became a day to commemorate Christ’s birth.

Origin:-

• The origin of Christmas is a mix of both Roman and Pagan cultures.
• The Romans enjoyed double holidays in December. Saturnalia was the first one.
• It is a festival celebrated for two weeks in the devotion of the God of agriculture, Saturn.

Celebrations:-

• Christians, especially Catholics, arrive at churches for Midnight mass, which is followed by greeting friends and family.

Christmas tree decoration

• Roman culture also allowed people to illuminate the temples with fir trees. They mainly used metal to decorate it. Greek History has several records of the trees getting decorated in the devotion of gods.
• The decoration of the tree that we see people following today comes from the traditions of Christmas in Northern Europe.

Santa Claus

• Belonging to a prosperous family, Nicholas was famous for being helpful toward the needy.
• There are several stories of how he helped the poor.
• As time passed, every European tradition of Christmas came up with its own version of Saint Nicholas.
• Pere Noel in France and Father Christmas in England distributed gifts to children.
• In France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, he was famous for Sinter Klaas.
• This is the entire concept of the American culture of Santa Claus.

MUST READ: National Tribal Dance Festival 2022

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements: (2017)

1. It is a song and dance performance
2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance
3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q.2) With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements: (2014)

1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama
2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam
3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –GEOGRAPHY

Context: The Recent Red Sea attacks can disrupt world trade further as more ships vow to avoid the waters of the sea.

Background:-

• Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd and Hong Kong’s OOCL said they would avoid the Red Sea, the latest shipping companies to do so after attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group on vessels disrupted global trade, prompting the establishment of a naval task force.

About Red Sea:-

IMAGE SOURCE: riotimesonline.com

• Red Sea, a narrow strip of water extending southeastward from Suez, Egypt, for about 1,200 miles (1,930 km) to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects with the Gulf of Aden and thence with the Arabian Sea.
• The Red Sea lies between Africa and Asia.
• It is bordered by the Sanai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez (which leads to the Suez Canal) in the north, and the Gulf of Aden in the south.
• It is connected to:
  • The Mediterranean Sea, through the Suez Canal, in the north,
  • Israel and Jordan, through the Gulf of Aqaba (with Egypt, Israel, Jordan & Saudi Arabia as bordering nations)
  • The Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea in the Horn of Africa).
• It is an entrance to the Indian Ocean located between Africa and Asia. (Paracel Islands)
• The basin is long and thin, stretching between the Mediterranean Sea to the northwest and the Indian Ocean to the southeast.
• The Red Sea contains some of the world’s hottest and saltiest seawater.
• Naming: Its name is derived from the colour changes observed in its waters.
  • Normally, the Red Sea is an intense blue-green; occasionally, however, it is populated by extensive blooms of the algae Trichodesmium erythraeum, which, upon dying off, turn the sea a reddish brown colour.
• Geology: The Red Sea lies in a fault depression that separates two great blocks of Earth’s crust—Arabia and North Africa.
  • This break in the crust is part of a complex rift system that includes the East African Rift System.
• Resource: Five major types of mineral resources are found in the Red Sea region: petroleum deposits, evaporite deposits (sediments laid down as a result of evaporation, such as halite, sylvite, gypsum, and dolomite), sulfur, phosphates, and the heavy-metal deposits

MUST READ: Aegean sea & islands

SOURCE: THE ECONOMIC TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert? (2022)

1. Lake Victoria
2. Lake Faguibine
3. Lake Oguta
4. Lake Volta

Q.2) Consider the following pairs: (2021)

Rivers                                Flows into

1. Mekong             Andaman Sea
2. Thames             Irish Sea
3. Volga             Caspian Sea
4. Zambezi             Indian Ocean

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

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

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 :

Atal Bihari Vajpayee was awarded Bharat Ratna in 2015.

Statement-II :

He was also awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2002.

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 Ketamine, consider the following statements:

1. It is classified as a dissociative anaesthetic with psychedelic properties.
2. It is used strictly under medical supervision for anaesthesia.
3. It is classified as a Schedule X drug in India.

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

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  22nd December 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – a