DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 28th December 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/ INITIATIVES

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Rural Development signed a MoU with Reliance Retail’s JioMart, to onboard  Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM’s) SHGs.

Background:-

• The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Retail’s JioMart towards its efforts to help enhance the outreach of the products of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) thereby empowering the rural SHG artisans.

About Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM):-

• Launched: June 2011.
• Ministry: Ministry of Rural Development.
• Objective: to reduce poverty by enabling the poor household to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities resulting in sustainable and diversified livelihood options for the poor.
• The Mission seeks to reach out to around 10 Crore rural poor households in a phased manner by 2022-23 and impact their livelihoods significantly.

Historical Background:-

• The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) was launched in 2011 by the Government of India by restructuring the erstwhile Swarnajayanti Grameen Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY).
• The new programme design was based on the experiences gained from the large-scale community-based projects in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
• In November 2015, the program was renamed Deendayal Antayodaya Yojana (DAY-NRLM).

Salient Features:-

• DAY-NRLM is a flagship poverty alleviation program of the Government of India.
• It is the world’s largest initiative to improve the livelihoods of the rural poor.

Values:-

• Inclusion of the poorest, and meaningful role to the poorest in all the processes.
• Transparency and accountability of all processes and institutions
• Ownership and key role of the poor and their institutions in all stages – planning, implementation, and monitoring
• Community self-reliance and self-dependence

Components of mission:-

The Mission seeks to achieve its objective through investing in four core components:-

Social mobilization and promotion and strengthening of self-managed and financially sustainable community institutions of the rural poor:

• At least one woman member from each identified rural poor household, is to be brought under the Self Help Group (SHG) network in a time-bound manner.

Financial inclusion of the rural poor:-

• It works on both the demand and supply sides of financial inclusion. On the demand side, it promotes financial literacy among the poor and provides catalytic capital to the SHGs and their federations.

Sustainable livelihoods:

• NRLM focuses on stabilizing and promoting the existing livelihood portfolio of the poor through its three pillars: vulnerability reduction, livelihood enhancement and employment.

Social inclusion, social development and convergence:-

• NRLM places a high emphasis on convergence with other programmes of the MoRD and other Central Ministries.

MUST READ: Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay

SOURCE: PIB

 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) The Multi-dimensional Poverty Index developed by Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative with UNDP support covers which of the following? (2012)

1. Deprivation of education, health, assets and services at the household level
2. Purchasing power parity at the national level
3. Extent of budget deficit and GDP growth rate at the national level

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Context: A National Level Programme on Anganwadi-Cum-Crèche Under Palna was held at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi recently.

Background:-

• It was to release the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the scheme.

About National Programme on Anganwadi-cum-Crèche:-

• Launched: 2023.
• Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• Objective: the central aim of Anganwadi-cum- Crèches is to meet the demand for quality childcare facilities and enable women to actively participate in the workforce.

Salient Features:-

• The Anganwadi-Cum- Crèche initiative under the Palna Scheme underwent revisions and was included as part of the Samarthya sub-component of Mission Shakti, starting from April 2022.
• The government has expanded childcare services through Anganwadi cum Crèche (AWCC) as part of the Palna scheme, a sub-component of Mission Shakti.
  • Palna scheme: it is intended to offer a safe and secure environment for the children of working women to function as a catalyst for increasing female labour force participation.
  • Its objectives are:-
    • To provide day-care facilities for children (6 months to 6 years) of working mothers in the community.
    • To improve the nutrition and health status of children.
    • To promote physical, cognitive, social and emotional development (Holistic Development) of children.
    • To educate and empower parents /caregivers for better childcare.
  • The scheme will provide an integrated package of the following services:
    • Daycare Facilities including Sleeping Facilities.
    • Early Stimulation for children below 3 years and preschool education for 3 to 6 years old children.
    • Supplementary Nutrition (to be locally sourced)
    • Growth Monitoring.
    • Health Check-up and Immunization.
  • Palna is a Mission Shakti sub-scheme.
  • Mission Shakti: it is the Government of India’s Integrated Women Empowerment Programme.
  • It was launched as an Umbrella Scheme for Women’s Safety, Security, and Empowerment, with implementation dates from 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• The Ministry of Women and Child Development has established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the administration and execution of the AWCC scheme to enable states and districts to operationalize Palna.
• AWCC aims to provide high-quality crèche services in a safe and secure setting for children aged 6 months to 6 years.
• Anganwadi facilities are the world’s greatest childcare institutions, committed to providing children with vital care and assistance.
• The government aims to establish 17,000 Crèches under the Palna scheme.
• Two additional Crèche workers and helpers will be deployed along with existing Anganwadi workers and helpers under the Palna scheme. (Mid-day Meal (MDM) scheme)
• The program emphasizes the role of Anganwadi-cum-Crèches in improving women’s labour force participation, especially in urban areas where institutional support for childcare is crucial.

MUST READ: National Creche Scheme (NCS)

SOURCE: PIB

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: Recently, the Prime Minister, during his speech at the Infinity Forum 2.0, emphasised making International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) a global hub of Sustainable Finance.

Background:-

• International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) has undertaken numerous regulatory initiatives for the development of financial instruments at IFSC to facilitate capital flows towards climate action in India and other developing countries.

About International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA):-

• Establishment: April 2020.
• HQ: GIFT City, Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
• IFSCA is a unified authority for the development and regulation of financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in international financial services centres.
• It is a statutory authority established under the International Financial Services Centres Authority Act, 2019 (“IFSCA Act”).
• Objective: To develop and regulate the financial products, financial services, and financial institutions in the International Financial Services Centres (‘IFSC’).

Historical Background:-

• Before the establishment of IFSCA, the domestic financial regulators, namely, RBI, SEBI, PFRDA and IRDAI regulated the business in IFSC.
• GIFT-IFSC is the maiden IFSC in India.

Salient Features:-

• Its main objective is to develop a strong global connection.
• It focuses on the needs of the Indian economy as well as serves as an international financial platform.
• It also aims to ensure inter-regulatory coordination within the financial sector.

Structure of IFSCA:-

• It consists of nine members, appointed by the central government. These include:
• A Chairperson.
• Four members: to be nominated from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), and the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).
• Two members: from amongst officials of the Ministry of Finance.
• Two members: to be appointed on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
• Term: All members of the IFSC Authority will have a term of three years, subject to reappointment.

About Infinity Forum 2.0:-

• Hosted by: International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, GIFT City.
• Theme ‘GIFT-IFSC: Nerve Centre for New Age Global Financial Services.
• It is Organized as a pre-cursor event to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024.
• The 2nd edition of the Infinity Forum 2.0, will be held in hybrid mode, with an invite-only in-person event scheduled in GIFT City and for virtual participation from participants across the globe.
• The Infinity Forum is a global thought leadership platform on financial services, where progressive ideas, pressing problems, and innovative technologies from across the world get Discovered, Discussed and Developed into solutions and opportunities.
• The 1st edition of the Forum was organized in December 2021.

MUST READ:  National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE)

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) ‘Rapid Financing Instrument” and “Rapid Credit Facility” are related to the provisions of lending by which of the following:  (2022)

1. Asian Development Bank
2. International Monetary Fund
3. United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative
4. World Bank

Q.2) In India, the Central Bank’s function as the “lender of last resort” usually refers to which of the following? (2021)

1. Lending to trade and industry bodies when they fail to borrow from other sources
2. Providing liquidity to the banks having a temporary crisis
3. Lending to governments to finance budgetary deficits

Select the correct answer using the code given below

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) added, noma, to its official list of neglected tropical diseases (NTD).

Background:-

• The severe gangrenous disease of mouth and face has 90% mortality rate and is associated with extreme poverty, malnutrition.

About Noma:-

• It is also known as cancrum oris or gangrenous stomatitis. (World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day)
• The name of the disease comes from the Greek word “nomē”, meaning “to devour”, as noma eats away facial tissue and bones if not treated early.
• Noma is associated with a number of risk factors, including poor oral hygiene, malnutrition, weakened immune systems, infections, and extreme poverty.
• It is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face with a mortality rate of approximately 90 per cent.
• It is also associated with extreme poverty, malnutrition and poor access to sanitation and oral hygiene.
• It mainly affects children aged 2-6 years old and is found most commonly among those living in poor communities.
• While the disease is not contagious, it prefers to attack when the body’s defences are weak.
• The disease begins with gum inflammation and is thought to be caused by bacteria found in the mouth.
• It can also occur among immunocompromised adults due to HIV, leukemia and other diseases.
• It is prevalent in Africa, Asia and Asia-Pacific, the Americas, the Middle East and Europe.

Treatment: –

• It includes a prescription of widely available antibiotics, advice and support on practices to improve oral hygiene, disinfectant mouthwash, and nutrition supplements.

MUST READ: National Non-Communicable Disease Monitoring Survey (NNMS)

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

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 –ART AND CULTURE

Context: Recently, The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, applauded the performance of 1,282 tabla players at the ongoing ‘Tansen Festival’ in Madhya Pradesh for entering the Guinness Book of World Records.

Background:-

• The Prime Minister posted on X:

“बहुत-बहुत बधाई! भारतीय संगीत को नई ऊंचाई पर ले जाने का ये प्रयास अत्यंत सराहनीय है।”

About Tansen Festival:-

• It is a unique four-five day festival, dedicated to the pillar of Indian music, the great Tansen.
• It is held at his tomb in Gwalior in the village of Behat every year.
• The Department of Culture and the Government of Madhya Pradesh started the festival .
• Objective: to pay tribute to the Indian classical music maestro, Mian Tansen.
• ‘TansenSamaroh’ is one of the most prestigious events of the country in the field of Indian classical music.

About Tansen:-

• Tansen was a vocalist, instrumentalist and music composer.
• He is credited as the founder of the Hindustani classical music.
• He was one of the Navratnas (Nine gems) in Emperor Akbar’s court.
• Akbar considered him as a Navaratnas (nine jewels), and gave him the title Mian, an honorific, meaning learned man.
• Tansen is remembered for his epic Dhrupad compositions, creating several new ragas, as well as for writing two classic books on music Sri Ganesh Stotra and Sangita Sara.

 MUST READ: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar

SOURCE: AIR

 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 –Defense

Context: The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, expressed pride as INS Imphal was commissioned into Indian Navy recently.

Background:-

• Hailing India’s growing self-reliance in defence, the Prime Minister posted on X:

“Proud moment for India as INS Imphal has been commissioned into our Navy, a testament to India’s growing self-reliance in defence. It epitomises our naval excellence and engineering prowess. Compliments to everyone involved in this milestone for Aatmanirbharta. We shall keep securing our seas and strengthening our nation.”

About INS Imphal:-

• It is the third ship of the Project 15B Class of stealth-guided missile destroyers.
  • The first ship of P15B Class, INS Visakhapatnam, was commissioned on November 21, 2021.
  • The second ship INS Mormugao was commissioned on December 18, 2022.
  • The fourth, INS Surat, was launched on May 17, 2022.
• Imphal was the first naval warship commissioned with accommodation for women officers and sailors.
• It can accommodate a crew of 312 persons.
• It has an endurance of 4,000 nautical miles.
• It can carry out a 42-day mission with extended mission time in an out-of-area operation.
• The ship is equipped with two helicopters onboard to further extend its reach.
• The ship was constructed using indigenous steel “DMR 249A”.
• It is among the largest destroyers built in India, with an overall length of 164 metres and a displacement of over 7,500 tonnes.
• It is armed with supersonic Surface-to-Surface Brahmos missiles and Barak-8 Medium Range Surface-to-Air missiles.
• The destroyer is fitted with indigenously developed anti-submarine weapons and sensors.
• Its all-round capability against enemy submarines, surface warships, anti-ship missiles, and fighter aircraft would enable it to operate independently without supporting vessels.
• The ship is propelled by a powerful Combined Gas and Gas Propulsion Plant (COGAG).
• The ship boasts a very high level of automation with sophisticated digital networks.

MUST READ: Mormugao: Indian Navy’s indigenous stealth destroyer

SOURCE: PIB

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

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 :

Noma is a severe gangrenous disease of the mouth and face with a mortality rate of approximately 90 per cent.

Statement-II :

It mainly affects children aged 12-16 years old.

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 International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA), consider the following statements:

1. It is headquartered at GIFT City, in Varanasi.
2. It is not a statutory body.
3. Its members, are appointed by the central government.

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

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  28th 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