DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 2nd December 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –ART AND CULTURE

Context: Recently, Gurupurab was celebrated at Nanakshahi Gurudwara in Dhaka.

Background:-

• The 554th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev was observed at the historic Nanakshahi Gurudwara in Dhaka.
• Gurudwara Nanakshahi is a historic Gurudwara in Dhaka.
• Guru Nanak Dev visited Dhaka in the year 1506-07.
• The gurdwara was built in 1830 to commemorate the visit of Guru Nanak.
• Guru Tegh Bahadur also stayed in Dhaka for over two years.
• The Nanakshahi gurudwara at Dhaka houses two important relics including the wooden sandal of Guru Tegh Bahadur and two handwritten copies of Guru Granth Sahib.

About Gurupurab:-

• Guru Nanak Gurupurab is also called Guru Nanak Jayanti or Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav.
• The day celebrates the birth of the first guru of Sikhism, Guru Nanak. (Guru Nanak Jayanti)
• His teachings and life laid the foundation for Sikhism, a monotheistic religion based on the principles of equality, social justice, and devotion to God
• Guru Nanak was born in Puranmashi of Kattak according to the Bikrami calendar.
• He was born in Talwandi, now in Pakistan.
• He was born in 1469.
• However, the Bhai Bala Janamsakhi claims that Guru Nanak was born on the full moon of Karthi (a lunar month).
• For this reason, some of the Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti in November month.
• 2023 is the 554th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
• He was born on the fifteenth lunar day in the month of Kartik, per the Hindu calendar.
• It usually falls in October and November, as per the Gregorian calendar.

MUST READ: Sikh Separatism

SOURCE: AIR

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) The Prime Minister recently inaugurated the new Circuit House near Somnath Temple Veraval. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Somnath Temple? (2022)

1. Somnath Temple is one of the Jyotirlinga shrines.
2. A description of Somnath Temple was given by Al-Biruni.
3. Pran Pratishtha of Somnath Temple (installation of the present-day temple) was done by President S. Radhakrishnan.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q.2) Which one of the following statements is correct? (2021)

1. Ajanta Caves lie in the gorge of the Waghora River.
2. Sanchi Stupa lies in the gorge of the Chambal River.
3. Pandu – lena cave shrines lie in the gorge of the Narmada River.
4. Amaravati Stupa lies in the gorge of the Godavari River.

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recent studies show that High iron levels raise the possibility of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH).

Background:-

• Hemochromatosis or ‘bronze diabetes’, the rare genetic disorder that causes organ dysfunction – its causes, signs, and treatment.

About Hemochromatosis:-

• Hemochromatosis (he-moe-kroe-muh-TOE-sis) causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat.
• Excess iron is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart, and pancreas.
• Too much iron can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver disease, heart problems, and diabetes.  (Disease Surveillance System)

Symptoms:-

• Joint pain.
• Abdominal pain.
• Fatigue.
• Weakness.
• Diabetes.
• Loss of sex drive.
• Impotence.
• Heart failure.
• Liver failure.
• Bronze or grey skin colour.
• Memory fog.

Causes:-

• Hemochromatosis is most often caused by a change in a gene.
• This gene controls the amount of iron your body absorbs from food.
• The altered gene is passed from parents to children.
• This type of hemochromatosis is by far the most common type. It’s called hereditary hemochromatosis.

Treatment:-

• Phlebotomy is the standard treatment for primary hemochromatosis.
• In this, iron toxicity is reduced by removing red blood cells, the body’s main mobilizer of iron.

MUST READ: India’s Health Sector

SOURCE: OREGON

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements: (2022)

1. The Serum Institute of India produced a COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using an mRNA platform.
2. The Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using a vector-based platform.
3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen-based vaccine.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

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

Q.2) With reference to recent developments regarding ‘Recombinant vector Vaccines’, consider the following statements: (2021)

1. Genetic engineering is applied in the development of these vaccines.
2. Bacteria and viruses are used as vectors.

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 –GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, an Earthquake of magnitude 5.6 hit Bangladesh.

Background:-

• The quake occurred on Saturday morning at 09:05:31 IST and was reported at a depth of 55 km.

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).
• A seismograph, or seismometer, is an instrument used to detect and record earthquakes.
• 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.

Causes of Earthquakes:-

• Fault Zones
• Plate tectonics
• Volcanic activity
• Human-Induced Earthquakes

Types of Earthquakes:-

Tectonic Earthquakes

• The Earth is made of four basic layers (generally three): a solid crust, a hot, nearly solid mantle, a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.
• Tectonic plates (Lithospheric plates) are constantly shifting as they drift around on the viscous, or slowly flowing, mantle layer below.
• When tectonic plates move, it also causes movements at the Thus, the slipping of land along the faultline along convergent, divergent and transform boundaries cause earthquakes. (Anatolian Plate)

Volcanic Earthquake

• Earthquakes produced by stress changes in solid rock due to the injection or withdrawal of magma (molten rock) are called volcano earthquakes. (Volcano)

Human Induced Earthquakes

• In areas of intense mining activity, sometimes the roofs of underground mines collapse causing minor tremors. These are called collapse earthquakes.
• Ground shaking may also occur due to the explosion of chemical or nuclear devices. Such tremors are called explosion earthquakes.

MUST READ: Urban Flooding

SOURCE: THE STATESMAN

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 – ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

 Context: Recently, a new species of jumping spider ’ Pancorius sebastiani’ has been discovered.

Background:-

• It has been discovered from the Western Ghats.

About Pancorius sebastiani:-

• Naming: It has been named Pancorius sebastiani after the late spider taxonomist P.A.
• Distribution: southeast Asia.
  • Its distribution was hitherto limited to the east and northeastern regions of India. (Blackbuck)
• The new species is the first to be reported from the south.
• The males and the females exhibit reddish brown carapace.
• They have yellowish abdomen with black patches and chevron-shaped markings posteromedially.
• It belongs to the jumping spider genus Pancorius Simon, and Salticidae family.
• Only two States, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have reported high numbers of Salticidae species, while the others including those harbouring biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats and northeastern India have relatively few numbers of species.

MUST READ:  Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following makes a tool with a stick to scrape insects from a hole in a tree or a log of wood? (2023)

1. Fishing cat
2. Orangutan
3. Otter
4. Sloth bear

Q.2) Which of the following is not a bird? (2022)

1. Golden Mahseer
2. Indian Nightjar
3. Spoonbill
4. White Ibis

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recently, Hubble Space Telescope has been put in safe mode, as NASA paused operations.

Background:-

• Hubble automatically entered safe mode on November 23 when one of its three gyroscopes gave faulty readings.

About Hubble Space Telescope:-

• Launched: April 24, 1990.
• Launched by: Discovery.
• Hubble Space Telescope is a large, space-based observatory by NASA/ESA. (NASA’s DART mission)
• It has been deployed since 1990.
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA): is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
  • European Space Agency(ESA): is an independent space agency.
• The Hubble Space Telescope is the first astronomical observatory placed into orbit around Earth with the ability to record images in wavelengths of light spanning the ultraviolet to near-infrared.
• Hubble orbits roughly 340 miles (547 km) above Earth’s surface.
• Hubble is the first space-based observatory specifically designed for servicing while in orbit.
• Hubble was designed as a general-purpose observatory, meant to explore the universe in visible, ultraviolet, and infrared wavelengths.
• To date, the telescope has made more than 1.5 million observations, collecting data and providing views astronomers were unable to capture from the ground.

MUST READ: India’s Space Economy

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

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 does not change
2. The gravity of stellar bodies does not change
3. Light always travels in a straight line
4. Speed of light is always the same

Syllabus

• Prelims –GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, cyclone Michaung was seen brewing over the Bay of Bengal.

Background:-

• IMD issues ‘Yellow Alert’ as depression escalates.

About Cyclone Michaung:-

• A cyclone is a pattern of winds (or air mass) that circulates a low-pressure system.
• It rotates counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.
• It is typically associated with wet and stormy weather. (Naming of Cyclone)

Classification:-

• There are two types of cyclones:
  • Tropical cyclones and
  • Extra-tropical cyclones (also called Temperate cyclones)

Tropical cyclone:-

• It is an intense circular storm that originates over warm tropical oceans.
• It is characterized by low atmospheric pressure, high winds, and heavy rain .(Colour Coded Weather Warning)
• These are formed over slightly warm ocean waters.
• The temperature of the top layer of the sea, up to a depth of about 60 meters, needs to be at least 28°C to support the formation of a cyclone.
• April-May and October-December periods are conducive for cyclones.
• Then, the low level of air above the waters needs to have an ‘anticlockwise’ rotation (in the northern hemisphere; clockwise in the southern hemisphere).
• During these periods, there was an ITCZ in the Bay of Bengal.

Extratropical cyclones:-

• It occurs in temperate zones and high-latitude regions, though they are known to originate in the Polar Regions.
• These are active above the mid-latitudinal region between 35° and 65° latitude in both hemispheres.
• The direction of movement is from west to east and is more pronounced in the winter seasons.

MUST READ: Bomb Cyclone

SOURCE: NEWS18

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

1. High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.
2. Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth’s surface and thus cause a warming effect.

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

Q.2) Consider the following statements: (2018)

1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory.
2. Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar.
3. The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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 :

Guru Nanak was born in Puranmashi of Kattak according to the Bikrami calendar.

Statement-II :

He was born in Talwandi, now in Pakistan.

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 Hemochromatosis, consider the following statements:

1. Phlebotomy is the standard treatment.
2. Hereditary hemochromatosis is the least common type.
3. Memory fog is one of its symptoms.

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 ’  2nd December 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – b