DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th December 2023

Syllabus

• Prelims –POLITY

Context: Recently, President Droupadi Murmu has nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as the Executive Chairperson of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

Background:-

• Justice Khanna would replace Justice SK Kaul who retired on December 25, 2023.

About National Legal Services Authority (NALSA):-

• The National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has been constituted under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
• Objective: to provide free Legal Services to the weaker sections of the society and to organize Lok Adalats for amicable settlement of disputes.
• HQ: New Delhi.
• Hon’ble Dr Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, the Chief Justice of India is the Patron-in-Chief.
• The second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court of India is the Executive Chairman.
• NALSA is housed at the Supreme Court of India.
• In every State, the State Legal Services Authority has been constituted to give effect to the policies and directions of the NALSA and to give free legal services to the people and conduct Lok Adalats in the State.
• The State Legal Services Authority is headed by Hon’ble the Chief Justice of the respective High Court who is the Patron-in-Chief of the State Legal Services Authority.
• A Seniormost Judge of the High Court is nominated as Executive Chairman, SLSA.
• NALSA, through the State Legal Services Authorities, also conducts legal literacy programmes.

Free legal services include:-

• Payment of court fees, process fees, and all other charges payable or incurred in connection with any legal proceedings;
• Providing the service of lawyers in legal proceedings;
• Obtaining and supply of certified copies of orders and other documents in legal proceedings.
• Preparation of appeal, paper book, including printing and translation of documents in legal proceedings.

Persons eligible for free legal services include:-

• Women and children
• Members of SC/ST
• Industrial workmen
• Victims of mass disasters, violence, flood, drought, earthquake, and industrial disasters.
• Disabled persons.
• Persons in custody
• Persons whose annual income does not exceed Rs. 1 lakh (in the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee the limit is Rs. 5,00,000).
• Victims of trafficking in human beings or beggars.

MUST READ: District Legal Services Authority

SOURCE: THE TRIBUNE

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2021)

1. Judicial custody means an accused is in the custody of the concerned magistrate and such an accused is locked up in a police station, not in jail.
2. During judicial custody, the police officer in charge of the case is not allowed to interrogate the suspect without the approval of the court.

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) With reference to the National Legal Services Authority, consider the following statements: (2013)

1. Its objective is to provide free and competent legal services to the weaker sections of the society on the basis of equal opportunity.
2. It issues guidelines for the State Legal Services Authorities to implement the legal programmes and schemes throughout the country.

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 –ECONOMY

Context: Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has enabled card-on-file tokenisation (CoFT) through card-issuing banks and institutions.

Background:-

• It is to make digital payments more secure, safe and sound.

About Card-on-File Tokenization:-

• The central bank introduced Card-on-File Tokenization (CoFT) in September 2021 and began implementation on October 1, 2022.
• Objective: to enhance convenience for cardholders in getting tokens created and linking them to their existing accounts with e-commerce applications.
• Tokenization is the replacement of actual credit and debit card details with an alternate code called the “token”, which will be unique for a combination of card, token requestor, and device.
• A CoF transaction occurs when a cardholder authorizes a retailer to store the cardholder’s Mastercard or Visa payment information.
• The cardholder then authorizes the business to charge the stored Mastercard or Visa account.
• Card information is typically stored in the systems of e-commerce companies, airlines, and supermarket chains.
• Significance: The move will facilitate the creation and linking of tokens to cardholders’ existing accounts with e-commerce applications.

Benefits of tokenization:-

• Enhanced safety and security: It eliminates the risk of storing card details online and ensures the uncompromised convenience of storing customer’s token details on the merchant site.
• Quicker checkouts: Tokenized Mastercard will allow the convenience of quick checkouts as one doesn’t need to punch in the card number for each purchase.
• No more ‘False Declines’: Many times, legitimate online payments using valid cards are declined on the grounds of the transaction looking like a fraud. With tokenization, this becomes a thing of the past as the usage of tokens for payments confirms the security of the highest order.
• Easy card management: With tokenization, one can also keep track of all their cards and the merchants they have been tokenized with.
• No need for a physical card
• Added benefits: Tokenization also comes with cashback benefits when secured with platforms like Amazon, Paytm, Swiggy, etc

MUST READ: Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC)

SOURCE: BUSINESS STANDARD

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements:

1. If the inflation is too high, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to buy government securities.
2. If the rupee is rapidly depreciating, RBI is likely to sell dollars in the market.
3. If interest rates in the USA or European Union were to fall, that is likely to induce RBI to buy dollars.

Which of the statements given above are correct? (2022)

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 Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), consider the following statements:

1. They enable the digital representation of physical assets.
2. They are unique cryptographic tokens that exist on a blockchain.
3. They can be traded or exchanged at equivalency and therefore can be used as a medium transactions of commercial

Which of the statements given above are correct? (2022)

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recently, a new reptile species Wang’s Garden Lizard was discovered in China.

About Wang’s Garden Lizard:-

• Scientific Name: Calotes wangi.
• The lizard has been named Calotes wangi or Wang’s garden lizard.
• It measures under 9 centimetres long.
• It has an orange-hued tongue that distinguishes it.
• The name honors Professor Yuezhao Wang, former director of the Chengdu Institute of Biology’s herpetology museum, for his contributions.
• It lies on sloping shrub branches at night, sleeping close to the branches.
• It eats a variety of insects, spiders, and other arthropods. (Wildlife Protection)
• It is active from April to October every year, while in the tropics it is active from March to November or even longer.

MUST READ: Bengal monitor lizard

SOURCE: MSN

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following organisms ·perform the waggle dance for others of their kin to indicate the direction and the distance to a source of their food? (2023)

1. Butterflies
2. Dragonflies
3. Honeybees
4. Wasps

Q.2) 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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ECONOMY

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today released a draft ‘Licensing Framework for Authorised Persons (APs)’ under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 recently..

Background:-

• According to RBI release, the focus of the draft norms is on rationalising the authorisation framework for money changers in view of the widespread availability of banking services to public, to look at alternate models for facilitating foreign exchange related services and improve the scope of services being offered by AD-Category II entities.
• It added that it will also review the regulatory framework for APs.

About Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA):-

• FEMA, is responsible for managing and regulating foreign exchange.

Historical Background:-

• FEMA came in 1999 as a successor to the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, or FERA, of 1973, with changing economic conditions in post-liberalisation India.
• Objective: to facilitate external trade and payments and promote the orderly development and maintenance of the foreign exchange market in India.
• FEMA deals with provisions relating to procedures, formalities, dealings, etc. of foreign exchange transactions in India.
• Under the FEMA, which came into force with effect from 1st June 2000, all transactions involving foreign exchange have been classified either as capital or current account transactions.
• Current Account Transactions: All transactions undertaken by a resident that do not alter his / her assets or liabilities, including contingent liabilities, outside India are current account transactions.
• Example: payment in connection with foreign trade, expenses in connection with foreign travel, education etc.
• Capital Account Transactions: These includes those transactions which are undertaken by a resident of India such that his/her assets or liabilities outside India are altered (either increased or decreased).
• It offers provisions for the gradual liberalization of capital account transactions and is consistent with full current account convertibility.
• As it specifies the regions requiring certain authorization from the Reserve Bank/Government of India on the acquisition/holding of foreign exchange, it is more clear in its application.
• A person living in India who had previously resided outside the country is given complete freedom to own, possess, and transfer any foreign securities or real estate obtained while residing outside of India.
• Citizens of India who live outside of India are not covered by FEMA.
• This Act is not only applicable to residents of India within India but also applicable to all branches, offices and set-ups outside India which are owned or controlled by a person resident in India.

MUST READ:  Finding Unemployment Benefits

SOURCE: AIR

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.

Syllabus

• Prelims –GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently a  watchman was trampled to death by elephants near Uttar Pradesh’s Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary.

Background:-

• A few people found the victim’s mutilated body in the bushes of the forest, the officials said.

About Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS):-

• Location: Uttar Pradesh.
• It was established in 1975.
• It was brought under the purview of the ‘Project Tiger’ in 1987.
• Its fragile Terai ecosystem comprises a mosaic of sal and teak forests, lush grasslands, numerous swamps, and wetlands.
• Katerniaghat Forest provides strategic connectivity between the tiger habitats of Dudhwa and Kishanpur in India and the Bardia National Park (Nepal).
• The Gairwa river flows in the sanctuary area is declared as a sanctuary for Mugger and
• It is among the few places in India where Gangetic dolphins (freshwater dolphins) are found in their natural habitat.
• Fauna: Endangered species including, tiger, rhino, swamp deer, hispid hare, Bengal florican, the white-backed and long-billed vultures.
• Flora: Its fragile Terai ecosystem comprises a mosaic of sal and teak forests, lush grasslands, numerous swamps and wetlands.

MUST READ: Wildlife Institute of India (WII)

SOURCE: HINDUSTAN TIMES

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following Protected Areas are located in the Cauvery basin? (2020)

1. Nagarhole National Park
2. Papikonda National Park
3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q.2) Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat? (2020)

1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Gangotri National Park
3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manas National Park

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Syllabus

• Prelims – IMPORTANT INSITUTIONS/GOVERNANCE

Context: Recently, Kerala state government held a meeting with the Central Water Commission.

Background:-

• The State government has urged the Centre to speed up measures for building a new dam at Mullaperiyar in Idukki district.

About Central Water Commission (CWC):-

• Establishment:
• HQ: New Delhi.
• Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
• Objective: To promote integrated and sustainable development and management of India’s water resources using state-of-the-art technology and competency and to coordinate all stakeholders.
• It is charged with initiating, coordinating, and advancing plans for the control, conservation, and utilisation of water resources across the nation for flood control, irrigation, navigation, drinking water supply, and hydropower development in consultation with the State Governments concerned.
• Also, it carries out any necessary research, development, and execution of such plans.

Structure:-

• The CWC is chaired by a Chairman who also serves as the Government of India’s Ex-Officio Secretary.
• The Commission’s work is organized into three categories: Designs and Research (D&R), River Management (RM), and Water Planning and Projects.
• A full-time Member leads each wing with the rank of Ex-Officio Additional Secretary to the Government of India.
• A distinct Human Resources Management Unit, led by a Chief Engineer, oversees the CWC’s Human Resources Management or Development, Financial Management, Training, and Administrative issues.

Functions Of Central Water Commission:-

• Planning and Development.
• Water Resources Assessment.
• Flood Forecasting.
• Reservoir Operation.
• River Management.
• Dam Safety.
• Hydrological Information System.
• International Cooperation.

MUST READ: Kalasa-Banduri Project

SOURCE: THE HINDU

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to, the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Tea Board is a statutory body.
2. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
3. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru.
4. The Board has overseas offices in Dubai and Moscow.

Which of the statements given above is correct?  (2022)

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

Q.2) Which of the following are nitrogen-fixing plants? (2022)

1. Alfalfa
2. Amaranth
3. Chickpea
4. Clover
5. Purslane (Kulfa)
6. Spinach

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

1. 1, 3, and 4 only
2. 1, 3, 5, and 6 only
3. 2, 4, 5, and 6 only
4. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6

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 :

The Central Water Commission (CWC) is chaired by a Chairman who also serves as the Government of India’s Ex-Officio Secretary.

Statement-II :

It is under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

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 Wang’s Garden Lizard, consider the following statements:

1. It is active from January to November or even longer.
2. It eats only arthropods.
3. It has an orange-hued tongue that distinguishes it.

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. 2 only

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  29th December 2023 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – b