DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 24th January 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recent reports show an uncertain future for the production of opium plants.

Background:-

• Three districts in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan together contribute to 80% of India’s opium production.
• Already facing the problem of stagnant procurement rates and rising input prices, farmers are now angry with the Union government for opening opium production and processing to private players.

About Opium:-

IMAGE SOURCE: pinterest.co.uk

• Opium is a natural substance obtained from poppy seeds and its derivatives are mainly used for pain management.
• Poppy, any of several flowering plants of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), especially species of the genus Papaver.
• Most poppies are found in the Northern Hemisphere, and several species of poppies are cultivated as garden ornamentals.
• Opium, from which morphine, heroin, codeine, and papaverine are derived, comes from the milky latex in the unripe seed capsule of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), which is native to Turkey.

Uses:-

• The extracts from opium poppy such as morphine are potent painkillers and are mainly prescribed to cancer patients.
• The opium product codeine is helpful in cough suppression.
• It is used illicitly for smoking, drinking, or even eating as pills.

Opium cultivation in India:-

• India has been growing poppy at least since the 15th century, as per historical records.
• The British East India Company assumed a monopoly on the cultivation of poppy when the Mughal Empire was on the decline, and the entire trade was brought under government control by 1873.
• After India gained independence, the cultivation and trade of opium passed on to the Indian government, with the activity being controlled by The Opium Act, 1857, The Opium Act, 1878, and The Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930.
• At present, the cultivation and processing of poppy and opium is controlled by the provisions of The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Rules.
• Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are the three traditional opium-growing States.
• Among the few countries permitted to cultivate the opium poppy crop for export and extraction of alkaloids, India currently only extracts alkaloids from opium gum at facilities controlled by the Revenue Department in the Finance Ministry.
• This entails farmers extracting gum by manually lancing the opium pods and selling the gum to government factories.

 MUST READ: Drug Addiction

SOURCE: THE HINDU

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus.)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)

How many of the above are deciduous trees?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q.2) Consider the following statements: (2023)

1. Some mushrooms have medicinal properties.
2. Some mushrooms have psychoactive properties.
3. Some mushrooms have insecticidal properties.
4. Some mushrooms have bioluminescent properties.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. Only three
4. All four

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: Recently, PM Modi announced the launch of Pradhanmantri Suryoday Yojana .

Background:-

• Currently, there is no centrally compiled estimate of the number of households in India with rooftop solar installations.

About Pradhanmantri Suryoday Yojana:-

• Launched: January,2024.

Objectives:-

• Provide affordable solar energy.
• Increase energy independence
• Promote environmental sustainability.

Salient Features:-

• It will provide incentives and financial assistance to make it affordable for residential consumers to adopt rooftop solar.
• This scheme comes after India missed its initial target of 40 gigawatts of rooftop solar capacity by 2022 under the existing Rooftop Solar Programme.
• The new scheme signals renewed impetus to achieve the target of 40GW capacity by the extended deadline of 2026.
• With only around 11GW currently installed, the Pradhan Mantri Suryodaya Yojana intends to accelerate rooftop solar adoption. (PM-KUSUM)
• The scheme aimed to expand India’s rooftop solar installed capacity in the residential sector by providing Central Financial Assistance and incentives to DISCOMs (distribution companies).
• A consumer can avail of the benefits of the scheme through DISCOM tendered projects or through the National Portal (solarrooftop.gov.in)
• The DISCOM’s role is limited to issuing of technical feasibility approval, installation of the net meter and inspect the system.
  • Net metering is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the grid.
• Surplus solar power units generated from the rooftop solar plant can be exported to the grid.

Benefits:-

• Installing solar rooftops under this scheme will help reduce monthly electricity bills of households.
• It will also support India’s ambitious goal of reaching 500GW of renewable energy by 2030, with solar expected to contribute the major share.
• It will boost energy security and self-reliance while also benefiting the environment.
• Additional income generation through surplus electricity production.

 MUST READ: Solar Roof Top Scheme

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements:

1. The Climate Group is an international non-profit organisation that drives climate action by building large networks and runs them.
2. The International Energy Agency in partnership with the Climate Group launched a global initiative “EP100”.
3. EP100 brings together leading companies committed to driving innovation in energy efficiency and increasing competitiveness while delivering on emission reduction goals.
4. Some Indian companies are members of EP100.
5. The International Energy Agency is the Secretariat to the “Under2 Coalition”.

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

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

Q.2) The Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) a UN mechanism to assist countries transition towards greener and more inclusive economies, emerged at (2018)

1. The Earth Summit on Sustainable Development 2002, Johannesburg
2. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development 2012, Rio de Janeiro
3. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2015, Paris
4. The World Sustainable Development Summit 2016, New Delhi

Syllabus

• Prelims –DEFENSE

Context: Recently, EXERCISE DESERT KNIGHT was commenced.

Background:-

• On 23 Jan 24, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted Exercise Desert Knight along with French Air and Space Force (FASF) and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force.

About EXERCISE DESERT KNIGHT:-

• It is a bilateral Air exercise between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and French Air and Space Force.
• The French participation included the Rafale fighter aircraft and a Multi Role Tanker Transport, the UAE Air Force fielded the F-16.
• These aircraft operated from the Al Dhafra air base in the UAE.
• The IAF contingent comprised of Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, Jaguar, AWACS, C-130-J and Air to Air Refueller aircraft.
• The exercise in Indian FIR was conducted over the Arabian Sea, with IAF aircraft operating from bases within India.
• The main focus of Exercise Desert Knight was on enhancing synergy and interoperability between the three Air Forces.
• The interactions during the exercise facilitated the exchange of operational knowledge, experiences and best practices amongst the participants.
• Such exercises are indicative of the growing diplomatic and military interactions in the region, apart from showcasing the prowess of the IAF.

Defence Exercises between India and France:-

• Varuna – Naval exercise
• Garuda – Air exercise
• Shakti – Army exercise

 MUST READ:

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)The ‘Fortaleza Declaration’ recently in the news, is related to the affairs of: (2015)

1. ASEAN
2. (b)BRICS
3. OECD
4. WTO

Syllabus

• Prelims –HISTORY/ IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES

Context: Recently, the President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu paid homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary.

Background:-

• Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary is on January 23, 2024.
• It is celebrated as Parakram Diwas.

About Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose:-

• Birth: 1897.
• Birth place: Cuttack, Bengal.
• Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child of Janakinath and Prabhavati Bose.
• He passed the Indian Civil Services (ICS) examination in 1919.
• However, Bose later resigned.
• Vivekananda’s teachings had a strong influence on him, and he regarded him as his spiritual Guru.
• Chittaranjan Das was his political mentor. (Bhagat Singh)
• He founded his own newspaper, Swaraj, after working as an editor for Das’s newspaper Forward.
• He advocated for unqualified Swaraj (independence) and opposed the Motilal Nehru Report, which advocated for India’s dominion status.
• He actively participated in the 1930 Salt Satyagraha and was vehemently opposed to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and the signing of the Gandhi-Irwin Pact in 1931.
• He was intimately linked with left politics in Congress in the 1930s, alongside Jawaharlal Nehru and M.N. Roy.
• In 1938, Bose was elected president of the Congress Party in Haripura.
• In 1939, he won the presidential elections in Tripuri against Gandhi’s candidate, Pattabhi Sitaramayya.
• Bose resigned and left Congress due to ideological differences with Gandhi.
• He established a new political party, called “the Forward Bloc.”

INA and World War II:-

• The Indian National Army was formed in 1942, consisting of thousands of Indian prisoners of war captured by the Japanese, and supported by Japanese troops.
• After his arrival in Singapore, Bose, issued from there his famous call, ‘Delhi Chalo’, and announced the formation of the Azad Hind Government and the Indian National Army on 21st October 1943.
• The headquarters of the provisional government was moved to Rangoon in January 1944, and after fighting at the Arakan Front, the INA crossed the Indo-Burma border and marched towards Imphal and Kohima in March.
• The Chalo Delhi campaign ended at Imphal however, as the British and British Indian armies, were able to defeat the Japanese forces and the INA and push them out of Kohima as well.
• After the Japanese surrendered on August 16, Bose left South East Asia on a Japanese plane and headed toward China.

MUST READ: Nataji Subhash Chandra Bose’s contribution and legacy

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) He wrote biographies of Mazzini, Garibaldi, Shivaji and Shrikrishna; stayed in America for some time; and was also elected to the Central Assembly. He was (2018)

1. Aurobindo Ghosh
2. Bipin Chandra Pal
3. Lala Lajpat Rai

Motilal Nehru

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT SCHEMES/ ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: The Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has recently published guidelines and incentives to promote the procurement of green hydrogen as part of the National Green Hydrogen Mission.

Background:-

• Under the mission, Rs 17,490 crore has been set aside for the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) programme, to bolster domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production.

About National Green Hydrogen Mission:-

• Launched: 2021.
• Ministry: Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.

Objectives:-

• To make India a global hub for the production and export of green hydrogen.
• To harness green hydrogen energy to fulfill India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Salient Features:-

• NGHM is a part of National Hydrogen Mission (NHM) which was announced by the finance minister in the Union Budget 2021-22.
• The Prime Minister of India also announced the National Hydrogen Mission on India’s 75th Independence Day.
• The NGHM will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen.
• The Mission will also support pilot projects in emerging end-use sectors and production pathways.
• An enabling policy framework will be developed to support the establishment of the Green Hydrogen ecosystem.
• A public-private partnership framework for R&D will be facilitated under the Mission.
• R&D projects will be goal-oriented, time-bound, and suitably scaled up to develop globally competitive technologies.

About Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Programme:-

• It is a subcomponent of National Green Hydrogen Mission.
• Objective:To bolster domestic electrolyser manufacturing and green hydrogen production.
• Implementing agency: The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) .
• In the initial stage, two distinct financial incentive mechanisms were proposed with an outlay of ₹ 17,490 crore up to 2029-30:
  • Incentive for manufacturing of electrolysers
  • Incentive for production of green hydrogen.

MUST READ: India’s Renewable Energy

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements: (2023)

1. None of them uses seawater.
2. None of them is set up in a water-stressed district.
3. None of them is privately owned.

How many of the above statements are correct?

1. Only one
2. Only two
3. All three
4. None

Q.2) Which one of the following has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986? (2022)

1. Central Water Commission
2. Central Ground Water Board
3. Central Ground Water Authority
4. National Water Development Agency

Syllabus

• Prelims –ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recently, the Great Indian Bustard, Supreme Court asks government.

Background:-

• The Supreme Court recently directed the Centre to come clean on its plans to save the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard.

About Great Indian Bustard:-

• Scientific Name: Ardeotis nigriceps.
• Habitat: dry grasslands and scrublands.
• It is one of the most critically threatened speciesin India, with less than 150 birds left in the wild.
• They are one of the heaviest flying birds in India. (Great Indian Bustard)
• Experts say only two districts in Rajasthan : Jaisalmer and Barmer.
• The bird can also be found in very small numbers in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Conservation Status:-

• IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
• Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972: Schedule 1.
• CITES: Appendix 1.

 MUST READ: Snow Leopard

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct? (2020)

1. It is spread over two districts.
2. There is no human habitation inside the Park.
3. It is one of the natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard.

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

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 :

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on his birth anniversary is on January 23, 2024.

Statement-II :

It is celebrated as Parakram Diwas.

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 Great Indian Bustard, consider the following statements:

1. Is Scientific Name is Ardeotis nigriceps.
2. It stays in dry grasslands and scrublands.
3. They are one of the lightest flying birds in India.

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

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  13th January 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – d

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – c