DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 30th January 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – ECONOMY

Context: Recently, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman challenged the narrative that India’s economy has seen a ‘K-shaped’ recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background:-

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently said that a narrative is being built that the Indian economy is not in good shape.

About’K-shaped’ recovery:-

• A K-shaped recovery occurs when, following a recession, different parts of the economy recover at different rates, times, or magnitudes.
• This is in contrast to an even, uniform recovery across sectors, industries, or groups of people.
• Economic Recovery is the business cycle stage following a recession that is characterized by a sustained period of improving business activity.
• Economic recovery can take many forms, which is depicted using alphabetic notations.
• For example, a Z-shaped recovery, V-shaped recovery, U-shaped recovery, elongated U-shaped recovery, W-shaped recovery, L-shaped recovery and K-shaped recovery.
• A K-shaped recovery leads to changes in the structure of the economy or the broader society as economic outcomes and relations are fundamentally changed before and after the recession.
• This type of recovery is called K-shaped because the path of different parts of the economy when charted together may diverge, resembling the two arms of the Roman letter “K.”

MUST READ: Expected Economic Recovery

SOURCE: INDIA TODAY

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to the ‘Banks Board Bureau (BBB)’, which of the following statements is correct? (2022)

1. The Governor of RBI is the Chairman of BBB.
2. BBB recommends the selection of heads for Public Sector Banks.
3. BBB helps the Public Sector Banks in developing strategies and capital-raising plans.

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) Consider the following statements: (2021)

1. The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is appointed by the Central Government.
2. Certain provisions in the Constitution of India give the Central Government the right to issue directions to the RBI in the public interest.
3. The Governor of the RBI draws his power from the RBI Act.

Which of the above statements is correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims – GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: Recently, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) during the 75th Republic Day parade proudly unveiled its Tableaux, a visual representation of the visionary Sagarmala Program.

Background:-

• This flagship program has significantly reduced turnaround times, enhancing cargo handling efficiency across ports.

About Sagarmala Program:-

• Launched: The concept of Sagarmala was approved by the Union Cabinet on 25th March 2015.
• Ministry: Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
• Objective: to promote port-led development in the country.

Historical Background:-

• As part of the program, a National Perspective Plan (NPP) for the comprehensive development of India’s coastline and maritime sector has been prepared which was released by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, on 14th April 2016 at the Maritime India Summit 2016.

Salient Features:-

• The vision of the Sagarmala Program is to reduce logistics costs for EXIM and domestic trade with minimal infrastructure investment.
• This includes: Reducing the cost of transporting domestic cargo through optimizing modal mix Lowering logistics cost of bulk commodities by locating future industrial capacities near the coast Improving export competitiveness by developing port proximate discrete manufacturing clusters Optimizing time/cost of EXIM container movement.
• It aims to develop access to new development regions with intermodal solutions and promotion of the optimum modal split, enhanced connectivity with main economic centres and beyond through expansion of rail, inland water, coastal and road services.

Components:-

• The Sagarmala Program broadly consists of 5 components which are:
• Port Modernization & New Port Development
• Port Connectivity Enhancement
• Port-linked Industrialization
• Coastal Community Development
• Promotion of Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways in India.

Benefits:-

• It will create jobs and bridge skill gaps in ports and the maritime sector.( Shipping Industry in India)

MUST READ: Sagarmala Seaplane Services (SSPS)

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q.2) What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?(2017)

1. Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and the government’s education system and local communities.
2. Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
3. Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power.
4. Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them.

Syllabus

• Prelims –ECONOMY

Context: Recently, the US blocked a fresh proposal to restart the dispute settlement mechanism at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Background:-

• This is the 73rd occasion when a proposal moved by Guatemala, a Central American country, on behalf of 130 members was not able to launch the selection processes.
• The US has been blocking the appointment of new judges to the WTO’s seven-member appellate court since 2017 on grounds of judicial activism at the WTO and concerns over US sovereignty.

About World Trade Organization (WTO):-

• Established: 1995.
• HQ: Geneva, Switzerland.
• Members: 164 members.
• India is a member of WTO. (China’s Developing Status at WTO)
• The WTO operates the global system of trade rules.
• It helps developing countries build their trade capacity.
• It also provides a forum for its members to negotiate trade agreementsand resolve the trade problems they face with each other.

Historical Background:-

• It was established following the Marrakesh Agreementwhich was ratified on April 15, 1994.
• The General Agreement on Tariff and Trade was substituted by the Marrakesh Agreement.
• The GATT was only a set of rules and multilateral agreements and lacked institutional structure.
• The GATT 1947 was terminated and WTO preservedits provisions in the form of GATT 1994 and continues to govern trade in goods.
• It is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.

Functions of WTO:-

• Establishing and Enforcing Rules for International Trade
• Negotiating trade rules
• Overseeing WTO agreements
• Maintaining open trade
• Settling disputes
• Collaboration Between International Economic Institutions
• Safeguarding The Trading Interest of Developing Countries

MUST READ: China’s Developing Status at WTO

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements about G-20: (2023)

1. The G-20 group was originally established as a platform for the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss the
2. International economic and financial issues.
3. Digital public infrastructure is one of India’s G-20 priorities.

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 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.3) Consider the following statements: (2019)

1. The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a ‘Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air’.
2. The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.
3. A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.
4. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member states to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –POLITY

Context: Recently, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) emphasised the importance of executing the recommendations of the Idate Commission report.

Background:-

• NHRC organized an open house discussion on the Protection of Nomadic, Semi Nomadic and De-Notified Tribes in India and forward trajectory.

About Idate Commission:-

• Established: 2014.
• Headed by: Bhiku Ramji Idate.
• Objective: to compile a statewide catalogue of Denotified, Nomadic, and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
• In May 2018, the National Commission for Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes, submitted its report.
• The commission was constituted for a three-year temporary term.
• It had to submit its report identifying these communities state-wise, assessing their development status, and recommending ways to uplift them.

Important Recommendations:-

• The report has called Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes poorest of the poor, most marginalised and most downtrodden communities who are subject to social stigma, atrocity and exclusion.
• The commission has recommended giving protection to Denotified Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes in the communities under the Atrocities Act.
• The Idate Commission has recommended a Constitutional amendment so that Scheduled NT/ DNT/ SNT can be added as a third category after Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Act.
• Assign individuals not identified in the SCs/STs/OBCs list to the OBC category.
• Create a permanent commission with legal standing for the DNTs, SNTs, and NTs.
• Form a distinct department to address the welfare of these communities in states with significant populations.
• Undertake a thorough survey of DNT families to determine their estimated numbers and distribution.

Major Committees/Commissions for NTs, SNTs, and DNTs Communities:-

• The Criminal Tribes Inquiry Committee, 1947.
• Ananthasayanam Ayyangar Committee, 1949.
• Kaka Kalelkar Commission (also called first OBC Commission), 1953.
• The B P Mandal Commission, 1980.

MUST READ: Giving Human Rights Commissions more teeth

SOURCE: NHRC

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Under the Indian constitution concentration of wealth violates(2021)

1. The Right to Equality
2. The Directive Principles of State Policy
3. The Right to Freedom
4. The Concept of Welfare

Q.2) 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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recent reports show Sloth bears mostly coexist peacefully with humans in Karnataka.

Background:-

• Enhancing habitat connectivity, minimising human-wildlife interaction zones, and implementing responsible waste management practices key to mitigating conflict, says survey.

About Sloth bears:-

• Scientific Name: Melursus ursinus.
• Distribution:India, Sri Lanka, and southern Nepal.
• Population: 90% of the globalSloth Bear population is found in India.
• Habitat:dry and moist forests and in some tall grasslands, where boulders, scattered shrubs, and trees provide shelter.
• Size:5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 2 meters).
• Weight:90 to 140 kilograms.
• Food:They primarily eat termites and ants.
• They have poor senses of sightand hearing.
• They have a good sense of smell.
• Sloth bears’ nostrils can close completely, protecting the animals from dust or insects when raiding termite nests or beehives.

Threats:-

• Habitat loss.
• Poaching for body parts.
• Human action: are sometimes captured for use in performances or hunted because of their aggressive behavior and destruction of crops.

Protection Status:-

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
• CITES listing:Appendix I
• Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:Schedule

MUST READ: Cheetah Reintroduction

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

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) With reference to India’s Desert National Park, which of the following statements is 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

Syllabus

• Prelims –GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, As per recent reports Kashmiri saffron, can be the new silver.

Background:-

• Selling now at ₹3.25 lakh per kg, this sought-after condiment from Kashmir is costlier than precious metal.

About Kashmiri saffron:-

• Saffron production has long been restricted to a limited geographical area in the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
• Pampore region, in India, commonly known as Saffron bowl of Kashmir, is the main contributor to saffron production.
• The unique characteristics of Kashmir saffron are its longer and thicker stigmas, natural deep-red colour, high aroma, bitter flavour, chemical-free processing, and high quantity of crocin (colouring strength), safranal (flavour) and picrocrocin (bitterness).
• In India, saffron Corms (seeds) are cultivated during the months of June and July and at some places in August and September.
• It starts flowering in
• It is known for medicinal properties such as lowering blood pressure, treating anemia, migraines, and aiding insomnia.
• Possesses cosmetic benefits, enhancing skin quality, reducing pigmentation, and minimizing spots.
• Integral part of traditional dishes.

MUST READ:  New genus of parasitic flowering plant

SOURCE: THE HINDU

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

1. Jackfruit (Artoca7pus 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 –ART AND CULTURE

Context: Recently, French President Emmanuel Macron visits Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah in Delhi.

Background:-

• During a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu, Macron expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended to his delegation and reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between India and France.

About Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah:-

• Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah is located in Delhi’s Nizamuddin West area.
• It is the mausoleum of the famous Sufi saint, Nizamuddin Auliya (1238-1325 CE).
  • Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya was one of the most famous Sufi saints from the Indian subcontinent region.
  • Also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin and Mahbub-e-Ilahi (Beloved of God), he was a Sunni Muslim scholar and Sufi saint of the Chishti Order.
• It was built in the 14th Century C.E.
• It consists of a square chamber surrounded by verandas, which are pierced by arched openings.
• The dome is ornamented by vertical stripes of black marble and is crowned by a lotus-cresting.
• Towards the north side of Dargah, there is a stepwell.

 MUST READ: Ajmer Sharif Dargah

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Indian history, consider the following texts: (2022)

1. Nettipakarana
2. Parishishtaparvan
3. Avadanashataka
4. Trishashtilakshana Mahapurana

Which of the above are Jaina texts

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

Q.2) With reference to the cultural history of India, consider the following pairs: (2020)

1. Parivrajaka — Renunciant and Wanderer
2. Shramana — Priest with a high status
3. Upasaka — Lay follower of Buddhism

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 1 and 3 only
3. 2 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 :

WTO was established following the Marrakesh Agreement which was ratified on April 15, 1994.

Statement-II :

The General Agreement on Tariff and Trade was substituted by the Marrakesh Agreement.

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 Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah , consider the following statements:

1. It was built in the 12th Century C.E.
2. It consists of a square chamber surrounded by verandas.
3. It is the mausoleum of the famous Sufi saint, Nizamuddin Auliya.

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

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  30th January 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – d

Q.3) – c