DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 8th February 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: Recently, the Government of India decided to map and document all villages under the Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme.

Background:-

• A web portal on MGMD has also been launched on 27.07.2023.

About Mera Gaon, Meri Dharohar (MGMD) Programme:-

• Launched: 27th July 2023.
• Ministry: Ministry of Culture.
• Objective: The main objective of the project is to culturally map India’s 6.5 lakh villages, spanning 29 States and 7 Union Territories, on a comprehensive virtual platform.

Salient Features:-

• It is a pan-India initiative under the National Mission on Cultural Mapping.
• Under the MGMD, information is collected under seven broad categories as given below-
  • Arts and Crafts Village
  • Ecologically Oriented Village
  • Scholastic Village linked with Textual and Scriptural Traditions of India
  • Epic Village linked with Ramayana, Mahabharata, and/or Puranic legends and oral epics
  • Historical Village linked with Local and National History
  • Architectural Heritage Village
  • Any other characteristic that may need highlighting such as a fishing village, horticulture village, shepherding village, etc.
• The Ministry of Culture is implementing a Scheme of Financial Assistance for the Promotion of Art and Culture consisting of 08 components through which cultural organizations are given financial assistance for the promotion of art and culture.
• The MGMD seeks to compile comprehensive information detailing the life, history, and ethos of Indian villages and to make the same available to virtual and real-time visitors. (Vibrant Villages Programme)
• This comprehensive portal showcases essential information about each village, including its geographical location, demographic aspects, and description of traditional dresses, ornaments, arts and crafts, temples, fairs, festivals, and much more.

Benefits:-

• It serves as a one-stop destination for discovering, exploring, researching, and virtually visiting every village in the country.

 MUST READ: ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’ drive

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Consider the following statements with reference to India: (2023)

1. According to the ‘Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (MSMED) Act, 2006’, ‘medium enterprises’ are those with investments in plant and machinery between (‘ 15 crores and ’25 crore.)
2. All bank loans to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises qualify under the priority sector.

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: (2020)

1. Aadhaar metadata cannot be stored for more than three months.
2. State cannot enter into any contract with private corporations for sharing of Aadhaar data.
3. Aadhaar is mandatory for obtaining insurance products.
4. Aadhaar is mandatory for getting benefits funded out of the Consolidated Fund of India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ECONOMY

Context: The International Energy Agency (IEA)’s Renewables 2023 report was released recently.

Background:-

• It paints a complex picture of the renewable energy sector, highlighting both progress and challenges.

About the International Energy Agency (IEA):-

• It is an intergovernmental organization established in 1974.
• Headquarters:  Paris
• The IEA is made up of 31 member countries.
• Objective:  to promote reliable, affordable, and clean energy for its member countries and the rest of the world.
• The Agreement on an International Energy Program (IEP Agreement) established the mandates and structure of the IEA under the umbrella of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Eligibility Criteria for membership:

• A candidate country to the IEA must have crude oil and/or product reserves (Strategic Oil Reserves) equivalent to 90 days of the previous year’s net imports, to which the government has immediate access (even if it does not own them directly) and could be used to address disruptions to global oil supply.
• India became an Associate member of IEA in 2017.
• India inked a Strategic Partnership Agreement with the IEA to strengthen cooperation in global energy security, stability, and sustainability in 2021.
• India’s current strategic oil reserves equal 9.5 days of its requirement.
• India is not a member of the OECD but a key economic partner.
• IEA invited India to deepen its cooperation with IEA by becoming a full Member.

Key publications of IEA :

• World Energy Outlook (WEO)
• Net Zero by 2050: a roadmap for the global energy sector
• Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP)
• Global EV Outlook (GEVO)
• Oil Market Report
• World Energy Investment
• Clean Energy Transitions Programme

 MUST READ: Methane Global Tracker report

SOURCE: IEA

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

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?

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 term ‘West Taxes Intermediate’, sometimes found in news to a grade of (2020)

1. Crude oil
2. Bullion
3. Rare earth elements
4. Uranium

Syllabus

• Prelims –ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recently, the Odisha Government announced to establishment of a first of its kind in the world melanistic tiger safari near the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR).

Background:-

• The Similipal Tiger Reserve became the only home for melanistic tigers in the wild in the world, says the State Forest and Environment department.

About Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR):-

• Location: Odisha.
• Similipal, which derives its name from the ‘Simul’(Silk Cotton) tree, is a national park and a Tiger Reserve situated in the northern part of Orissa’s Mayurbhanj district.
• Area: 2750 sq km.
• It has some beautiful waterfalls like Joranda and Barehipani.
• Prominent tribes: Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara.
• It was declared a ‘Tiger Reserve’ in 1956.
• It has been included in the national conservation programme ‘Project Tiger’ since 1973.
• The STR, along with a ‘transitional area’ of 2250 sq. km, has been included as a part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO in 2009.
• Flora: A mix of different forest types and habitats dominate, with Northern tropical moist deciduous dominating some semi-evergreen patches.
  • Sal is the dominant tree species here.
• Fauna: Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Gaur, Elephant, Langur, Barking and Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear, Mongoose, Flying Squirrel,etc.

MUST READ: Tiger Estimation

SOURCE: THE HINDU

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q1) 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 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

Q.2) The term M-STrIPES’ is sometimes seen in news in the context of (2017)

1. Captive breeding of Wild Fauna
2. Maintenance of Tiger Reservoirs
3. Indigenous Satellite Navigation System
4. Security of National Highways

Syllabus

• Prelims –ECONOMY

Context: Recently, Farm-gate, inter-mandi e-NAM sales show surge in FY2024.

Background:-

• The total traded value of commodities on the digital platform using the farmgate model during April – January, 2023-24 has been Rs 79 crore compared to a very small amount traded last fiscal.

About e-NAM:-

• eNAM platform is an online trading platform for agricultural commodities in India.
• It was launched in 2016 as a pan-India electronic trade portal linking agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) across all states.
• It was launched with the objective of integrating the existing Mandis into a “One Nation One Market” for agricultural commodities in India.
• It facilitates farmers, traders, and buyers with online trading in commodities.
• It provides for contactless remote bidding and mobile-based anytime payment for which traders do not need to either visit mandis or banks for the same.
• Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) is the lead agency for implementing e-NAM.
• It functions under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Benefits:-

• e-NAM has been able to bring competence in APMC mandi operations via technology interventions like:-
  • accuracy in weighing via digital weighbridge and weighing scale.
  • accuracy in assaying via advanced assaying equipment.
  • real-time online information on commodity prices.
  • access to more buyers/sellers and transparency in trade.
  • transparency in payment via multiple online payment modes.
  • better efficiency in overall mandi operations via digitalization.

Challenges:-

• Lack of internet connectivity.
• Farmers feel more comfortable with physical trading rather than going online as they face issues with transportation for their produce.
• A very small percentage of the total mandis are connected through the e-NAM platform.

 MUST READ: Integration of E-MANDIS into E-NAM Platform

SOURCE: FINANCIAL EXPRESS

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to foreign-owned e-commerce firms operating in India, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2022)

1. They can sell their own goods in addition to offering their platforms as marketplaces.
2. The degree to which they can own big sellers on their platforms is limited.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Q.2) Which of the following factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past? (2020)

1. Minimum Support Price
2. Government’s trading
3. Government’s stockpiling
4. Consumer subsidies

Syllabus

• Prelims –SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Context: Recently, a Green Propulsion System, developed under the Technology Development Fund (TDF) scheme of DRDO, has successfully demonstrated in-orbit functionality on a payload launched by the PSLV C-58 mission.

Background:-

• ISRO’s PSLV-C58 launched an X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPOSAT) into an Eastward low inclination orbit on 1st January 2024.

About Green Propulsion System:-

• This project – 1N Class Green Monopropellant thruster for altitude control and orbit keeping of microsatellites was sanctioned to a Bengaluru-based start-up Bellatrix Aerospace Pvt Ltd (Development Agency).
• The complete project has been carried out by the Development Agency under the guidance of Project Monitoring & Mentoring Group of DRDO.
• A propulsion system is a machine that produces thrust to push an object forward.
• This project uses a 1N Class Green Monopropellant for altitude control and orbit keeping of microsatellites.
• The system consists of indigenously developed propellant, fill and drain valves, latch valve, solenoid valve, catalyst bed, drive electronics, etc.
• It has demonstrated pulsed mode and steady-state firing in a vacuum, passivation of residual propellant in outer space, propellant realization, and establishing of filling procedure under the TDF.
• The TDF is a flagship programme of Ministry of Defence executed by DRDO under the ‘Make in India’ initiative for funding innovation in defence and aerospace, especially to start-ups and MSMEs

 MUST READ: PSLV-C52 Mission

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which one of the following countries has its own Satellite Navigation System? (2023)

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Israel
4. Japan

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

1. Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2. Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.

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: Recently, the Indian grey wolf was sighted in the confines of the National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS).

Background:-

• The National Chambal Sanctuary (NCS) is in Uttar Pradesh.

About Indian Gray Wolf:-

• Scientific Name: Canis lupus pallipes
• It has a wide distribution range that extends from the Indian subcontinent to Israel. There are about 3,000 animals in India, some in captivity.
• It is a subspecies of grey wolf found from Southwest Asia to the Indian Subcontinent.
• Its size is in the middle between the Himalayan and Arabian wolves, but because it inhabits warmer climates, it lacks the latter’s plush winter coat.
• It is intermediate in size between the Tibetan and Arabian wolf.
• They are nocturnal and hunt from dusk to dawn.
• The Indian wolf inhabits areas dominated by scrub, grasslands and semi-arid pastoral agro-ecosystems. (Blackbuck)

Conservation Status:-

• IUCN: Least Concern
• Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix 1

 MUST READ: Endangered Species in news: Hornbills

SOURCE: TIMES OF INDIA

 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)

Statement-I:

Marsupials are not naturally found in India.

Statement-II:

Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators.

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, Dam project across Mekong River in Laos raised fears.

Background:-

• Once completed, the project is expected to displace more than 500 families and impact 20 villages.

About Mekong River:-

IMAGE SOURCE: Britannica

• Mekong River is a transboundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia.
• It is the world’s twelfth-longest river.
• It is the third-longest in Asia.
• From the Tibetan Plateau the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
• The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls in the Mekong make navigation difficult.
• The lower Mekong region holds a rich historical and cultural heritage that has connections with India’s ancient river civilizations.
• The river is a major trade route between western China and Southeast Asia.
• The Mekong region offers opportunities for tourism, educational exchanges, and cooperation in sectors like science and technology.

MUST READ: Lancang-Mekong Cooperation

SOURCE: THE HINDU

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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

The ‘Stability and Growth Pact’ of the European Union is a treaty that

1. limits the levels of the budgetary deficit of the countries of the European Union
2. makes the countries of the European Union share their infrastructure facilities
3. enables the countries of the European Union to share their technologies

How many of the above statements are correct?

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

Q.2) In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/ participants? (2015)

1. Bangladesh
2. Cambodia
3. China
4. Myanmar
5. Thailand

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

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 :

International Energy Agency (IEA) was established in 1974.

Statement-II :

Its Headquarters are in New York.

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 Indian Gray Wolf, consider the following statements:

1. It is a subspecies of grey wolf found from Southwest Asia to the Indian Subcontinent.
2. They are nocturnal
3. It is under the Appendix II of CITES.

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 ’  5th February  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – a

Q.2) – b

Q.3) – a