DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 29th March 2024

Syllabus

• Prelims – Polity

Context: In an unprecedented move, the Ministry of Culture has curtailed the powers of the Lalit Kala Akademi (LKA) Chairman, V Nagdas, barring him from taking any “administrative actions”, including on matters related to “appointment, recruitment, transfer, disciplinary action and financial decisions”, without consulting the ministry.

Background:-

• The Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art (LKA) is India’s national academy of fine arts.

About Lalita Kala Academy

• Lalit Kala Akademi (National Academy of Art), New Delhi was inaugurated on 5th August 1954 by the then Minister for Education, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.
• It was registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860, on 11th March 1957.
• Lalit Kala Akademi, the youngest of the three Akademies founded by Govt. of India, establishes to direct its focus on activities in the field of Visual Arts.

Following are some of the powers and functions of LKA :-

• To encourage and promote study and research in the fields of creative arts such as painting, sculpture and graphics etc.;
• To encourage and coordinate the activities of the regional art organisations and State Lalit Kala Akademis;
• To promote cooperation among artists and art associations and development of such associations;
• To encourage, where necessary, the establishment of Regional Art Centres;
• To encourage the exchange of ideas between various schools of art by organising conferences, seminars, exhibitions, etc., on all India basis involving scholars and educationists and State Academies, Zonal Cultural Centres and Art Organisations like faculties of art in universities, art colleges and schools, art museums, art galleries and art associations;
• To foster cultural contacts within the country and also with other countries, through art exhibitions, exchange of personnel and art objects, etc.
• To award scholarships and prizes to deserving artists and to accord recognition to artists for outstanding achievements;
• To promote study, research and survey of folk, tribal and traditional arts and crafts techniques, preserve and project their art forms and to organize regional surveys of and to encourage surviving indigenous craftsmen, painters and sculptors;

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims & Mains – Health

Context: India TB Report 2024 was released by the Union Health ministry on Wednesday.

Background:

• India’s contribution to the global burden is 27%, which is down one percentage point from the previous year’s 28%.

Key Takeaways from the Report:

• The gap between the estimated number and actual cases of tuberculosis (TB) is closing, according to the India TB Report 2024.This is an important marker as the “missing cases” are assumed to not have received treatment, continuing to spread the infection to others.
• There were only 2.3 lakh missing cases in 2023, as compared to 3.2 lakh the year before, the report states.
• This gap has been reducing over the years, especially with the government’s Ni-kshay portal tracking all TB patients.
• According to the report, the majority of the TB cases are still reported by the government health centres, even as there has been an uptick in notifications by the private sector.
• Nearly 33% or 8.4 lakh of the 25.5 lakh cases reported in 2023 came from the private sector. To compare, only 1.9 lakh cases were reported by the private sector in 2015, the year considered to be the baseline by the programme that is geared towards the elimination of the disease.
• The report shows that India reached its 2023 target of initiating treatment in 95% of patients diagnosed with the infection.
• It says 58% of those diagnosed were offered a test to check whether their infection was resistant to the first line drugs, an increase from 25% in 2015.
• The report recommends drug susceptibility treatment to ensure that people who may have drug resistant TB are able to access e therapies from the get go instead of being treated with the first-line therapy initially.

Source: Indian Express

Syllabus

• Prelims – Economy

Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently made changes to the norms governing investments in Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) by regulated entities (REs).

Background:

• These revisions were implemented to ensure uniformity in implementation among REs and address concerns raised by various stakeholders.

About Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)

• Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) are privately pooled investment funds that invest in accordance with a defined investment policy.
• They aim to provide investors with exposure to alternative asset classes beyond traditional equities and fixed income.
• These funds collect capital from sophisticated investors (both Indian and foreign) and invest it according to a defined investment policy.

Categories of AIFs:

• Category I AIFs: These funds can invest in start-ups, early-stage ventures, social ventures, SMEs, and sectors considered socially or economically desirable by the government or regulators.
• Category II AIFs: These funds include private equity funds, real estate funds, debt funds, and funds for distressed assets. They do not undertake excessive leverage.
• Category III AIFs: These funds employ complex trading strategies, including leverage through derivatives. Hedge funds fall under this category.

Tenure and Liquidity:

• Category I and II AIFs are typically close-ended with a minimum tenure of three years.
• Category III AIFs can be either open-ended or close-ended.

Regulation:

• AIFs adhere to the SEBI (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012.
• They can be structured as companies, LLPs, trusts, etc.

Investor Base:

• AIFs attract high rollers, including domestic and foreign investors.
• Institutions and high net worth individuals often invest in AIFs due to the substantial investment amounts required.

Risk and Returns:

• AIFs offer potentially higher returns but come with higher risks due to their focus on alternative assets.
• Investors should assess their risk tolerance before investing.

Source: Hindu

Syllabus

• Prelims – Science

Context: Scientists are proposing a new technology known as quantum cryptography to protect sensitive communications.

Background:

• Quantum cryptography harnesses the fundamental uncertainty of quantum physics to create unbreakable encryption keys. Quantum Cryptography offers a promising avenue for safeguarding sensitive information, making it a crucial field in the realm of cybersecurity.

About QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHY:

• Quantum cryptography, also known as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), is a method for creating secure communication.
• It leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to encrypt data and establish virtually unhackable communication channels.
• Unlike traditional encryption methods based on complex mathematical algorithms, quantum communication relies on the laws of physics.

How Does Quantum Cryptography Work?

Encryption Keys:

• Quantum cryptography enables the sharing and distribution of secret keys required for cryptographic protocols.
• Unlike classical cryptosystems that rely on complex mathematical algorithms, quantum communication is based on the principles of physics.

Qubits:

• In QKD, encryption keys are transmitted as “qubits” (quantum bits) through optical fibers.
• These qubits are equivalent to bits in a binary system.
• Optical fibers allow rapid data transfer over long distances.

Wave Function Collapse:

• The qubits, encoded on photons, are designed such that any unauthorized attempt to read the transmission disturbs them. Legitimate users are immediately alerted to any interference.

Main Categories of QKD:

• Prepare-and-Measure Protocols: These protocols focus on detecting unobserved quantum states. They help identify espionage (eavesdropping) and assess the extent of intercepted data.
• Entanglement-based Protocols: These protocols involve coupled quantum states formed when two objects are connected. They enhance secure communication channels.

Significance of Quantum Cryptography:

• Enhanced Security: Quantum cryptography provides information-theoretically secure solutions, making it challenging for hackers or governments to intercept communication.
• Longer Encryption Durability: Unlike classical methods, quantum encryption remains secure for extended periods.
• Applications: Quantum cryptography has implications for sectors like healthcare, where secure data transmission is crucial.

Source: Live Science

Previous Year Question

Q1. Which one of the following is the context in which the term “qubit” is mentioned?

1. Cloud Services
2. Quantum Computing
3. Visible Light Communication Technologies
4. Wireless Communication Technologies

Syllabus

• Prelims – Environment

Context:  Moyar valley is the biggest nesting colony of critically endangered Gyps vultures in the wild.

Background:

• Moyar Valley, also known as Maayar Valley, stretches approximately 85 kilometers from Gudalur through the core area of the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu.

About GYPS VULTURES:

• The Gyps vultures, including the White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis), Indian Vulture (G. indicus), and Slender-billed Vulture (G. tenuirostris), have faced rapid population declines since the mid-1990s in India.
• These vultures are endemic to South Asia and play a crucial role in the ecosystem by scavenging carcasses.
• The primary cause of their decline was poisoning due to the widespread veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac in cattle.
• As a result, all three species were listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.

Source: New Indian Express

Previous Year Question

Vultures which used to be very common in Indian countryside some years ago are rarely seen nowadays. This is attributed to

1. the destruction of their nesting sites by new invasive species
2. a drug used by cattle owners for treating their diseased cattle
3. scarcity of food available to them
4. a widespread, persistent and fatal disease among them

Syllabus

• Mains – GS 3

Context: From an Indian perspective, energy security is very important. India is the 3rd largest consumer of crude oil and is heavily dependent on energy imports, which accounts for more than 85% of its energy needs. Biofuels have emerged as an important strategic tool for India, potentially leveraging massive biomass resources as an agricultural powerhouse. Although a still nascent source of energy in the Indian market, both Bioethanol and biodiesel are expected to grow at a CAGR of 5%.

Background:

• GBA was launched by India along with the leaders of Singapore, Bangladesh, Italy, USA, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius and UAE.

Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA)

• It aims to serve as a catalytic platform, fostering global collaboration for the advancement and widespread adoption of biofuels.
• It will act as a central repository of knowledge and an expert hub.
• Its members are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India Italy, South Africa, USA, Bangladesh, Singapore, Mauritius, UAE, Iceland, Kenya, Guyana, Paraguay, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Finland. It also includes international organizations including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, World Economic Forum, International Energy Agency, etc.

Significance of GBA:

• GBA will ensure a stable supply of eco-fuels and create a virtual marketplace connecting industries, countries, and tech providers, enhancing demand-supply mapping.
• It will facilitate the development, adoption, and implementation of internationally recognized standards, and regulations to incentivize biofuels adoption and trade.
• International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that global sustainable biofuel production would need to triple by 2030 to put the world’s energy system on track towards net zero emissions by 2050.
• The transport sector is responsible for approximately one-quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.
• It will help raise awareness about biofuels’ role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Issues/Challenges for GBA:

• There is a lack of consensus on what sustainable fuels are and countries don’t think biofuels are sustainable.
• Developing countries may encounter resistance from developed nations due to concerns about technological secrecy.
• The deployment of biofuels is not accelerating fast enough, especially compared to other renewable resources like solar and wind.
• Limited availability of quality feedstock, effect on food production and prices, changes in cropping pattern, lack of cost-effective technologies, etc. may hamper sustainable production of biofuels.

Source: PIB

Q1.) With reference to the Gyps vultures, consider the following statements:

1. The Gyps vultures are listed as “Critically Endangered” on the IUCN Red List.
2. The primary cause of their decline was poisoning due to the widespread veterinary use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac in cattle.

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

Q2.) With reference to Quantum cryptography, consider the following statements:

1. Quantum cryptography is a method for creating secure communication.
2. It leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to encrypt data and establish virtually unhackable communication channels.
3. In Quantum cryptography, encryption keys are transmitted as “qubits” (quantum bits) through optical fibers.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

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

Q3.)With reference to Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), consider the following:

1. Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) are privately pooled investment funds that invest in accordance with a defined investment policy.
2. They aim to provide investors with exposure to alternative asset classes beyond traditional equities and fixed income.

How many of the above given statements are correct?

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  29th March  2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – a