Syllabus

• Prelims –INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Context: Recently, the Maldivian delegation proposed the removal of Indian troops by March 15, 2024, at the first India-Maldives High-Level Core Group meeting.

Background:-

• The deadline was not find a mention in the official statements by the foreign offices of the two countries.

About India-Maldives Bilateral Relation:-

IMAGE SOURCE: worldatlas.com

• India and Maldives share ethnic,  linguistic,  cultural,  religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity.
• The relations have been close, cordial and multi‐dimensional.
• India was among the first to recognize Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country.
• Maldives’ proximity to the west coast of India (barely 70 nautical miles away from Minicoy and 300 nautical miles away from India’s West coast), and its situation at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean (particularly the 8° N and 1½° N channels) imbues it with significant strategic importance to India.
• India has a pre‐eminent position in the  Maldives,  with relations extending to virtually most areas.
• The importance of India’s strategic role in Maldives is well‐recognized,  with  India being seen as a  net security provider.
• ‘India  First’  has been a stated policy of the Government of Maldives (GoM).

Recent high-level exchanges:-

• Prime Minister Modi attended the inauguration ceremony of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on 17 Nov 2018 as the only HoS/HoG.
• Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid paid an Official Visit to India in Nov 2018.

Trade:-

• India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for the export of essential commodities.
• Growing from modest beginnings, India-Maldives bilateral trade in 2020 stood at US$ 213.91 million with trade balance heavily in favour of India.

Defence Cooperation:-

• India provides the largest number of training opportunities for the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF), meeting around 70% of their defence training requirements. (India-Maldives Defence Relation)
• A Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was also signed in April 2016.

Tourism:-

• India remained the top market for Maldives tourism in 2022 dominating over 14% with 240,000 arrivals.

Operations in Maldives:-

• Operation Cactus 1988: Under Operation Cactus the Indian Armed Forces have helped the government of Maldives in the neutralization of the coup attempt.
• Operation Neer 2014: Under Operation Neer India supplied drinking water to Maldives to deal with the drinking water crisis.
• Operation Sanjeevani: India supplied 6.2 tonnes of essential medicines to Maldives, under Operation Sanjeevani as assistance in the fight against COVID-19.

 MUST READ: India-Maldives relations

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) In which one of the following groups are all four countries members of G20? (2020)

1. Argentina Mexico, South Africa and Turkey.
2. Australia Canada, Malaysia and New Zealand
3. Brazil, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam
4. Indonesia Japan Singapore and South Korea

Q.2) Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):

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 co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct? (2016)

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: Recently, NHAI took the ‘One Vehicle One FASTag’ Initiative to Enhance the National Highway Experience.

Background:-

• NHAI is encouraging FASTag users to complete ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) process of their latest FASTag by updating KYC as per RBI guidelines.
• FASTags with valid balances but with incomplete KYC will get deactivated/blacklisted by banks post 31st January 2024.
• NHAI has taken this initiative after the recent reports of multiple FASTags being issued for a particular vehicle and FASTags being issued without KYC in violation of RBI’s mandate.

About One Vehicle One FASTag:-

• Launched: December 1, 2019.
• Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
• Objective: To enhance the efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection system and provide seamless movement at the Toll Plazas.

Salient Features:-

• The scheme is a unified electronic system across the country.
• It ensures that all the vehicles will be able to travel across the nation without worrying about paying cash at the toll plazas.
• FASTag is a reloadable tag that allows automatic deduction of toll without having to stop.
• The tag is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted
• The tag uses radio frequency identification(RFID) technology and is fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle once active.
• The main aim of the FASTag scheme is to digitally integrate the collection of toll plazas and provide the seamless mobility of vehicles across India.
• The government initiated this FASTag scheme to overcome the current challenges in the imprint and track mechanism for the GST E-Way Bill system (EWB), which enhances the efficiency of its monitoring.

Benefits:-

• It reduces air pollution and will also reduce the use of paper. ( National Common Mobility Card (NCMC))
• It will also reduce the toll payment hassles and provide analytics for better highway management.
• It will also provide ease of payment as there will be no need to carry cash for the toll transactions.

 MUST READ: FASTag Mandatory For All Vehicles

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Central Bank digital currencies, consider the following statements: (2023)

1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without using the US dollar or the SWIFT system.
2. A digital currency can be distributed with a condition programmed into it such as a timeframe for spending it.

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) In India, the term “Public Key Infrastructure” is used in the context of (2020)

1. Digital security infrastructure
2. Food security infrastructure
3. Health care and education infrastructure
4. Telecommunication and transportation infrastructure

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Context: Recently, India Post Payments Bank Celebrated a Milestone Achievement of Eight Crore Customers.

Background:-

• Since its inception, the IPPB has been dedicated to providing accessible and affordable banking solutions to every corner of the nation.
• This remarkable achievement of reaching eight crore customers reflects the trust and confidence placed in IPPB by the people of India.

About India Post Payments Bank:-

• Launched: 2018.
• Governed by: Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• It was launched with 100% equity owned by the Government of India.
• It is a payments bank of the Indian postal department.
• It works through a network of post offices and nearly 4 lakh postmen.
• Objective: to build the most accessible, affordable, and trusted bank for the common man in India.
• Focus group: While its services are available to all citizens, the IPPB is primarily focusing on serving social sector beneficiaries, migrant laborers, un-organized sector, Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Panchayats, low-income households, in rural areas and the unbanked and under-banked segments in both the rural and urban areas.
• IPPB offers services through a mix of physical and digital platforms.

Functions of IPPB:-

• It accepts deposits and offers remittance services, mobile banking, and third-party fund transfers.
• It offers 3 types of saving accounts:
  • Regular Account – Safal,
  • Basic Savings Bank Deposit Account (BSBDA) – Sugam and
  • BSBDA Small – Saral
• The maximum limit on deposits for current and savings accounts is Rs 1 lakh.
• The bank offers a 4% interest rate on savings accounts.
• They can issue debit cards and ATM cards.
• It cannot issue credit cards.
• It cannot loan money.
• It provides social security payments like MNREGA wages, and direct benefit transfer and gives access to third-party services insurance, and mutual funds.
• IPPB account holders will be issued a QR code-based biometric card with a unique QR code.

Significance:-

• IPPB is committed to providing a fillip to a less cash economy and contributing to the vision of Digital India.

 MUST READ: Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS)

SOURCE: PIB

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Central Bank digital currencies, consider the following statements: (2023)

1. It is possible to make payments in a digital currency without using the US dollar or the SWIFT system.
2. A digital currency can be distributed with a condition programmed into it such as a timeframe for spending it.

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) 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 stock to changes in the overall stock market.

Syllabus

• Prelims –ART AND CULTURE

Context: Recently, Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has extended his best wishes on the occasion of Pongal.

Background:-

• Cultural celebrations are held across many states of India under different names – Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Magh Bihu, etc. on January 14.
• Unlike many Hindu festivals, the date for these festivals is largely fixed. This year it is being celebrated on January 15 in some parts of India, as 2024 is a leap year.

About Pongal:-

IMAGE SOURCE: IASBABA

• Pongal is celebrated with the distribution of new crop “Shankarai Pongal” which is basically rice cooked in milk and jiggery distributed as a
• The day is a marker for a change of season – warmer months are close and we are moving away from winter, which is seen as a period of inactivity in many ways.
• It is said that the northward journey of the sun (Uttarayan) begins on this day.
• In the Hindu belief system, the end of January heralds the beginning of longer days.
• It marks the Sun changing directions and shifting its trajectory towards the north, therefore, entering the Makara or Capricorn zodiac sign.

Rituals associated with Makar Sankranti or Pongal:-

• Sankranti activities, like taking a bath, offering Naivedhya (food offered to the deity) to the Sun god Lord Surya, offering charity or Dakshina, performing Shraddha rituals and breaking fast should be done during Punya Kaal.
• Worshippers usually bathe in sacred rivers such as the Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery.
• To celebrate the day, they wake up early in the morning at the time of sunrise.
• For believers, taking a dip absolves them of their sins; it is also seen as a time of peace and prosperity, and spiritual deeds are performed on this day.
• There are some regional variations in celebrations.
• The four-day Pongal festival in Tamil Nadu begins with bhogi, the day marked for cleaning the house and decorating its entrances with rice powder kolam or rangoli made with dried and coloured vegetables and grains.
• The main festival is celebrated on the second day; the third day is celebrated as Mattu Pongal.
• With mattu meaning bull in Tamil and ponga meaning the abundance of rice.
• The festival honours the toil of bulls in ensuring a good harvest.
• Every year, farmers assemble at the temple to offer prayers and seek blessings from Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna.
• Pongal, a dish of rice mixed with boiled milk and sugar is a treat prepared by all during this festival.
• Other festive dishes include lemon and tamarind rice, vadas, vegetable gravies and Payasam (a sweet rice pudding).

Different names of the same festival:-

• Makar Sankranti – Odisha, Maharashtra-Goa, Andhra-Telengana, Kerala and most of north India.( Makar Sankranti being celebrated all over India)
• Paush Parbon – Bengal
• Pongal – Tamil Nadu
• Bhogali Bihu – Assam
• Lohri – Punjab and Jammu
• Maghi – Haryana and Himachal
• Khichdi Parwa – parts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh

 MUST READ: Attukal Pongala

SOURCE: PIB

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to Manipuri Sankirtana, consider the following statements: (2017)

1. It is a song and dance performance
2. Cymbals are the only musical instruments used in the performance
3. It is performed to narrate the life and deeds of Lord Krishna

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Q.2) With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements: (2014)

1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama
2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam
3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

Context: Recently, a new butterfly species , conjoined silverline was discovered in Karnataka.

Background:-

• The species was first sighted in 2008, followed by an extensive research in 2021.

About Conjoined silverline:-

• Scientific Name: Cigaritis conjuncta.
• It is endemic to mid-elevation evergreen forests of the Western Ghats.
• Conjoined Silverline, distinguished by its shiny wing patterns.
• It has been identified in Karnataka’s Kodagu district ,the first such find in India’s Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot since the 1970s. ( Atapaka Bird Sanctuary)
• Specifically, the name refers to the fused spots and bands observed on the undersides of the wings, which are intersected by eye-catching silvery lines running through the middle of these bands.
• The new butterfly is the size of a one-rupee coin but is invaluable to conservationists.

 MUST READ: White Tufted Royal Butterfly

SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Which of the following is not a bird? (2022)

1. Golden Mahseer
2. Indian Nightjar
3. Spoonbill
4. White Ibis

Q.2) Certain species of which one of the following organisms are well known as cultivators of fungi? (2022)

1. Ant
2. Cockroach
3. Crab
4. Spider

Syllabus

• Prelims –GEOGRAPHY

Context: Recently, Similipal Kai chutney got the GI Tag.

About Similipal Kai chutney:-

• The chutney made with red weaver ants is a traditional delicacy of the tribals in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district.
• The ants are found in the forests of Mayurbhanj, including in the Similipal forests – Asia’s second-largest biosphere.
• It is rich in medicinal and nutritional value.
• The chutney is believed to be a good source of nutrients like protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin B-12, iron, magnesium, potassium, etc.
• The tribals prepare the Kai chutney by grinding the ants manually on a Sil Batta or the grinding stone.
• Mayurbhanj’s tribals also earn their livelihood by selling the red ants and the chutney made from the ants.
• They believe that its consumption helps boost immunity and prevents diseases.

 MUST READ: Similipal National Park

SOURCE: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

 PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements: (2022)

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?

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

Q.2) With reference to the ‘Changpa’ Community of India, consider the following statements: (2014)

1. They live mainly in the state of Uttarakhand
2. They rear the Pashmina goats that yield fine wool
3. They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

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

Syllabus

• Prelims –GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

Context: Recently, tenders for e-buses have been floated under PM-eBus Sewa scheme.

Background:-

• Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Friday said that the Ministry has floated tenders for procuring buses under the PM-eBus Sewa scheme and the bidding process would be completed by the end of this month.

About PM-eBus Sewa:-

• Launched: 2023.
• Objective: to give a push to the slow adoption of e-buses in public transport.
• Under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, 10,000 e-buses will be deployed across cities in the country.
• It will include all the capital cities of the ‘Union Territories, North Eastern Region, and Hill States’.

Segments of the scheme:-

• There are two segments of the scheme: Augmenting the city bus services and Associated Infrastructure, and Green Urban Mobility initiatives.
• Augmenting the city bus services and Associated Infrastructure: Under this segment, the scheme will augment city electric bus operations by extending Central Assistance (CA) for 10,000 electric bus operation on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, bus depots and behind-the-meter power infrastructure.
• Green Urban Mobility Initiatives (GUMI): Under this segment, the scheme will support the implementation of GUMI projects for complementing bus services and demonstrating a reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in urban areas.

Operation Model:-

• City bus operations managed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
• Bus services supported for 10 years, with states/cities responsible for operations and payments to operators.

Benefits of PM e-bus Sewa scheme:-

• The scheme will promote e-mobility. (Challenges of Electric Vehicles)
• Cities will be supported for the development of charging infrastructure under Green Urban Mobility Initiatives.
• Adoption of Electric mobility will reduce noise and air pollution and curb carbon emission. 

MUST READ: Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV)

SOURCE: THE HINDU

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

Q.1) Climate Action Tracker” which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a: (2022)

1. Database created by a coalition of research organizations
2. Wing of “International Panel of Climate Change”
3. Committee under “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”
4. Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank

Q.2) With reference to street lighting, how do sodium lamps differ from LED lamps? (2021)

1. Sodium lamps produce light at 360 degrees but it is not so in the case of LED lamps.
2. As street lights, sodium lamps have a longer life span than LED lamps.
3. The spectrum of visible light from sodium lamps is almost monochromatic while LED lamps offer significant colour advantages in street lighting.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 3 only
2. 2 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 :

Under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, 10 lakh e-buses will be deployed across cities in the country.

Statement-II :

It will include all the capital cities of the ‘Union Territories, North Eastern Region, and Hill States’.

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 FASTag , consider the following statements:

1. FASTag is a reloadable tag that allows automatic deduction of toll without having to stop.
2. The tag is linked to a prepaid account from which the applicable toll amount is deducted
3. The tag uses radio frequency identification(RFID) technology.

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

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

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

ANSWERS FOR ’  16th January 2024 – Daily Practice MCQs’ will be updated along with tomorrow’s Daily Current Affairs.st

Q.1) – b

Q.2) – c

Q.3) – a