Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 02-10-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

1. Mygalomorphs are relatively large and long-living spiders (can live about 25 years) and represent primitive spiders that include tarantulas, funnel web and trapdoor spiders
2. ‘Idiops nilagiri is a trapdoor spider, recently found in western ghats

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(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

 New trapdoor spider species discovered

• A new trapdoor spider species has been discovered by Sanjay Keshari Das, Assistant Professor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, in a deciduous forest near Nilagiri town in Odisha during field surveys this year.
• It was found on a roadside cut in a forest during a field survey to document spider diversity in Kuldhia Wildlife Sanctuary.

‘Idiops nilagiri’

• “This new mygalomorph species has been described based on female specimens and named ‘Idiops nilagiri’ after Nilagiri town, from where the spider was recorded. This is a medium-size spider that measures about 8-13 mm in length. With this discovery, the number of the members of the genus Idiops goes up to 95 species worldwide, of which 12 are from India,” Dr. Das said.
• He added that the discovery takes global spider count to 48,277 and Indian spider count to 1,910 species, of which 263 species are recorded from Odisha.
• Among Indian spiders, only 116 species belonging to 33 genera and 8 families are mygalomorph spiders. “Mygalomorphs are relatively large and long-living spiders (can live about 25 years) and represent primitive spiders that include tarantulas, funnel web and trapdoor spiders. Zoologists believe India’s diversity of these primitive spiders remains underrepresented,” Dr. Das said. Live in burrows
• Talking about the new species, Dr. Das said that it comes under family Idiopidae representing front-eyed trapdoors. Females live in tubular burrows with their walls lined by silk and have a cork-shape lid at the entrance used as a door. Males are smaller in size, wandering and occasionally living in burrows, particularly during the breeding season.
• The research team has recently described the findings in the Journal of Asia Pacific Biodiversity.

MCQ 2

1. The average lifespan of a chimpanzee is 25-30 years.
2. Humans and chimpanzees are 2 species of one genus

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(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
 (D) None

• The chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), also known as the common chimpanzee, robust chimpanzee, or simply “chimp”, is a species of great ape native to the forests and savannahs of tropical Africa. It has four confirmed subspecies and a fifth proposed subspecies. The chimpanzee and the closely related bonobo (sometimes called the “pygmy chimpanzee”) are classified in the genus Pan. Evidence from fossils and DNA sequencing shows that Pan is a sister taxon to the human lineage and is humans’ closest living relative.
• The chimpanzee is covered in coarse black hair, but has a bare face, fingers, toes, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet. It is larger and more robust than the bonobo, weighing 40–60 kg (88–132 lb) for males and 27–50 kg (60–110 lb) for females and standing 100 to 140 cm (3.3 to 4.6 ft).
• Its gestation period is eight months. The infant is weaned at about three years old, but usually maintains a close relationship with its mother for several years more. The chimpanzee lives in groups which range in size from 15 to 150 members, although individuals travel and forage in much smaller groups during the day. The species lives in a strict male-dominated hierarchy, where disputes are generally settled without the need for violence.
• Nearly all chimpanzee populations have been recorded using tools, modifying sticks, rocks, grass and leaves and using them for hunting and acquiring honey, termites, ants, nuts and water. The species has also been found creating sharpened sticks to spear small mammals.
• Human and chimpanzee DNA is very similar. A Chimpanzee Genome Project was initiated after the completion of the Human Genome Project. In December 2003, a preliminary analysis of 7600 genes shared between the two genomes confirmed that certain genes, such as the forkhead-box P2 transcription factor which is involved in speech development, have undergone rapid evolution in the human lineage. A draft version of the chimpanzee genome was published on 1 September 2005 by the Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium.
• The DNA sequence differences between humans and chimpanzees consist of about 35 million single-nucleotide changes, five million insertion/deletion events, and various chromosomal rearrangements. Typical human and chimp protein homologs differ in an average of only two amino acids. About 30% of all human proteins are identical in sequence to the corresponding chimp protein. Duplications of small parts of chromosomes have been the major source of differences between human and chimp genetic material; about 2.7% of the corresponding modern genomes represent differences, produced by gene duplications or deletions, since humans and chimps diverged from their common evolutionary ancestor. Results from human and chimp genome analyses, currently being conducted by geneticists including David Reich, should help in understanding the genetic basis of some human diseases. Research into genetic conditions in wild chimpanzees has also been undertaken

MCQ 3

 Blue baron, Himalayan tailless bushblue, Blue Mormon & Tamil Yeoman are

1. Sparrows
2. Butterflies
3. Goats
4. Sheep

• Butterflies have been identified as bioindicators, which represents the overall health of the environment.

Blue Mormon has been declared as the State butterfly of Maharashtra

• The Blue Mormon is a large, swallowtail butterfly found primarily in Sri Lanka and India, mainly restricted to the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, South India and coastal belts. It may occasionally be spotted in the Maharashtrian mainland between Vidarbha and Western Maharashtra.

Tamil Nadu Becomes Fifth Indian State to Declare a State Butterfly

• Locally known as Tamil Maravan meaning ‘Tamilian Warrior’, the canopy butterfly, usually sized between 60 and 75mm, belongs to the family of brush-footed butterflies or the Nymphalid.
• This is the latest addition to Tamil Nadu’s existing symbols from the natural world –

1. Palmyra as the state tree,
2. Gloriosa lily as the state flower,
3. Emerald dove as the state bird,
4. Jackfruit as the state fruit and
5. Nilgiri tahr as the state animal.

• Tamil Nadu has a total of 32 species of butterflies endemic to the state. With the latest policy initiative, it has become the fifth India state after Maharashtra (Blue Mormon), Uttarakhand (Common peacock), Karnataka (Southern birdwings) and Kerala (Malabar banded peacock) to bestow a state emblem status to one of its colourful insects. Incidentally, both southern birdwings, which is the largest butterfly species found in India, and Malabar banded peacocks are, like the Tamil Yeoman, endemic to the Western Ghats as well.
• Butterflies are great bio-indicators of an ecosystem as they are highly sensitive to environmental conditions such as temperature, sunlight, humidity and rainfall patterns. Their presence, patterns and migration assist in mapping the climatic health of a region and are they are perhaps the most studied insect group across the world.

MCQ 4

1. Armed forces tribunals is for all military and paramilitary forces.
2. The Judicial Members are retired Supreme Court Judges.

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(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• The Armed Forces Tribunal was inaugurated by Her Excellency the President of India on the 8th August 2009.The Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007, was passed by the Parliament and led to the formation of AFT with the power provided for the adjudication or trial by Armed Forces Tribunal of disputes and complaints with respect to commission, appointments, enrolments and conditions of service in respect of persons subject to the Army Act, 1950, The Navy Act, 1957 and the Air Force Act, 1950.
• It can further provide for appeals arising out of orders, findings or sentences of courts- martial held under the said Acts and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
• Besides the Principal Bench in New Delhi, AFT has Regional Benches at Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkatta, Guwahati, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai and Jaipur.
• With the exception of the Chandigarh and Lucknow Regional Benches, which have three benches each, all other locations have a single bench. Each Bench comprises of a Judicial Member and an Administrative Member.
• The Judicial Members are retired High Court Judges and Administrative Members are retired Members of the Armed Forces who have held rant of Major General/ equivalent or above for a period of three years or more, Judge Advocate General (JAG), who have held the appointment for at least one year are also entitled to be appointed as the Administrative Member.
• The Tribunal shall transact their proceedings as per the Armed Forces Tribunal ( Procedure) rules, 2008. All proceedings in the Tribunal will be in English. The Tribunal will normally follow the procedure as is practiced in the High Courts of India.
• The dress as mandated for the officials of the Tribunal including bar will be white shirt, collar band and a black coat/ jacket.
• Armed Forces Tribunal is a military tribunal in India. It was established under the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007.
• In 1999, the Law Commission’s 169th report stated that disciplinary and service matters required quick resolutions and proposed a special tribunal for the military and paramilitary forces.
• Armed forces tribunal bill was steered through Parliament only by the Defence Ministry, leaving paramilitary forces, even the Assam Rifles and Coast Guard, outside the tribunal’s purview.

MCQ 5

1. International Astronomical Union (IAU) serves as the internationally recognized authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and surface features on them.
2. It has recently named an asteroid after Indian physicist Pandit Jasraj.

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(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• Naming of an Asteroid
• International Astronomical Union (IAU) serves as the internationally recognized authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and surface features on them.
• According to IAU’s guidelines, the privilege of naming a planet is first given to discoverers, who have 10 years to propose a name.
• The discoverer or team is expected to write a short citation, explaining the reasons for assigning the name.
• All names proposed are judged by the 15-member Working Group for Small Body Nomenclature (CSBN) of the IAU.
• It has recently named an asteroid after Indian classical singer Pandit Jasraj.
• It is located between Mars and Jupiter, and was discovered on November 11, 2006 by the Arizona based telescope.
• Pandit Jasraj (Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj, born 28 January 1930) is an Indian classical vocalist, belonging to the Mewati gharana (musical apprenticeship lineage). His musical career has spanned more than 80 years and led to numerous major awards. His performances of classical and semi-classical vocals have become albums and film soundtracks. Jasraj has taught music in India, Canada and the US. Some of his students have in turn become notable musicians.

MCQ 6

1. Salar de Uyuni & Salar de Atacama places are in Africa
2. They are famous for Gold deposits

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(A)Only 1
(B)Only 2
(C)Both
(D)None

• Lithium deposits in Bolivia
• Lithium Triangle is an intersection of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina, known for high quality salt flats.
• Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, Salar de Atacama in Chile and Salar de Arizaro in Argentina contains over 45%of known global lithium reserves.
• Beneath Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat lies the world’s greatest lithium deposits.
• Bolivia, one of South America’s poorest countries, envisions development by harvesting lithium on an industrial scale from underground saltwater brines.
• It can be mined from rock or processed from brine.
• Lithium dissolved in underground saline aquifers called “brine”, pumped to surface by wells and then allowed to evaporate in vast knee-deep ponds.
• A demand for electric vehicles and smart devices powered by lithium-ion batteries gives an opportunity for the development.

MCQ 7

1. Earth’s mantle’s mass is of 4.01 × 1024 kg is 84% the mass of the Earth
2. Goldschmidtite, a type of diamond is found in it in South Africa

 Choose correct

(A) Only 1
(B) Only 2
(C) Both
(D) None

• The Earth’s mantle is a layer of silicate rock between the crust and the outer core. Its mass of 4.01 × 1024 kg is 67% the mass of the Earth. It has a thickness of 2,900 kilometres (1,800 mi) making up about 84% of Earth’s volume. It is predominantly solid but in geological time it behaves as a viscous fluid. Partial melting of the mantle at mid-ocean ridges produces oceanic crust, and partial melting of the mantle at subduction zones produces continental crust
• A new, curious mineral has been discovered inside a diamond unearthed from a mine in South Africa. The mineral has been named goldschmidtite, after Victor Moritz Goldschmidt, the Norwegian scientist acknowledged as the founder of modern geochemistry. It has been described in the journal American Mineralogist.
• Goldschmidtite has an unusual chemical signature for a mineral from Earth’s mantle, according to the University of Alberta, a student of which discovered it. While the mantle is dominated by elements such as magnesium and iron, goldschmidtite has high concentrations of niobium, potassium and the rare earth elements lanthanum and cerium.
• PhD student Nicole Meyer found a single grain of the mineral in the diamond, unearthed in Koffiefontein, South Africa. The university described it as dark green and opaque.
• Though the mantle makes up about 80 per cent of the Earth’s volume, very little is known about it. Reaching the mantle is not easy; it is about 2,900 km thick and no attempt to drill into it has been successful
• Diamonds hold clues as they are found up to 160 km beneath the surface, in the upper mantle.
• Diamonds that are unearthed were brought up closer to the surface, probably as a result of violent volcanic eruptions when the Earth was hotter, according to the Smithsonian Magazine.

MCQ 8

Amery Ice shelf is located in

1. Karakoram Range
2. Greenland
3. Antarctica
4. Notrh Pole

Huge iceberg breaks off Antarctica

• A more than 1,500 sq.km. iceberg recently broke off Antarctica, but the event is part of a normal cycle and is not related to climate change, scientists say.
• The iceberg, dubbed D28, broke away from the Amery ice shelf between September 24 and 25, according to observations from European and American satellites.
• It is about 210 metres thick and contains 315 billion tonnes of ice, American glaciologist Helen Amanda Fricker said.
• The figures are huge, but iceberg production is part of the normal cycle of ice shelves, which are an extension of the ice cap, she said. “Ice shelves have to lose mass because they gain mass. They want to stay the same size,” said Ms. Fricker, a professor at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California.
• The gain in mass comes from snow falling on the continent and glaciers that move slowly toward the shore. The east of Antarctica — where D28 broke off — is different from the west of the continent and Greenland, which are rapidly warming due to climate change.

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