Daily Current Affairs MCQ / UPSC / IAS / 12-10-19 | Free PDF

MCQ 1

 Amitabh Kant Panel is created for

1. RBI reserves issue
2. Degraded land reclamation
3. Plastic phase out
4. Entry of private operators for 150 trains and development of 50 railway stations

Panel set up to expedite privatisation of trains

• The Ministry of Railways on Thursday constituted an empowered group of secretaries to work on the development of 50 railway stations as well as handing over operations of 150 trains to private operators. The move follows NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant’s letter to Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav pointing to the delay in the Railways’ project of developing 400 stations. Mr. Kant had recommended that an empowered group of secretaries be set up to “drive the process in a time-bound manner”.
• As per the Ministry order, the committee will look into the approval, and monitoring of the bidding process along with bid documents. It will monitor the process and will take decisions to ensure award of projects “in a timebound manner”.
• The committee will be chaired by Mr. Kant, with the Railway Board Chairman, Economic Affairs Secretary, Urban Affairs Secretary and Financial Commissioner (Railways) as members. Additionally, Railway Board Member (engineering) and Member (traffic) will act as the co-opted members for their respective projects.
• In his letter, Mr. Kant had said that while the Railways was required to take up the stations for development, actual implementation had not happened, except for a few isolated cases.
• “I had a detailed discussion with the Minister of Railways wherein it was decided that there is a necessity to take up the matter on priority for at least 50 stations. Considering the recent experience in privatisation of six airports, a similar process for setting up an empowered group of secretaries to drive the process is required.”
• Mr. Kant had added that the empowered committee could also be tasked with driving the initiative of handing over of 150 trains to private operators.

MCQ 2

 Operation Peace Spring is regarding

1. Settlement of Rohingyas
2. India-Bangladesh boundary agreement
3. Kashmir reorganization
4. Turkey-Syria conflict

Operation Peace Spring

• It is a military operation launched by Turkey against the Syrian Democratic Forces in Northeast Syria.
• The Turkish Armed Forces together with the Syrian National Army launched this after U.S. troops pulled back from the border area last week.
• It is to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across border, and to bring peace to the area.
• It is to create a safe zone to ensure that Syrian refugees return to their home countries. India slams Turkey for Syria action ‘Ankara’s campaign is unilateral’
• India on Thursday described Turkey’s military action in Syria as “unilateral” and asked Ankara to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called upon Turkey to exercise restraint.
• “We are deeply concerned at the unilateral military offensive by Turkey in northeast Syria. Turkey’s actions can undermine stability in the region and the fight against terrorism. Its action also has the potential of causing humanitarian and civilian distress,” the MEA said in a release.
• Turkey on Wednesday launched a military campaign, Operation Peace Spring, targeting the Kurdish YPG rebels, a branch of the PKK of Turkey that it considers a terrorist organisation.
• Ankara claims the groups being targeted in the operation are already designated as terrorists in the U.S. and the European Union. Turkey has accused the PKK/YPG of killing 40,000 civilians.
• Tough diplomatic exchanges between Turkey and India have intensified in recent weeks following India’s decision to end the special status of Kashmir. India issued a strong statement expressing “deep regret” after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took up the Kashmir issue in his speech at the UN General Assembly.
• “We call upon Turkey to exercise restraint and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. We urge the peaceful settlement of all issues through dialogue,” said the MEA.

MCQ 3

________ has become the first UN organization to hold and make transactions in cryptocurrencies other and bitcoin.

1. WHO
2. WTO
3. UNICEF
4. UNCTAD

UNICEF Cryptocurrency Fund

• UNICEF becomes first UN organization to hold and make transactions in cryptocurrencies ether and bitcoin.
• UNICEF will use cryptocurrencies to fund open source technology benefiting children and young people around the world.
• Under the structure of the fund, contributions will be held in their cryptocurrency of contribution, and granted out in the same cryptocurrency.
• The first contributions to the Fund will benefit UNICEF Innovation Fund and GIGA initiative to connect schools across the world to the internet.
• GIGA is an initiative to connect every school to the Internet, and every young person to information, opportunity and choice. GIGA is made up of four pillars – each with connections to–and support from– country governments, technology partners, and leaders across the United Nations (UN).

MCQ 4

1. Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is the largest in the Solar System, is larger than the planet Mercury 2. It is the only moon in the Solar System to have a substantial atmosphere

 Choose correct

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

• Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius about nine times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; however, with its larger volume, Saturn is over 95 times more massive. Saturn is named after the Roman god of wealth and agriculture; its astronomical symbol (♄) represents the god’s sickle.
• Saturn’s interior is most likely composed of a core of iron–nickel and rock (silicon and oxygen compounds). This core is surrounded by a deep layer of metallic hydrogen, an intermediate layer of liquid hydrogen and liquid helium, and finally a gaseous outer layer. Saturn has a pale yellow hue due to ammonia crystals in its upper atmosphere. An electrical current within the metallic hydrogen layer is thought to give rise to Saturn’s planetary magnetic field, which is weaker than Earth’s, but has a magnetic moment 580 times that of Earth due to Saturn’s larger size. Saturn’s magnetic field strength is around one-twentieth of Jupiter’s. The outer atmosphere is generally bland and lacking in contrast, although long-lived features can appear. Wind speeds on Saturn can reach 1,800 km/h (1,100 mph; 500 m/s), higher than on Jupiter, but not as high as those on Neptune. In January 2019, astronomers reported that a day on the planet Saturn has been determined to be 10h 33m 38s + 1m 52s − 1 m 19 s  , based on studies of the planet’s C Ring.
• The planet’s most famous feature is its prominent ring system that is composed mostly of ice particles, with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust. At least 82 moons are known to orbit Saturn, of which 53 are officially named. This does not include the hundreds of moonlets in the rings. • Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, and the second-largest in the Solar System, is larger than the planet Mercury, although less massive, and is the only moon in the Solar System to have a substantial atmosphere
• Titan is the largest moon of Saturn and the second-largest natural satellite in the Solar System. It is the only moon known to have a dense atmosphere.
• Titan is the sixth gravitationally rounded moon from Saturn. Frequently described as a planetlike moon, Titan is 50% larger than Earth’s moon and 80% more massive. It is the secondlargest moon in the Solar System after Jupiter’s moon Ganymede, and is larger than the planet Mercury, but only 40% as massive. Discovered in 1655 by the Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens, Titan was the first known moon of Saturn, and the sixth known planetary satellite (after Earth’s moon and the four Galilean moons of Jupiter). Titan orbits Saturn at 20 Saturn radii. From Titan’s surface, Saturn subtends an arc of 5.09 degrees and would appear 11.4 times larger in the sky than the Moon from Earth.
• Titan is primarily composed of ice and rocky material, which is likely differentiated into a rocky core surrounded by various layers of ice, including a crust of ice Ih and a subsurface layer of ammonia-rich liquid water. Much as with Venus before the Space Age, the dense opaque atmosphere prevented understanding of Titan’s surface until the Cassini– Huygens mission in 2004 provided new information, including the discovery of liquid hydrocarbon lakes in Titan’s polar regions. The geologically young surface is generally smooth, with few impact craters, although mountains and several possible cryovolcanoes have been found.
• The atmosphere of Titan is largely nitrogen; minor components lead to the formation of methane and ethane clouds and nitrogen-rich organic smog. The climate—including wind and rain—creates surface features similar to those of Earth, such as dunes, rivers, lakes, seas (probably of liquid methane and ethane), and deltas, and is dominated by seasonal weather patterns as on Earth. With its liquids (both surface and subsurface) and robust nitrogen atmosphere, Titan’s methane cycle is analogous to Earth’s water cycle, at the much lower temperature of about 94 K (−179.2 °C; −290.5 °F).

MCQ 5

1. ISRO has recently launched Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
2. It is designed to probe Earth’s upper atmosphere (Ionosphere), a massive layer that overlaps with the boundary of space.

Choose correct

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

• NASA has recently launched Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
• It is designed to probe Earth’s upper atmosphere (Ionosphere), a massive layer that overlaps with the boundary of space.
• Its measurements will help scientists better understand the link between space weather and terrestrial weather, and how the two interact in the ionosphere.
• It is the region where strange and unique phenomena, such as the auroras and geomagnetic storms are created

MCQ 6

Phazolicin was discovered recently. It’s a

1. Protein
2. Antibiotic
3. Industrial compound
4. New mineral

 Phazolicin:

• It is a new antibiotic discovered in the soil of a tropical rainforest.
• It was recently isolated deep in the tropical forests of Los Tuxtlas, Mexico.
• Found in the root nodules of wild beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), this unusual antibiotic is produced by a symbiotic soil bacteriumthat fixes nitrogen for the plant and keeps harmful microbes away.
• The antibiotic phazolicin is a class of peptide produced in the ribosome, and is part of a diverse class of natural products with a variety of biological uses.
• Benefits: Not only could this antibiotic attack a diverse group of bacterial cells, the authors found it could also enter the bacteria and bind to its ribosomes, messing with its ability to synthesise proteins – only the second peptide known to do this.

MCQ 7

1. Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) was set up by ministry of MSME
2. India is possessing market share of around 35% of total world import of Handmade Carpets.

Choose correct

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

Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC)

• It is a non-profit making organization.
• Setup in 1982 by the Ministry of Textiles.
• Objective: To promote export of Carpets, all types of Handmade / handmade knotted Carpets, Rugs, Floor Coverings & other allied Products from India.
• Background: Indian Handmade Carpet Industry is ranked No. 1 status in the international market achieved highest quantity both in terms of value and production in the world market. India is possessing market share of around 35% of total world import of Handmade Carpets.
• To promote the cultural heritage and weaving skills of Indian handmade carpets, Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) is organizing 38th India Carpet Expo in Varanasi from October 11 to October 14, 2019 in Sampurnanand Sanskrit University Ground.
• India carpet expo is a platform for international carpet buyers, buying houses, buying agents, architects and Indian carpet manufacturers and exporters to meet and establish business relationship.
• The Expo is organized twice a year in Varanasi and Delhi and this is the 15th expo in Varanasi.
• The Carpet Export Promotion Council has 2700 members from all over the country and the prime objective of the Carpet Export Promotion Council in holding the India Carpet Expo in the major carpet producing belt of Varanasi is to provide unique pick and choose business opportunity to all overseas carpet buyers.

MCQ 8

1. M-Stripes is a software based monitoring system for endangered wildlife species
2. Senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Ramesh Pandey has developed it.

 Choose correct

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

Asia Environmental Enforcement Award

• Senior Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer Ramesh Pandey has been selected by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for prestigious Asia Environmental Enforcement Award.
• Ramesh Pandey is recognized for combating trans-boundary environmental crime.
• Pandey also introduced M-Stripes (Monitoring System for Tigers Intensive Protection & Ecological Status), a novel software-based patrolling in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve on the recommendation of National Tiger Conservation Authority.

About the award:

• The purpose of the Awards are to publicly recognise outstanding achievements by public organizations and individuals in Asia to combat transboundary environmental crime.
• The 5 categories in which award will be given are:

1. Collaboration.
2. Impact.
3. Innovation.
4. Integrity.
5. Gender leadership.

• M-STrIPES, short for Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status is a software-based monitoring system launched across Indian tiger reserves by the Indian government’s National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in 2010. The system’s objective is to strengthen patrolling and surveillance of the Endangered Bengal tiger. Forest guards in tiger reserves are equipped with personal digital assistants and GPS devices to capture data relating to tiger sightings, deaths, wild life crime and ecological observations while patrolling. The software system maps the patrol routes of forest guards, and the resulting data are then analyzed in a geographic information system. This is intended to enhance the effectiveness and spatial coverage of patrols. Additional target outcomes are the evaluation of human pressure and ongoing monitoring of habitat change.
• The android-based software will be used across all national Tiger reserves of the country. Use of the system in the Pench Tiger Reserve is reported to have resulted in “a significant check in anti-forest and anti-wildlife activities”

 System Features

• Provide user friendly Field Protocols (inc training and material, data quality control), Data Storage and Report Generating Tool System Features
• Administered and maintained at protected areas, landscapes, States and NTCA
• Captures detailed information on population status and trends, animal mortality, illegal activity, human pressures, patrol effort, habitat status for monitoring and guiding management
• Provides a comprehensive GIS and statistical tool for processing and reporting information needed for conservation and management purposes

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