Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 10 February 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Recently seen in news, the Climate Inequality Report 2023 is published by which one of the following organizations?

1. World Economic Forum
2. Global Atmosphere Watch
3. The International Research Institute for Climate and Society
4. World Inequality Lab

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 9 February 2023

Explanation:

• Option (4) is correct: Economists from the World Inequality Lab at the Paris School of Economics have recently published the Climate Inequality Report 2023. The report compared the global bottom (50 per cent), middle (40 per cent) and top (10 per cent) income countries to provide a perspective on climate inequalities. The report found that 48 per cent of emissions is from the top 10 per cent of emitters, having 76 per cent capacity to finance, and their relative loss is a mere 3 per cent from climate change. However, the global bottom (50 per cent) has only a 2 per cent capacity to invest, with an emission of 12 per cent and a massive relative loss of 75 per cent. The gap between the carbon emissions of the rich and the poor within a country is higher than the difference in overall emissions among countries. Many low-income regions are facing agricultural productivity losses of 30% and more due to climate change which aggravates poverty and food insecurity. The income losses from climate hazards of the bottom 40% are estimated to be 70% larger than the average in low- and middle-income countries. Some temperate countries are seeing their agricultural productivity increase under global warming. In contrast, many subtropical and tropical countries are facing significant output losses due to global warming. A 1 degree Celsius increase in monthly average temperatures increases suicide rates by 0.7 per cent in the US and 2.1 per cent in Mexico.

Q) With reference to ‘CAR T-cell’ therapy, consider the following statements:

1. The therapy is used in the treatment of leukaemia and lymphoma cancers.
2. The therapy has no notable side effects associated with 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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: CAR T-cell therapy is a type of immunotherapy used to treat certain types of cancer, such as leukemia and lymphoma. It involves removing a patient’s T cells (a type of immune cell) and modifying them in a laboratory to produce special cells known as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. The modified T cells are then infused back into the patient’s bloodstream, where they can recognize and attack cancer cells that express specific targets, or antigens, on their surface. Because the CAR T cells are a product of the patient’s own immune system, they are less likely to cause side effects compared to other forms of cancer therapy.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: CAR T-cell therapy is also presently used among patients with cancers that have returned after initially successful treatment or who haven’t responded to previous combinations of chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Its response rate is variable. In certain kinds of leukaemias and lymphomas, the efficacy is as high as 90%, whereas, in other types of cancers, it is significantly lower. The potential side effects are also significant, and associated with Cytokine release syndrome (a widespread activation of the immune system and collateral damage to the body’s normal cells) and Neurological symptoms (severe confusion, seizures, and speech impairment).

Q) Consider the following statements about the historical site of Keeladi:

1. It is located on the banks of the Cauvery River in the state of Tamil Nadu.
2. The site provides information about the Sangam Age civilization.
3. Painted Grey Ware has been excavated from the site.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect but statement 2 is correct: Keeladi is a hamlet located near Madurai city in Tamil Nadu. It is along the banks of River Vaigai. The Archaeological Survey of India started its excavations in Keeladi in 2014. Evidence was found that the civilization at Keeladi, that is, the Sangam Age civilization is older than thought before. It has been classified into three periods: The pre-early historic period between 800 BCE to 500 BCE; the mature early history between 500 BCE to the end of 1st century BCE; post-early history from 1st century BCE to 300 CE.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Items excavated from the site are Brick structures, terracotta ring wells, fallen roofing with tiles, golden ornaments, and broken parts of copper objects, iron implements, ear ornaments, black and red-ware, and semi-precious stones. Skeletal fragments of cow/ox, buffalo, sheep, goat, nilgai, blackbuck, wild boar, and peacock were also found. Long walls, well-laid floors along with roof tiles in a collapsed state, and iron nails fastened to the poles and rafters prove a high standard of living during the Sangam age. Graffiti marks are found in earthenware, caves, and rocks in or near the excavation sites.

Q) Which of the following are potential impacts of an increase in the Repo Rate in banking system?

1. Increase in cost of borrowings
2. Reduction in the rate of inflation
3. Increased Liquidity in the Economy
4. High economic growth

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Explanation:

• Option (1) is correct: Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds by purchasing the security. : The repo rate has increased by a cumulative 250 basis points (a basis point is one-hundredth of one percentage point) to 6.50 per cent since May 2022. Possible Impacts of Increase in the Repo rate are:
• Higher borrowing costs: An increase in repo rate can lead to higher interest rates on loans for consumers and businesses, making borrowing more expensive.
• Reduced borrowing: The higher cost of borrowing can reduce the demand for loans, leading to a decrease in borrowing and spending, which can slow down economic growth.
• Stronger currency: Higher interest rates can attract foreign investment, strengthening the local currency.
• Decreased inflation: Higher repo rates can curb inflation by making borrowing more expensive and reducing spending, which can help keep prices stable.
• Reduced economic growth: Higher interest rates can slow down economic growth by reducing the amount of money available for borrowing and spending.
• Decrease in liquidity in market: Due to increased repo rate the funds available in market is reduced in order to control inflationary pressures.

Q) With reference to ‘Kilonova’, consider the following statements:

1. It is a cosmic event that occurs when a star dies.
2. It releases heavy metals like selenium and gamma radiation into outer space.
3. At present, no kilonova has been detected in the Milky Way galaxy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect but statement 2 is correct: Kilonova is a cosmic event that occurs not when stars die but when a neutron star smashes into another neutron star or a black hole. To create a kilonova, the other star would also need to explode as an ultra-stripped supernova so the two neutron stars could eventually collide and merge Kilonova releases heavy metals like gold, silver, and selenium into outer space at tremendous velocities, as well as radiation, to the accompaniment of a gamma-ray burst – one of the most energetic cosmic events ever known. Radiations that are released when two neutron stars or any other binary system merge are known as kilonova emissions. Events like kilonovae are windows into the formation of the universe.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Researchers have confirmed the detection of a star system that will one day end in a kilonova. Labelling it CPD-29 2176, scientists believe that only ten star systems that exist in the Milky Way will end in kilonovae. It has been and is located about 11,400 light-years from the earth. CPD-29 2176 is currently a neutron star and a star orbiting each other. Neutron stars are formed when massive stars explode in a supernova while their cores implode, crushing their constituent protons and electrons together into a super-dense ball of neutrons.

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