Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 14 January 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) Recently seen in news, the ‘Global Economic Prospects’ report was released by which one of the following organization?

1. World Economic Forum
2. World Bank
3. International Monetary Fund
4. Asian Development Bank

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 13 January 2023

Explanation:

• Option (2) is correct: World Bank releases Global Economic Prospects report. As per the report, global economy is projected to grow by 1.7 per cent in 2023 and 2.7 per cent in 2024. Unexpectedly rapid and synchronous global monetary policy tightening contributed to a significant worsening of global financial conditions, which is exerting a substantial drag on activity. Global economy will come close to a recession this year, led by weaker growth in all the world’s top economies – the United States, Europe and China. New development such as higher-than-expected inflation, abrupt rises in interest rates to contain it, a resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, or escalating geopolitical tensions—could push the global economy into recession. Indian economic growth is projected to slow from 8.7% in FY2021/22 to 6.9% in FY2022/23. RBI’s projection of India’s GDP growth in FY23 is 6.8%. Indian economy is expected to grow at 6.6% in the fiscal year 2023-24. India is expected to be the fastest-growing economy of the seven largest developing economies (EMDEs). India accounts for three-fourths of the (South Asia) region’s output. India’s growth expanded by 9.7 per cent on an annual basis in the first half of the fiscal year 2022-23, reflecting strong private consumption and fixed investment growth. The government has increased infrastructure spending and various business facilitation measures. It will crowd in private investment and support the expansion of manufacturing capacity.

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. Information regarding historical greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere is available from Antarctic ice-core studies.
2. Ice cores record information about the changes that have occurred in the Earth’s orbit.
3. According to the Milankovitch theory, the shape of the Earth’s orbit around the sun can change over time.
4. The northern hemisphere sees more extreme seasons when Earth’s orbit around the sun is more tilted, as per the Milankovitch theory.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statements 1 and 2 are correct: Ice cores are cylindrical columns of ice, drilled from ancient ice sheets, mostly in Antarctica and Greenland. Ice core analysis provides valuable long-term data trapped in time about everything from past atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases to past temperatures of the air and oceans. Researchers can use the isotopic composition of the ice, such as the ratio of oxygen isotopes, to infer the temperature at the time the ice was formed. Layers in ice cores correspond to years and seasons, with the youngest ice at the top and the oldest ice at the bottom of the core. This helps us to understand past climate conditions. Ice core records can also provide insight into the various factors that have caused past climate change such as solar radiation, volcanic activity, and changes in the Earth’s orbit.
• Statements 3 and 4 are correct: Milankovitch theory, named after the Serbian astronomer Milutin Milanković, is a theory that explains how variations in the Earth’s orbit and rotation affect its climate. The theory tells that shape of the Earth’s orbit around the sun changes over time, varying between more circular and more elliptical. When the orbit is more elliptical, the Earth is closer to the sun during the northern hemisphere’s summer, which leads to increased solar radiation and warmer temperatures. The tilt of the Earth’s axis of rotation changes over time, varying between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees. When the tilt is greater, the northern hemisphere experiences more extreme seasons, with warmer summers and colder winters.

Q) Consider the following pairs:

How many of the pairs mentioned above is/are correctly matched?

1. Only one pair
2. Only two pairs
3. Only three pairs
4. All four pairs

Explanation: Makar Sankranti is celebrated all over India each year on the 14th of January. It is one of the few Indian festivals celebrated all over India on the same date each year. Each state and region of India celebrates the festival in their own way.

• Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Makar Sankranti is celebrated as Magha Saaji in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Saaji is the local word for Sankrant and Magha is the name of the month and the sun-sign (capricorn) that commences with the arrival of the festival. The day signals a change in seasons and people welcome spring by taking a dip in the rivers or bathe in holy water.
• Pair 2 is correctly matched: Ghughuti is the name of Makar Sankranti in Uttarakhand. It is celebrated as the festival of the migratory birds as they believe it is the season for the birds to end their migration. The locals give khichdiand other food as charity and organise fairs and meet-ups. Sweetmeats are made out of sweetened flour by frying them and then asking the children to offer these sweets to crows as a blessing for the migratory birds on their homeward journey.
• Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Poushsankranti/ Poush Parbon is celebrated in West Bengal on the day of Makar Sankranti. Ganga Sagar Mela, an annual celebration is held during Makar Sankranti. This is the place where the sacred river Ganga merges with the Bay of Bengal (sea). Devotees take a dip in the holy waters of the river and offer their prayers to the Gods.
• Pair 4 is correctly matched: Pedha panduga is the name of Makar Sankranti festival in Andhra Pradesh. Whereas Pongal is the harvest festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu at the beginning of Uttarayana (north-wards journey of the Sun).

Q) With reference to National-level multi-state cooperative societies, consider the following statements:

1. National Level Multi-State Cooperative Organic Society decides the MSP for organic
2. National Level Multi-State Seed Cooperative Society helps increase the Varietal Replacement Rate of the seeds.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: National Level Multi-State Cooperative Organic Society aims at providing thrust to organic products from the cooperative sector by acting as an umbrella organisation for managing various activities related to the organic sector. It manages various activities related to the organic sector by providing certified and authentic organic products. It help cooperatives and ultimately their farmer members in getting benefits of the high price of organic products through aggregation, branding and marketing on large scale by facilitating testing and certification at affordable cost. It will not decide MSP for organic products.
• Statement 2 is correct: National Level Multi-State Seed Cooperative Society will act as an apex organization for production, procurement, processing, branding and storage among other services for quality seeds. It will focus on strategic research and development and will also look to develop a system for the preservation and promotion of indigenous natural seeds. It will involve all forms of cooperative structures and all other means to increase Varietal Replacement Rate (VRR) by ensuring the role of farmers in quality seed cultivation and seed variety trials, production and distribution of certified seeds with a single brand name.

Q) Consider the following statements:

1. The Swadesh Darshan Project is a centrally sponsored scheme for the infrastructure development of tourism circuits.
2. The Sethu Samudhra Canal Project will link the small rivers along the Western Ghats.
3. Both viharas and stupas are found from the site of Nalanda.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: Swadesh Darshan Project is a Central Sector scheme launched in 2014-15 by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture for the integrated development of theme-based tourist circuits. It aims to promote, develop, and harness the potential of tourism in India. Under it, the Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments and Union Territory Administrations for the infrastructure development of circuits. It is envisioned to synergise with other schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Skill India, and make in India etc.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: Sethu Samudhra Canal Project proposes to link Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal. Currently, ships coming from the west coast of India and other western countries with destinationson the east coast of India and also in Bangladesh, China, etc have to navigate around the Sri Lankan coast. The existing waterway is shallow and not sufficient for the movement of ships, due to the presence of a shallow region known as Adam’s Bridge, located southeast of Rameswaram near Pamban.
• Statement 3 is correct: Nalanda is a world heritage site in Bihar. The site comprises of archaeological remains of a monastic and scholastic institution dating from the 3rd century BCE to the 13th century CE. The site includes stupas, shrines, viharas (residential and educational buildings) and important artworks in stucco, stone and metal. Stupas are Buddhist commemorative monuments usually housing sacred relics associated with the Buddha or Buddhist monks or nuns. Sanchi Stupa is one of the most popular Buddhist Stupas in the world. It was commissioned during the time of Emperor Asoka. Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has discovered two 1200-year-old miniature votive stupas near Sarai Tila mound within the premises of ‘Nalanda Mahavihara’.

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