Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 2 January 2023

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC 2023

Q) The famous Maratha Malwa queen ‘Ahilyabai’ belonged to which one of the following clans?

1. Scindias
2. Holkar
3. Gaekwar
4. Peshwa

Daily Current Affairs for UPSC – 31 December 2022

Explanation:

• Option (2) is correct: The Maharashtra government has asked the district administration to submit a proposal to rename Ahmednagar as ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Nagar’, after the 18th century Malwa queen, Ahilyabai Holkar. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Varanasi, also known as the Golden temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was constructed by Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar of Indore.

Q) With reference to National Commission for Women (NWC), consider the following statements:

1. It was established as a statutory body during the tenure of prime minister Indira Gandhi.
2. NCW’s annual report is submitted to the President of India who in turn lays it on the floor of the Parliament.

1. The National Commission for Women Act provided that only a woman can become the chairperson of the commission.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Commission for Women was set up as a statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 to review the Constitutional and legal safeguards for women; recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate redressal of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women. P. V. Narasimha Rao was the prime minster of India in 1992 while Indra Gandhi died in 1984.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Commission prepares an annual report, giving a full account of its activities during the previous financial year and forwards a copy to the Central Government and not to the President. It investigates and examines all matters relating to the safeguards provided for women under the Indian Constitution and other laws.
• Statement 2 is incorrect: The Commission consists of a chairperson, committed to the cause of women, to be nominated by the Central Government. There is no mandatory clause for women to act as chairperson.

Q) With reference to Central Issue Price (CIP) under National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, consider the following statements:

1. It is the price at which the Central government sells the food grains to the States.
2. It had never been higher than the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
3. CIP of Rice remained mainly constant since the year 2013.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: Central Issue Price (CIP) is the price at which the Central government makes available foodgrains for beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act(NFSA), 2013 and other welfare schemes to the states from the central pool.
• Statement 2 is correct: ­Foodgrains under NFSA were to be made available at subsidized prices of Rs.3/2/1 per kg for rice, wheat, and coarse grains respectively for an initial period of three years from the date of commencement of the Act (July 13, 2013). ­Thereafter, prices were to be fixed by the Central Government from time to time, but not exceeding Minimum Support Price (MSP).
• Statement 3 is correct: The CIPs of rice, wheat, and coarse grains are Rs 300 per quintal, Rs 200 per quintal, and Rs 100 per quintal respectively under NFSA, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). It has been m unchanged since 2013 when the NFSA came into effect.

Q) Which one of the following best describes the objective of “PM KUSUM” Scheme?

1. To generate 40,000 MW of power from Grid Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) projects.
2. To facilitate the solar project developers to set up projects in a plug and play model.
3. To increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources.
4. To provide financial assistance to women victims, registered with Self Help Groups (SHGs).

Explanation:

• Option (1) is incorrect: The Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme aims to generate 40,000 MW of power from Grid Connected Rooftop Solar (RTS) projects. Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided to the residential electricity consumers under Component-A and incentives are provided to DISCOMs under Component-B of this programme.
• Option (2) is incorrect: The scheme for “Development of Solar Parks and Ultra-Mega Solar Power Projects” was rolled out in December, 2014 with an objective to facilitate the solar project developers to set up projects expeditiously.
• Option (3) is correct: PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) Scheme was introduced to ensure energy security for farmers in India, along with honouring India’s commitment to increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources.
• Option (4) is incorrect: The Andhra Pradesh Government has launched a new scheme called “Pasupu Kumkuma Scheme” to provide financial assistance to women victims, registered with Self Help Groups (SHGs). The primary objective of the scheme is to promote the social and economic empowerment of women in the state. Under this scheme, the beneficiaries of SHGs Groups will be provided with Rs. 10,000 in three phases. In this article, we look at the Pasupu Kumkuma Scheme in detail.

Q) The “Tidal Disruption Event” recently seen in news, is best related to which one of the following?

1. A massive black hole devouring a star.
2. A kind of brain disease or neurological disorder.
3. A homologous live-attenuated vaccine for the Lumpy Skin Disease.
4. Formation of aurora in Northern Hemisphere.

Explanation:

• Option (1) is correct: Telescopes operated by NASA recently observed a massive black hole devouring a star, formally called a tidal disruption event (TDE). The event is formally called AT2021ehb, and took place in a galaxy with a central black hole about 10 million times the mass of our sun. NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescopic Array (NuSTAR) was used to observe the event. Tidal Disruption Event (TDE) are astronomical phenomena that occur when a star passes close enough to a supermassive black hole and is pulled apart by the black hole’s tidal forces, causing the process of disruption.

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