UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 10 August 2024

Solution: c)

The Ministry of Textiles in India has launched the Kasturi Cotton Bharat programme to enhance the traceability, certification, and branding of Indian cotton.

• The programme employs QR-based certification technology and blockchain for end-to-end traceability of Kasturi Cotton Bharat tagged bales.

Kasturi Cotton Bharat:

• A collaborative effort by the Ministry of Textiles, the Cotton Corporation of India, trade bodies, and industry.
• Enhance the global competitiveness of Indian cotton through self-regulation, branding, traceability, and certification, creating a sustainable ecosystem for stakeholders.

Implementing Agency: The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPRO

Solution: c)

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) have launched two significant projects to protect the Miombo forest and enhance food security in Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

• Miombo Forest Project: This project focuses on sustainable management, biodiversity conservation, and community-based practices in the Miombo forest, benefiting 5,000 families.
• Zim-Moza Agriculture Value Chain & Trade Development Project (Zim-Moza ATDP): This project aims to improve agricultural value chains and trade between Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Both projects align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and aim to promote resilience against environmental and economic challenges.

Miombo Biome:

• Type: Tropical and subtropical grasslands, bushlands, and savannahs.
• Distribution: Found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Solution: a)

Solution: d)

• The strategy includes six interventions such as iron-folic acid supplementation, deworming, behaviour change communication campaigns, anaemia testing and treatment, fortified food provision, and addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia.

Solution: d)

The internationalization of a currency creates a dilemma for a country because it requires balancing the supply of enough currency globally while maintaining domestic monetary policies. This challenge arises from the need to meet international demand for the currency, which can potentially conflict with domestic economic objectives. The country must carefully manage its currency’s role in global markets while ensuring that its monetary policies remain effective for domestic economic stability. This balancing act can be complex, as increased global use of the currency can impact factors such as exchange rates, interest rates, and capital flows, which in turn affect the country’s ability to control its domestic economy.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

• China’s CMOC and other miners have applied for copper from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to be registered for delivery against London Metal Exchange (LME) contracts, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.
• If they succeed, large amounts of copper from DRC, the world’s second biggest copper producer, could arrive in LME-approved warehouses as soon as next year, the sources said, taking account of the time required to process the applications.
• For producers, LME brand status opens up financing opportunities in an oversupplied market. For an exchange that has been unable to accept new Russian metal since April because of sanctions, it provides income from registration and warranting fees.

Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, making it essential for electrical wiring and electronics.

Solution: c)

The Quality Council of India (QCI) has launched the QCI Surajya Recognition & Ranking Framework to promote excellence among states, enhancing citizens’ quality of life towards a developed India (Viksit Bharat).

The framework evaluates performance across four pillars: Shiksha (Education), Swasthya (Health), Samriddhi (Prosperity), and Sushasan (Governance).

Key highlights:

• Shiksha: Uttar Pradesh leads in education, with Delhi also performing well.
• Swasthya: Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Mizoram, and Manipur excel in health certifications under the Ayushman Arogya Yojana, while Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra top the Medical Entry Level Testing Labs rankings.
• Samriddhi: Gujarat, Karnataka, and Rajasthan lead in economic prosperity through ZED certifications, with Maharashtra and Bihar excelling in the MSME Competitive LEAN Scheme.

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

A recent Indian study highlights the benefits of replacing sucrose with sucralose, a non-nutritive sweetener, in beverages for adults with Type 2 diabetes.

• A randomized controlled trial showed no adverse effects on glucose or HbA1c levels and indicated slight improvements in body weight, waist circumference, and BMI.

About Sucralose: 

Sucralose, a substituted disaccharide, is a non-nutritive sweetener that is synthesized by selective chlorination of sucrose at three of the primary hydroxyl groups, involving inversion of configuration at carbon-4, from the gluco- to the galactoanalogue.

Solution: b)

Statement 3 is incorrect.

The century-old Indian Siris tree in East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, recently collapsed during the Godavari floods.

Indian Siris (Albizia lebbeck):

• Native Range: India and Southeast Asia.
• Family: Fabaceae.
• Characteristics: Deciduous tropical tree.
• Climate and Soil: Thrives in warm, humid climates and can grow in clay, loam, and sandy soils.

Solution: c)

• Waqfis the permanent dedication of property by a Muslim for religious or charitable purposes. Once designated as Waqf, the property is managed for the benefit of the community and cannot be sold or transferred.
• It is managed under the Waqf Act, 1995. It funds institutions like schools, mosques, and shelters. Managed by a mutawali and overseen by Waqf Boards, Waqfs are perpetual and non-transferable. The Central Waqf Council supervises state boards.
• There are 8,72,292 Waqf propertiesin India, generating Rs 200 crore in revenue.