Daily Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC IAS Prelims- 6 Mar 2023

Welcome to the RAYACADEMY Daily Current Affairs MCQs! Our focus is to provide you with engaging and informative questions that primarily revolve around current affairs, derived from reliable sources such as 'The Hindu', 'Indian Express', and 'PIB'. Our MCQs test your understanding of factual and conceptual knowledge, which is essential for cracking the UPSC IAS and State PCS prelim exams.

Below are some of Today's Current Affairs MCQs. We hope you make the most of this initiative and wish you all the best in your preparation.

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Q1.Which of the following statements is/are correct about Beypore Uru?

1)Beypore Uru is a wooden dhow handcrafted by skilled artisans in Beypore, Kerala.

2)The District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode, has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Beypore Uru.

3)The wood used to build Beypore Uru is sawed modernly using advanced techniques.

4) Beypore Uru symbolises Kerala’s trade relations and friendship with Southeast Asian countries.

A. 1,2 & 3 only

B. 1,2 & 4 only

C. 3 & 4 only

D. 1 & 2 only

Answer: D

Explanation: Beypore Uru is a type of wooden dhow handcrafted by skilled artisans and carpenters in Beypore, a port town in the Kozhikode district of Kerala. The wood used to build these boats is purely premium wood, and no modern techniques are used. The wood is sawed traditionally. The District Tourism Promotion Council, Kozhikode, has applied for a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Beypore Uru, which indicates that the product has unique qualities and is produced in a specific geographical region. The Uru ships have been in demand for around 2000 years and symbolise Kerala’s trade relations and friendship with the Gulf countries, not the Southeast Asian countries. Therefore, options 1 and 2 are correct, and options 3 and 4 are incorrect.

Q2.Which of the following is a technique used to preserve coral cells and tissues at very low temperatures?

A) Coral bleaching

B) Bio-rock technology

C) Cryopreservation

D) Cryomesh technology

Answer: C) Cryopreservation

Explanation: Cryopreservation is the process of preserving coral cells and tissues at very low temperatures to minimize ice crystal formation and keep corals alive while they are frozen. This technique can be used to store and reintroduce cryogenically frozen coral to the wild, and it has the potential to help rewild reefs threatened by climate change.

Cryomesh technology, on the other hand, is a specially fabricated mesh used as a substrate in cryopreservation.

Bio-rock technology is a piece of technology that uses low-voltage direct current to interact with minerals in seawater and cause solid limestone to grow on the structure.

Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when coral loses its colour due to stress, such as changes in water temperature or pollution.

Q3.Which of the following is true about PMAAGY?

A) It stands for Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme.

B) It has 10 sectors of development.

C) It aims to achieve integrated socio-economic development of selected villages through a convergence approach.

D) It is a scheme for implementation during 2025-26 to 2030-31.

Answer: C) It aims to achieve integrated socio-economic development of selected villages through a convergence approach.

Explanation: PMAAGY stands for Pradhan Mantri Adivasi Adarsh Gram Yojana. It was previously known as the Special Central Assistance to Tribal Sub-Scheme. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has revamped this scheme for implementation during 2021-22 to 2025-26. The scheme envisions mitigating gaps prominently in 8 sectors of development, which are Road connectivity, Telecom connectivity, Schools, Anganwadi centres, Health sub-centres, Drinking water facilities, Drainage, and Solid waste management. The main objective of the scheme is to achieve integrated socio-economic development of selected villages through a convergence approach, which includes preparing Village Development Plans based on the needs, potential and aspirations, maximising the coverage of individual/family benefit schemes of the Central/State Governments, and improving the infrastructure in vital sectors like health, education, connectivity and livelihood.

Q4.Which of the following statements is/are correct about the ALMA Telescope?

1)ALMA is a radio telescope located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.

2)ALMA studies celestial objects at visible light wavelengths.

3)ALMA's antennas can be moved to get different perspectives, similar to a camera's zoom lens.

4)ALMA is located in the Atacama Desert because it is the driest place in the world, which reduces atmospheric water vapour absorption.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 1 and 3 only

C) 1, 3, and 4 only

D) 1, 2, 3, and 4

Answer: C) 1, 3, and 4 only

Explanation: The ALMA Telescope is a radio telescope comprising 66 antennas in northern Chile's Atacama Desert. ALMA studies celestial objects at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths, not visible light. The antennas can be moved closer together or farther apart for different perspectives, like a camera's zoom lens. ALMA is located in the Atacama Desert because the millimetre and submillimetre waves observed by it are very susceptible to atmospheric water vapour absorption on Earth. The desert is the driest place in the world, meaning most of the nights here are clear of clouds and free of light-distorting moisture, making it a perfect location for examining the universe. Therefore, statements 1, 3, and 4 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect, as ALMA does not study celestial objects at visible light wavelengths.

Q5.Which of the following statements is/are correct about MIIRA?

1)MIIRA stands for ‘Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness’.

2)MIIRA is aimed at coordinating millet research programmes at the national level.

3)MIIRA is in line with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the proposal for which was moved by India and supported by 72 countries.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: C) 1 and 3 only

Explanation: MIIRA stands for ‘Millet International Initiative for Research and Awareness’, and it is aimed at coordinating millet research programmes at the international level. It is in line with the UN declaring 2023 as the International Year of Millets, the proposal for which was moved by India and supported by 72 countries. Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct. Statement 2 is incorrect as MIIRA aims to coordinate millet research programmes at the international level, not the national level.