Daily Current Affairs Quiz: February 13, 2024

ANSWER: C

ANSWER: D

ANSWER:C

ANSWER: B

• The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi along with the President of Sri Lanka, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr Pravind Jugnauth jointly inaugurated the launch of Unified Payment Interface (UPI) services in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, and also RuPay card services in Mauritius via video conferencing.

BENEFITS:

• Digital transformation will get a boost, local economies will witness positive change and tourism will be promoted.
• Its launch symbolizes the success of Global South cooperation.
• The launch will enable the availability of UPI settlement services for Indian nationals travelling to Sri Lanka and Mauritius as well as for Mauritian nationals travelling to India.
• The extension of RuPay card services in Mauritius will enable Mauritian banks to issue cards based on RuPay mechanism in Mauritius and facilitate usage of RuPay Card for settlements in India and Mauritius.
• It aligns with India’s policy of ‘Neighborhood First’ and our maritime vision -SAGARe. Security and growth for all in the region. India does not see its development separately from its neighbors.

ABOUT UNIFIED PAYMENTS INTERFACE (UPI):

• It is an advanced version of Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)- round–the-clock funds transfer service to make cashless payments faster, easier and smoother.
• UPI is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
• UPI is currently the biggest among the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) operated systems including National Automated Clearing House (NACH), Immediate Payment Service (IMPS), Aadhaar enabled Payment System (AePS), Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), RuPay etc.
• The top UPI apps today include PhonePe, Paytm, Google Pay, Amazon Pay and BHIM, the latter being the Government offering.

ABOUT RUPAY:

• RuPay (portmanteau of Rupee and Payment) is an Indian multinational financial services and Payment Service System, conceived and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2014.
• NPCI conceived RuPay as an alternative to Mastercard and Visa, while consolidating and integrating various payment systems in India. RuPay was launched with an objective of a less cash economy.
• It was created to fulfil the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) vision of establishing a domestic, open and multilateral system of payments. RuPay facilitates electronic payment at all Indian banks and financial institutions.

ANSWER: D

• Brumation is a period of dormancy or slowed activity in reptiles, similar to hibernation in mammals, occurring during colder months when temperatures drop and food becomes scarce.
• Reptiles enter brumation to conserve energy and survive adverse environmental conditions.
• During brumation, reptiles may retreat to underground burrows, rock crevices, or other sheltered areas with stable temperatures.
• Metabolism slows significantly during brumation, allowing reptiles to go weeks or months without eating.
• Various reptilian species, including turtles, snakes, and lizards, exhibit brumation behavior by burrowing, seeking refuge in underground dens or caves, or hiding under rocks or vegetation.
• Brumation is crucial for reptiles to survive cold climates until they can reemerge to feed and reproduce in more favorable conditions.

ANSWER: B

• The 17th Lok Sabha, which concluded in February 2024, witnessed a notable decline in its average annual sitting days to 55 according to a statistical study by the non-profit PRS Legislative Research.

AVERAGE ANNUAL SITTING DAYS:

• First Lok Sabha (With Jawaharlal Nehru as Leader):
  • Average: 135 days per year.
• 17th Lok Sabha (Concluded in February 2024):
  • Average: 55 days per year.
  • Total sittings: 274.
• Factors Influencing Decrease:
  • Pandemic Impact: Pandemic mentioned as one explanation for the decrease in sitting days.
• Session Adjournments:
  • 11 out of 15 sessions during the 17th Lok Sabha were adjourned early.
  • Resulted in the cancellation of 40 scheduled sittings.
• Year-wise Sitting Days:
  • Lowest Sitting Days: Parliament sat for the lowest number of days in 2020 – a total of 33 days.
• Constitutional Position:
  • Deputy Speaker Absence:
• 17th Lok Sabha operated without a Deputy Speaker.
• Constitutionally mandated position as per Article 93.

ANSWER: C

• Australia Dominates U19 World Cup 2024 Final, Secures 4th Title with a 79-Run Victory Over India.

2024 ICC UNDER-19 MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP:

• The 2024 ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup was an international limited-overs cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), that was held in South Africa from 19 January to 11 February 2024.
• It was the fifteenth edition of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup. India were the defending champions.

 U19 WORLD CUP:

• The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is an international cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) contested by national under-19 teams.
• First contested in 1988, as the Youth Cricket World Cup, it was not staged again until 1998. Since then, the World Cup has been held as a biennial event, organised by the ICC.
• Among the full members, India have won the World Cup on a record five occasions,while Australia have won four times.

ANSWER: B

• The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has not put in its annual appearance this year too at the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh and its surrounding areas.

ROLLAPADU WILDLIFE SANCTUARY:

• Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife sanctuary in the Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Known primarily as a habitat of the great Indian bustard, the species has suffered a drastic fall in its numbers in the sanctuary in recent years.
• Established as an ideal site for the protection of the bustard in the 1980s.

KEY POINTS ABOUT GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD (GIB) ?

About:

• The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) , the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
• It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
• Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Threat:

• The bird is under constant threats due to collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting (still prevalent in Pakistan), habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion, etc.

PROTECTION STATUS:

• International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List (IUCN): Critically Endangered.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix 1.
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix 1.
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule 1.

ANSWER: B

Two individuals have died from Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in Karnataka since the start of 2024.

WHAT IS KYASANUR FOREST DISEASE (KFD)?

About:

Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), a zoonotic illness, is colloquially referred to as “monkey disease” due to its link with monkey fatalities.

It is caused by the Kyasanur Forest disease Virus (KFDV), which primarily affects humans and monkeys.

It was first identified in 1957 in a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka. Since then, between 400-500 human cases per year have been reported.

Eventually, KFD emerged as a grave public health problem spreading through the entire Western Ghats.

Transmission:

In nature, the virus is maintained mainly in hard ticks (Haemaphysalis spinigera), monkeys, rodents, and birds.

To humans, it may occur after a tick bite or contact with an infected animal (a sick or recently dead monkey).

Symptoms:

Characterized by chills, frontal headache, body ache, and high fever for five to 12 days with a case fatality rate of 3 to 5%.

ANSWER: D

• In a recent update by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, significant plans have been outlined for the development of Mega Ports in India by 2047.
• Six port clusters identified for development as Mega Ports by 2047.
  • Four port clusters with a capacity exceeding 300 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA):
    • Cochin –Vizhinjam Port cluster
    • Galathea South Bay Port
    • Chennai – Kamarajar– Cuddalore Port cluster
    • Paradip and Other Non-Major Ports Cluster.
  • Two port clusters with Capacity Exceeding 500 MTPA:
    • Deendayal and Tuna Tekra
    • Jawaharlal Nehru – Wadhawan.