Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 29-03-2023

Q1. India is considering reintroducing tigers to which of the following southeast asian countries?

a. Thailand

b. Cambodia

c. Myanmar

d. Singapore

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Why some tigers from India may be sent to Cambodia

After African Cheetahs were successfully translocated to India recently, the government is considering sending some tigers to Cambodia, where the big cat has gone extinct. As reported by The Indian Express, India signed a memorandum of understanding with Cambodia in November to assist it with “all technical details and knowledge’’ regarding the reintroduction of the tiger in the country.

How Did Tigers Go Extinct In Cambodia?

Due to habitat destruction and poaching. Tigers need large habitats to roam in and a significant prey base to hunt. As forests were cut down for development activities and as human habitats extended into forests, the tiger’s habitat came under stress. Smaller habitats meant more competition for prey, more inbreeding, and more human-animal conflict.

Also, tigers were killed for their valuable body parts. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), “Every part of the tiger—from whisker to tail—has been found in illegal wildlife markets. A result of persistent demand, their bones, and other body parts are used for modern health tonics and folk remedies, and their skins are sought after as status symbols among some Asian cultures.”

The last tiger spotted on a camera trap in Cambodia was in 2007. In April 2016, Cambodia announced that tigers were “functionally extinct”, meaning no breeding populations of the animal were left in the country.

Q2. Consider the following statements with respect to the Rhododendrons

1. This species is primarily grown in the north temperate zone and thrives in moist acidic soils

2. The production of Guranse, a wine made from Rhododendron flowers, is a popular village industry in some parts of the Himalayas

3. Rhododendron has been used extensively in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Tibetan Medicine

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

a. 1 only

b. 1 and 3 only

c. 2 and 3 only

d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Unleashing The Potential Of Rhododendrons

• The livelihood of forest communities is enriched by the biodiversity found within the forest, providing sustenance and fortitude. The Himalayan forests boast an abundant variety of species, with approximately 40% being unique to the Indian subcontinent.

• These species hold immense medicinal and therapeutic value, capable of satiating the communities’ basic needs, generating financial independence, and opening doors for rural livelihoods.

• One of these species, the Rhododendron arboreum from the Garhwal Himalaya’s, stands tall as an emblem of hope, contributing to the alleviation of poverty and nurturing sustainable development in these communities.

• Rhododendron arboreum, locally known as buransh, is a petite evergreen tree with striking crimson blooms and a bark tinted in pinkish brown. This species is a member of the Ericaceae family and predominantly found in the Himalayas, ranging from 1200 to 4000 meters. The tree can grow up to a towering height of 20 meters, bearing dark green leaves that measure between 3-7 inches, coated with silvery or brown fur underneath.

• Rhododendron flowers are either scented or not, and typically tubular or funnel-shaped, displaying an array of colours such as white, pink, and red, blooming from February to April. The fruit capsules are cylindrical, curved, and longitudinally ribbed, producing ellipsoid-shaped seeds that mature from September to October. Rhododendron owes its name to the Greek words “rhodo,” meaning “rose,” and “dendron,” meaning “tree.”

• This species is primarily grown in the north temperate zone and thrives in moist acidic soils. It originates from the valley of the Himalayas and some regions of Southeast Asia. The Rhododendron arboreum species holds the distinction of being the state tree of Uttarakhand, the state flower of Nagaland and Himachal Pradesh in India, and the national flower of Nepal.

Source Of Livelihood:

• Rhododendron arboreum has a special place in the hearts and livelihoods of those who dwell in the mountainous regions. The stem wood of this tree is a valuable source of fuel, and its durable wood is crafted into various products like tool handles, gift boxes, and packsaddles, renowned for their usefulness and unique aroma.

• Rich in potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamin C, Rhododendron products are often consumed as appetizers, traditionally known to provide relief from mountain and seasonal sickness. The flowers of this plant are traditionally used to make a variety of delicious products such as pickles, juice, jams, syrups, honey, and squash, and are even offered to deities during religious ceremonies.

• The production of Guranse, a wine made from Rhododendron flowers, is a popular village industry in some parts of the Himalayas. The fully bloomed Rhododendron flowers in the Garhwal mountains are a stunning sight, captivating every visitor and drawing them closer to this unique species.

• The phytochemicals present in Rhododendron, such as flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, have been reported to imbue it with a range of medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective benefits.

• Rhododendron has been used extensively in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Tibetan Medicine due to its medicinal properties. Practitioners use various parts of the plant to cure many ailments.

Q3. Which of the following communities celebrate Nowruz in India?

a. Muslim Bohra community

b. Banjara community

c. Parsi community

d. Nirankari sect

Answer (c)

Explanation:

A Brief History Of Nowruz: Celebration Of Beginnings, Assertion Of Identity

• While for the Kurds, Nowruz stands as a symbol of resistance, for Persians, it is purely a cultural festival. In India, the Parsi community celebrates it with fervour.

• Nowruz, also spelled as Navroz, is celebrated by the ethnic Iranian population every year in various parts of the world. The Parsi community in India, which follows Zoroastrianism, celebrated Nowruz on March 21, marking the beginning of the New Year. The festival symbolises freshness, rebirth and freedom, according to the community.

How is Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, defined?

Nowruz begins on the first day of the Farvardin, the first month of the Iranian solar calendar at the spring equinox, and continues for 12 days. While Ali Shariati, a published author in the journal of Iranian Studies, describes it as “the climax of blossoming, the anxiety of births,” and a festival “filled with the excitement of every “beginning”,” authors SNR Rizvi and Poonam Pant, who attempt a historical reconstruction of the festival in their works, consider it as “a festival of renewal, hope, and happiness.”

In India, the Iranian New Year is celebrated with ardour — people visit the Fire Temple, the place of worship of the Parsi community, decorate their houses, prepare delicacies, and perform rituals based on the movements of the sun during the course of the day.

Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to section 144 of Indian Penal Code

1. This law empowers the magistrate of any state or union territory in India to pass an order prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in a specified area

2. The law empowers a district magistrate, a sub-divisional magistrate, or any other executive magistrate empowered by the state government, to issue orders to prevent and address urgent cases of apprehended danger or nuisance

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (c)

Explanation:

‘Conferring drastic powers upon the executive through

Section 144 unacceptable’

• Conferring drastic powers upon the executive or the police through Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) is not acceptable in a nation governed by the rule of law, former Chief Justice of India U.U. Lalit said.

• The CJI made this comment while speaking at the launch event of a report titled ‘The Use and Misuse of Section 144 CrPC’, at the India International Centre.

‘National interest’

• The report examines nearly 5,400 orders issued for the enforcement of Section 144 in the city. In some cases, Section 144 was used to regulate the sale of balms or cough syrups, which are often used as drugs.

• Section 144 is an emergency provision to prevent rioting, and maintain tranquility and peace. But as per this report, the State uses it to snoop on regular life.

Section 144 Of The CrPC:

• This colonial-era law, which has been retained in the Code, empowers a district magistrate, a sub-divisional magistrate, or any other executive magistrate empowered by the state government, to issue orders to prevent and address urgent cases of apprehended danger or nuisance.

• Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was enacted in the year 1973. This law empowers the magistrate of any state or union territory in India to pass an order prohibiting the gathering of four or more people in a specified area. The various provisions of Section 144 makes it possible to book all the members of such gathering termed as ‘unlawful assembly’ under the charges of having engaged in rioting.

Q5. Consider the following statements

1. Tropical forests store the bulk of carbon in the biomass

2. Mangroves store carbon is primarily in the soil

3. The carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems is called blue carbon

Which of the above is/are correct?

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 2 and 3 only

c. 1 and 3 only

d. 1, 2 and 3

Answer (d)

Explanation:

Tropical forests store the bulk of carbon in the biomass, mangrove carbon is primarily stored in the soil. The carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems is called blue carbon.