UPSC Daily Quiz | 4 September 2024

Explanation:

Relevance: Recently, member states of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) signed the Charter and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing a permanent secretariat in Colombo.

• The Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) is a regional security grouping comprising India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Mauritius. 
• The CSC's primary goal is to enhance regional security by addressing shared threats and challenges faced by its members. 
• Founded in 2011 as a trilateral forum between India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, the CSC has expanded its membership to include Mauritius and Bangladesh.
• The CSC's cooperation framework is centered around five key pillars: maritime safety and security, counter-terrorism and radicalization, combating trafficking and transnational organized crime, cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
• The conclave brings together National Security Advisors and Deputy National Security Advisors from the member countries to discuss and address these challenges collectively. By establishing a permanent secretariat, the CSC aims to further enhance its effectiveness in promoting regional security and stability.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | IR

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

Explanation:

Relevance: Odisha has become the only state to provide such habitat rights to the highest number of particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) including the Saora tribals.

• The Saora tribe, an ancient community with roots in the epic tales of Ramayana and Mahabharata, primarily resides in Odisha. (Hence, statement 1 is correct)
• Known by various names such as Savaras, Sabaras, Saura, Sora, and more, the Saora tribe has a rich and diverse identity.
• While Odisha is the heartland of the Saora tribe, small populations can also be found in neighboring states like Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam.
• The Saora language, a member of the Munda language family, showcases their unique cultural heritage. Furthermore, the tribe is among the few in India to possess a script for their language, Sorang Sompeng. (Hence, statement 2 is not correct)
• Despite their rich cultural tapestry, the Saora tribe faces challenges, such as the decline of their traditional tattooing practice, 'Tantangbo'. (Hence, statement 3 is correct)

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Art and Culture

Level of Difficulty: Moderate | Factual

Explanation:

Relevance: In response to the hunger crisis, the Namibian government announced a controversial plan which entailed culling of 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants.

• Namibia sits on the southwestern coast of Africa. The country gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Windhoek is Namibia’s capital and largest city.
• Namibia shares borders with Angola, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the west.
• The Namib Desert runs along the Atlantic coast. The Central Plateau covers the center of Namibia. It is a high area with hills and mountains. The Kalahari Desert is in the east.
• Namibia’s climate is generally dry and hot. Because there is little rain, the country has only a few rivers that flow year-round. Droughts are common.
• Despite its dry landscape, Namibia is home to lions, giraffes, zebras, antelope, elephants, and rhinoceroses. The country protects many animals in Etosha National Park.
• The Ovambo people and other African groups make up most of Namibia’s population.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Geography

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Explanation:

Relevance: The Union government recently decided to establish foot-and-mouth disease-free zones in eight States — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

• Statement 1 is not correct: FMD is not a zoonotic disease; it primarily affects animals and does not pose a direct threat to human health.
• Statement 2 is not correct: FMD is specifically caused by the FMD virus, not the influenza virus or other viruses.
• Statement 3 is correct: FMD can spread through contaminated materials, such as infected livestock, equipment, and even the environment.
• Statement 4 is correct: FMD can cause significant economic losses due to its rapid spread, leading to restrictions on livestock trade, decreased productivity, and potential slaughter of infected animals.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | S&T

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual

Explanation:

Relevance: India to become third largest economy with GDP of $5 trillion in three years: Finance Ministry.

• Gross National Product at Market Prices is the value of all the final goods and services that are produced by the normal residents of India and is measured at the market prices, in a year.
• It refers to all the economic output produced by a nation’s normal residents, whether they are located within the national boundary or abroad.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Subject: Current Affairs | Economy

Level of Difficulty: Easy | Factual