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Daily Current Affairs Prelims Quiz 18-03-2023 (Online Prelims Test)

1) Consider the following statements with respect to PM MITRA scheme

  1. The scheme aims to strengthen the Indian textile industry that helps to achieve the UN Sustainable goals 9.
  2. It works under the aegis of Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : a

The Centre has selected sites recently in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, among 7 States to set up new textile parks under PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme.

 PM MITRA scheme

  • PM MITRA scheme was launched in 2022.
  • Ministry - Ministry of Textiles (MoT)
  • Aim – It aims to strengthen the Indian textile industry that helps to achieve the UN Sustainable goals 9 – Industrialisation, Infrastructure and Innovation.
  • The scheme will develop integrated large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facility for total value-chain of the textile industry.
  • The scheme envisages to leverage Public Private Partnership model for fast paced implementation in a time-bound manner.
  • PM MITRA Parks will be set up on the basis of proposals received from State Governments having ready availability of contiguous and encumbrance-free land parcel of minimum 1000 acres.
  • Funding - 51% equity shareholding of State Government and 49% of Central government.
  • The proposals under the Scheme will be approved by the Project Approval Committee (PAC).

2) Consider the following pairs:

Naval Exercises                Host countries

  1. Sea Dragon          -        USA
  2. LA Perouse           -        France
  3. MILAN                   -        India

Which of the pair(s) given above is/are correctly matched?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : d

A P8I aircraft of the Indian Navy arrived at Guam, USA to participate in ‘Exercise Sea Dragon 23’, conducted by the US Navy recently.

Exercise Sea Dragon 23

  • It is a biennial, multi-national naval exercise focused on Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training, tactics, and procedures.
  • The exercise has been held since 2015.
  • Host - US Navy.
  • The exercise involves the participation of naval forces from multiple countries in the Indo-Pacific region, including India, Japan, Canada, and the Republic of Korea.
  • The aim of the exercise is to enhance the collective ASW capabilities of the participating navies, while also promoting mutual trust and cooperation between friendly nations.

Exercise LA Perouse         

  • It is a multilateral exercise designed to enhance cooperation in the field of maritime surveillance, interdiction, and air operations by progressive training and information sharing.
  • Host - French Navy
  • The exercise involves the participation of naval forces from multiple countries like Navies of India, Australia, US, UK, France and Japan.

Exercise MILAN           

  • MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise inaugurated by the Indian Navy in 1995 at Andaman and Nicobar Command.
  • Participating countries - Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand

3) Consider the following statements with respect to Pennaiyar River

  1. This is the 2nd longest river in Tamil Nadu after Cauvery.
  2. The river flows through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh states.
  3. It is a west flowing river in the southern part of India.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : c

The time limit fixed by the Supreme Court for the constitution of an inter-State river water disputes tribunal for Pennaiyar River expired recently.

Pennaiyar River

  • It is a non-perennial river.
  • The river originates in the Nandi Hills in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka and flows through Tamil Nadu to enter the Bay of Bengal at Cuddalore.
  • This is the 2nd longest river in Tamil Nadu after Kaveri.
  • The river is extensively dammed for irrigation, especially in Tamil Nadu.
  • There are also reservoirs at Krishnagiri and Sathanur.
  • Sathanur Dam is the largest dam on this river near Tiruvannamalai.
  • Major tributaries - the Chinnar, Markanda, Vaniar, and Pamban.

pennaiyar river

4) Consider the following statements regarding International Criminal Court (ICC)

  1. It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
  2. It has the jurisdiction to prosecute international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
  3. India is a signatory to the Rome Statute which establishes the ICC.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : c

Recently, International Criminal Court (ICC) issues arrest warrant against Vladimir Putin (Russian President) over Ukraine ‘war crimes’.

International Criminal Court (ICC)

  • ICC is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal.
  • It is the world’s first permanent international criminal court.
  • Headquarter - The Hague, Netherlands.
  • It has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity (CAH), crime of aggression and war crimes.
  • States which become party to the Rome Statute becomes member of ICC.
  • The co-operation of the non-party states with ICC is of voluntary nature.
  • But when a case is referred by the United Nations Security Council to the ICC, all UN member states are obliged to cooperate, since its decisions are binding for all of them.
  • India is not a signatory to the Rome Statute.

International Court of Justice

International Criminal Court

  • It is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
  • It was established for the settlement of disputes between States.
  • Since it is not a criminal court, ICJ has no jurisdiction to try individuals accused of war crimes or crimes against humanity
  • It was setup under the Rome Statute in 2002.
  • States which become party to the Rome Statute becomes member of ICC.
  • It has the jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity (CAH), crime of aggression and war crimes.

5) Consider the following statements with respect to Horseshoe crabs

  1. They look like prehistoric crabs, but are more closely related to scorpions and spiders.
  2. The state of Odisha is the largest habitat of horseshoe crabs in India.
  3. All the four species of Horseshoe crabs are found in India.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

  • a. 
  • b. 
  • c. 
  • d. 
Answer : b

Recently, Scientists have urged Odisha government to immediately come up with a robust protection mechanism before the horseshoe crabs become extinct.

Horseshoe crabs

  • It is a marine chelicerate arthropod living in shallow coastal waters on soft sandy or muddy bottom.
  • It spawns (release or deposit eggs) mostly on intertidal beaches at summer spring high tides.
  • Other than the marine horseshoe crabs, the Chelicerata are found primarily in terrestrial environments worldwide.
  • It is regarded as a marine ‘living fossil’.
  • There are four extant horseshoe crab species:
    • The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus)
    • The tri-spine horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus)
    • The coastal horseshoe crab (Tachypleus gigas)
    • The mangrove horseshoe crab (Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda)
  • The last three are Indo-pacific species found in the coastal waters of India, southeast Asia, China and Japan.
  • The coastal horseshoe crab and the mangrove horseshoe crab are the two species found in India.
  • Odisha is their largest habitat in India.
  • It is in the Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, under which the catching and killing of a horseshoe crab is an offence.
  • IUCN Status:
    • American horseshoe crab: Vulnerable.
    • Tri-spine horseshoe crab: Endangered.
    • Coastal horseshoe crab : Data Deficient
    • Mangrove horseshoe crab: Data Deficient

Medicinal values of Horseshoe Crabs

  • Horseshoe crab blood is bright blue and it is very important for preparation of rapid diagnostic reagent.
  • All injectable and medicines are tested with the help of Horseshoe crabs.
  • A molecule developed from reagent of Horseshoe crab that would help treat pre-eclampsia and lives of many babies could be saved in womb itself.
  • Pre-eclampsia - It is a high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage that occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy.
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