UPSC QUIZ 01.09.2023

Explanation:

• A study published in the journal Variable Communications has found that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), the frequency of cyclones originating near the equator, may increase in coming years.

Equatorial-Origin or Low Latitude Cyclones

• Equatorial origin or Low Latitudes Cyclones (LLCs) originate between 5°N and 11°N. These cyclones are much smaller in size than those in higher latitudes but intensify more rapidly.
• Cyclones forming near the equator (low-latitude) is usually rare but when the waters are warm, they can gain more moisture and rise in intensity.
• Majority of cyclones originate in the Western Pacific Ocean.
• The last major cyclone of this kind in the Indian neighbourhood was the 2017 Cyclone Ockhi which travelled >2000 km and devastated Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.

Explanation:

• ISRO’s Chandrayaan-3 mission’s Pragyan rover has successfully confirmed the presence of sulphur on the lunar surface near the south pole.
• Utilizing the Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) instrument, this achievement marks the first in-situ measurements of lunar composition.
• Elements like aluminium, calcium, iron, and more have also been detected by the rover. These findings are crucial for enhancing our understanding of the moon’s elemental makeup.
• Chandrayaan-3 aims to achieve multiple objectives, including safe landing, rover capabilities demonstration, and in-situ scientific experiments. The mission’s unique landing near the lunar south pole gives India a significant advantage in collecting groundbreaking data, with possibilities for extension if equipment withstands lunar night temperatures.

Explanation:

• Goa Shipyard Limited and Kenya Shipyard Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29 August 2023 for capacity building and cooperation in ship design and construction.

Main point

• The Kenyan Cabinet Defense Secretary is on a three-day visit to India and will visit Indian shipyards and defense industries in Goa and Bengaluru during his stay.
• Visiting Kenyan Defense Cabinet Secretary Aden Beyer Duelle discusses capacity building and defense industry cooperation with Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
• The two ministers agreed that the defense relationship between the two countries has evolved from being training-centric to include more strategic aspects.
• The two ministers also agreed on the need for deeper cooperation in maritime security of the Indian Ocean region.

Explanation:

• India's Current Account Deficit (CAD) is being influenced by shifts in trade patterns.
• The deficit is expected to decrease to around USD 10 billion or 1% of the GDP in the April-June quarter of 2023-24, down from USD 18 billion or 2.1% in the same period of 2022-23.
• CAD is a crucial economic indicator that quantifies the difference between a country's earnings from foreign trade and its expenditures on imports of goods and services, including transfer payments.
• A CAD arises when a nation's imports exceed its exports, leading to an outflow of currency and often necessitating foreign borrowing to bridge the gap.
• A low CAD can be seen as a positive economic indicator because it often implies that the country's economy is self-sustaining and is able to finance its external commitments without straining its resources.
• It can also indicate that the country is competitive in international trade and has a balanced approach to its imports and exports.

Explanation:

• Chokuwa rice, popularly known as "magic rice", received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• The GI tag recognizes its exceptional qualities and heritage.
• Chokuwa rice is closely linked to the history of Assam and has a historical connection with the Ahom dynasty.
• This variety of rice is specially cultivated in the Brahmaputra river region.
• Cultivation areas include Tinsukia, Dhemaji, and Dibrugarh in Assam.