Daily Current Affairs Quiz11 January, 2025 International Affairs 1. US Sanctions on Russia’s Energy Sector! Context: President Joe Biden’s administration announced that it’s expanding sanctions against Russia’s critically important energy sector, unveiling a new effort to inflict pain on Moscow for its nearly 3-year-old war in Ukraine as President-elect Donald Trump gets set to return to office vowing to quickly end the conflict. Key Highlights: What is Economic Sanction? Economic sanctions or embargoes involve commercial and financial penalties directed by states or institutions toward specific states, groups, or individuals. Economic sanctions are a force that aims at forcing an actor into changing its behavior in the sense that it causes distress in the country’s economic interchange. National Affairs 1. Malnutrition In India Context: UNICEF foresees 3.2 million children under five to suffer acute malnutrition this year in war-torn Sudan. An estimated 7,72,000 children are likely to suffer from severe acute malnutrition. Sudan Crisis Sudan has endured 20 months of war between the Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killing tens of thousands and, according to the United Nations, uprooting 12 million in the world’s largest displacement crisis. Defining Malnutrition Malnutrition involves deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in terms of energy or nutrients. Types of malnutrition include wasting, stunting, underweight, and diseases related to micronutrient malnutrition. Overall, by 2022, the numbers for global pictures were as follows: 149 million children under 5 years were stunted; 45 million were wasted; and 37 million were overweight or obese. Malnutrition Health Impact in India What Are the Problems That India Faces in the Management of Malnutrition? Tackling Malnutrition in India: Key Strategies Government Initiatives to Tackle Malnutrition? UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) Prelims: Q. Which of the following is/are the indicators/ indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report? (2016) Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only(b) 2 and 3 only(c) 1, 2 and 3(d) 1 and 3 only Ans: C Mains: Q. How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India? (2018) UNICEF UNICEF is the shortened version of United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, a UN agency that delivers humanitarian and developmental assistance to children around the world. It is currently operating in 192 countries by providing immunization, prevention of diseases, HIV treatment, improvement of nutrition, sanitation, education, and disaster relief. It is a giant social welfare entity in the global arena. 2. Writs Jurisdictions of the Supreme Court Context: The Supreme Court directed that status quo be maintained with respect to a well located near the entrance of a religious site in U.P. The Status Quo The status quo is a Latin phrase that means the current state of affairs, or the way things are at a particular time. The Supreme Court of India defines “status quo” as the existing state of affairs at a given time. In a judicial order, “status quo” means that the existing position should not be changed, and the subject matter’s features or character should not be altered.  Writs Jurisdictions of the Supreme Court The Supreme Court of India issues writs under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. A writ is an order issued through a formal writing to enforce a fundamental right and correct legal wrongs. UPSC PYQ Question: With reference to the writs issued by the Courts in India, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct? Options: Answer: Option 3: 1 and 3 only Explanation: 3. Rat-Hole Mining Context: The body of another worker, who was trapped inside a coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, was recovered on Saturday from the quarry during rescue operations. DefinitionRat-hole mining, a method of manually digging narrow holes in North East India for coal extraction, is banned by the National Green Tribunal but still used by artisanal mining operations in Meghalaya. Legal Status Techniques Employed 4. Coal and Coal Mining in India Introduction to Coal Coal is a carbonaceous material which exists in stratified sedimentary deposits.It is a main fossil fuel and natural source of energy. Coal Mining in India Government Steps to Boost Production of Coal Technology for Improved Coal Mining Measures to Mitigate Pollution UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ) Prelims Q1. Consider the following statements: (2019) Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans: (a) Exp: Q2. Which of the following is/are the characteristic/characteristics of Indian coal? (2013) Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans: (a) Mains Q. Despite India being one of the countries of Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss. (2021) Q. “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development”. Discuss. (2017) 5. Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) Context: Tamil Nadu’s Local Body Elections delayed of the 9,624 village panchayats, 314 panchayat unions, and 28 district panchayats. Local Self Government: Rural Local Governments (Articles 243G and 243H): Urban Local Governments (Articles 243-P to 243-ZG) 73rd Constitutional Amendment Salient Features: UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQ Q. Local self-government can be best explained as an exercise in (2017) (a) Federalism(b) Democratic decentralisation(c) Administrative delegation(d) Direct democracy Ans: (b) Q. The fundamental object of Panchayati Raj system is to ensure which among the following? (2015) Select the correct answer using the code given below (a) 1, 2 and 3 only(b) 2 and 4 only(c) 1 and 3 only(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 Ans: (c) 6. Global Warming Context: First time ever in history, global temperature exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial level in 2024, confirmed by C3S data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Global Warming and its Effect on India Global warming results from the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that trap heat