Day-518 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

Answer: B
Explanation:
● Nearly 200 countries have agreed to a legally-binding Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty, also known as the ‘High Seas Treaty’ to protect marine life in international waters, which cover around half of the planet’s surface, but have long been essentially lawless.
Option(d) is correct:

How will the High Seas Treaty protect marine life?
● The key measure is to put the world’s international waters into protected areas (MPAs) – which will help achieve the global goal of protecting 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, which was agreed at the 2022 UN biodiversity conference.
● Activity can occur in these areas but only “provided it is consistent with the conservation objectives” – meaning it doesn’t damage marine life.
● This could mean limiting fishing activities, shipping routes and exploration activities like deep-sea mining. It does not ban deep-sea mining. Hence, the statement in option b) is incorrect.
● Environmental groups are seriously concerned about the possible effects of mining, such as disturbing sediments, creating noise pollution and damaging breeding grounds.
● Countries will propose areas to be protected, and these will then be voted on by the countries that sign up to the treaty.
The treaty’s other important points are:
● arrangements for sharing marine genetic resources; and
● requirements for environmental impact assessments (EIA) for deep sea activities like mining

Answer: B
Explanation:
The Climate Change Performance Index 2023 report was released, and India secured 8th position in the index which is 2 positions up from the last edition.
● Statement 1 is incorrect: Published annually since 2005, the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) tracks countries’ efforts to combat climate change. As an independent monitoring tool it aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics. Germanwatch, the NewClimate Institute and the Climate Action Network publish the index annually.
● Statement 2 is correct: No country was strong enough in all index categories to achieve an overall very high rating, thus the top three places i.e 1-3 are vacant.
● Statement 3 is correct: India secured 8th position in the index which is 2 positions up from the last edition. With India (8th), the United Kingdom (11th), and Germany (16th), only three G20 countries are among the high performers in CCPI 2023. Thus, India’s rank is the best amongst the G20 countries.

Answer: C
Explanation:
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked all Higher Education Institutions to immediately register online the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) platform and upload the date of student credits earned during or after the 2021-22 academic year.
● Statement 1 is correct: As per the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), ABC has been envisaged to facilitate the academic mobility of the students with the freedom to study across HEIs in the country with an appropriate “credit transfer” mechanism across programmes.
● Statement 2 is correct: The University Grants Commission has amended the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) regulation to bring all higher education institutions under the same platform.
● Statement 3 is correct: It allows multiple entry, multiple exit for students. By multiple entry, multiple exit for students coming into action, a student will get the option to drop their course and resume it at a later stage as and when they desire or deem it worth pursuing. While dropping out is perceived with a negative notion in our society, implementing the Multiple Entry and Exit System(MEES) eases the burden on a student who has to drop out because of financial circumstances or other reasons.
● Statement 4 is incorrect: It facilitate the academic mobility of students with the freedom to study across the Higher Education Institutions in the country with an appropriate “credit transfer” mechanism from one programme to another, leading to attain a Degree/ Diploma/PG-diploma, etc.,

Answer: B
Explanation:
In August 2022, the OECD approved the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) which provides for the reporting of tax information on transactions in Crypto-Assets in a standardised manner.
● Statement 1 is incorrect: With a view to increase transparency among nations, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) has developed the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).
● Statement 2 is correct: The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) required jurisdictions to obtain information from financial institutions and banks and exchange such information with other jurisdictions. The CARF is a step forward in this direction as crypto assets do not automatically fall in the realm of CRS that deal with traditional financial assets and fiat currencies. With CARF, the reporting scope has been expanded to include digital assets and consequently have visibility over intermediaries, exchanges and e-wallet service providers.

Answer: B
Explanation:
The Jharkhand government’s decision to turn Shri Sammed Shikharji, the holiest pilgrimage site of Jains into a tourist spot, was not welcomed by the Jain community. The reason why Sammed Shikharji is so important to the Jain community is that 20 out of the 24 Tirthankaras- original preachers of Jainism and many other Jain ascetics attained moksha through meditation there (Sammed Shikhar- peak of concentration). Jains today believe that carrying out this Tirth would help them in the deliverance from the life of sin and consequences.
● Although many Jain Tirthankaras attained moksha at this place, but it is not associated with Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara. He is supposed to have attained kevalajnana (infinite knowledge, omniscience) outside the town of Jrimbhikagrama, on the banks of the Rijupalika river, in the field of a householder named Samaga, located in present day Jamui district of Bihar. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.
● According to beliefs of the Jain community, Shikharji is ranked with Ashtapad, Girnar, Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu and Shatrunjaya as the ‘Pancha Tirth’ or the five principal pilgrimage shrines. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
● Jainism is divided into two sects based on the difference in a few principles of Jainism. These sects are Svetambar (white-clad) and Digambar (sky-clad). There is also a visible difference in the idols of Mahavir of both sects. Nevertheless, the Shikharji is a pilgrim site for both the Svetambar and the Digambar Jains and contains temples with idols belonging to both sects.
● The temple is on the highest hill of Jharkhand- Parasnath in the Giridh district of Jharkhand. It is situated at a great elevation of 1,365 m (4,478 ft). It is named after the 23rd Tirthankara- Lord Parshavnath.