November 08 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India has dropped to 1.9 as of 2021, below the replacement rate of 2.1, suggesting a trend toward slower population growth.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Southern states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala) show slower growth and higher life expectancy, while northern states (Bihar, Uttar Pradesh) have higher fertility rates and slower ageing.

Statement 3 is correct

• National elderly average is 10.1%; Kerala and Tamil Nadu have higher proportions at 16.5% and 13.7%, respectively. Tamil Nadu’s elderly share will reach 20.8%, Kerala’s 22.8%, and Bihar’s will grow more slowly from 7.7% to 11%.

Answer: (b) Only two; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• Ten thousand new seeds arrived at the Svalbard Seed Vault, marking the largest deposits in its 16-year history.

Option (d) is correct

• Situated in Svalbard, an Arctic Archipelago belonging to Norway, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault serves as the world’s main backup for seeds, safeguarding global crop diversity against crises and earning the title of the “doomsday” vault, though it supports both emergencies and routine conservation.
• It houses over one million varieties of food crops from around 80 countries and stores duplicate seeds from gene banks worldwide, offering a no-cost backup.
• Managed by the Nordic Genetic Resources Centre under a U.N. treaty, the vault ensures that only depositors can access their seeds, retaining ownership and confidentiality over each sample.
• Supported by a global network, including the United Nations and organizations associated with the Green Revolution, the vault has been recognized with the World Food Prize for its vital role in food security.

Answer: (d) Norway; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Labour Bureau is an attached office under the Ministry of Labour & Employment; headquartered in Chandigarh.

Statement 2 is correct

• It collects, collates and disseminates labour, employment and price statistics.

Statement 3 is correct

• It is the source of primary data to several economic indicators like Consumer Price Index Numbers for Industrial Workers, Agricultural and Rural Labourers, Wage Rate Indices, etc.
• Wage Rate Index (WRI) is released by Labour Bureau.
  • It is based on the recommendations of the International Labour Organization and the National Statistical Commission.
  • The new series on WRI has been compiled on a half-year basis (on the first of January and July every year) as opposed to the annual basis in the existing series.

Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Pharmexcil, or the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India, is indeed the authorized agency of the Government of India tasked with promoting pharmaceutical exports.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Pharmexcil was set up under the provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, not the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
• Products and services falling under Pharmexcil: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), Finished Dos-age Forms (FDF), Surgicals, Nutraceuticals, Clinical Trials & Consultancy, Regulatory Services
• Headquarter: Hyderabad.

Answer: (a) 1 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Black-footed ferret belongs to the weasel family and is indeed the only ferret species native to North America.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Black-footed ferret is solitary (except during the breeding season), nocturnal, and spends most of its time underground.
• Diet: Carnivores; Eats prairie dogs, mice, ground squirrels, or other small animals.

Statement 3 is correct

• The Black-footed ferret is classified as Endangered by the IUCN and is listed under Appendix I of CITES, which provides the highest level of protection.

Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Vampire bats are the only mammals known to survive solely on a blood diet, and they are native to the warmer humid tropical and subtropical regions of Latin America, including Central & South America.

Statement 2 is correct

• Vampire bats have specialized heat sensors on their snouts to locate the best spot on their prey to feed. Their saliva contains an anticoagulant to ensure the blood keeps flowing while they feed.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• They are adept runners, able to move quickly on the ground to approach prey.

Statement 4 is correct

• The IUCN status of Vampire bats is listed as “Least Concern,” and they do indeed track reciprocal food-sharing behaviors among individuals in their social group.
• Unique Behaviour of Vampire Bats:
  • Reciprocity and Tracking: Bats track who has shared food with them in the past, reciprocating with those who have been helpful previously.
  • Testing Relationships: New relationships begin with low-cost actions, like allogrooming (cleaning and maintaining another’s fur) and small food-sharing acts, mirroring how humans initiate friendships.
  • Passive Social Distancing: Sick bats often exhibit reduced social behaviours, such as decreased groom-ing and time spent with others. These behaviours are part of a broader immune response.

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

• Wave Life Sciences pioneers RNA editing for genetic conditions.

Option (c) is correct

• RNA editing refers to changing the sequence of RNA after transcription, either by adding nucleotides, taking them away, or substituting one for another.
• It allows scientists to fix mistakes in the mRNA after the cell synthesizes it but before it reads it to make the proteins.
• Scientists use guide RNA (gRNA) to direct ADAR to the specific part of the mRNA that needs editing, ensuring precise corrections.
  • Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (ADAR) is a group of enzymes in which Adenosine is one of the building blocks of RNA.
• Challenges of RNA editing include:
  • Its transient nature, meaning individuals must be treated repeatedly to sustain the therapy’s effects.
  • There is limited carrying capacity, as current methods to deliver the gRNA-ADAR complex use lipid nanoparticles with limited carrying capacity, meaning they can’t transport large molecules very well.
  • Specificity is another challenge, as ADARs can perform adenosine-inosine changes in both targeted and non-targeted parts of mRNA or skip the targeted parts altogether.

Answer: (c) It refers to changing the sequence of RNA after transcription, either by adding nucleotides, taking them away, or substituting one for another.; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect but statement 3 is correct

• The Indus Waters Treaty is considered a diplomatic success, being a rare example of successful transboundary water cooperation despite conflicts.
• India’s concession grants 80% of the water to Pakistan, demonstrating India’s role as a cooperative upper riparian state.
• Disputes have arisen, particularly over hydropower projects like the Kishanganga on the Jhelum and the Ratle on the Chenab rivers.
• Pakistan initially sought a Neutral Expert, later pursuing arbitration through the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA). India opposed PCA’s jurisdiction under the treaty and did not participate in the proceedings.
• The World Bank intervened by suspending the dual processes (Neutral Expert and PCA) to encourage bilateral talks, but reactivated both processes in 2022 at Pakistan’s request, despite India’s objections.
• Pakistan’s concerns include fears of water scarcity and potential reduction in downstream flow due to India’s projects, emphasizing the need for uninterrupted flow, as upheld by the 2013 PCA ruling.
• Pakistan also accuses India of “water terrorism,” alleging political manipulation of water resources despite adherence to the treaty.
• Proposed modifications include applying the Equitable and Reasonable Utilization (ERU) principles, as outlined in the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention, to address climate change and water scarcity concerns.
• Additionally, implementing Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for hydropower projects affecting shared waters is suggested.
• These modifications align with the 2010 International Court of Justice precedent.

Answer: (b) 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy