April 11 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Jainism is an ancient religion based on nonviolence, austerity, and spiritual purity.
• Pre-Mahavira Origins: The faith predates Mahavir, with historical validation for Parsvanatha & Mahavir.
• According to Jainism, Jiva (soul) is eternal & conscious; Ajiva (non-soul) includes matter, space, time.
  • Every soul possesses infinite knowledge, faith, bliss & power (anantacatustaya).

Statements 2 and 3 are correct

• The doctrines of Jainism also addresses:
  • Karma and Rebirth: Subtle karmic matter binds the soul; even unintentional acts generate karma; hence occupations causing harm are avoided, eg, agriculture, animal transport, and related trades.
  • Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara) by shedding Karmic particles.
  • Ascetic Traditions: Extreme asceticism, fasting & meditation are means of liberation (Kaivalya).
  • Steps to Kaivalya: Asrav (influx of karmas), Samvara (stoppage of karmic inflow), Nirjara (shedding of karmas) and Kaivalya or Kevala Jnana (attainment of omniscience).

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Sudan Virus Disease (SUDV) belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus disease caused by the Sudan virus.
• It was first identified in southern Sudan in June 1976. The current outbreak is in Uganda. SUDV is enzootic and present in animal reservoirs in the region.
• Transmission: Person-to-person transmission occurs directly with blood, other bodily fluids, organs, or contaminated surfaces and materials.

Statement 2 is correct

• Symptoms: It is typically characterised by acute onset of fever with non-specific symptoms/signs (e.g., abdominal pain, anorexia, fatigue, malaise, myalgia, sore throat), usually followed several days later by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and occasionally a variable rash.

Statement 3 is correct

• Mortality Rate: Varies by outbreak but generally between 41% to 100%.
• Vaccine: Currently, no specific treatment or licensed vaccine for the Sudan virus disease.

Answer: (c) All three; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Palna scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the Samarthya sub-scheme of Mission Shakti, reorganised in 2022 from the erstwhile National Crèche Scheme.
• It is implemented by the Ministry of Women & Child Development with Centre-State funding ratios of 60:40 (States & UTs with legislature), 90:10 (NE & Special Category States) & 100% central funding for UTs without legislature.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• It provides day-care, early stimulation, preschool education, nutrition under Poshan 2.0 and essential health services like immunisation and growth monitoring.
• Provides institutional care for abandoned/orphaned children below 6 yrs & facilitates their adoption while also offering structured crèche support for all working mothers, irrespective of their employment status.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• It is supervised by Anganwadi Workers; coordinated with ASHA workers and PHCs.
• Standardized Operational Norms: Each crèche serves up to 25 children, operates 26 days a month for 7.5 hours daily and must be located within 0.5-1 km of mothers’ homes or workplaces.
• Ensures enforcement of Section 11A of the Maternity Benefit Act for crèche facilities in establishments with 50+ employees and aligns with labour laws and ICDS.

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

Explanation

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

• Duel Direct Fusion Drive technology (DDFD) is a compact nuclear fusion engine that could provide both thrust and electrical power for spaceships.
• Unlike traditional fusion reactors, where the energy produced must be converted to thrust, the DDFD produces charged particles that can be converted for propulsion.
• This technology opens unprecedented possibilities to explore the solar system in a limited amount of time and with a very high payload-to-propellant mass ratio.

Answer: (a) Both Statement – I and Statemetn -II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statementt -II; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statements 1 is correct

• Economic Partnership:
  • Bilateral trade grew to $85 billion in 2022-23.
  • UAE is India’s 3rd largest trading partner & 2nd largest export destination.
  • It is also the 4th largest overall investor in India.
• Energy security:
  • UAE is the only nation in the region that has strategic oil reserves stored in India.
  • An agreement was signed between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company to invest in the strategic crude oil storage facility in Mangaluru with an initial investment of $400 million.

Statements 2 is correct

• Bilateral Agreement:
  • The India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signed on February 18, 2022.
  • It aims to increase trade in services to $115 billion in five years.
  • The bilateral investment treaty with the UAE was ratified on February 1, 2024.
  • This has the potential to boost manufacturing and attract increased foreign direct investment.

Statement 3 is correct

• Co-operation in Fintech: The RuPay card, a key component of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), has been accepted in the UAE since August 2019.

Answer: (c) All three; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• India celebrates World Homoeopathy Day by hosting its largest-ever symposium in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
• Homoeopathy:
  • Foundational Principle: Based on the concept of “Like Cures Like” meaning a substance causing symptoms in a healthy person can treat similar symptoms in a sick person.
  • Nature of Treatment: Holistic, natural and gentle system enhancing the body’s innate healing power without side effects.
• India’s Homoeopathy Ecosystem:
  • It includes 3.45 lakh doctors, 8,500+ dispensaries, 277 colleges, 384 pharma firms, 35+ research centres, and 28 regulatory councils ensuring accessible care, education, research, and ethical practice.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Central Oversight: Entire ecosystem governed by National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) under Ministry of AYUSH.

Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Japan has built the world’s first operational 3D-printed train station within 6 hours.
• Modular Construction: Components were printed remotely and transported for on-site assembly.

Statement 2 is correct

• 3D Printing (Additive Manufacturing):
  • 3D Printing is the layer-by-layer creation of physical objects from a digital model using various materials.
  • Unlike subtractive manufacturing, which removes material, 3D printing minimises waste and allows for complex design structures.
• Components of 3D Printing: Involves creating a digital blueprint designed using a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model, slicing it into horizontal layers using slicing software, and printing it layer by layer with a 3D printer using materials like thermoplastics, resin, metals, cement or biocompatible tissues.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Common Technologies in Use:
  • Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM): Most popular method using melted plastic filaments like PLA/ABS.
  • Stereolithography (SLA): Cures liquid resin using UV light; known for fine detailing.
  • Selective Laser Sintering: Uses lasers to fuse powdered material; ideal for industrial & functional parts.
  • Direct Metal Laser Sintering: Fuses metal powders; used in aerospace, defense & medical equipment.
  • Direct Energy Deposition (DED): DED uses a high-energy heat source to melt and deposit material and is often used in metal printing.
  • Material Jetting: Photopolymer droplets are UV-cured; suited for high-accuracy-colored prototypes.

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Planets’ temperatures are mostly determined by their structural properties and closeness to the Sun.
• However, Venus stands out as a unique situation because its thick atmosphere creates a greenhouse effect, resulting in surface temperatures exceeding lead’s melting point.
• Mercury, on the other hand, has a slow rotation and a scant atmosphere, resulting in a temperature differential of more than 1000°F between its day and night sides.

Answer: (a) 1-2-3-4; Difficulty Level: Hard