December 05 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect but Statement 2 is correct

• THMDCN is an economic corridor between Nepal and China & part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• Nepal and China signed the MoU to build the Trans-Himalayan Multi-Dimensional Connectivity Network (THMDCN) and the Belt and Road Cooperation framework.
• The corridor consists of several transportation infrastructure projects. The flagship infrastructure project is the China–Nepal railway, which is currently at the stage of feasibility study.
• A number of highway projects are to be implemented including the construction of a tunnel road and upgrading of the Araniko Highway, which was shut down after the Gorkha earthquake. The Araniko Highway ends at the border of the village of Kodari and the Chinese border crossing of Zhangmu.

  

  Source: nepalitimes

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

Explanation

Statements 1, 2 and 4 are correct

• Advantages of Direct Cash Transfers:
  • Bypassing Middlemen: Reduces corruption by directly transferring benefits to Aadhaar-linked accounts.
  • Quick Impact: Creates immediate perception of welfare commitment without delays.
  • Leader-Citizen Bonding: Strengthens personal loyalty through direct transfers.
• Benefits for Political Parties:
  • Encourages policy learning and emulation to avoid losing voters to opposition schemes.
  • Aligns with women-centric narratives like “Nari Shakti” and reservation initiatives.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Challenges of Cash Transfer Schemes:
  • Creates dependency without addressing systemic empowerment needs.
  • Neglects public infrastructure like schools and hospitals requiring long-term investment.
  • Narrow policy focus reduces alternative welfare approaches.

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

Explanation

Option (d) is incorrect

• The Turner Prize is awarded annually.

All other options are correct

• It is named after the renowned British painter J.M.W. Turner.
• It is open to a British artist or an artist working primarily in Britain.
• The ceremony’s location changes each year, rotating between various art institutions in the UK.
• The Turner Prize often highlights social, political, and environmental issues through its nominees and winners.
• Indian-origin Scottish artist Jasleen Kaur has won the Turner Prize 2024 for her exhibition, “Alter Altar”, which reflects on plurality, personal and political themes.
• Indian-origin British artist Anish Kapoor won the prize in 1991.

Answer: (d) The Turner Prize is awarded biennially for paintings and other visual artworks created in the UK; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• The New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) focuses on the financial commitments made by developed countries to support in climate action developing nations.
• It aims to establish a transparent and accountable framework for financial support, particularly for adaptation and mitigation efforts in vulnerable countries.
• The $100 billion annual pledge made at COP21 in Cancun was the starting point, with discussions continuing at COP29 regarding how to scale up these commitments.
• Context of COP29:
  • The outcome of COP29 faced criticism for not addressing the financial disparities between developed and developing countries or ensuring transformative change.
  • The $300 billion annual commitment pledged at COP29 is seen as insufficient, falling short of the estimated $5-7 trillion required by 2030, as highlighted in the UNFCCC’s Second Needs Determination Report.

Answer: (a) The financial commitments made by developed countries to combat climate change.; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Both statements are incorrect

• Rajya Sabha passed the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill 2024 to stream-line oil and gas exploration in India.
• Need for the Bill:
  • Energy Demand: Reduces the gap between domestic production and consumption of oil and gas.
  • Ease of Doing Business (EoDB): Encourages investments by modernising the legal framework.
  • Policy Stability: Attracts domestic and international stakeholders by offering regulatory clarity.
• Key Features of the Bill:
  • Broadened Definition of Mineral Oils: Includes hydrocarbons, coal bed methane and shale gas/oil.
  • Delinking Petroleum and Mining Operations: Separates the regulatory frameworks for EoDB.
  • Decriminalisation of Offences: Removes imprisonment provisions; introduces enhanced penalties for non-compliance.
  • Simplified Dispute Resolution: Establishes an expedited mechanism for penalties and appeals.

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

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• China has banned the export of gallium, germanium, and antimony, citing national security con-cerns. The development came a day after the US prohibited certain chips and machinery and added more than 100 Chinese companies to a restricted trade list.
• Significance of the Banned Rare Minerals:
  • Gallium: A soft, silvery-white metal similar to aluminium, melting point just above room tempera-ture. It is used in semiconductors, LEDs, high-efficiency solar cells, and medical thermometers.
  • Germanium: A greyish-white metalloid that is brittle. It is important for low-carbon technologies such as solar cells, fibre optic cables, infrared technology, and thermal imaging devices.
  • Antimony: It is a hard, brittle, silvery metalloid used in bullets, night-vision goggles, batteries, and other military applications.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Hybrid Agricultural Intelligence (HAI) integrates traditional farming knowledge with modern AI tools for sustainable, efficient solutions tailored to local conditions. It addresses soil degradation, climate change and market volatility while enhancing resilience and productivity.
• Importance of Agriculture in India:
  • Economic Backbone: Contributes 18.2% to GDP and sustains 42.3% of the population.
  • Extent of Farming: 219.16 million hectares were cultivated in 2021-22.
  • Indigenous Knowledge: Farmers have refined methods for crop management, soil health and weather adaptation over centuries.

Statements 2 and 3 are incorrect

• Need for AI in Indian Agriculture:
  • Tech Advancements: Machine learning, sensors & drones make global agriculture more efficient.
  • Challenges in India: Small landholdings limit the adoption of large-scale AI technologies for vast farms.
  • Pilot Success: Programmes like ‘Saagu Baagu‘ in Telangana increased chilli yield by 21% and im-proved income by ₹66,000 per acre.
  • The Saagu Baagu initiative in Telangana promotes smart and sustainable agriculture by integrating technology into farming practices. It aims to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and support farmers with data-driven decision-making tools.
• Benefits of HAI:
  • Increased Efficiency: AI tools reduce pesticide use by 9%, fertiliser use by 5%, and costs by 22%.
  • Enhanced Income: Quality improvements increase market prices and farmer earnings.
  • Sustainability: Combines low-input organic methods with advanced technologies for long-term ecological balance.
  • Gender Inclusivity: Leverages women’s role in sustainable farming, from seed selection to pest con-trol.

Answer: (a) Only one; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect

• A recent study has shown that ecDNA is present in approximately 50% of cancer types and is important in tumour evolution and genetic heterogeneity.
• Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) are circular fragments of DNA located outside chromosomes, present in nucleus of cancer cells.
• It was first discovered in cancer cells about 50 years ago but was initially considered unimportant due to its low prevalence (1.4% of tumours).
• It contains amplified oncogenes, which drive cancer progression and form “hubs” to enhance onco-gene expression, promoting tumour growth.
• It is created by DNA damage, chromosomal rearrangements, or errors during cell replication.
• Advances in genomic techniques revealed its presence (40% of cancer cell lines and up to 90% of patient-derived brain tumour samples).

  

  Source: springer

Statement 3 is correct

• Recent Studies and Findings:
  • Factors like smoking, exposure to certain substances, and genetic mutations can lead to DNA dam-age and the formation of ecDNA. It was found in 17% of tumour samples, more prevalent in lipo-sarcomas, brain tumours, & breast cancers.
  • Violation of Mendel’s Law: Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment states that genes on different chromosomes are inherited independently and passed randomly to offspring.
  • Clustered Inheritance of Genes: ecDNA defies this law by grouping genes and transmitting them as clusters during cell division.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only; Difficulty Level: Hard