December 21 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect, but statement 2 is correct

• Diwan Todar Mal was a wealthy merchant from Sirhind.
• He served as a revenue official (Diwan) under Mughal emperor Shah Jahan but was later removed by Aurangzeb.
• He is remembered for his role in the aftermath of the execution of the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, Sahibzada Fateh Singh and Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and their grandmother, mata Gujri.
• After refusing to convert to Islam, Guru Gobind Singh’s sons were bricked alive in Sirhind in 1704, under the orders of Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of Sirhind.
• Their bodies were left without rites due to fear of retribution from Wazir Khan.
• Todar Mal stepped forward to claim and cremate the bodies of the young martyrs.
• Wazir Khan demanded that Todar Mal purchase the land for cremation by covering it with gold coins and placing them vertically.
• Todar Mal fulfilled his demands, spending a fortune to secure the land, which became the site for their cremation.
• Maharaja Karam Singh of Patiala later built a gurdwara at this location.
• The region was renamed from Sirhind to Fatehgarh Sahib in honour of the martyrdom and gurdwara.

Statement 3 is correct

• Jahaz Haveli was built in the 17th century, and its structure resembled a ship.
• It was built with Nanakshahi bricks.
• In 2009, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) took possession of the haveli.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The fall of the former Syrian President revealed large-scale Captagon drug manufacturing in Syria, which was a major source of income during the civil war.
• Currently prevalent Captagon is a counterfeit version of a medicine originally developed in the 1960s.
• The original Captagon contained fenethylline, a synthetic drug of the phenethylamine family to which amphetamine also belongs.
• Fenethylline was commercially sold to treat hyperactivity, narcolepsy, and depression. It was banned in most countries by the 1980s for being too addictive.

Statement 2 is correct

• It is commonly known as “poor man’s cocaine” and has emerged as the drug of choice among young adults throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
• Captagon pills stimulate the central nervous system, boosting energy, enhancing focus, allowing people to stay awake for longer periods, and producing a feeling of euphoria.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The National Institute of Siddha (NIS) has set a Guinness World Record for simultaneously providing Varmam therapy to 567 individuals.
• Varmam therapy is a traditional healing modality within the Siddha system of medicine and has long been revered for its effectiveness in treating various health conditions.
• Particularly renowned for rapid relief for musculoskeletal pain, injuries, and neurological disorders.

Statement 2 is correct

• Varmam is one of the oldest South Indian Martial Arts, which later evolved into a therapy.
• The pressure point struck or hit during combat is called Varma Adi (Varmam assault).
• It is an art of unarmed fighting system targeting nerves, veins, joints and organs.

Statement 3 is correct

• An expert in the Varmam technique is called “Varmani”.
• He teaches this art to other persons only after analysing their character and whether they have noble (sathuva) qualities or not.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The central government can designate an individual as a “terrorist” if involved in an act of terror.
• Earlier, only organisations could be designated as terrorist organisations.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Earlier, an investigating officer had to obtain prior permission from the DGP of a state to conduct raids and seize properties suspected to be linked to terrorist activities.
• The amendment removes this requirement if the investigation is conducted by an officer of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
• The investigating officer only requires sanction from the Director General of NIA.
• Earlier, only officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent or Assistant Commissioner of Police of the NIA shall have the power to investigate offences under the UAPA law.
• The amendment allowed NIA officers of Inspector rank to carry out investigations.

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

Reference: Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) – PMF IAS

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are incorrect

• Oumuamua was the first interstellar object to enter our Solar System, discovered in 2017 by NASA.
• A dark comet is a celestial object that looks like an asteroid but moves through space like a comet.
• These are unlike typical comets, which are icy bodies that form glowing tails when approaching the Sun. Instead, dark comets behave like comets but lack the bright tails.
• Dark comets are small & spin quickly, scattering gas and dust in all directions, making them hard to see.
• It follows long, elliptical paths, coming close to sun before travelling back to outer regions of solar system.

Statement 3 is correct

• There are two main groups of dark comets, smaller ones in the inner solar system and larger ones in the outer solar system.
• Studying dark comets can provide insights into the early solar system, the origins of Earth’s water and even the ingredients for life.

Answer: (d) 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• The Helmeted Water Toad frog species that hopped alongside dinosaurs and is considered a “living fossil” is now losing ground in its native Chile.
  • Living fossils have remnants of organisms only identified through fossil records. These are essential for studying evolution and forming a tie between the present and the past. It is a term used for formerly undiscovered life forms.
• One of the largest frogs in the world, they measure over 1 foot in length and weighing up to 1 kg.
• They are found in freshwater environments such as lakes, rivers, and ponds in the lowlands of Chile.
• The threats to Helmeted Water Toad frog species include climate change, habitat destruction due to urbanisation and agricultural expansion, pollution from illegal run-offs, and environmental decline.
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable.

Answer: (c) Helmeted Water Toad; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• ‘Moh Jooj‘ is identified as a traditional buffalo fight of Assam, specifically held during the Magh Bihu festival.
• This practice has been a part of Assamese folk culture, but it has also raised concerns about animal cruelty.
• Recently, the Guwahati High Court reaffirmed the ban on buffalo and bulbul fights, citing legal and ethical violations.

Answer: (a) A traditional buffalo fight of Assam; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

All options are correct

• Increased spending on subsidies by governments can have the following impacts:
  • High subnational debt: Increased spending on subsidies can lead to higher borrowing by governments, resulting in high subnational debt.
  • Crowding out of investments: When governments spend more on subsidies, they may have to reduce spending on other areas, such as infrastructure or education, which can crowd out investments.
  • Rise in interest rates: Increased government borrowing to finance subsidies can lead to higher interest rates, as the government competes with private borrowers for funds.
  • Lower output growth: Subsidies can distort market incentives and lead to inefficient allocation of resources, which can result in lower output growth.

Answer: (d) All four; Difficulty Level: Easy