February 13 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• He was a social reformer who founded Arya Samaj in 1875 to counter then prevalent social inequities.
• The purpose of the Samaj was to move the Hindu religion away from the fictitious beliefs.
• ‘Krinvanto Vishwam Aryam” was the motto of the Samaj, which means, “Make this world noble”.

Statement 2 is correct

• Shuddhi Movement: The Shuddhi Movement was introduced to bring back the individuals to Hinduism who were either voluntarily or involuntarily converted to other religions like Islam or Christianity.
• Back to Vedas: He highlighted the social reformer’s role in awakening India from the shackles of ignorance and superstition, leading a movement to rediscover the essence of Vedic knowledge.
• Women’s Rights: Dayanand Saraswati advocated for the rights and empowerment of women.

Statement 3 is correct

• The Samaj directs its members to condemn ritualistic practices like idol worship, pilgrimage and bathing in holy rivers, animal sacrifice, offering in temples, sponsoring priesthood etc.
• The philosophy of Dayananda Saraswati can be known from his three famous contributions namely “Satyartha Prakash”, Veda Bhashya Bhumika and Veda Bhashya.
• Further the journal “Arya Patrika’ edited by him also reflects his thoughts.

Answer: (d) None; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• NJA, established in 1993 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, is an independent society, fully funded by the Government of India, and works under the directions of the Supreme Court of India.
• Its 63-acre campus is located in the outskirts of Bhopal.
• It also has a registered office in Delhi.
• Mandate: Strengthening the Administration of Justice through Judicial Education, Research, and Policy Development.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the Chairman of the General Body of NJA as well as the Chairman of the Governing Council, the Executive Committee, and the Academic Council of NJA.
• The Director, NJA is the Principal Executive Officer of NJA.
• The Director is appointed by the Chairman, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India.

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

Explanation

• The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), located in a karst depression in Guizhou, China.
• It is the world’s largest single-dish radio telescope, with a receiving area equivalent to 30 football fields.
• It is expected that FAST will maintain its world-class status for the next 20 to 30 years.
• Goals:
• Detect neutral hydrogen to the edge of the universe, reconstruct the images of the early universe.
• Discover pulsar, establish a pulsar timing array, and participate in pulsar navigation and gravitational wave detection in the future.
• Join the International Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry Network to obtain hyperfine structures of celestial bodies.
• Perform high resolution radio spectral survey.
• Detect weak space signals.
• Participate in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Answer: (d) China; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• It is a multi-institutional effort led by NITI Aayog, which utilised remote sensing and GIS to assess agroforestry suitability across all districts in India.
• It provides state-wise and district-wise analysis, supporting government departments and industries for greening and restoration projects.
• It underscores the potential benefits of converting underutilised areas, especially wastelands, for agroforestry.
• The key features of the system:
  • Generates district-level information on wasteland areas suitable for agroforestry.
  • Generates area prioritisation regime i.e. highly suitable area, moderate and less suitable for agroforestry.
  • Generates live maps.
  • Generates area analysis-statistic report.
  • Offer an interactive mode/tool that provides flexibility in handling the weights as per local conditions/need.

Statement 2 is correct

• An Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI) utilising thematic datasets was developed for national-level prioritisation for greening and restoration projects
• It is hosted on the Bhuvan website.
• The GROW-Suitability Mapping portal Bhuvan allows universal access to state and district-level data.
• Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP): It aims to develop wastelands mainly in non-forest areas by involving local people at every stage of development.
• The programme focuses on improving the productivity of waste & degraded lands.

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

Explanation

• The “Weimar Triangle” is a regional alliance of France, Germany, and Poland created in 1991 in the German city of Weimar.
• The group is intended to promote cooperation between the three countries in cross-border and European issues.
• It also aimed at assisting Poland’s emergence from Communist rule.
• France, Germany and Poland would unveil a new cooperation agreement to combat foreign disinformation operations.
• During the recent meet, the ministers discussed creating a joint mechanism to detect and respond to potential Russian internet attacks.

Answer: (a) Germany, Poland, France; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Alaska pox was first identified in 2015 in a woman from Fairbanks, Alaska, presenting with skin lesions.
• Orthopoxvirus are zoonotic viruses that can infect various mammals, including humans.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• It is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the same genus (Orthopoxvirus) as smallpox, monkey pox, and cowpox.
• Current evidence indicates that the Alaska pox virus primarily occurs in small mammals.
• The virus has been most commonly identified in red-backed voles and shrews.

Statement 3 is correct

• Signs and Symptoms:
  • Symptoms of Alaska pox have included one or more skin lesions (bumps or pustules) and other symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and joint and/or muscle pain.
  • Nearly all patients had mild illnesses that resolved on their own after a few weeks.
  • Immune compromised people might be at increased risk for more severe illness.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices.
• MSP are announced by the Government at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).
• The major objectives are to support the farmers from distress sales and to procure food grains for public distribution.
• The MSPs based on cost-plus pricing, without any consideration to market demand.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) decides the minimum support price taking into account the following factors:
  • Demand and supply
  • Cost of production
  • Price trends in the market, both domestic and international markets
  • Inter-crop price parity
  • Terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture.
  • Minimum of 50% as the margin over the cost of production
  • Likely implications of MSP on consumers of that product
  • Crop cycle.
  • Climatic changes.
  • Geographical position
  • Status of rainfall
  • Income gap

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Price Deficiency Payments (PDP): It entails the government not physically purchasing or stocking any crop, and simply paying farmers the difference between the market price and MSP, if the former is lower.
• It is not similar to the MSP.
• PDP was tried out first in Madhya Pradesh through a Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana.

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

Explanation

Statement1 is correct

• GoI has issued an advisory to the people regarding Quishing cyber-attack.
• It is “QR” + “Phishing”.
• A fake QR code is used for faking websites (Phishing).
• Increased use of UPI has raised the incidences of Quishing cyber-attacks in India.
• Some QR codes also contain malicious files or mirroring software, which gives access to all the information in your phone to the scammer.

Statement 2 is correct

• How does quishing works?
  • Scammers create a fake QR code: They can place it on stickers, posters, or even overlay it on legitimate QR codes in public places like parking meters or petrol pumps.
  • The code looks innocent: It might appear to link to a website, or payment portal, or offer a discount or reward.
  • When scanned, it directs you elsewhere: Instead of taking one to the intended destination, the code redirects you to a malicious website.
  • The website aims to steal your information: It might look like a real website (e.g., your bank) and trick one into entering login credentials, personal details, or financial information.
  • Malware can also be downloaded: Malicious codes hidden within the QR code can infect the device, stealing data or giving attackers remote access.

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