February 16-17 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statements 1, 2, 3 are correct but statement 4 is incorrect

• India ranks 96th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2024.
• Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI):
  • CPI Scoring: The CPI uses a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (corruption-free). India scored 38 in 2024, reflecting corruption concerns.
  • Data Sources: The score is derived from at least three sources from 13 distinct corruption surveys, including those by World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
  • Global Performance: Over two-thirds of countries have scores below 50, with a global average of 43. Many countries’ scores have worsened since 2012.
  • 2024 Score: India’s score has declined from 40 in 2022 to 39 in 2023 and 38 in 2024, indicating a deteriorating perception of public sector corruption.
  • Regional Context: India’s CPI score is higher than Pakistan (27) and Bangladesh (23), but lower than Sri Lanka (32).
  • Asia-Pacific Region: The region’s average score has dropped by one point to 44, showing insufficient progress in combating corruption.

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

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Meta recently introduced Project Waterworth, a massive subsea internet cable initiative that will span 50,000 km, making it the longest subsea cable system in the world.
• Aim: It aims to bolster global internet infrastructure, enhancing connectivity across regions including the United States, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
• Global Digital Infrastructure: This initiative aligns with Meta’s broader strategy to enhance global digital infrastructure, complementing previous projects like 2Africa and Apricot.
• Significance
• Boosting Digital Access & Economy: Expected to boost digital access, economic growth, and data transfer speeds across multiple continents.
• Meeting High-Speed Internet Demand: By expanding its subsea cable network, Meta seeks to meet the escalating global demand for high-speed internet and advanced technologies.

Answer: (b) United States, India, Brazil, and South Africa; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

All pairs are correct

• Important Critical Minerals:
  • Neodymium, praseodymium, samarium: High-performance magnets for defense systems.
  • Lithium, cobalt, nickel: Essential for batteries, EVs, and energy storage.
  • Gallium, indium: Crucial for semiconductors and AI hardware.
  • Ultra-pure silicon, superconductors: Required for quantum computing.
  • Europium, terbium: Used in biotech imaging and medical diagnostics.
  • Scandium, heat-resistant alloys: Important for space technology.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• India and the US launched the Transforming Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology (TRUST) initiative to secure supply chains for critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials.
• Objective: Strengthen cooperation in strategic minerals, reduce dependence on China, and enhance technology transfer.

Statement 2 is correct

• Partnerships: Builds on India’s participation in the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) and the Minerals Security Finance Network (MSFN).

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

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct, statement 3 is incorrect

• Undersea cables, or submarine communications cables are fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor and used to transmit data between continents.
• There are more than 600 active and planned submarine cables (Jan 2025) lying on the ocean floor.
• While satellite internet (e.g., Starlink) is useful in remote areas, undersea cables are preferred due to the following reasons:
  • Lower Latency: Satellites have much higher latency compared to undersea cables (Latency refers to the time delay in data transmission from one point to another).
  • Higher Bandwidth: The limited bandwidth of Satellites makes them unsuitable for large-scale AI and cloud applications.
  • Less Expensive: Satellites are more expensive and less reliable than fiber-optic networks.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct, Statement 2 is incorrect

• Russia announced the development of a new mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine.
• mRNA (Messenger RNA) carries genetic instructions from DNA to ribosomes to direct protein synthesis.
• Role in Vaccines: mRNA vaccines provide genetic information to instruct cells to produce proteins that trigger an immune response, teaching the immune system to recognize and fight diseases.
• Developed from COVID-19 vaccine technology, mRNA cancer vaccines train the immune system to detect and target cancer cells.
• Unlike preventive vaccines, mRNA cancer vaccines are designed for patients with existing cancer, not for disease prevention.

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

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• The India-US 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement was signed in 2007 to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation between India and the US.
• It ended a 30-year ban on nuclear trade imposed after India’s nuclear tests.
• It facilitates access to US nuclear technology and fuel for peaceful purposes.
• Requires the separation of civil and military nuclear facilities, placing civil facilities under international safeguards.

Answer: (b) Civil nuclear energy cooperation and trade; Difficulty Level: Easy