February 29 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

• Scientists recently discovered a new kangaroo lizard species, Agasthyagama edge, in the Western Ghats.
• Named after the EDGE program, it’s the second in the Agasthyagama genus.
• Found in Kulamavu, Idukki, it belongs to the Agamidae family.
• These terrestrial reptiles, lacking a fifth toe for climbing, prefer leaf-covered areas.
• Averaging 4.3 cm in length, they are fast runners feeding on small insects, and they hide within dry leaves to avoid predators.
• The species is significant for its distinctiveness and global endangerment.

  

Answer: (b) Kangaroo Lizard; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• Shumang Leela, a traditional Manipuri theatre form, faces challenges due to ethnic violence, impacting its artists and jeopardizing the state’s cultural richness.
• Originating as a comic genre for royalty, it has evolved into a powerful medium for mass education and entertainment.
• In this unique theatre, male actors portray female roles (Nupi Shabis), and transgender actors take on female characters.
• The plays aim to educate the public on social, political, and economic issues, with two types,
  • Nupa Shumang Leela (performed only by men) and
  • Nupi Shumang Leela (performed only by women).

Answer: (d) Manipur; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• Social groups nationwide recently organized the Naanoo Rani Chennamma campaign, marking 200 years since Rani Chennamma’s rebellion against the British East India Company.
• The campaign, which is set to begin from Kittur, the site of Chennamma’s resistance, calls on women to rise against patriarchal, anti-democratic and casteist forces in the country.
• Born in Kakati, Karnataka, she became Kitturu’s queen after marrying Raja Mallasarja.
• Post his death, the British refused to recognize King’s eldest son Shivalingappa as the successor, leading to the Kittur Rebellion.
• British forces under John Thackery initially suffered losses, but eventually captured Kittur Fort in 1824.
• Rani Chennamma and family were imprisoned; she passed away in 1829 at the Bailhongal fort.
• The reason that Rani Chenamma came into our national consciousness after other women warriors like Rani Laxmi Bai was because Karnataka became a state much later.

Answer: (c) Kittur Rebellion; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Union government has sought to keep an increasing share of its proceeds out of the divisible pool by excluding certain cesses and surcharges from the net proceeds, contrary to the recommendations of successive FCs.
• Despite constitutional provisions mandating the sharing of net proceeds with States, the Union government has not fully adhered to the FC-recommended shares, leading to complaints of increasing vertical inequalities in devolution.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The introduction of the GST did not lead to a reduction in the number of cesses and surcharges imposed by the Union government. Instead, new cesses and surcharges continued to be introduced, and many old ones remained outside the GST system
• The imposition of new cesses and surcharges, along with the exclusion of certain proceeds from the net divisible pool, has resulted in a decline in the share of devolution to States.
• Instances of non-transfer or short transfer of collected cesses and surcharges to the respective funds indicate a lack of transparency and adherence to established procedures in fund allocation.

Statement 3 is correct

• The divisible pool refers to the portion of the gross tax revenue from which a share is vertically devolved by the Union to all States as per FC recommendations for a five year period.
• The net divisible pool is the portion of the gross tax revenue that is available for vertical devolution to the States after certain deductions such as cesses, surcharges, cost of tax collections.
  

  Earlier, all corporation taxes and customs duties were fully absorbed by the Union, and only income taxes and excise duties were shared with the States. In a constitutional amendment in 2000, all taxes of the Union were added to the net proceeds. But cesses and surcharges under Article 270 and Article 271 were kept out of the net proceeds.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• TRIMS encompass a wide range of regulations and policies imposed by governments that can impact foreign investment, including measures like local content requirements or trade balancing regulations.
• TRIMS are aimed at promoting fair competition and preventing discriminatory practices in international trade and investment.
• Examples of TRIMS include requirements for a certain percentage of goods to be produced domestically or restrictions on the repatriation of profits by foreign investors.

Statement 2 is correct

• The enforcement and regulation of TRIMS fall under the purview of the World Trade Organization (WTO), specifically outlined in the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMS Agreement).
• The TRIMS Agreement, part of the WTO framework, seeks to ensure that measures affecting trade-related investment do not discriminate against foreign investors or impedes trade unnecessarily.
• The TRIMS Agreement prohibits WTO member countries from enforcing certain types of TRIMS that are deemed inconsistent with the principles of the agreement.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project is a multipurpose project being constructed on each side of the Mahakali river spanning both India and Nepal.
• It is designed as a multipurpose project aimed at harnessing the water resources of the Mahakali River for irrigation, hydropower generation, and flood control.
• Once completed, the project is expected to enhance regional cooperation, promote economic development, and provide significant benefits in terms of irrigation water supply and electricity generation for both India and Nepal.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The project falls under the framework of the Integrated Mahakali River Development Treaty signed between India and Nepal in 1996.
• This treaty governs the development and management of the Mahakali River basin for the mutual benefit of both countries.
• The project has faced various challenges, including issues related to funding, environmental concerns, and resettlement of affected communities.

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

Explanation

• Baleen whales, also known as mysticetes or whalebone whales, are a group of 14 species of carnivorous marine mammals.
• Baleen whales are so named because they have bristles (baleens) inside their mouth in which their prey gets stuck.
• There are 14 species of baleen whale including the blue, bowhead, right, humpback, minke and gray whale.
• Unlike toothed whales, the baleen whales have no teeth. Instead, these gentle giants utilize plates of baleen in their mouths to trap and consume their tiny prey.
• Size: They vary in size depending on the species. They can range from 30 feet (9 meters) to over 100 feet (30 meters) in length, with the blue whale being the largest known animal on Earth.
• Baleen whales of the northern hemisphere are usually slightly smaller than their counterparts in the southern hemisphere.
• Range: Baleen whales are found in oceans worldwide, from the Arctic to the Antarctic.
• They use vocalizations to mediate their complex social and reproductive behaviours in vast, opaque marine environment.

  

Answer: (d) Whalebone Whale; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• AT-1 bonds are perpetual bonds with no maturity date.
• Investors in these bonds do not get their principal back.
• However, the interest continues forever.
• AT-1 bonds have a higher interest rate than other bonds.
• Due to the perpetual nature of AT-1 bonds, these are often treated and viewed as equity, not debt.

Statement 2 is correct

• These bonds provide high returns but also carry greater risk.
• If the banking institution fails, these bonds are at risk.
• Investors cannot return their bonds to the bank as there is no put option against these bonds.
• However, these bonds are listed on the stock exchanges, so the investor can liquidate these whenever in need.
• In case of default, these bonds rank lower than the other debt, which is why these are subordinate debts.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for the allotment of symbols.
• Allotment of symbols to political parties is regulated under The Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
• The Election Symbols Order, 1968 mandates the ECI to provide for “specification, reservation, choice and allotment of symbols at parliamentary and assembly elections, for the recognition of political parties.

Statement 2 is correct

• Recently the ECI have directed to political parties to stop using public funds, resources, or places to promote themselves or their election symbols.
• This applies to anytime even before announcement of model code of conduct by the election commission of India.

Answer: (b) 2 Only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Parthenogenesis in Greek, means ‘virgin creation’.
• It is a rare form of asexual reproduction in which a female produces an embryo without fertilization by a male’s sperm.
• It can operate on either a haploid (n) or a diploid (2n) cell.
• It has been observed in more than 80 vertebrate species, including California condors and a crocodile.
• Many species of sharks and rays are also capable of this.

Statement 2 is correct

• Apomixis – A process where the egg is fertilised with cells from the mother rather than by a male.
• A smaller cell known as a “polar body,” which forms at the same time as the egg and contains DNA similar to the mother’s, merges with the fertile egg.
• The offspring’s are similar to the mother but not exact clones.
• It is more common in low-density populations, such as those on the verge of extinction.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Raman Effect is a physical phenomenon in which when a stream of light passes through a liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different color.
• It was discovered by Sir C. V. Raman in 1928, alongside his student K. S. Krishnan.

  

Statement 2 is correct

• Raman spectroscopy is a basic analytical tool to conduct non-destructive chemical analysis for both organic and inorganic compounds.
• The use of Raman spectroscopy as a basic analytical tool changed sharply after World War II.
• During the war, infrared spectroscopy was enhanced by the development of sensitive detectors and advances in electronics.
• Infrared measurements quickly became routine operations, while Raman measurements still required skilled operators and darkroom facilities.

Statement 3 is correct

• It is a very weak effect as only one in a million of the scattered light particles, or photons, actually exhibits the change in wavelength.
• The development of Fourier transform (FT) techniques and computers made commercial FT-Raman spectrometers available in the late 1980s.
• This technological advancement made data handling much easier.
• As a result, there was a renewed interest in utilizing the Raman Effect for analysis.
• Application:
  • The new Raman spectroscopy has been used to monitor manufacturing processes in the petrochemical and pharmaceutical industries.
  • Finding drugs hidden inside luggage at customs.
  • To allow Chemists to watch paint dry and understand what reactions are occurring as the paint hardens

Answer: (c) All; Difficulty Level: Medium