January 07 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Saint Narahari Tirtha was a disciple of Madhvacharya and a proponent of Dvaita Vedanta.

Statement 3 is correct

• Saint Narahari Tirtha:
  • Born in: Chikakolu (modern Srikakulam), Andhra Pradesh.
  • Period: 13th century, disciple of Madhvacharya.
  • Aristocrat Background: Ancestors were aristocrats in the Gajapati Empire (Odisha).
  • Role in Administration: Helped kings of the Eastern Ganga dynasty follow Sanatana Dharma and managed temple administration.
  • Philosophy: A key figure in Dvaita Vedanta, spread Madhva philosophy in eastern India, especially the Kalinga region (modern Odisha and Andhra Pradesh).
  • Final Resting Place: Consecrated near Chakratirtha rock at Hampi, on the banks of Tungabhadra River.

Statement 2 is correct

• Contributions and Legacy:
  • Literary Works: Composed 15 books; Gita Bhasya and Bhavaprakasika are extant.
  • Music & Dance: First to compose Devaranamas in Kannada. Promoted Yakshagana Bayalatta (dance-drama) and Kuchipudi (classical dance form).
  • Strengthened Madhva influence in Odisha, linked to Puri Jagannath temple traditions.
  • Honorifics: ‘Loka Surakshana Ati Nipunah’, ‘Yo Avati Kalinga Bhu Sambhavan’.

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

Explanation

Option (d) is the correct answer

• Conservation Colonialism refers to the displacement or marginalisation of indigenous communities in the name of environmental conservation, often ignoring sustainable practices and traditional rights.
• Indigenous peoples globally manage lands that hold 80% of the planet’s biodiversity, yet their rights are often violated under the pretext of conservation and development.

Answer: (d) The displacement or marginalization of indigenous communities under the pretext of environmental conservation, often ignoring their traditional rights and sustainable practices; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (c) is the correct answer

• India will provide Sri Lankan Rupees (LKR) of 290 million to rehabilitate and develop the Karainagar Boatyard in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

Answer: (c) Karainagar Boatyard; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

• Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer witnessed water gushing out from underground. It is being attributed to an “artesian condition”.

Statement 1 is correct

• Artesian condition occurs when water is confined under pressure below layers of relatively impermeable rock.
• What differentiates it from water flowing normally through tube wells or wells is that artesian water can sprout from underground on its own, and is also located deeper below the earth’s surface.
• When a rupture (like drilling) happens, underground pressure forces water upward toward land.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Artesian conditions can occur in various parts of the world, wherever there are confined aquifers under pressure, regardless of the climate or region.
• Similar incidents have also been spotted in the desert regions of Australia and Africa.
• In Jaisalmer, the water is confined underneath a geological layer of sandstone. As soon as the top layer is punctured during borewell drilling, water starts flowing upwards due to heavy pressure.
• A small amount of non-inflammable gas was released along with the water.
• Earlier, such incidents occurred in surrounding areas, however not to this scale.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Origin: Created in 1945 by President Harry S. Truman, it is the highest civilian honour in the United States, awarded for exceptional contributions to the nation.
• Renamed and expanded by President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
• Recognises contributions to:
  • Security or national interests of the United States.
  • World peace.
  • Significant cultural, public, or private endeavours.

Statement 2 is correct

• Award Process: No formal nomination procedure; Selection is based on the President’s discretion under Executive Order 11515 (1970).

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

Explanation

Option (d) is correct

• DRS (Umpire Decision Review System) refers to a technology-based system used in cricket to assist umpires in making accurate decisions, particularly when the on-field umpires are uncertain. It allows players to challenge on-field decisions which are reviewed using various technologies.
• Key DRS Technologies:
• Snicko (Snickometer): Detects sound patterns (or ‘snicks’) when the bat contacts the ball, helping identify whether a batsman has edged the ball. Detects edges through audio waveform patterns using resonance filters and an oscilloscope.
• Hot Spot: Uses infrared thermal imaging to detect heat signatures when the ball touches the bat or pad.
• HawkEye: A ball-tracking technology is used to predict the ball’s trajectory, mainly for LBW (Leg Before Wicket) decisions. It provides a 3D simulation of the ball’s path.

Answer: (d) A ball-tracking technology used to predict the ball’s trajectory, mainly for LBW (Leg Before Wicket) decisions; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Options (c) is correct

• Brutalism as an architectural style emerged in the 1950s in the United Kingdom during the post-World War II reconstruction.
• Brutalist architecture aims at celebrating and exposing the “brutal” truth of the buildings.
• Some scholars credit the British architectural critic Reyner Banham with coining the term in 1955. ‘Brutalism’ is also a play on the French phrase for raw concrete: “béton brut”.
• The idea was to keep things basic and affordable and avoid the ornamentation of neoclassical styles.
• The distinction between exterior and interior materials was erased; concrete and brick were the primary architectural vocabulary.
• Brutalism in India: Brutalism came to India through Le Corbusier (the Architect of Chandigarh) and continues influencing many architects, especially in Delhi and Ahmedabad. Some examples include Tibet House and the Shri Ram Centre.
• Characteristics of Brutalist Architecture:
  • The materials’ quality, nature, and texture were given importance over their use.
  • Simple lines form gigantic geometry that may take outlandish shapes.
  • High ceilings and open spaces.
  • Rugged look and rough surfaces without embellishments.
  • It may also showcase the construction material and concrete used.
  • Monochromatic buildings.
  • Priority to function over form.

Answer: (c) 1 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Ministry of Home Affairs has introduced two special visa categories, ‘e-student visa’ and ‘e-student-x visa’, to facilitate international students pursuing higher education in India through Study in India (SII) portal.

Statement 2 is incorrect and statement 3 is correct

• Features of the New Visas:
  1. e-Student Visa:
     • Granted to international students admitted to full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, PhD, or other recognised academic programs.
     • Valid for up to five years, extendable based on course duration.
     • Allows entry into India through any immigration check post.
  2. e-Student-X Visa:
     • Issued to dependents of e-student visa holders, enabling family support.

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