January 21-22 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Chabahar Port is Iran’s first deep-water port that is located on the Gulf of Oman.
• Chabahar is of strategic importance to both Iran and India.
• India’s involvement in the development of the port began in 2002.
• India, Iran, and Afghanistan signed a trilateral agreement in April 2016, after which the Indian Shipping Ministry worked at a rapid pace towards developing the port.

Statement 2 is correct

• Chabahar Port is part of the proposed International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
• INSTC is a multi-modal transportation project linking the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea via Iran, and onward to northern Europe via St Petersburg in Russia.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• There are two distinct ports in the Chabahar project, Shahid Beheshti and Shahid Kalantari.
• India’s investment is restricted to the Shahid Beheshti port.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted through infected mites.
• “Mite” is a term commonly used to refer to a group of insect-like organisms, some of which bite or cause irritation to humans.
• They are more common in old age people who are more than 60 years, with a prevalence rate of 21.1%.
• As for socioeconomic status, farmers, daily wage labourers, and housewives were more likely to contract the disease.

Statement 2 is correct

• The meteorological factors like temperature, rainfall and humidity, along with socioeconomic factors, impact the prevalence of scrub typhus.
• An increase in rainfall and humidity lead to a spike in cases of Scrub typhus.
• This disease tends to be seasonal in the endemic areas.
• In Northeast India, cases of scrub typhus occur from July to November in Manipur, July to October in Sikkim and September to November in Darjeeling.

Statement 3 is correct

• It should be treated with the antibiotic doxycycline.
• Doxycycline can be used in persons of any age.
• Antibiotics are most effective if given soon after symptoms begin.
• People who are treated early with doxycycline usually recover quickly.
• No vaccine is available to prevent scrub typhus.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• In 2018, the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions on Iran, including on its oil exports.
• India, which was a major importer of Iranian oil, had to reduce its imports significantly to avoid US sanctions. This led to a deterioration in bilateral ties between India and Iran.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• India’s relationship with Iran is not directly related to accessing the Leviathan Gas Field in Israel.
• While India has shown interest in importing natural gas from Israel, including from the Leviathan field, this is a separate bilateral engagement and does not involve Iran.

Statement 3 is correct

• Both India and Iran are members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
• The shared membership in SCO provides a platform for India and Iran to engage in diplomatic and economic cooperation, as well as discussing regional security issues.

Answer: (c) 1 and 3; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Trading Account serves as a link between your bank account and your Demat account.
• A trading account is a digital account where investors can purchase and sell shares and other securities.
• Trading accounts facilitate the placement of buy and sell orders on exchanges.
• Unlike a Demat Account, it cannot be used to store shares and other securities.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Only a SEBI-registered stockbroker provides a trading account.
• There is a unique ID or number assigned to each trading account, depending on the stockbroker.
• Most stockbrokers do not charge fees for trading accounts. However, for trades executed through this account, a brokerage fee will be charged.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Brokers may buy and sell stocks as they see fit in a discretionary trading account, as long as the trades are in line with your investment policy statement and risk preferences.
• A brokerage may also sell stocks automatically in your margin account to satisfy an unmet margin call.
• Moreover, if your leveraged long positions start to lose money and your margin equity level has fallen below the firm’s maintenance margin requirements, the brokerage has every right to sell your securities without contacting you or obtaining your permission.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• No, an investor cannot open a joint demat account to a trading account.
• Only one name is used to open a trading account.
• This also means that each trading account is associated with the unique PAN number of the investor.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Nagara Architecture emerged during the 5th century CE, during the late Gupta period.
• In North India it is common for an entire temple to be built on a stone platform with steps leading up to it.
• The style of temple architecture that became popular in northern India is known as Nagara.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Unlike in South India, Nagara temples does not usually have elaborate boundary walls or gateways.
• There are many subdivisions of nagara temples depending on the shape of the shikhara that includes,
  • Rekha-Prasada or Phamsana – Shikhara which is square at the base and whose walls curve or slope inward to a point on top is called the ‘latina’ or the rekha-prasada type of shikara.
    • Phamsana buildings tend to be broader and shorter than latina ones.
    • Phamsana roofs do not curve inward, instead they slope upwards on a straight incline.
  • Valabhi are rectangular buildings with a roof that rises into a vaulted chamber.
    • The edge of this vaulted chamber is rounded, like the bamboo or wooden wagons that would have been drawn by bullocks in ancient times.
  • From the tenth century onwards, composite Latinas began to emerge, giving rise to Shekhari and Bhumija styles.
    • The Shekhari shape has attached sub-spires or spirelets, echoing the main shape. These may run up most of the face of the shikhara and be of more than one size.
    • The Bhumija, on the other hand, has miniature spires, in horizontal and vertical rows, all the way to the top, creating a grid-like effect on each face.

Statement 3 is correct

• The garbhagriha is always located directly under the tallest tower.
• Nagara temples are built on a raised plinth, with the garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum), where the idol of the deity rests, which is the most sacred part of the temple.
• Towering over the garbha griha is the shikhara (literally ‘mountain peak’), the most distinguishable aspect of Nagara style temples.
• A typical Nagara style temple also comprises a circumambulatory passage around the garbha griha, and one or more mandapas (halls) on the same axis as it.

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

Explanation

• The primary objective of the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) is to ensure that people have access to affordable and essential diagnostic tests as part of primary healthcare.
• The NEDL is a list of diagnostic tests that are essential for the diagnosis and management of common diseases in a particular country or region.
• These facilities include primary health centers, health and wellness centers, sub-health centers, and the village level.

Answer: (c) To ensure access to affordable and essential diagnostic tests in primary healthcare; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) are a set of standards, practices, and guidelines issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India to maintain the highest standards of safety and security in civil aviation.
• The primary objective of CAR is to ensure the safety and security of aircraft, passengers, and crew.

Answer: (c) It aims to maintain the highest standards of safety and security in civil aviation; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

• Adi Shankaracharya, an 8th-century Indian philosopher and theologian, established four mathas (monastic centers) in different parts of India to promote the teachings of Advaita Vedanta.
• The four mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya are,
• Dwaraka Matha in Dwarka, Gujarat
• Jyotirmath in Joshimath, Uttarakhand
• Govardhana Matha in Puri, Odisha
• Sharada Peeth in Sringeri, Karnataka
• These four mathas are collectively known as the Dashanami Sampradaya or the order of Dashanami monks.
• Each matha is responsible for a specific region of India and is headed by a Shankaracharya, who is considered to be the spiritual leader of the matha.
• These Mathas continue to be centres of learning and spirituality in India.

Answer: (d) Dashanami; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The overuse of antibiotics in livestock can contribute to Anti-Microbial Resistance due to the selective pressure it puts on bacteria, leading to the emergence of resistant strains.
• AMR in animals will lead to suffering from infections that would not have otherwise occurred, increased frequency of treatment failures, and increased severity of infections.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Antibiotics are not used in livestock to make them reproduce more.
• Instead, antibiotics are used to prevent and treat diseases in livestock, and in some cases, to promote growth.

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

Explanation

• Hydrogen is abundant in the universe, but on earth it is found in relatively small amounts.
• It exists primarily in the form of water (H2O), hydrocarbons and in trace amounts in the atmosphere.
• The reserves of such gold hydrogen in various locations, such as the Lorraine coal basin in north-eastern France, which contains an estimated 250 million tonnes of the gas.
• The discovery of smaller gold hydrogen reservoirs in Spain, across Europe, and in countries like Mali, Namibia, Brazil, and the U.S. has suggested that this resource could be available worldwide.
• Gold Hydrogen is also known as white hydrogen. It refers to naturally occurring hydrogen found underground, akin to oil and natural gas.

Answer: (b) It refers to naturally occurring hydrogen found underground, akin to oil and natural gas; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Global Good Alliance for Gender Equity and Equality is an initiative of India.
• It is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
• The World Economic Forum will serve as the Network Partner for Global Good Alliance for Gender Equity and Equality
• Invest India will serve as an Institutional partner for this alliance.

Statement 2 is correct

• The primary objective of this new Alliance is to bring together global best practices, knowledge sharing and investments in the identified areas of women’s health, education and enterprise.
• The Alliance has garnered support from industry leaders, including Mastercard, Uber, Tata, TVS, Bayer, Godrej, Serum Institute of India, IMD Lausanne, and over 10,000 partners from industry.
• The Alliance will be taking forward the commitments of the G20 leaders for the benefit of the larger global community.

Statement 3 is correct

• The alliance will be housed and anchored by the CII Centre for Women Leadership.
• The idea of this alliance emerged from the G20 Leaders’ Declaration and India’s abiding commitment to the cause of women-led development as propounded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Answer: (c) All; Difficulty Level: Medium

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) of 2010 regulates and prohibits the acceptance and use of foreign funds by individuals, associations or companies for activities that could harm the national interest.
• The act also prohibits the use of foreign funds for activities that are detrimental to the national interest.
• A foreign source under the act includes,
  • Sources from the Government of any foreign country or territory and any agency of such Government.
  • Any international agency, not being the United Nations or any of its specialized agencies, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund.
  • A foreign company.
  • A corporation, not being a foreign company, incorporated in a foreign country or territory.
  • A multi-national corporation.
• Foreign contribution excludes earnings from foreign client(s) by a person in lieu of goods sold or services rendered by it as this is a transaction of commercial nature.

Statement 2 is correct

• Member of any legislature cannot accept any foreign contribution as per section 3(1)(d) of FCRA, 2010.
• Any Political Party or Office bearer thereof, cannot accept any foreign contribution as per section 3(1)(e) of FCRA, 2010.
• Any organisation of political nature cannot accept any foreign contribution as per section 3(1)(f) of FCRA, 2010.
  • Any person cannot accept foreign contribution on behalf of such organisation.

Statement 3 is correct

• Contributions made by a citizen of India living in another country (i.e., non-resident Indian), from his personal savings, through normal banking channels, cannot be treated as foreign contribution.

Answer: (c) All; Difficulty Level: Medium