March 07 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• Genetically modified “woolly mice” have been created by editing genes to mimic the cold-resistant traits of woolly mammoths.
• CRISPR-Cas9 system was used to modify DNA precisely. Scientists analysed mammoth and Asian elephant genomes to identify cold-resistant gene variants.
• Woolly Mammoths
  • Scientific Name: Mammuthus primigenius
  • Habitat: Cold tundra regions of Eurasia and North America during the Ice Age.
  • Physical Adaptations: Thick woolly coat, fat layer for insulation, and small ears to minimise heat loss.
  • Diet & Behavior: Lived in herds and fed on grass and shrubs.
  • Extinction Causes: Climate change, habitat loss & human hunting led to their extinction ~4,000 yrs ago.
  • Reviving mammoth-like elephants could restore Arctic ecosystems & slow down permafrost thawing.

Answer: (a) CRISPR-Cas9 system; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

• Scientists from Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a species of soil-dwelling nematode Crassolabium dhritiae.

Statement 1 is incorrect

• It was discovered in ‘deccan peninsula biogeographic zone of Odisha’s Keonjhar district.

Statement 2 is correct

• It is named in the honour of Dr Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the ZSI, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to zoology and taxonomic research.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• It is characterised by its medium-sized, slender body, rounded lip region, long pharynx and certain specific features in its female reproductive system and a distinct tail shape.

Statement 4 is incorrect

• It brings the total number of known Crassolabium species worldwide to 39, with nine in India.

Answer: (b) 1, 3 and 4 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Doomsday Clock: It is a design that warns the public about how close we are to destroying our world with dangerous technologies of our own making.
  • It is a metaphor, a reminder of the perils we must address if we are to survive on the planet.
• Created By: Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 1947 to assess the probability of destruction of the world in a nuclear holocaust.
• Reimagined By: Graphic designer Michael Bierut in 2007.
• Until 1973: Movement of the Clock hand was controlled by Bulletin editor Eugene Rabinowitch.
• 2008: The Science and Security Board, made up of scientists and other experts with deep knowledge of nuclear technology and climate science, was set, which resets the clock as necessary.
• First set at 7 minutes to midnight in 1947, the Bulletin has reset the minute hand on the Doomsday Clock 26 times since its debut in 1947.
• Clock currently stands at 89 seconds to midnight this is the closest that the Clock has ever been to the metaphorical apocalypse.

Answer: (b) To serve as a reminder of the threat of global destruction from human-made technologies like nuclear weapons; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Power Head Test Article (PHTA):
  • Significance: Key precursor test in semi-cryogenic engine development.
  • Purpose: Validates the performance of key engine subsystems, including gas generator, turbo pumps, pre-burner, and control components.

Statement 2 is incorrect, but statement 3 is correct

• Semi-Cryogenic Engine (SE2000):
  • Propellant: Uses Liquid Oxygen (LOX) & kerosene. More efficient and storable than cryogenic en-gines.
  • Thrust: Provides an enhanced thrust of 2,000 kiloNewtons (kN), enabling heavier payloads.
  • Advantages: High-density impulse, less toxic, cost-effective and easier to handle compared to cryo-genic engines using liquid hydrogen.
  • Role in Launch Vehicles: Essential for first-stage boosters in heavy-lift missions like Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).

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

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Tropical Cyclone means a rapidly rotating storm originating over tropical or subtropical oceans, characterized by violent winds, torrential rain, and thunderstorms.
• This is caused by low-pressure systems over warm sea waters, causing moist air to rise and spin due to Earth’s rotation.
• Classified as a ‘Tropical Cyclone’ when wind speeds exceed 63 kph (World Meteorological Organization).
• Conditions Favourable for Tropical Cyclone Formation
  • Large sea surface with temperatures higher than 27° C,
  • Presence of the Coriolis force enough to create a cyclonic vortex,
  • Small variations in the vertical wind speed,
  • A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation,
  • Upper divergence above the sea level system.

Answer: (c) Only four; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (d) is incorrect

• About National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
  • Highest Wildlife Advisory Body: Established under Section 5A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • Reconstituted in 2022: Replaced the Indian Board for Wildlife (1952).
  • Composition: 47 members, including the PM (Chairperson), MoEFCC Minister (Vice-Chairperson), army chief, bureaucrats, MPs, NGOs, and environmentalists.
  • Standing Committee: Reviews projects affecting wildlife habitats and protected areas.
• Functions of NBWL
  • Helps Build a Wildlife Conservation Policy: Advises the Central Government on conservation strategies.
  • Approvals in Protected Areas (PA): Clearance for development projects inside PAs and Tiger Reserves.
  • Boundary Alterations: No changes in PA boundaries can take place without NBWL recommendation.
  • Tourism Regulation: Approves eco-tourism and infrastructure in protected areas.
  • Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: Develop strategies for reducing conflicts.
  • Wildlife Research: Supports scientific research, AI-based wildlife tracking, and disease monitoring.

Answer: (d) The Board is chaired by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Article 14 guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws to all individuals, including foreigners.
• Exceptions to Article 14
  • Special Courts for Classes of Offenses: Courts for economic offences, sexual assault cases, etc., are valid as they deal with a specific category rather than an individual case.
  • Legal Immunities: The President, Governors, foreign diplomats, and UN officials have limited immunity under Articles 361 and 361A.
  • Directive Principles Override: Article 31C permits laws enforcing certain DPSPs to override Article 14.
• Article 14 applies to all persons, including foreign nationals within Indian territory.

Answer: (c) Only three; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder causing depigmented white patches due to immune system attacks on melanocytes (cells that produce melanin, the pigment that gives color to skin, hair, and eyes).
• Affected Areas: Commonly starts on hands, forearms, feet & face; can affect hair & the inside of mouth.
• Progression: Patches expand over time, with two peak onsets, in adolescence & between 40-50 yrs.
• Impact: Primarily cosmetic but leads to psychological distress, self-confidence issues & social stigma.
• Prevalence: Affects 0.5% to 2% of the population; more visible in darker skin tones. In India prevalence ranges from 0.25% to 4% in dermatology outpatients, reaching 8.8% in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
• Health Risks: Associated with increased cardiovascular risk and endocrine disorders in some patients.

Answer: (c) Vitiligo; Difficulty Level: Hard