March 29 2025 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

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

PRIP Scheme is a Central Sector Scheme under Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers.

• Objective: Transform India’s Pharma-MedTech sector from cost-driven to innovation-led growth through R&D and industry-academia collaboration.
• 6 Priority Areas Under PRIP Scheme: New Chemical Entity, New Biological Entity & Phytopharmaceuticals, Complex Generics & Biosimilars, Precision Medicine, Medical Devices, Orphan Drugs, and Drug Development for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
• Financial Outlay: ₹5000 crore (2024-28).

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Gaia, (Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics), is an ESA astronomical observatory mission launched in December 2013.
• Mission Objectives:
  • 3D Mapping of the Milky Way: Build the most precise three-dimensional map by surveying about 1% of the galaxy’s 100 billion stars.
  • Tracking Celestial Objects: Measure positions, distances, movements, and brightness of stars, asteroids, comets, and quasars.
  • Studying Diverse Cosmic Bodies: Detect exoplanets, brown dwarfs, supernovae, and failed stars while analysing their composition and temperature.
  • General Relativity: Provide high-precision data to refine and test Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Location: Positioned 1.5 million km from Earth at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2).

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Operation Duration: Began observations in July 2014 and ceased operations in January 2025.
• Final Status: Decommissioned after fuel exhaustion & placed in a stable retirement orbit around Sun.

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

Explanation

Both Statements are correct

• Sangeetha Kalanidhi Award is considered the highest recognition for excellence in Carnatic music.
  • It was conceived in 1942 by the then-President of the Madras Music Academy, KV Krishnaswami Iyer.
• It is conferred by The Music Academy, Madras, one of the oldest and most respected institutions in the field of Indian classical music.
  • The Sangita Kalanidhi Award is presented annually during the December Music Season in Chennai.
• No posthumous award has been presented since the inception of the award.
• R K Shriramkumar was chosen for the Sangita Kalanidhi award for the year 2025.
  • He is a virtuoso violinist and accompanist of Carnatic Music

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect

• Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves in 1916 in his general theory of relativity. Gravitational waves are ‘ripples’ in the fabric of spacetime caused by some of the most violent and energetic processes in the Universe.
  • Massive accelerating objects (such as neutron stars or black holes orbiting each other) would disrupt spacetime in such a way that ‘waves’ of distorted space would radiate from the source (like the movement of waves away from a stone thrown into a pond).
  • These ripples travel at the speed of light through the Universe, carrying with them information about their origins.

Statement 3 is correct

• The gravitational waves can work as sirens to measure the expansion rate of the universe and to understand the origin and the future of the universe.

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• First Judges Case (1981):
  • SC held that the CJI does not have primacy over the opinion of the Chief Justice of the HC in the matter of appointment and transfer of judges.
  • The CJI and Chief Justice of the HC are equally important in the consultation process.
  • Held that “consultation” did not mean “concurrence,” giving the executive the final say.

Statement 2 is correct

• Second Judges Case (1993):
  • SC overruled the First Judge Case and held that the CJI has the greatest significance in appointing and transferring judges.
  • The Chief Justice of the HC must consult the CJI before recommending to the government.
  • Established the Collegium System, transferring appointment power to the judiciary.

Statement 3 is correct

• Third Judges Case (1998):
  • SC held that the CJI’s recommendation for the appointment of SC and HC judges without consulting the collegium is not binding on the government.
  • Expanded the Collegium to five judges, reinforcing judicial primacy.
• Fourth Judges Case (2015):
  • SC upheld the primacy of the collegium.
  • The NJAC Act was struck down with a 4:1 majority in 2015 as unconstitutional.
  • Dissenting View (Justice Chinamasa): Criticized collegium secrecy & favored transparent NJAC.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 and statement 3 are correct

• Abel Prize:
  • Named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802-29), the Abel Prize “recognises pioneering scientific achievements in mathematics”.
  • First awarded in 2003, the Abel prize is often considered to be an equivalent of the Nobel Prize, which does not have a category for mathematics.
  • Established by: Norwegian Parliament in 2002, on Abel’s 200th anniversary.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The Abel Prize is awarded and administered by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters on behalf of the Norwegian government.
• Selection of Recipients: By an expert committee appointed by the Academy under the advice of the International Mathematical Union (IMU) and the European Mathematical Society (EMS).
• Prize: Includes a monetary award of 7.5 million kroner (roughly $720,000) and a glass plaque designed by Norwegian artist Henrik Haugan.
• Kroner is the currency of Norway.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• About the Leader of Opposition (LoP):
  • The LoP in Lok Sabha has a deep historical foundation in Indian politics, originating from the former Central Legislative Assembly during British rule. Each House of Parliament has a Leader of Opposition.
  • The Leader of Opposition was officially recognised for the first time in 1969.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha were accorded statutory recognition in 1977 by The Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977.
• The Act defines the LoP as a member of either the Council of States (RS) or the House of the People (LS) who leads the party with the greatest numerical strength, as recognized by the Chairman or Speaker.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Conventionally, a party must have at least 10% of the MPs in the House to qualify for the post of LoP.
• They are entitled to receive the salary and allowances specified in the Salary, Allowances, and Pension of Members of Parliament Act 1954 (Salaries, allowances, and other facilities are equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister).

Statement 4 is correct

• In order of Precedence, the LoP in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha ranks at No. 7, alongside Union Cabinet Ministers.
• The LoP sits in the front row to the left of the Chair and has specific ceremonial privileges, such as escorting the Speaker-elect to the rostrum.
• Additionally, the LoP is entitled to a front-row seat during the President’s Address to both Houses of Parliament.

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

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Orphan drugs are pharmaceutical agents specifically developed to treat rare diseases.
• These conditions, although impacting a small portion of the population, often lead to severe, life-threatening, or chronically debilitating conditions.
• Classification of Orphan Drugs is based on the disease they treat
• Genetic Disorders: Examples include cystic fibrosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
• Rare Cancers: Examples include neuroblastoma and gliomas.
• Metabolic Disorders: Examples include Gaucher’s disease and Fabry’s disease.
• Autoimmune Conditions: Examples include systemic sclerosis.
• They are also categorised based on their regulatory status, impacting their availability.
• General Criteria for Orphan Drug Designation:
  • The disease must have a low prevalence.
  • The condition must lack approved treatments, or the drug must provide benefits over current options.
  • Developers must provide evidence of the drug’s potential effectiveness at any stage of development.

Answer: (b) A pharmaceutical agent developed to treat rare diseases; Difficulty Level: Easy