November 12 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

Statements 1 and 3 are correct

• India’s Defence Space Agency (DSA) initiated “Antariksha Abhyas – 2024“, the country’s first dedicated military exercise focused on space-based warfare and defence.
• It aims to integrate space capabilities into military operations, establishing space as a critical component of India’s defence apparatus.
• Objectives:
  • Space-Based Threats and Challenges: It addresses the growing threats to India’s space assets and the operational challenges posed by adversarial actions in the space domain.
  • Understanding Operational Dependency: It seeks to provide insights into the operational dependency on the space segment.
  • Identification of Vulnerabilities: The exercise seeks to discover potential vulnerabilities in military operations that rely on space support by simulating denial or disruptions of space-based services.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Antariksha Abhyas – 2024 is not aimed at enhancing civilian space exploration or partnering with ISRO for civilian purposes. Instead, this exercise is a dedicated military initiative focusing on space-based warfare and defense capabilities.

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

Explanation

• A newly discovered marine invertebrate species, comb jellies (ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi) can revert to younger versions of itself, breaking the traditional cycle of birth, ageing, and death.

Statement 1 is correct but statement 2 is incorrect

• Bioluminescence (the property of a living organism to emit light) is well-marked in Comb jelles.
• Comb jellies are not the only species capable of reverse ageing. Immortal jellyfish has also been observed to undergo reverse biological development.
• It is also known as Ctenophora or sea walnut. The study revealed that adult comb jellies can regress and reach a larval stage when subjected to extreme stress.
• Its thin skin stretches over a body that’s more than 95% water (no bones or shells to weigh it down).

  

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

Explanation

Both statements are correct

• The Defence Space Agency (DSA) is an integrated tri-services agency of the Indian Armed Forces headquartered in Bengaluru.
• The agency is tasked with operating India’s space-warfare and Satellite Intelligence assets.
• It will be under an Air Vice Marshal-rank officer and will gradually take over the space-related capabil-ities of the three forces.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• A new species named Dicliptera polymorpha has been discovered in the Western Ghats.

Both statement 2 and 3 are correct

• Characteristics of Dicliptera polymorpha:
  • Fire-resilient: Pyrophytic habit (a woody plant with unusual resistance to fire because of exceptionally thick bark).
  • Dual-blooming: It blooms twice a year, first post-monsoon (early November) and then to March or April, while the second flowering phase is in May and June is triggered by grassland fires.
  • It has a taxonomically unique spicate inflorescence (complete flower head) structure (only known Indian species with such features).
  • Survives extreme climatic conditions like summer droughts and frequent fires.

Answer: (d) 2 and 3 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (b) is the correct answer

• Recently, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a method to break down ‘biofilm barriers’ by using cow’s gut enzymes to aid the entry of drugs.
• Biofilms are thick, protective layers bacteria produce to shield themselves from external threats. These structures are matrix-like and contain sugars, proteins, fats, and DNA.
• These barriers prevent drugs from reaching bacteria effectively and contribute to bacterial resistance, making infections harder to treat.
• The biofilms produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) bacterium are particularly tough due to polysaccharides. It is often found in hospitals, where it causes infections.
• The cow’s gut, particularly its largest stomach compartment called the rumen, contains microbial enzymes that break down complex polysaccharides like cellulose.
• The IISc team artificially synthesised the GH-B2 enzyme in the lab. GH-B2 effectively degraded biofilms in all strains, proving its potential to weaken bacterial defences across multiple serotypes.

Answer: (b) Cow’s gut enzymes; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Centers for AI in Urban Sustainability:
  • National AI Centers for Sustainability: Three centers established in 2023-24 focus on agriculture, health, and urban sustainability, with a budget of ₹990 crore, fostering AI development to “Make AI in India and Make AI work for India.”
  • Airawat Consortium: As the National AI Hub for Sustainable Cities led by IIT Kanpur, Airawat is the national research center for integrating AI with urban sustainability and focuses on energy efficiency, transit planning and local governance innovations.
• Airawat’s Core Projects and Focus Areas:
  • Energy Distribution Networks: AI models optimize energy networks, reduce losses, and support efficient energy distribution for a sustainable urban future.
  • Multimodal Transit Planning: Open-source AI platforms will enable streamlined multimodal transit solutions, reducing congestion and improving urban mobility.
  • Digital Twin for Local Governance: Creation of a digital twin for city functions enhances municipal management, making governance responsive to real-time data.
  • Air and Water Quality Management: Low-cost, AI-driven systems for monitoring air and water quality support local interventions and promote healthier urban environments.

Answer: (b) A digital model to enhance real-time management of municipal functions; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a method to break down ‘biofilm barriers’ by using cow’s gut enzymes to aid the entry of drugs.
• Biofilms are thick, protective layers bacteria produce to shield themselves from external threats. These structures are matrix-like and contain sugars, proteins, fats, and DNA.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• These barriers prevent drugs from reaching bacteria effectively and contribute to bacterial resistance, making infections harder to treat.
• The biofilms produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) bacterium is particularly tough due to polysaccharides. It is often found in hospitals, where it causes infections.
• The cow’s gut, particularly its largest stomach compartment called the rumen, contains microbial enzymes that break down complex polysaccharides like cellulose.
• The IISc team artificially synthesised the GH-B2 enzyme in the lab. GH-B2 effectively degraded biofilms in all strains, proving its potential to weaken bacterial defences across multiple serotypes.

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

Explanation

Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I.

• “Equine” refers to animals in the horse family, scientifically known as Equidae. This group includes Horses, Donkeys, Mules (hybrids of horses and donkeys), and Zebras.
• In India, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana have the highest equine populations.
• Equine Piroplasmosis Disease is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites Babesia caballi and Theileria equi.
• Transmission and Spread: The disease is spread by bites of infected ticks, which become infected when they ingest blood from an infected animal. It can also be spread through contaminated blood.

Answer: (b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I; Difficulty Level: Hard