November 19 2024 Current Affairs MCQs

Explanation

• The Fourth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the adoption of the Jeddah Commitments (Non-legally binding instrument).
• Key Initiatives in Jeddah Commitments:
  • New Hubs: Introduction of the AMR ‘One Health’ Learning Hub and a regional Antimicrobial Access and Logistics Hub in Saudi Arabia to improve access to essential antimicrobials and diagnostics.
  • Independent Panel on AMR by 2025: Formation of an independent panel to avoid duplication of ongoing efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
  • Biotech Bridge Initiative: Creation of a ‘biotech bridge’ to boost research, development, and innova-tion in addressing global AMR threats.
  • National AMR Coordinating Mechanism: Implementation of mechanisms to ensure sustainable financing and monitoring of National Action Plans (NAPs) on AMR.
  • WHO’s Global Action Plan: Emphasise the WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) to tackle challenges such as limited diagnostic capacity, workforce shortages, and inadequate information systems.
  • Support for Quadripartite Organisations (FAO, WHO, WOAH, UNEP): Collaborative efforts to achieve the 2030 goals of the UN General Assembly’s Political Declaration on AMR.

All five options are correct

• Initiatives to Combat AMR:
  • Global Initiatives:
    • GLASS: WHO’s Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System.
    • ReAct: Action on Antibiotic Resistance.
    • Global Action Plan: WHO’s strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance.
  • Indian Initiatives:
    • National Program on AMR Containment (12th FYP): Aimed at curbing AMR in India.
    • Red Line Campaign: Educating the public on the responsible use of antibiotics.
    • National AMR Surveillance Network: A network of state medical college labs for AMR surveillance.

Answer: (d) All five; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statements 1 and 2 are correct

• At COP29, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FF-NPT) gained momentum, with activists and countries urging regulation of fossil fuel production, inspired by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to tackle climate change.
• Need for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty:
  • Fossil fuels are major contributors to global emissions, which have risen by 8% since the Paris Agreement (2015).
  • Despite the Paris Agreement, fossil fuels remain unregulated, and current policies risk a 3°C temperature rise by 2030.
  • The year 2024 has been recorded as the hottest year, underscoring the urgency for decisive action.
  • Furthermore, the Paris Agreement lacks explicit measures for fossil fuel reduction, creating the need for a dedicated treaty.
• Core Features of the FF-NPT:
  • The treaty emphasizes Non-Proliferation, which involves halting new exploration and production of coal, oil, and gas globally.
  • It advocates for a Fair Phase–Out, ensuring equitable reduction strategies for nations with historical responsibility for emissions.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• It incorporates a Just Transition principle, focusing on renewable energy adoption and economic diversification, ensuring that no worker or community is left behind.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• It is a Ka-band high-throughput communication satellite of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the com-mercial arm of the ISRO.
• It is the second demand-driven satellite of NSIL.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• It will enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity across the Indian region.
• The satellite offers pan-India coverage, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
• The satellite carries a Sun Sensor, Earth Sensor, Inertial Reference Unit (IRU), and Star Sensor. It has a mis-sion life of 14 years.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• It is a reusable rocket that can transport payloads and crews into Earth’s orbit and beyond.
• It is the world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket.
• Reusability allows SpaceX to refly the most expensive parts of the rocket, which lowers the cost of space access.

Statement 2 is correct

• The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket:
  • First stage: Also known as the booster stage, this stage has nine Merlin engines of liquid oxygen. It can re-enter the atmosphere and land vertically after separating from the second stage.
  • Second stage: This stage has a single Merlin engine.

Statement 3 is incorrect

• Starlink and Crew Dragon are the notable missions of Falcon 9.

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

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• ‘One Day One Genome’ initiative is introduced by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under Ministry of Science and Technology and Biotechnology Research and Innovation Council (BRIC) to showcase the enormous microbial potential of India.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The initiative will highlight the unique bacterial species found in our country and emphasise their critical roles in environment, agriculture and the human health by conducting daily sequencing of bacterial genomes.
• Sequencing data can be analysed to identify the genome encoded capacities for various important enzymes, antimicrobial resistance, bio active compounds etc.
• Research in this field will lead to the benefit of better protection and management of our environment, development in agriculture and improvement in human health.

Statement 3 is correct

• This initiative aims a release a fully annotated bacteriological genome isolated in the country freely available to the public.
• This will be complemented with a detailed graphical summary, infographics and genome assembly/annotation details.

Answer: (c) 2 only; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Statement I is not correct, but Statement II is correct

• Cloud computing distributes computer services such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence through the Internet (“the cloud”) to enable quicker innovation, more flexible resource allocation, and cost savings.
  • Cloud computing enables flexible resource allocation because resources are allocated dynamically based on demand, scalability is rapid and effortless and also users can access resources from anywhere, using any device with an internet connection.
• It eliminates the need for individuals and businesses to self-manage physical resources themselves, and only pay for what they use, as:
  • Users don’t need to purchase, maintain, or upgrade hardware.
  • Cloud providers handle infrastructure management, maintenance, and upgrades.
  • Resources are allocated dynamically, reducing the need for manual management.
• Examples of cloud computing services:
  • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure
  • Platform as a Service (PaaS): Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud
  • Software as a Service (SaaS): Salesforce, Microsoft Office 365

Source: Spiceworks

Answer: (d) Statement I is not correct, but Statement II is correct; Difficulty Level: Easy

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Eurasian Wryneck, also known as the northern wryneck (Jynx torquilla), belongs to the woodpecker family. These birds inhabit open countryside, woodland, and orchards.
• They primarily breed in temperate regions of Europe and Asia. Most populations are migratory, wintering in tropical Africa and southern Asia, from Iran to the Indian subcontinent.
• They have shorter and less dagger-like bills than those of other woodpeckers. It can turn their heads nearly 180 degrees, which is the origin of their English name.
• When disturbed at the nest, they exhibit a snake-like head twisting and hissing as a threat display. This unusual behaviour historically associated them with witchcraft, giving rise to the term “jinx”.
• They are considered ‘Least Concern’ as per the IUCN classification.

Answer: (b) Eurasian Wryneck; Difficulty Level: Hard

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• The Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a specific ground-based radio navigation system that provides pilots with accurate information about their aircraft’s glide path and alignment with the runway.
• ILS provides horizontal guidance (azimuth) to pilots. Azimuth refers to the horizontal angle between a reference direction (the runway) and a line to the aircraft.
• ILS also provides the correct vertical descent profile, informing pilots whether the aircraft is too high or too low relative to the runway.
• It consists of two components:
  • Localizer (LOC): Guides aircraft horizontally.
  • Glideslope (GS): Guides aircraft vertically

Option (b) is incorrect

• Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) provides distance information from aircraft to a ground reference point, but not glide path or alignment.

Option (c) is incorrect

• Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) provides bearing information, but not glide path or alignment.

Option (d) is incorrect

• Visual aid by Precision Approach Path Indicators (PAPI) provides glide slope information, but not a radio navigation system.

Answer: (a) Instrument Landing System; Difficulty Level: Hard