September 01-02-2024 Prelims Practice Questions (PPQs)

Correct

Explanation

Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I

• Using human breast cancer cells, Indian scientists have discovered a new target for killing cancer cells, potentially leading to new therapies.
• Current anti-cancer drugs, camptothecin, topotecan, and irinotecan, target topoisomerase 1 (Top1).
• Top1, an enzyme found in all higher organisms, is crucial in maintaining the DNA structure during replication and transcription.
• Drugs targeting Top1 disrupt its activity, causing the death of many cells, including cancer cells.
• Issue: Cancer cells can develop resistance to treatment by using their intrinsic DNA repair toolbox.
• New Targets to Overcome Resistance to Treatment
• Developing novel anti-cancer therapeutics may become possible through the combinatorial targeting of two key molecules: the CDK1 protein and the TDP1 enzyme.
• TDP1 plays a role in repairing the DNA damage in cancer cells.
• CDK1 can disrupt the Top1-mediated DNA damage repair process, potentially killing cancer cells.
• Combining CDK1 and Top1 inhibitors can be highly effective against cancer cells.
• While Top1 inhibitors cause DNA damage, CDK1 inhibitors prevent repair and stop the cell cycle, improving treatment effectiveness by targeting different aspects of the cell cycle and DNA replication.
• CDK1 inhibitors, avotaciclib, alvocidib, roniciclib, riviciclib, and dinaciclib, are currently in various stages of clinical trials.
• While the study focused on human breast cancer cells, the new techniques may also benefit patients with ovarian, colorectal, and small-cell lung cancers (strongly linked to tobacco smoking).

Answer: (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation:

Option (c) is correct

• Scatterometers (satellite sensors that send and receive microwave pulses) are used to track changes in the volume of city structures.
  • Microwave pulses are brief bursts of microwave radiation emitted by sensors or transmitters.
  • Microwave radiation is electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths from 1 mm to 30 cm and frequencies between 1 and 300 GHz.
  • It is used in communications, radar, and remote sensing because it can penetrate clouds and rain.
  • Its wavelength is shorter than radio waves but longer than infrared waves.

Answer: (c) Scatterometers are satellite sensors used to track changes in the volume of city structures by analyzing urban heat island effects; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect

• Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, fast-spreading viral illness affecting cloven-hoofed animals (those with divided hooves) like cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer. It does not affect horses.

Statement 2 is incorrect and statement 3 is correct

• FMD does not pose a human health or food safety risk and is unrelated to hand, foot, and mouth disease, a separate childhood illness. It is not transmitted to humans by eating affected meat.
• FMD in infected animals causes fever, drooling, reluctance to move, and fluid-filled blisters on lips, tongue, feet, and teats. These blisters burst, leaving painful ulcers lasting up to 10 days to heal.
• The disease spreads rapidly, especially in cool, damp conditions or when animals are closely housed. It is transmitted through breath, saliva, mucus, milk, and faeces and can spread before clinical signs appear.
• FMD spreads between farms mainly through the movement of infected animals.
• FMD is found in Asia (including Indonesia), the Middle East, Africa, and parts of South America, with different virus strains prevailing in various regions.

Answer: (c) 3 only; Difficulty Level: Medium

Correct

Explanation

Option (c) is the correct answer

• Libya shares land borders with the following countries:
  1. Egypt
  2. Algeria
  3. Niger
  4. Chad
  5. Sudan
  6. Tunisia

Answer: (c) Only six; Difficulty Level: Hard

Correct

Explanation

Statement 3 is incorrect

• The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is a permanent, intergovernmental organization established at the Baghdad Conference in 1960.
• Founding members: Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela.
• Member countries: Algeria, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Venezuela. Gabon rejoined the group in 2016.
• Secretariat: Vienna, Austria.
• Objective: To secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers; an efficient, economic, and regular supply of petroleum to consuming nations; and a fair return on capital to those investing in the industry.

Statement 2 is correct

• It operates on the principle of unanimity, and one member, one vote.
• Significance: 80% of the world’s proven crude oil reserves are located in the grouping Member Countries.
• India sources about 70% of crude oil, 60% of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and 30% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG), and 45% of petroleum products demand from OPEC.

Statement 1 is correct

• Its Publication: World Oil Outlook
• The OPEC Fund for International Development is a multilateral development finance institution established in 1976. It is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively.

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

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• Anti-dumping is a protective tariff imposed by a country on imports sold at a price lower than their normal domestic market price.
• The imposition of anti-dumping duty serves as a remedy to counteract the distortive trade caused by the dumping of goods.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• The WTO permits the use of anti-dumping measures as a means of ensuring fair competition.
• Recommended by: Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR), Ministry of Commerce.
• Imposed by: Ministry of Finance.
• Validity: An anti-dumping duty is valid for five years.

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

Correct

Explanation

Option (a) is correct

• New species of spiders were collected from the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and Kerala’s Ernakulam district.
• The two new spider species, Mimetus spinatus and Mimetus parvulus, belong to the Mimetidae family, known as pirate or cannibal spiders for their unique predatory behaviour.
• Spiders belong to the class Arachnida, order Araneae, and the phylum Arthropoda.
• Mimetus spinatus is medium-sized with a pale-yellow head, dull gray-white abdomen, and long black spine-like hairs on its head.
• Mimetus parvulus has a pale creamy-rose head with grey-black mottling, a triangular gray-white abdomen with many tubercles, and short copulatory ducts in the female.
• These spiders use aggressive mimicry to deceive and kill host spiders by mimicking prey or mate vibrations. They also practice kleptoparasitism, stealing prey and feeding on other spiders’ eggs.
• This discovery increases the number of Mimetus spider species in India to three, all found in the southern part of the country. The first Mimetus spider was discovered 118 years ago.

Answer: (a) Arachnid; Difficulty Level: Hard

Correct

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct

• According to the Department of Justice report, as of April 2024, over 60 lakh cases were pending in various High Courts, with 30% of judicial seats vacant.
• Collegium System vs. NJAC
  • The Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014, and the 99th Constitution Amendment, arguing that they would undermine judicial independence.
  • NJAC proposed replacing the collegium system. However, NJAC was struck down by the Supreme Court, raising concerns about judicial independence, compromising impartiality, and government control.

Statement 2 is incorrect

• Article 50 of the Indian Constitution (under DPSP) requires the state to separate the judiciary from the executive in public services.
• International Models of Judicial Appointments
  • United Kingdom: The Judicial Appointments Commission, established by the Constitutional Reform Act (2005), includes 15 members from the judiciary, legal professions, etc., ensuring balanced nominations.
  • South Africa: The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) advises the President on appointments and comprises the Chief Justice, the President of the Supreme Court of Appeal, the Minister of Justice, legal professionals, representatives from the National Assembly and the President.
  • France: Judicial appointments are managed by the High Council of the Judiciary, with lower court appointments also involving consultation with the Minister of Justice, incorporating diverse stakeholders.
• Reworking the NJAC:
  • The NJAC had the potential to streamline judicial appointments through its democratic structure. In contrast, the current collegium system lacks transparency and may allow favouritism. Reworking the NJAC could offer a more efficient method of appointing judges while maintaining judicial independence.
  • It is essential to incorporate judiciary, executive, and civil society feedback to balance efficiency and integrity in judicial appointments.
  • A reformed NJAC could foster better communication between the different branches of government and address the perceived drawbacks of the collegium system

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