UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 4 May 2024

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Only statements 1 and 3 are correct.
• Raja Ravi Varma was born on April 29, 1848, in Kilimanoor, a village in present-day Kerala , India. He was a self-taught artist who learned to paint by observing the works of European artists and by studying books on art.
• His work is considered one of the best examples of this fusion. Varma is sometimes called the first modern Indian artist.
• Varma’s works are known for combining Hindu mythological subject matter with European realist historicist painting style.
• Some of his works include Shakuntala, Woman Holding a Fruit, and Hamsa Damayanti.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/raja-ravi-varma-3/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Article 31C protects laws enacted to ensure the “material resources of the community” are distributed to serve the common good (Article 39(b)) and that wealth and the means of production are not “concentrated” to the “common detriment” (Article 39(c)).
• Article 39 of the Constitution lists certain directive principles of state policy, which are meant to be guiding principles for the enactment of laws, but are not directly enforceable in any court of law.
• As per Article 31C, these particular directive principles (Articles 39(b) and 39(c)) cannot be challenged by invoking the right to equality (Article 14) or the rights under Article 19 (freedom of speech, right to assemble peacefully, etc).
• Article 31C was introduced by The Constitution (Twenty-fifth) Amendment Act, 1971.
• The 25th amendment was challenged in the seminal Kesavananda Bharati case (1973) in which 13 judges held by a narrow 7-6 majority that the Constitution has a “basic structure” that cannot be altered, even by a constitutional amendment.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/article-31c/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context:  The Supreme Court rejected the application of the ‘eggshell skull’ rule in a medical negligence case, restoring a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs awarded by the district consumer forum.
• What is the ‘eggshell skull’?
  • The “eggshell skull” rule, also known as the “thin skull rule” in some cases, is a legal principle applied in civil litigation. Essentially, it dictates that a defendant in a lawsuit is liable for all injuries caused to the plaintiff, even if the plaintiff’s condition makes them more susceptible to harm than an average person.
  • In this case, Jyoti Devi suffered prolonged pain due to a needle left in her abdomen after surgery. While lower courts applied the rule, the SC ruled it inapplicable as Jyoti didn’t have pre-existing vulnerabilities. The ruling emphasized prolonged suffering and delayed justice as factors justifying the enhanced compensation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/eggshell-skull-rule/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: SEBI has mandated Asset Management Companies (AMCs) to establish an institutional mechanism to deter potential market abuse, including front-running, following recent instances observed by the market regulator.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/front-running-2/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Only statement 1 is correct.
• Context: AstraZeneca has acknowledged that its COVID-19 vaccine, known as Covishield in India, can lead to a rare side effect called Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
  • Despite this rare side effect, experts assert that the benefits of vaccination, particularly in saving lives during the pandemic, outweigh the risks.
  • The risk period for TTS is shortly after vaccination.
• Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) within a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. It can occur in both arteries and veins. While physical injury can contribute to thrombosis, it can also arise from other factors such as prolonged immobility, certain medical conditions, or genetic predispositions.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-tts/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Only statement 3 is correct.
• Context: The DRDO successfully tested the SMART (Supersonic Missile-Assisted Release of Torpedo) system, a missile-assisted torpedo release system designed to bolster the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
  • It can launch lightweight torpedoes targeting submarines hundreds of kilometres away, beyond the conventional range.
• S1: Torpedoes are primarily used in naval warfare, not aerial combat. Aircraft typically deploy bombs or missiles.
• S2: Torpedoes are capable of adjusting their trajectory to some extent, allowing them to pursue moving targets underwater. They are not restricted to traveling only in a straight line.
• S3: Torpedoes have been propelled by various means over the years, including steam, electricity (as in electric torpedoes), and combustion engines.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/290814/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: India, through the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), is set to host the 46th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM 46) and the 26th Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP 26).
  • The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959, established Antarctica as a region for peaceful purposes, scientific cooperation, and environmental protection.
• In 2022, India enacted the Antarctic Act, reaffirming its commitment to the Treaty.
• Key items on the agenda include sustainable management of Antarctica, biodiversity prospecting, climate change response, tourism framework development, and conservation of Antarctic biodiversity.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/46th-antarctic-treaty-consultative-meeting/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Only statement 1 is correct.
• S1: Indonesia is an archipelago comprising over 17,000 islands and is the world’s largest island country by total area.
• S2:Manila is the capital of the Philippines.
  • The Indonesian Government has devised a plan to relocate the capital to Nusantara, a new city, which is reportedly under construction on the eastern coast of Borneo, approximately 870 miles north of Jakarta.
• S3: Mount Fuji is located in Japan, not Indonesia. Indonesia is known for its volcanoes, including Mount Bromo and Mount Krakatoa, but not Mount Fuji.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/indonesia/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research(NCPOR) is an Indian research and development institution, situated in Vasco da Gama, Goa.
• It is an autonomous institution of the Department of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India which is responsible for administering the Indian Antarctic Programme and maintains the Indian government’s Antarctic research stations, Bharati and Maitri.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/46th-antarctic-treaty-consultative-meeting/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: AstraZeneca has acknowledged that its COVID-19 vaccine, known as Covishield in India, can lead to a rare side effect called Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS).
  • Despite this rare side effect, experts assert that the benefits of vaccination, particularly in saving lives during the pandemic, outweigh the risks.
  • The risk period for TTS is shortly after vaccination.
• mRNA vaccines, such as Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech developed for COVID-19, work by delivering a small piece of the virus’s genetic material (mRNA) into cells. Once inside the cell, the mRNA instructs the cell to produce a protein similar to one found on the virus’s surface. This prompts the immune system to recognize and produce antibodies against the virus.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/03/thrombosis-with-thrombocytopenia-syndrome-tts/