UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 20 May 2024

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• It is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs). Founded in 1865, it is the oldest of the UN’s 15 specialized agencies. ITU allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops technical standards for network interconnectivity, and aims to improve ICT access for underserved communities. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, ITU is part of the UN Development Group and operates 12 regional offices. It functions as an intergovernmental public-private partnership with 193 member states and around 800 sector members. India, a member since 1952, was re-elected to the ITU Council for the 2019-2022 term.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/world-telecommunication-and-information-society-day/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: India is establishing its first research testbed to study severe thunderstorms known as Nor’westers, primarily affecting the eastern and northeastern regions.
• Thunderstorms are most likely to develop under conditions where warm, moist air rises into cooler air. This process is called convection. As the warm, moist air ascends, it cools and the water vapor condenses into clouds, releasing latent heat. This heat further fuels the rising air, leading to the formation of cumulonimbus clouds, which are characteristic of thunderstorms. In contrast, high-pressure systems with descending air, cold, dry air descending into warmer air, and stable air masses with minimal vertical movement do not favor the development of thunderstorms because they do not promote the necessary rising motion and moisture needed for thunderstorm formation.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/norwesters/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1: Correct. Nor’westers are indeed most commonly observed during the pre-monsoon months, particularly from March to May. This is the period when the conditions for their formation are most favorable.
• Statement 2: Incorrect. Nor’westers predominantly affect the eastern and northeastern regions of India, particularly states like West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, and Jharkhand, rather than the coastal regions of the western coast.
• Statement 3: Correct. Nor’westers are vital for the agriculture of eastern India as they provide essential rainfall for crops such as jute and rice, helping to mitigate the effects of dry conditions.
• Statement 4: Incorrect. While the interaction between hot, humid air from the Bay of Bengal and cold, dry air from the northwest contributes to the formation of Nor’westers, this is not the primary cause. The primary mechanism involves intense surface heating and the lifting of moist air, leading to the development of these violent thunderstorms.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/norwesters/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1: True: The Right to Property was originally a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution, enshrined in Articles 19(1)(f) and 31.
• S2: True: The 44th Amendment Act of 1978 removed the Right to Property from the list of Fundamental Rights. This amendment was enacted to facilitate land reforms and address issues related to property holdings and acquisition.
• S3: True: After the 44th Amendment, the Right to Property was made a legal right under Article 300A of the Indian Constitution. This article states that no person shall be deprived of his property except by authority of law, which means the right is now subject to reasonable restrictions and is not absolute.
• S4: False: The Right to Property, as a legal right under Article 300A, can be regulated and restricted by the government through the authority of law. This allows the state to impose reasonable restrictions on property rights in the public interest, such as for land acquisition and other regulatory purposes.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/supreme-court-orders-in-news/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Article 21 of the Constitution of India states, “No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.” This fundamental right is a cornerstone of Indian democracy, ensuring that every individual enjoys the right to live with dignity and personal freedom. The Supreme Court of India has interpreted this article expansively to include various derivative rights such as the right to privacy, the right to a healthy environment, the right to shelter, and the right to education. This broad interpretation underscores the importance of Article 21 in safeguarding the fundamental human rights of individuals against arbitrary state actions.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/supreme-court-orders-in-news/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: The Finance Ministry has tasked SBI with forming a committee to address co-lending issues, aiming to boost credit flow.
• Statement 1 is True: Co-Lending Loans involve a partnership between a bank and a non-banking financial company (NBFC) to provide loans to borrowers. This collaborative approach leverages the strengths of both institutions: the reach and customer relationships of NBFCs and the funding advantages of banks.
• Statement 2 is True: Under the Co-Lending Model, the bank and the NBFC share the risk and reward associated with the loan in a predetermined ratio. This means both entities contribute to the loan amount and share the interest income and potential defaults according to their agreed proportions.
• Statement 3 is False: Co-Lending Loans are not exclusively used for large-scale infrastructure projects. They are primarily aimed at increasing credit access to underserved sectors such as MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises), agriculture, and other priority sectors.
• Statement 4 is True: The primary objective of the Co-Lending Model is to enhance the reach of credit to underserved sectors of the economy. This model helps in improving the flow of credit to sectors that may not be adequately served by traditional banking channels alone, thus promoting financial inclusion.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/co-lending-loans/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• Context: A recent study has traced the ancestry of South African leopards to an ice age, revealing their origins from two unique clades in southern and central Africa.
• This research involved analysing the mitogenomes—DNA found outside the cell nucleus and inherited maternally.
• These mitogenomes provide a reliable record of genetic mutations over time, allowing scientists to track the evolution and migration of leopards.
• S1: Mitogenomes are typically circular DNA molecules, not linear.
  • Mitogenomes, short for mitochondrial genomes, are DNA molecules found outside the nucleus of a cell, within the mitochondria.
  • Mitochondria are often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell because they generate the cell’s energy.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/mitogenome/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: Researchers from Oxford University have provided the first observational proof of “plunging regions” around black holes, confirming a key prediction of Einstein’s theory of gravity.
  • The study demonstrated that there are areas near black holes where matter ceases to orbit and plunges directly into the black hole, experiencing some of the strongest gravitational forces in the galaxy.
  • It confirms Einstein’s theory, which states that particles close to a black hole cannot maintain circular orbits and instead rapidly fall inwards at nearly the speed of light.
• A black hole is a well-established astronomical object resulting from the gravitational collapse of a massive star. Its defining characteristic is that it has an event horizon beyond which nothing can escape its gravitational pull, not even light, making it appear black.
• On the other hand, a white hole is a theoretical construct predicted by the equations of general relativity. Unlike black holes, white holes expel matter and light, and theoretically, nothing can enter them. However, white holes have not been observed, and their existence remains speculative. Thus, the correct answer is B, as it accurately describes the fundamental difference between the two concepts.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/plunging-regions/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The India-Japan joint moon mission, the Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX), is expected to launch in a few years.
• The Lunar Polar Exploration Mission (LUPEX) is a collaborative mission between the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which makes statement S1 incorrect. The primary objectives of LUPEX include exploring the lunar south pole region and searching for water ice on the Moon.
• The mission involves both Japanese and Indian technologies.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/lunar-polar-exploration-mission-lupex/

Ans: (c)

Explanation: AI Tools in Drug Development:

• AlphaFold 3 and RoseTTAFold All-Atom:
• Developers: AlphaFold is developed by DeepMind, a Google company, and RoseTTAFold by the University of Washington.
• Functionality: These tools use deep neural networks to predict the three-dimensional structures of proteins and their interactions with drugs. They provide a major leap in predicting not just static protein structures but also dynamic interactions with various biological molecules, including DNA, RNA, and small molecules.
• Performance: In tests, AlphaFold 3 accurately predicted drug interactions 76% of the time, outperforming RoseTTAFold All-Atom at 40%.

Refer:https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/05/18/ai-in-drug-development/