UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 12 July 2024

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is incorrect.
• People with blood disorders like thalassemia, haemophilia, and sickle cell disease are not eligible for job reservations in government roles under the Persons with Disabilities category.
• The three diseases were included in the list of disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, but they are excluded from job reservation benefits.
• Rules regarding Reservations for disabled people:
  • 4% reservation in government jobs is available for people with disabilities
  • Every government establishment must reserve 1% of the total number of vacancies for people with benchmark disabilities.
• The RPwD Act defines benchmark disabilities as:
  • Autism
  • Intellectual disability
  • Specific learning disability
  • Mental illnesses
• The RPwD Act also defines disabilities as:
  • Blindness and low vision
  • Deaf and hard of hearing
  • Locomotor disability, including cerebral palsy, leprosy, dwarfism, acid attack victims, and muscular dystrophy

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (d)

Explanation:

• Context: The Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Russia’s highest civilian honour, was awarded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Russia.
• Announced in 2019, the award recognized the Prime Minister for his exceptional services in enhancing the strategic partnership and fostering friendly relations between Russia and India.
• About the Award:
  • Recipients: The award is given to notable government and public figures, military leaders, and outstanding representatives in various fields, including science, culture, and the economy.
  • It can also be awarded to foreign heads of state for their services to Russia.
  • Historical Background: Named after Saint Andrew, one of Jesus’ apostles who is said to have spread Christianity in Russia and Europe, and founded the Church of Constantinople.
  • Establishment: Created by Tsar Peter the Great in 1698, the order was abolished in 1918 after the Russian Revolution but was reinstated in 1998 by a presidential executive order.
  • Design: The chain of the Order features 17 alternating links, with a gilded image of the State Emblem of Russia, and includes a badge, star, and a light blue silk ribbon.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• Context: The Ahom era ‘Moidams’ in Assam’s Charaideo district have been recommended for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).
• These Moidams are the burial grounds of Ahom royalty, created by constructing earth mounds over hollow vaults topped by shrines.
• History and Significance:
  • The Moidams enshrine the mortal remains of Ahom royalty along with cherished objects, reflecting their funerary traditions and cosmologies.
  • The Tai-Ahoms migrated to present-day Assam in the 13th century, making Charaideo their first capital and royal necropolis.
  • The site demonstrates their integration with the natural landscape, creating a sacred geography.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1 is Correct. NABARD provides refinance to banks and other financial institutions for loans extended to the agriculture sector and rural development.
• S2 is Correct. NABARD is actively involved in implementing and supporting various rural development schemes initiated by the government.
• S3 is Incorrect. NABARD does not directly lend to farmers; it provides refinancing to banks that, in turn, lend to farmers.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Context: Pakistan has completed the 420-meter-long bridge at the zero line of the Kartarpur Corridor after a delay of two and a half years.
  • The bridge was necessary due to the area’s susceptibility to flooding, ensuring a safe passage for visitors to the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib.
• The Kartarpur Corridor is a visa-free border crossing and secure corridor, connecting the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan to the border with India.
• The gurdwara in Kartarpur stands on the bank of the Ravi, about 120 km northeast of Lahore.
• It was here that Guru Nanak assembled a Sikh community and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539 (not born).

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (c)

Explanation:

• S1 is Correct. Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) is a technique used to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial diseases. This can be done either before or after in vitro fertilization (IVF) of the egg, ensuring the child does not inherit defective mitochondria.
• S2 is Correct. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is inherited exclusively from the mother. This is because the mitochondria present in the sperm are typically destroyed after fertilization, leaving only the mitochondria from the egg (the mother) to be passed on to the offspring.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1 is True: Nuclear DNA is located in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. It is distinct from mitochondrial DNA, which is found in the mitochondria.
• S2 is False: Nuclear DNA is inherited from both parents, with half of the DNA coming from the mother and half from the father. This contrasts with mitochondrial DNA, which is inherited solely from the mother.
• S3 is True: Nuclear DNA contains the majority of an organism’s genetic information. It encodes the instructions necessary for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of the organism.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• S1 is correct. Mitochondria contain their own DNA, which is separate from the nuclear DNA. This mitochondrial DNA is inherited maternally and is involved in coding for some of the proteins and enzymes required for mitochondrial function.
• S2 is partially correct but not entirely accurate. While mitochondria have some roles in the metabolism of lipids and proteins, they are not primarily responsible for their synthesis. Lipid synthesis mainly occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum, and protein synthesis occurs in the ribosomes.
• S3 is correct as well. Mitochondria are involved in the regulation of apoptosis, which is a controlled process of cell death that is important for development and maintaining the health of an organism.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (a)

Explanation:

• Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism. This is true. Guru Nanak Dev established Sikhism in the 15th century
• The Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism, was compiled by the fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev, and includes hymns from various Sikh Gurus, including Guru Nanak Dev.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/

Ans: (b)

Explanation:

• The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is an All India Financial Institution (AIFI) and an apex Supervisory Body for overall supervision of Regional Rural Banks, State Cooperative Banks and District Central Cooperative Banks in India. It was established under the NABARD Act 1981 passed by the Parliament of India. It is fully owned by the Government of India and functions under the Department of Financial Services (DFS) under the Ministry of Finance.

Refer: https://www.insightsonindia.com/2024/07/11/upsc-current-affairs-11-july-2024/