UPSC Current Affairs Quiz : 15 August 2024

Solution: a)

Only Statement 1 is correct.

The scheme, targets families with no permanent house and offers subsidies on home loans for economically weaker sections (EWS), low-income groups (LIG), and middle-income groups (MIG).

The program does not focus solely on new construction projects. It offers assistance for building, purchasing, or renting affordable housing, indicating a multi-faceted approach to addressing urban housing needs.

• Solution: d)

Traditional leather football boots do not represent technological doping in sports. Technological doping refers to the use of advanced technology to enhance an athlete’s performance beyond their natural capabilities, potentially creating unfair advantages.

Examples like high-tech swimsuits, data-providing wearables, and advanced running shoes with performance-enhancing features fall under this category, while traditional equipment does not offer such technological advantages.

• Solution: c)

The Tungabhadra Dam, also known as Pampa Sagar, is located in Hosapete, Ballari district of Karnataka. It is a multipurpose dam built across the Tungabhadra River. The dam was constructed in 1953 by Dr. Thirumalai Iyengar and has been a crucial part of the region’s infrastructure for over 70 years. Its location in Karnataka is significant for water management and flood control in both Karnataka and neighboring Andhra Pradesh, highlighting the interstate importance of this major hydraulic structure.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

STATEMENT 1 EXPLANATION :: Since the 1950s, which coincides with the formation of Israel in 1948, most Kerala Jews have migrated to Israel. Only a handful of Malabar and Paradesi Jews remain in Kerala today.

STATEMENT 2 EXPLANATION :: The Malabar Jews, one of the two main Jewish communities in Kerala, claim their ancestry dates back to the time of King Solomon, which would be around the 10th century BCE. This long-standing historical connection is part of their community’s oral tradition and identity.

STATEMENT 3 EXPLANATION :: This event marks a significant moment in the community’s history, symbolizing the near-extinction of a once-thriving group. The Paradesi Jews, who migrated from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th and 16th centuries, were a distinct community in Kerala. Their dwindling numbers reflect broader trends of Jewish migration from India, particularly to Israel since the 1950s.

• Solution: c)

STATEMENT 1 EXPLANATION :: Article 22(7) of the Indian Constitution empowers Parliament to make laws extending preventive detention beyond three months under specific circumstances, classes of cases, or for particular categories of persons.

STATEMENT 2 EXPLANATION :: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act indeed allows for preventive detention. It is one of the stringent anti-terror laws in India that provides for detention without immediate trial for national security reasons.

Solution: b)

Statement 1 is incorrect.

The Geneva Conventions are a set of international treaties that establish legal standards for humanitarian treatment during war. They form the core of international humanitarian law (IHL) and aim to limit the suffering of people who are not or no longer participating in hostilities, such as civilians, wounded soldiers, and prisoners of war.

Adoption and History:

The first Geneva Convention was adopted in 1864 to protect wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

The current four Geneva Conventions were adopted on August 12, 1949, after World War II, to address the horrors of the war and provide comprehensive protection in armed conflicts.

The Four Conventions:

• First Geneva Convention: Protects wounded and sick soldiers on land during war.
• Second Geneva Convention: Extends protection to wounded, sick, and shipwrecked military personnel at sea.
• Third Geneva Convention: Focuses on the treatment of prisoners of war.
• Fourth Geneva Convention: Protects civilians, including those in occupied territories, from inhumane treatment.

Solution: d)

• There is a growing concern about “technological doping” in professional sports, where advancements in technology enhance an athlete’s performance beyond their natural capabilities, potentially creating unfair advantages.
• The term gained attention when Speedo’s LZR Racer swimsuits, developed with NASA, led to 13 world records in 2008 before being banned.
• Wearable technology, now used by around 500 million people globally, provides athletes with data to improve performance,but it raises questions about whether improvements are due to the technology or a placebo effect.
• For instance, new running shoes like Nike’s Vaporflys, which helped Eliud Kipchoge break the two-hour marathon record, have sparked debates about their fairness. Despite outperforming other shoes, the exact biomechanical reasons for their superiority remain unclear.

Solution: d)

What is the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) Act, 2021?

It is a legislative framework aimed at regulating and standardizing education and practices in the allied and healthcare professions. The Act establishes the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions, which is responsible for setting policies, maintaining a central register of professionals, ensuring uniformity in qualifications, and overseeing professional conduct.

Solution: c)

• Solution: a)

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana is under the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is implemented by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana was launched by the Ministry of Finance. Pradhan Mantri Adi Adarsh Gram Yojana is implemented by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs.