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17 & 18 CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

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17 & 18 CURRENT AFFAIRS (MCQ)

Q1. Consider the following statements:

  1. Treasury bills are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face value at maturity.
  2. Cash Management Bills (CMBs) are generally issued for maturities less than 91 days. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
    a) 1 Only
    b) 2 Only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
• Treasury bills are zero coupon securities and pay no interest. Instead, they are issued at a discount and redeemed at the face value at maturity.
Hence Statement 1 is correct.
• The CMBs have the generic character of T-bills but are issued for maturities less than 91 days.
Hence Statement 2 is correct.
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q2. Operation Blackface, which is often seen in news, is associated with:
a) Child pornography
b) Narcotics
c) Financial terrorism
d) Corruption

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
• Maharashtra Cyber becomes India’s first agency to acquire software ‘Crawler’ from the Interpol’s south Asian wing.
• This software, which has algorithms to look for keywords around child pornography, would track down child pornography uploaded online.
• This software will be used in Operation Blackface, the state’s call to action against Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) across the country.
• With the Tactical Response against Cyber Child Exploitation (TRACE) team of Maharashtra Cyber being trained by Interpol, it better equips them to deal with CSAM instances.
• ‘Operation Blackface’ is part of the larger action taken against CSAM across the country. Acting on the tip off provided by NCRB, Maharashtra Cyber cops forward complaints to the districts where FIR’s were registered against accused persons.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q3. Hayabusa 2 is carrying the first extensive samples of dust from the asteroid Ryugu, is launched by which country?
a) USA
b) Japan
c) South Korea
d) Russia

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
• Hayabusa 2 was launched from Japan’s Tanegashima space centre in 2014 and took four years to reach the asteroid Ryugu.
• The mission builds on the original Hayabusa mission that was launched in 2003 and successfully linked up with asteroid Itokawa in 2005.
o It returned samples to Earth in 2010 marking the first time when sample materials from an asteroid were brought back to Earth.
• Hayabusa is the Japanese term used for the peregrine falcon, which is the fastest bird during its hunting dive (200 mile per hour).
• The space probe orbited above the asteroid for a few months to map its surface before landing. Then it used small explosives to blast a crater, collected the resulting debris and headed back to Earth in November 2019.
• The craft’s mission seeks to answer some fundamental questions about the origins of the Solar systemand where molecules like water came from.
• Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q4. Consider the following Red sea turtles:

  1. Green turtle
  2. Hawksbill turtle
  3. Loggerhead turtle
    Which of the above is/are critically endangered?
    a) 3 Only
    b) 2 and 3 Only
    c) 1 and 3 Only
    d) 1 2 and 3

Solution : b)
Explanation :-
The Red Sea is home to five out of seven species of sea turtles.
They are:
• Green turtle – Endangered
• Hawksbill turtle – Critically Endangered
• Loggerhead turtle – Critically Endangered
• Olive Ridley turtle – Vulnerable
• Leatherback turtle – Vulnerable
• Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Q5. SAKSHAM, recently in news, is a/an
a) Air to air missile recently tested from Tejas aircraft.
b) Initiative for providing online education to differently abled children
c) Campaign to convince consumers to switch to cleaner fuels
d) None of the above

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
About SAKSHAM:
• Idea: To convince consumers to switch to cleaner fuels and bring in behavioral change to use fossil fuel intelligently.
o It was launched in 2017 and since then has been launched every year by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. o 2021 Theme – Green and Clean Energy – which not only focuses on conserving fossil fuels but also on promoting green energy.
o The campaign will also spread awareness about 7 key drivers that would help India move towards cleaner energy. • Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.

Q6. Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), a registered society set up in
1978, under the aegis of
a) Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
b) Ministry of Science and Technology
c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
d) Is an autonomous body

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA):
• It is a registered society set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India, in 1978.
• As a non-profit organization, PCRA is a national government agency engaged in promoting energy efficiency in various sectors of economy.
• It helps the government in proposing policies and strategies for petroleum conservation, aimed at reducing excessive dependence of the country on oil requirement.
• Over the years, PCRA has enlarged its role in improving productivity in use of various sources of energy.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q7. The term ‘REPLACE’ is in the news. It is related to
a) Space technology
b) Replacing of diesel engine cars with electric cars
c) Eliminating industrially-produced trans fat
d) None of the above

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
In 2018, the WHO called for elimination of industrially produced TFAs by 2023, and brought out a step-by step guide called ‘REPLACE’ to help countries frame policies.
• The REPLACE action package provides a strategic approach to eliminating industriallyproduced trans fat from national food supplies, with the goal of global elimination by 2023. Increased intake of trans fat (>1% of total energy intake) is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease mortality and events. Hence, option (c) is the correct answer.
Q8. Which of the following constitutional provisions are linked with the power of judicial review?

  1. Article13(2)
  2. Article 135
  3. Article 32
  4. Article 226 Select the correct code:
    a) 1 and 2
    b) 2 and 3
    c) 1, 2 and 3
    d) All of the above

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
• The Constitution of India provides for judicial review under Article 13, Articles 32 (Supreme Court) and 226 (High Court).
• Article13(2) – The State shall not make any law which takes away or abridges the rights conferred by this part and any law made in contravention of this clause shall, to the extent of the contravention, be void.
• Article 32 of the Indian Constitution enshrines this provision whereby individuals may seek redressal for the violation of their fundamental rights.
• The Article 226 empowers High Courts to issue directions, orders or writs in the nature of habeas corpus, mandamus, prohibition, quo warranto and certiorari. Such directions, orders or writs may be issued for the enforcement of fundamental rights or for any other purpose.
• Article 13 declares that all laws that are inconsistent with or in derogation of the Fundamental Rights shall be null and void.
• Article 135 empowers the Supreme Court to exercise the jurisdiction and powers of the Federal Court under any pre-constitution law.
• Article 372 deals with the continuance in force of the pre-constitution laws.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q9. With reference to India’s culture and tradition, what is ‘Kalaripayattu’?
a) It is an ancient martial art and a living tradition in some parts of South India
b) It is a Shaivite Hindu religious tradition in India
c) A system which consists of the worship of five deities
d) None of the above

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
Kalaripayattu, considered the oldest surviving martial art of the country, with a legacy of more than 3,000 years, is set to see a surge in popularity with the establishment of an academy in the Kerala capital.
• Lessons in one of the most famous combat styles in the world will now be taught at Kerala Tourism’s Vellar Crafts Village en route to Kovalam.
• The 3,500 sq ft academy in the village is scheduled to be completed in two months.
• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan released the syllabus of the Kalaripayattu Academy on January 16 during the inauguration of the renovated Crafts Village.
• Kalaripayattu also known as Kalari, is an Indian martial art and fighting style that originated in Kerala.
• It is considered to be among the oldest martial arts still in existence, with its origin dating back to at least the 3rd century BC.
• Kalaripayattu includes strikes, kicks, grappling, preset forms, weaponry and healing methods. Practitioners of Kalaripayattu also possess intricate knowledge of pressure points on the human body and healing techniques that incorporate the knowledge of Ayurveda and Yoga.
• Unlike other parts of India, warriors in Kerala belonged to all castes. Women in Keralite society also underwent training in Kalaripayattu, and still do so to this day.
• Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q10. What is Mukundpura CM2?
a) Exoplanet
b) An extinct species
c) New mineral discovered
d) Meteorite

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
A new study by Geological Survey of India, Kolkata has shed light on the mineralogy of the meteorite which fell in 2017 in Mukundpura village near Jaipur.
• The meteorite named Mukundpura CM2 was classified to be a carbonaceous chondrite. The composition of carbonaceous chondrites are also similar to the Sun.
• This is a type of stony meteorite, considered the most primitive meteorite and a remnant of the first solid bodies to accrete in the solar system.
• Meteorites are broadly classified into three groups – stony (silicate-rich), iron (Fe–Ni alloy), and stony-iron (mixed silicate–iron alloy). Chondrites are silicate-droplet-bearing meteorites, and this Mukundpura chondrite is the fifth carbonaceous meteorite known to fall in India.
• the results of the Mukundpura CM2 study are relevant to the surface composition of nearEarth asteroids Ryugu and Bennu.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q11. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
Sports States

  1. Jallikattu Tamil Nadu
  2. Kambala Odisha
  3. Maramadi Assam
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:
    a) 1 only
    b) 1 and 2 only
    c) 2 and 3 only
    d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution : a)
Explanation :-
With Assembly polls round the corner in Tamil Nadu, Jallikattu, the traditional bull-taming sport, has caught the attention of the BJP and Congress.
• The bull-taming sport is popular in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Theni, Pudukkottai and Dindigul districts — known as the Jallikattu belt.
• Jallikattu is celebrated in the second week of January, during the Tamil harvest festival, Pongal.
• A tradition over 2,000 years old, Jallikattu is a competitive sport as well as an event to honour bull owners who rear them for mating. It is a violent sport in which contestants try to tame a bull for a prize; if they fail, the bull owner wins the prize.
• Jallikattu is considered a traditional way for the peasant community to preserve their purebreed native bulls. Kangayam, Pulikulam, Umbalachery, Barugur and Malai Maadu are among the popular native cattle breeds used for Jallikattu.
Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka.
Maramadi, is an agricultural sport conducted in Kakkoor Kaalayayal, Kerala. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q12. With reference to the Section 230 of the US’ Communications Decency Act, consider the following statements:

  1. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was passed in 1996 and provides legal immunity to internet companies for content that is shared on their websites.
  2. Section 230 is an amendment to the act, which holds users responsible for their comments and posts online.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 Only
    b) 2 Only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution : c)
Explanation :-
Soon after a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol last week, his social media accounts were suspended by Big Tech companies like Twitter and Facebook for his alleged role in inciting violence and spreading misinformation.
• The incident spurred a renewed debate about Section 230 of the US’ Communications Decency Act — the controversial piece of internet legislation that permitted these tech companies to flex their powers and ban the president in the first place.
• Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act was passed in 1996 and provides legal immunity to internet companies for content that is shared on their websites. The act was first introduced to regulate pornography online. Section 230 is an amendment to the act, which holds users responsible for their comments and posts online.
• According to the regulation, “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”
• This means that online companies, including social media platforms, are not liable for the content shared on their website by its users. So if a user posts something illegal on the website, the company is protected from lawsuits.
• It was passed before social media existed in its present form. Political leaders and internet activists have long called for the law to be updated.
• Republican lawmakers, including Trump, have alleged that platforms like Twitter and Facebook exhibit a clear bias against conservative voices and often abuse Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to censor right-leaning users.
• Hence both statements are correct.

Q13. City of Flint, often mentioned in news, is located in:
a) France
b) Germany
c) U.K
d) U.S.A

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
Nine former officials who served the state of Michigan in the US, including the state’s former governor Rick Snyder, were charged in connection with a criminal investigation into the Flint water crisis.
• The Flint water crisis is an ongoing public health crisis that began in 2014 when the City of Flint in Michigan changed its water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint river.
• This switch caused the water distribution pipes to corrode, as a result of which lead and other contaminants were leached into the municipal drinking water.
• This led to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, a serious type of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria and other health complications in thousands of its residents.
• According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people can get sick from this if they breathe in mist or accidentally swallow bacteria-containing water into the lungs.
• While the water supply was switched back in 2015, the damage was long-lasting and many residents of the city continued to suffer.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.

Q14. With reference to the Tesla, consider the following statements:

  1. Tesla has registered its 100 per cent subsidiary, as – Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt Ltd, according to disclosures with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
  2. Its R&D unit and manufacturing plant is located in Delhi.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
    a) 1 Only
    b) 2 Only
    c) Both 1 and 2
    d) Neither 1 nor 2 Solution : a)
    Explanation :-
    US-based Electric car maker, Tesla has incorporated a fully owned subsidiary in Bengaluru as a first step to set up an R&D unit and a manufacturing plant for its electric vehicles in the country.
    • Tesla has registered its 100 per cent subsidiary, as – Tesla India Motors and Energy Pvt Ltd, according to disclosures with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
    • It is a private unlisted company with an authorised capital of Rs 15,00,000 and a paid-up capital of Rs 1,00,000, according to the MCA filings.
    • It will enter India with the Model 3 Sedan, expectedly priced at around Rs 60 Lakh.
    • The vehicle is fully electric and is powered by a 60kw hour lithium-ion battery pack with a range of 500 km. In a span of only 3.1 seconds, the Sedan speeds up from 0 to 60mph and has a top speed of around 250 km. Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Q15. Sulawesi is an island in:
a) Malaysia
b) Maldives
c) Sri Lanka
d) Indonesia

Solution : d)
Explanation :-
In Indonesia, heavy rain is hampering the search operation for survivors following a powerful earthquake on Sulawesi island.
• Sulawesi is an island in Indonesia.
• It is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. The Strait of Makassar runs along the western side of the island and separates the island from Borneo.
• Within Indonesia, it is smaller than Sumatra and larger than Java Island.
• Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” where tectonic plates collide, and the country has a history of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.