UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | January 05 to January 11, 2025

1. It is a broadcast hub for assistance and real-time action against transnational crimes via international police cooperation.

2. It was developed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

3. It will allow only the central agencies to connect with Interpol and speed up their investigations.

4. It will not investigate the crimes related to drug trafficking and human trafficking.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1 only

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 3 and 4 only

Explanation

— Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the ‘Bharatpol’ platform to facilitate international cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

— Bharatpol, a broadcast hub for support and real-time action against transnational crimes through international police collaboration, was created by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

— It will make it easier for central and state agencies to communicate with Interpol, allowing them to conduct investigations faster. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— The CBI, as India’s National Central Bureau for Interpol (NCB-New Delhi), connects all law enforcement agencies in the country with those in 195 other countries via Interpol. Currently, all central agencies and police forces in various states and union territories contact the CBI, Interpol liaison officers (ILOs), and unit officers concerned via letters, emails, and faxes, resulting in frequent delays in investigations.

— The decision to create this portal was made in response to an increase in transnational crimes such as cybercrime, financial crime, internet extremism, organised crime, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. In such circumstances, immediate international cooperation is required for criminal investigations. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the sex ratio, consider the following statements:

1. It measures the number of females per 10,000 males in a given population.

2. According to the National Health and Family Survey-5 (NFHS-5), the overall sex ratio at birth in India was 929.

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

Explanation

— After peaking at 923 in 2019, the sex ratio at birth in Haryana dropped to 910 in 2024, an eight-year low.

— The sex ratio is the measure of the number of females per 1,000 males in a given population. It serves as a crucial yardstick to measure gender equality, and directly mirrors the status and well-being of women in a society. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— According to the National Health and Family Survey-5 (NFHS-5), published in 2021, India’s overall sex ratio at birth is 929. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— In 2014, the sex ratio in Haryana was just 871. This sparked a tremendous national uproar, prompting a determined effort to rectify the situation by civil society organisations, state governments, and the central government. In January 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his signature ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ program at Panipat.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD), consider the following statements:

1. The event is held every year to “honour the contributions of the Indian diaspora to their homeland”.

2. The 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas was inaugurated in Bhubaneswar.

3. The idea of a day dedicated to recognising overseas Indians emerged and was first held in 2003.

4. January 9 was selected as it was the date when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— On January 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the 18th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in Bhubaneswar, with a speech titled ‘Diaspora’s Contribution to a Viksit Bharat’. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The event is organised every two years to “honour the contributions of the Indian diaspora to their homeland”. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— According to the Ministry of External Affairs, over 3.5 crore Overseas Indians (NRIs and PIOs) live overseas.

— The concept of a day dedicated to commemorating Indians abroad emerged, first conducted in 2003. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— January 9 was selected as the date when Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the Santa Ana winds, consider the following statements:

1. These winds blow when low pressure builds over the Great Basin — the area between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada.

2. These winds usually occur from October to January.

3. These winds fueled the wildfires in Southern California.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— Multiple wildfires have burned homes and businesses, as well as shrouded cities and roads in smoke in Southern California, USA. Over 30,000 individuals in the Los Angeles area were forced to leave their homes.

— The cause of these wildfires has yet to be determined; according to the US Forest Service, humans initiate almost 85% of all forest fires in the United States, either intentionally or unintentionally. However, experts believe that the three wildfires in Southern California spread swiftly and caused widespread devastation due to two factors: “Santa Ana” winds and climate change.

— Santa Ana winds blow when high pressure rises over the Great Basin, which is located between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada (a mountain range in the Western United States), while low pressure exists over California’s coast. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— The pressure differential causes violent winds to travel from the Basin’s inland deserts, east and north of Southern California, over the mountains and into the Pacific Ocean.

— As the wind descends the mountains, it compresses and heats up. The wind also reduces humidity, sometimes to less than 20% or even less than 10%. The abnormally low moisture level dries up vegetation, preparing it for burning. This technique contributed to the three wildfires in southern California. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Santa Ana winds normally blow from October to January. “Winter weather patterns allow high pressure to build near the surface of the Great Basin, which then interacts with low-pressure air over the Pacific,” explained Rose Schoenfeld, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Oxnard, California, to Bloomberg. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Google Deep Research, consider the following statements:

1. It uses AI to explore complex topics on a user’s behalf and comes up with answers in an easy-to-read manner.

2. It shows the user a research plan allowing them to edit it to get the desired results.

3. It offers a range of customisations and ease of access more than ChatGPT.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Google rolled out Deep Research to Gemini subscribers. Google’s research tool offers a range of customisations, ease of access, and precision, more than ChatGPT Search and Perplexity AI. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Deep Research employs artificial intelligence to study complex issues on behalf of users and provide answers in an understandable format. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Deep Research is best described as a research team that can analyse over 50 websites, compile findings, and provide readable reports with citations all at once. While ChatGPT immediately does the study and gives the results, Google Deep study displays a research plan that the user can edit to achieve the desired results. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— It generates a report complete with citations, which can then be exported to Google Docs where you may interact with it. The output could be equivalent to a report produced by consulting firms after many hours and days of work.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

With reference to the Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), consider the following statements:

1. The ALH program is an indigenously designed and developed 5.5-ton class multirole helicopter by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

2. The project was initiated in the mid 1960s.

3. Rudra is a certified variant of ALH.

4. It has been incorporated in the army, airforce and navy but not in the Coast Guard.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— On January 5, the Indian Coast Guard’s indigenous Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark-III crashed at the Coast Guard Air Enclave in Porbandar, Gujarat, during a training sortie, killing all three people on board.

— This was the Coast Guard ALH Mark-III’s second deadly crash in four months; the first one, in September, occurred during a medical evacuation mission off the coast of Porbandar and killed three. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— The Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) program is an indigenously designed and developed 5.5 tonne multirole helicopter by RWRDC, HAL, Bengaluru. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The project was launched in the mid-1980s, and the first flight took place in August 1992. The helicopter’s initial operational clearance (IOC) was awarded in 2001. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The helicopter’s variations, ALH Mk-I, ALH Mk-II, ALH Mk-III, and ALH Mk-IV Rudra, have been approved in a variety of configurations, including wheeled and skid versions. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.drdo.gov.in)

QUESTION 7

Which of the following states has announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the script of the Indus Valley Civilisation?

(a) Rajasthan

(b) Gujarat

(c) Tamil Nadu

(d) Haryana

Explanation

— Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has announced a $1 million prize for deciphering the script of the Indus Valley Civilisation, an enigma that has persisted for more than a century since Sir John Marshall announced the discovery of the Bronze Age culture that thrived in the Indus valley between c. 3300 and 1300 BCE.

— Archaeologists, epigraphists, linguists, historians, and scientists have made over 100 documented attempts to decode the Harappan writing system with little success.

— Stalin’s announcement came after the state’s Department of Archaeology published a study titled “Indus Signs And Graffiti Marks of Tamil Nadu,” which found “parallels” between “more than 90% of the graffiti marks of South India and the graffiti marks of the Indus Valley Civilisation.”

— The Indus Civilisation, which peaked between 2600 and 1900 BCE, spanned approximately 800,000 square kilometres in what is now Pakistan and parts of northwest India. It was the world’s most advanced urban culture at the time, with a complex system of trade, taxation, and drainage.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

With reference to the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) report, consider the following statements:

1. The Ministry of Education maintains the UDISE+ online platform.

2. It is a database on school education only for the pre-primary levels.

3. The data from the reports is important for allocating funds for schemes like PM-POSHAN (midday meals) and Samagra Shiksha.

4. It does not prepare the report based on parameters like infrastructure and teachers.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Explanation

— The Ministry of Education recently released two Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) forecasts for 2022-23 and 2023-24, which show a reduction of more than a crore in school enrolment from the average enrolment figure from 2018-19 to 2021-22.

— UDISE+ is a database that covers school education from pre-primary to higher secondary levels. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The Ministry of Education manages the UDISE+ web platform, which collects data on school education from the states. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It creates the report using this data on characteristics such as school enrolment, infrastructure, and teachers. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— This data is critical when allocating funds for programs such as PM-POSHAN (midday meals), Samagra Shiksha, and scholarships. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Enrolment in schools across the country remained around 26 crore from 2018-19 to 2021-22, with annual gains of a few lakh pupils except for the COVID year of 2020-21, when enrolment fell somewhat. In 2022-23, the figure declined to 25.17 crore. It fell further to 24.8 crore in 2023-24.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

With reference to the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV), consider the following statements:

1. It is a significant cause of respiratory illnesses, particularly in young children.

2. It is most contagious during the early days when symptoms are most pronounced.

3. HMPV is a DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) virus.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a major cause of respiratory infections, especially in small children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Following the discovery of cases in Karnataka, all states have been encouraged to improve monitoring for Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI) and Influenza-Like Illnesses (ILI) to monitor for any increase in respiratory infections as a result of the purported introduction of the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) to China.

— While symptoms might range from mild to severe, determining the necessary isolation period for HMPV cases is critical for preventing transmission and ensuring proper recovery.

— The virus has a two to three-day incubation phase during which a patient may not exhibit symptoms but remains contagious, and the transmission risk is high for five to seven days.

— HMPV is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus that can be found in respiratory secretions for five to 14 days following the onset of symptoms. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— HMPV infection is most contagious in the early stages, when symptoms are most noticeable. During this time, the viral concentration in respiratory secretions is at its highest, as the virus multiplies. The most contagious phase occurs 3 to 6 days after symptoms start. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

With reference to the La Niña, consider the following statements:

1. During La Niña events, trade winds are weaker than usual.

2. It is a cold event.

3. During a La Niña year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the South and cooler than normal in the North.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced La Niña in the Pacific Ocean on January 9.

— La Niña is a phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a climate phenomena that affects sea temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, as well as atmospheric oscillations. ENSO influences, alters, and interferes with global atmospheric circulation, which in turn affects global weather patterns.

— ENSO has three phases: warm (El Niño), cool (La Niña), and neutral, occurring in unpredictable cycles of two to seven years.

— La Niña translates to “Little Girl” in Spanish. La Niña is sometimes known as El Viejo, anti-El Niño, or simply “a cold event.” La Niña has the opposite effect as El Niño. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— During La Niña episodes, trade winds are stronger than usual, bringing more warm water to Asia. Upwelling occurs off the west coast of the Americas, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— During a La Niña, winter temperatures are warmer in the south and cooler in the north. La Niña might result in a more severe hurricane season. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: oceanservice.noaa.gov)

QUESTION 11

Recently, the Foreign Secretary of India met with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister. With reference to the factors and background of the meeting, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The meeting comes at a time when India grants official recognition to the Taliban government.

2. India’s move to engage at a higher level is seen as an opportunity when the Taliban’s benefactor and ally Pakistan has become the Taliban’s adversary.

3. One of the factors behind this move is that China is making inroads in Afghanistan by exchanging ambassadors with the Taliban.

4. The Taliban have so far ensured security guarantees for Indian interests and facilities, including the embassy premises and that they are fighting the Islamic State Khorasan Province which India is also wary of.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 3 only

Explanation

— Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s meeting with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi takes place at a time when the geopolitics of the region is in a state of flux.

— While there is no move yet to grant official recognition to the Taliban government, this is an effort by India to secure its own national and security interests with many moving parts in play. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Five key factors were behind India’s move to engage at a higher level: Taliban’s benefactor and ally Pakistan has become an adversary; Iran has been weakened considerably; Russia is fighting its own war; and the US, and the world, are preparing for the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Most importantly, China is making inroads in Afghanistan by exchanging ambassadors with the Taliban.

— China got into the great game in Afghanistan as it started building bridges and eyeing natural resources. In September 2023, China sent its ambassador to Kabul and in early 2024, Beijing received a Taliban representative as its ambassador. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Pakistan, which celebrated the rise of the Taliban with then ISI chief Lt Gen Faiz Hameed sipping tea at Kabul’s Serena hotel in 2021, is now in a fraught relationship with the Taliban. India, at that time, was wary of how the Taliban would give space to Pakistan’s ISI and use Afghan soil against India and Indian interests.

— But the tension between Taliban and Pakistan have come to a stage where Kabul has claimed that Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Paktika province on December 24 resulted in the death of at least 51 people, including women and children. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— India’s main concern in Afghanistan has been that terrorism should not flourish in Afghanistan, and by all estimates, the security situation has improved – although women’s rights have been crushed, much to Delhi’s discomfiture. The Taliban have so far ensured security guarantee for Indian interests and facilities, including the embassy premises. And they have said that they are fighting the Islamic State Khorasan Province which India is also wary of. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 12

What is a ‘Dragon Arc’, recently seen in the news?

(a) an economic curve that has predicted the last 10 recessions.

(b) a data graph showing excess mortality across countries.

(c) a galaxy nearly 6.5 billion light-years away from Earth.

(d) None of the above.

Explanation

— A group of physicists at Durham University in the United Kingdom have identified over 44 previously unknown stars that were hidden behind a cluster of galaxies.

— The newly discovered constellation of stars are located in a galaxy named Dragon Arc, nearly 6.5 billion light-years away from Earth.

— The Dragon Arc galaxy was unnoticed so far since it is located behind another cluster of galaxies called Abell 370.

— Scientists were able to identify the stars, thanks to magnified images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) jointly developed by NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, and the European Space Agency.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer

QUESTION 13

With reference to the Future of Jobs Report 2025, consider the following statement:

1. The report highlights that the fastest-growing skills by 2030 will include AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, technological literacy, and creative thinking.

2. According to the report there will be a significant decline in care jobs.

3. The study found that the skills gap continues to be the most significant barrier to business transformation today.

Which of the above statements is/are true?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— About 170 million new jobs will be created by 2030, while 92 million are projected to be displaced. This results in 78 million net new jobs, as per Future of Jobs Report 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF).

— Drawing on data from over 1,000 companies, the study found that the skills gap continues to be the most significant barrier to business transformation today. Nearly 40 per cent of skills required on the job are set to change, and 63 per cent of employers already cite it as the key barrier they face. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Significant increases are also projected for care jobs, such as nursing professionals, and education roles, such as secondary school teachers, with demographic trends driving growth in demand across essential sectors. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The fastest-growing skills by 2030 will include AI and big data, networks and cybersecurity, technological literacy, and creative thinking. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 14

With reference to Genome India project, consider the following statements:

1. Approved by the government in 2020, the Genome India project looks to create a comprehensive catalogue of genetic variations found in the Indian population.

2. The entire dataset — which adds up to 8 petabytes of data — is stored at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) which was Inaugurated in 2022 and is the country’s only databank.

Which of the above mentioned statements is/are not correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The genome sequencing data of 10,000 Indians, sequenced from 99 distinct populations, will now be available for researchers to develop medicines tailored to the local population.

— Launching the mammoth dataset — 8 petabytes of data stored at the Indian Biological Data Centre — Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday hailed the “milestone” in biotechnology research.

— Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC) – Inaugurated in 2022, the IBDC is the country’s only databank. Prior to that Indian researchers had to host their biological datasets on American or European servers. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Approved by the government in 2020, the Genome India project looks to create a comprehensive catalogue of genetic variations found in the Indian population. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 15

With reference to the Lumpy Skin Disease, consider the following statements:

1. Lumpy Skin Disease is caused by a protozoan.

2. The disease can be transmitted from animal to human.

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

Explanation

— Nearly 126 cattle died from Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) in Tripura since 2022, Animal Resource Development (ARD) Minister Sudhangshu Das stated while replying to a question from CPI(M) MLA Jitendra Chaudhury during the ongoing winter session of the Assembly.

— According to a report by GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) disease is caused by a virus called the Capripoxvirus and is “an emerging threat to livestock worldwide”. It is genetically related to the goatpox and sheeppox virus family. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— LSD infects cattle and water buffalo mainly through vectors such as blood-feeding insects. Signs of infection include the appearance of circular, firm nodes on the animal’s hide or skin that look similar to lumps.

— Infected animals immediately start losing weight and may have fever and lesions in the mouth, along with a reduced milk yield.

— The disease has been endemic in most African countries, and since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the Middle East, Southeast Europe and West and Central Asia.

— While the virus does not spread to humans, “milk produced by an infected animal will be fit for human consumption after boiling or pasteurisation as these processes will kill the viruses, if any, in the milk. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 29, 2024 to January 04, 2025

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 22 to December 28, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 15 to December 21, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 08 to December 14, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 01 to December 07, 2024

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