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Journalism of Courage
UPSC Weekly Quiz is a current affairs-based quiz on relevant topics from the past week, curated for the aspirants of competitive examinations. Attempt the weekly quiz every Saturday and find answers to the MCQs with explanations.
Consider the following:
1. Marine ecosystems
2. Local economy
3. Risks to higher-level predators
4. Reduction in biodiversity
How many of the above are the impacts caused by oil spills?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Explanation
— Typhoon Gaemi has wreaked havoc across Taiwan, the Philippines and parts of southeastern China, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The resultant heavy rains also led to the sinking of the oil tanker MT Terra Nova, laden with 1.4 million litres of oil, in Manila Bay.
— Natural calamities, human error, or equipment failure can all contribute to oil tanker, drilling rig, pipeline, or refinery accidents. Environmental consequences are determined by elements such as oil kind, spill amount, meteorological conditions, and proximity to vulnerable ecosystems.
— When oil spills into water, it quickly spreads. Because of its lower density than water, it produces a layer that blocks sunlight and impairs photosynthesis in marine plants and phytoplankton, which are essential for oxygen production. Fish and other marine animals ingest microscopic algae, which serve as the foundation for various food systems.
— Marine species, particularly those near the surface, are in imminent danger from chemical exposure. Bird feathers coated with oil may lose their insulating qualities, resulting in hypothermia and drowning.
— Oil spills have far-reaching consequences, harming marine ecosystems, habitats, and local economies alike. These spills have the potential to wipe out animal populations, as poisonous compounds accumulate in the food chain and pose serious threats to higher-level predators, including humans. This bioaccumulation can cause long-term health concerns and a loss in biodiversity, altering entire ecosystems.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Which of the statements is/are correct with reference to puberty blockers?
1. These drugs can delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse teens.
2. It is used in cases of precocious puberty.
3. These drugs are prescribed for those who seek gender reassignment surgery.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
— Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has alleged that his transgender child was (figuratively) “killed by the woke mind virus” after he was “tricked” into consenting to the use of “puberty blockers”.
— The puberty blockers are the drugs that can delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse teens. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— During puberty, a child’s body goes through physical changes in the process of becoming an adult capable of sexual reproduction. This is initiated by hormonal signals from the brain to the gonads: ovaries in a female, testicles in a male.
— The medicines are called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, which stop the body from making sex hormones.
— Puberty blockers are also used in cases of precocious puberty, a condition in which a child’s body begins changing too soon, before the age of eight for girls and before the age of nine in boys. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— They are also prescribed for those who seek gender reassignment surgery, but those are not conducted before the age of 18. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Charaideo Moidams burial sites have been recently added to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites list. These burial sites are located in:
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) West Bengal
(d) Assam
Explanation
— Assam’s Charaideo Moidams burial sites have been added to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites list.
— These are royal burial sites of the Ahom dynasty, which ruled over much of Assam and the North East from 1228 to 1826 AD.
— These are located about 30 kilometres from Sivasagar in eastern Assam; many people regard the Charaideo tumuli as sacred even today.
— A moidam is an Ahom royal and aristocratic tumulus, or a mound of soil erected above a burial. While Charaideo only has moidams of Ahom royals, other moidams of nobles and chiefs can be found throughout Eastern Assam, between the towns of Jorhat and Dibrugarh.
— A typical moidam at Charaideo consists of one or more rooms in a vault. A hemispherical earthen mound rises high above the ground and is covered in grass. The chow chali, or pavilion, sits on this hill. A low octagonal wall surrounds the mound with one entrance.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
With reference to the listeria, consider the following statements:
1. Listeria or Listeria monocytogenes is a type of virus found in soil.
2. The pregnant women are more likely to develop a listeria infection.
3. There is no treatment available for listeriosis.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation
— In recent weeks, the United States and Canada have reported two separate outbreaks of listeria, a disease that may contaminate food.
— Listeria, also known as Listeria monocytogenes, is a bacteria that can be found in soil, vegetation, water, sewage, and even animal and human excrement. Listeria-contaminated food can cause listeriosis. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— Most people who consume listeria-infected food do not become ill or exhibit symptoms. The bacterium can be present in the infected person’s system for up to two months before symptoms appear, making it difficult to determine the link between what was consumed and the illness.
— People with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and their children, and the elderly (65 and older) are vulnerable.
— According to the CDC, pregnant women are 10 times more likely to have a listeria infection, which can result in pregnancy loss, early birth, or even a life-threatening infection in the newborn. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The severity of the infection determines the appropriate treatment. In many cases, intestinal listeriosis appears within a day or two of consuming the infected food item and can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. The therapy is similar to that for a typical stomach illness and may include antibiotics. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
With reference to the Vishnupad Temple at Gaya, consider the following statements:
1. It is located on the banks of the Falgu river.
2. The temple was built in 1787 on the orders of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar.
3. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. It is located where Gautam Buddha is believed to have attained nirvana.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 3 and 4 only
Explanation
— Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced during her Union Budget speech that corridor projects will be built for the Vishnupad Temple at Gaya and the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in Bihar.
— These will be “modelled on the successful Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, to transform them into world-class pilgrim and tourist destinations.”
Vishnupad Temple
— The Vishnupad Temple at Gaya is the Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishu.
— According to the state’s official tourism website, legend says a demon or asura named Gayasur asked the gods to give him powers, which would allow anyone who saw him to attain moksha — freedom from the cycle of rebirth.
— Architecturally, the temple is around 100 feet tall with 44 pillars.
— It was built on the banks of the Falgu River in 1787 on the orders of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar of Ahmadnagar. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex
— The Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
— The shrine is located to the east of the Mahabodhi Tree, where Gautam Buddha is believed to have reached nirvana. The temple is distinctive in design and stands 170 feet tall. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
Which of the following western Africa’s countries has proposed to relocate its capital due to recurring flash floods?
(a) Senegal
(b) Togo
(c) Ghana
(d) Liberia
Explanation
— The development occurred just weeks after torrential rains produced flash floods throughout Liberia, affecting over 50,000 people. Monrovia, which has 1.5 million residents and is located on the country’s Atlantic coast, was one of the most severely impacted areas.
— The main reason is rising sea levels. From 2013 to 2018, sea level rise and coastal erosion displaced over 6,500 people and damaged 800 homes in Monrovia’s West Point slum.
— By 2030, the Greater Monrovia District, which includes the capital city Monrovia, is anticipated to have a sea level rise of 16 cm, according to a 2021 report by the World Bank.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin, consider the following statements:
1. The scheme was launched on April 1, 2016.
2. It aims to achieve the objective of “Housing for All” in rural areas with basic amenities by 2024.
3. The funds under the scheme are provided by the respective states.
4. The identification of beneficiaries under PMAY-G is based on the housing deprivation parameters and exclusion criteria prescribed under census 2001.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1 and 2 only
Explanation
— Since 2016, the national government has sanctioned up to 37,01,362 dwellings under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin for the state of Bihar, with 36,58,471 (99%) already constructed.
— According to data released by MoS (Rural Development) Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, the largest number of dwellings (2.15 lakh) have been sanctioned in the district of Darbhanga, with 2.13 lakh already erected. Sheikhpura district has the fewest dwellings sanctioned (21,348), with 21,108 already built.
— The PMAY-G was launched on April 1, 2016 to achieve the objective of “Housing for All” in rural areas with the overall target of construction of 2.95 crore pucca houses with basic amenities by 2024. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.
— The funds under the scheme are allocated to the states depending on proposals received from the state and the needs of beneficiaries who have been approved for housing. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
— Beneficiaries under PMAY-G are identified using the housing deprivation metrics and exclusion criteria specified in the 2011 Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC). Hence, statement 4 is not correct.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Recently, India and which of the following countries have signed a bilateral cultural property agreement to facilitate the return of stolen and smuggled antiquities?
(a) Portugal
(b) United Kingdom
(c) France
(d) United States
Explanation
— India and the US signed a bilateral cultural property agreement to facilitate the return of stolen and smuggled antiquities.
— This agreement has a defined framework for the return of such artefacts to India and will facilitate smooth and early repatriation. It will also help prevent future trafficking.
— The agreement was signed by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and Culture Secretary Govind Mohan, on the sidelines of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi.
— With this agreement, India joins the ranks of 29 existing US bilateral cultural property agreement partners. The US has 28 active bilateral cultural property agreements including with Afghanistan, China, Cambodia, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Jordan and Turkey.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
The term “Docking” with reference to the space refers to:
(a) where two spacecrafts moving at extremely high speeds but not relative to each other, are aligned in a precise orbit and joined together.
(b) where two spacecrafts are parked together in space.
(c) when a spacecraft changes its position to prevent collision with other spacecraft.
(d) when two spacecrafts are launched together in the same orbit with different purposes.
Explanation
— The much-anticipated NISAR space project, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between India’s and the United States’ space agencies, does not appear to be taking place this year.
— NISAR, which stands for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar, is intended to conduct exceedingly detailed observations of the Earth at regular intervals.
— The satellite is powerful enough to detect changes as little as one millimetre during repeated scans of the same landscape.
— It will be able to study dynamic processes on Earth’s surface, such as glacier retreat, changes in flora and forest cover, and even motions during earthquakes and volcanoes.
— The Spadex, or Space Docking Experiment, mission, which demonstrates ISRO’s ability to link or assemble satellite elements in space, is also planned to launch. Spadex will pave the way for ISRO’s plans to create a permanent space station by 2030.
— Docking is a process where two spacecrafts, both moving at extremely high speeds but not relative to each other, are aligned in a precise orbit and joined together — a capability necessary for joining different modules in space to create a space station.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
With reference to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, consider the following statements:
1. It was established in 1967 in Thailand, with the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
2. India is the founding member of the ASEAN grouping.
3. The ASEAN Secretariat is situated in Singapore.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation
— External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone to discuss the issue of trafficking of Indian nationals through cyber fraud centres in the Southeast Asian country, as well as development partnerships and collaboration in areas such as defence and energy.
— Jaishankar is in the capital of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to attend meetings of the ASEAN.
— The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was formed on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration). Hence, statement 1 is correct.
— The founding members of ASEAN are: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
— Brunei Darussalam joined ASEAN on January 7, 1984, followed by Vietnam on July 28, 1995, Lao PDR and Myanmar on July 23, 1997, and Cambodia on April 30, 1999, to form what is now ASEAN’s ten member states.
— The ASEAN Secretariat was established in February 1976 by ASEAN’s Foreign Ministers. It was then situated at the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Department in Jakarta. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
(Other Source: asean.org)
Monastery of Saint Hilarion was recently seen in the news. It is located in:
(a) Gaza
(b) Kyiv
(c) Bamiyan
(d) Derna
Explanation
— The World Heritage Committee (WHC) on Friday decided to include the Palestinian site of Tell Umm Amer in both the UNESCO World Heritage Site List and the Lost of World Heritage in Danger during its 46th session in New Delhi.
— Also known as the ‘Monastery of Saint Hilarion’, the site lies in the Gaza Strip which continues to reel under Israel’s relentless assault.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
With reference to Kargil War, consider the following statements:
1. After the end of the war, Henderson Brooks – Bhagat Report was released having an in-depth analysis of the war.
2. Operation Vijay was the result of two months of rigorous shelling on the steep hills of Kargil ridge.
3. During the Kargil War, the Indian Army was at a particular disadvantage with the enemy occupying high positions overlooking the positions held by Indians.
How many of the above given statement/s is/are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Explanation
The Kargil Review Committee
— After the end of the war, K Subramanyam Committee popularly known as the Kargil Review Committee was constituted to have an in-depth analysis of the war.
— It was released to the public unlike the Henderson Brooks – Bhagat Report (post 1962 India-China War). Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
— The committee made several landmark recommendations which have been made part of India’s Defence architecture.
— Operation Vijay was the result of two months of rigorous shelling on the steep hills of Kargil ridge. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— During the Kargil War, the Indian Army was at a particular disadvantage with the enemy occupying high positions overlooking the positions held by Indians. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements with reference to The State of the World’s Forests Report:
1. India secured the third spot among the top 10 countries with the most significant forest area gains from 2010 to 2020.
2. China led the world with the maximum forest area gain from 2010 to 2020.
3. The Report is released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Which of the above given statement is not correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 only
(d) None of the above
Explanation
— India gained 2,66,000 hectares of forest area annually from 2010 to 2020, securing the third spot among the top 10 countries with the most significant forest area gains during this period, according to a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 3 is not correct.
— The report, released on Monday, said China led the world with the maximum forest area gain of 1,937,000 hectares, followed by Australia with 4,46,000 hectares, and India. Other countries in the top 10 include Chile, Vietnam, Turkey, the United States, France, Italy and Romania. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
— The UN agency praised India for its efforts in restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry through innovative approaches. This includes the development of a new national policy aimed at better-supporting agroforestry in the country.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
‘Phryge’ was recently seen in the news with reference to:
(a) India’s 6G Technology Development
(b) China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe
(c) Global Microsoft outage
(d) Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Explanation
— The Olympics have always boasted a unique mascot every time to capture the spirit of the Games, and Paris 2024 is no exception. If you’ve been following the buzz, you might have noticed the official mascot popping up all over the place.
— Meet the ‘Phryge’, the mascot of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Inspired by the traditional Phrygian hats, this mascot embodies a deep-seated symbol of freedom, according to an article on the Olympics website. These caps stand for “freedom, identity and spirit in France”, the article said.
— These hats have been a staple of French culture for centuries—gracing everything, from historical paintings to coins, town halls to stamps. On November 14, 2022, the world got its first glimpse of the Paris 2024 mascot, inspired by the iconic Phrygian caps, often known as liberty caps.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
With reference Ramses mission, recently seen in the news, consider the following statements.
1. NASA recently announced this mission to track and study the Apophis asteroid.
2. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is seeking to collaborate for the mission to study the Apophis asteroid that is slated to make a close encounter with the Earth in 2029.
Which of the above given statements is/are true?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
— The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is seeking to collaborate with the European Space Agency (ESA) on its recently announced Ramses mission to track and study the Apophis asteroid that is slated to make a close encounter with the Earth in 2029.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 14 to July 20, 2024
UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | July 07 to July 13, 2024
UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 30 to July 06, 2024
UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | June 23 to June 29, 2024
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