Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 11th August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Statement-I correctly highlights the event regarding Sheikh Hasina fleeing to India after being removed from power in Bangladesh, impacting India's bilateral relations. Statement-II accurately describes the objective of the Gaganyaan project under the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme, emphasizing its mission to showcase human spaceflight capabilities by launching a crew into orbit for a specified duration. Moreover, the Gaganyaan project is indeed a part of India's space exploration endeavors, aiming to demonstrate the country's advancements in space technology. Thus, both statements are factually correct, with Statement-II providing additional context that aligns with Statement-I.

Statement-I correctly mentions that the Perseid meteor shower is named after the Perseus constellation, establishing a factual link between the meteor shower and its celestial reference. Statement-II accurately describes the characteristics of Perseid meteors, emphasizing their typical speed, brightness, and the visual spectacle they create in the night sky. Therefore, both statements are correct, with Statement-II providing additional information that complements and explains Statement-I.

1. Lake Bolsena - Largest volcanic lake in Europe: Correct. Lake Bolsena is indeed the largest volcanic lake in Europe, with an area of 113.5 square kilometers.

2. Overnight Index Swap (OIS) - Tool for exchanging interest rates: Correct. The OIS is a financial instrument used to exchange fixed-rate interest payments for floating-rate payments, commonly used to hedge interest rate risk.

3. Musaned system - System regulating migrant domestic worker recruitment in Saudi Arabia: Correct. The Musaned system regulates the recruitment and employment of migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia, aiming to streamline the process and protect workers' rights.

4. Kafala system - Recruitment system for Indian MDWs: Incorrect. The Kafala system is not specific to Indian MDWs but is a sponsorship system used in several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, to control and regulate the employment and residency of migrant workers. It often leaves workers vulnerable to exploitation.

So, three pairs are correctly matched.

Answer: Option C

1. Statement 1 is correct: Sheikh Hasina's administration did indeed extradite over 20 individuals accused of terrorism and crime to India. This measure was part of her broader efforts to strengthen ties with India and to combat terrorism and crime.

2. Statement 2 is correct: During Sheikh Hasina's tenure, India and Bangladesh signed the historic 2015 land boundary agreement, which resolved long-standing border disputes and was a significant milestone in bilateral relations.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect: Contrary to the statement, the U.S. has been critical of Sheikh Hasina's government, particularly regarding issues of democracy and governance. The U.S. even implemented a special visa policy targeting Hasina and her party, indicating a strained relationship rather than support.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B.

Statement 1 is correct: The Perseid meteor shower is indeed named after the Perseus constellation. This meteor shower is one of the most prolific and is observed annually, peaking around mid-August.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The fireballs produced during the Perseid meteor shower originate from larger comet fragments, not smaller ones. These fireballs are bright bursts of light and color that last longer than regular shooting stars due to their larger size.

Statement 3 is correct: Trichophyton indotineae is a type of fungus known for causing ringworm or jock itch. This particular strain has become a significant health concern due to its drug-resistant nature.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C.

Statement-I accurately describes some of the provisions outlined in the new Saudi law for migrant domestic workers, as highlighted in the provided text. These provisions aim to improve working conditions and rights for the workers. However, Statement-II is incorrect. The text mentions Saudi Arabia's poor track record in implementing protections for migrant workers, indicating a history of challenges in effectively safeguarding the rights of these workers. This discrepancy between the statements underscores the need for improved enforcement mechanisms and practices to ensure the actual implementation of the rights and protections outlined in legislation.

1. Perseid Meteor Shower - Named after the Andromeda constellation

- Incorrect. The Perseid Meteor Shower is named after the Perseus constellation.

2. Fireballs - Bright bursts of light from larger comet fragments

- Correct. Fireballs are indeed bright bursts of light and color caused by larger comet fragments.

3. Trichophyton indotineae - Fungus known as ringworm or jock itch

- Correct. Trichophyton indotineae is a type of fungus known as ringworm or jock itch.

4. Meteor - A rock from space that enters Earth's atmosphere

- Correct. A meteor is a rock from space that enters Earth's atmosphere, causing a bright streak of light due to the heat generated from friction with the atmosphere.

Thus, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, but pair 1 is incorrectly matched.

So, the correct option is Option B: Only two pairs.

The main objective of the Gaganyaan project, part of the Indian Human Spaceflight Programme (IHSP) initiated by ISRO, is to showcase India's capability to launch crewed orbital spacecraft into low Earth orbit (LEO). This mission aims to demonstrate India's advancements in human spaceflight technology and pave the way for future manned space missions.

The main purpose of an Overnight Index Swap (OIS) is to exchange profits from a fixed-rate investment for a known daily reference rate for a set duration of time. OIS is primarily utilized to handle the risk associated with interest rates, specifically those tied to changes in the daily lending rate. By engaging in an OIS, financial institutions can effectively manage their exposure to interest rate fluctuations without needing to refinance existing loans or alter their terms.

The Perseid meteor shower is renowned for producing fireballs, which are bright bursts of light and color that last longer than regular shooting stars. This unique feature is due to the composition of the meteors originating from larger comet fragments, making them distinct and captivating to observers.