Daily Current Affairs MCQs: 17th February 2025 - Bank Exams MCQ

At the Munich Security Conference, a key concern raised was the reliability of U.S. military support for European nations, particularly in the context of escalating threats from Russia. This reflects a broader apprehension among European leaders regarding the sustainability of U.S. commitments to NATO, highlighting the changing dynamics of international security. An interesting fact is that the MSC has evolved since its inception in 1963 from a focus solely on military issues during the Cold War to encompassing a wide range of topics including climate change and migration, illustrating the changing landscape of global security issues.

President's Rule can be imposed under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution when a state government is unable to function according to the provisions of the Constitution. This provision allows the President to take control of the state governance directly if the constitutional machinery breaks down. An interesting fact is that the use of Article 356 has been controversial and has seen increased judicial scrutiny, especially after the S.R. Bommai vs Union of India case in 1994, which established that the courts could review and potentially overturn the imposition of President's Rule if deemed unconstitutional.

The primary purpose of the new mRNA-based personalized cancer vaccine is to provide a therapeutic treatment for patients who already have cancer. Unlike traditional vaccines, which are designed to prevent diseases, this mRNA vaccine aims to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells specifically. This targeted approach enhances the effectiveness of the treatment while minimizing side effects associated with conventional therapies like chemotherapy. An interesting fact is that mRNA technology, initially developed for vaccines against infectious diseases like COVID-19, is now being adapted for treating various types of cancer, showcasing the versatility of this innovative technology.

The resurgence of measles in the United States is primarily attributed to declining vaccination rates among the population. When vaccination coverage drops, herd immunity is weakened, allowing diseases like measles to spread more easily. Measles is a highly contagious viral infection, and individuals who are not vaccinated, particularly children and pregnant women, are at increased risk for severe complications. An interesting fact is that measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but outbreaks have occurred due to the decline in vaccination rates in certain communities.

The primary purpose of India's Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrBs) is to fund environmentally friendly projects. These bonds are specifically designed to finance initiatives that promote energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance climate resilience. A significant aspect of these bonds is their role in supporting the transition towards a low-carbon economy, which is crucial for addressing climate change challenges. An interesting fact is that since their introduction, SGrBs have raised nearly Rs 53,000 crore, indicating a substantial investment in sustainable development.

The fruits and vegetables sector in India faces significant challenges, one of which is high post-harvest losses, amounting to Rs 1.53 trillion annually. This indicates a lack of proper handling and storage facilities, which leads to a substantial waste of resources and missed economic opportunities. Interestingly, improving post-harvest management could significantly enhance the income of farmers and overall market efficiency.

Rat-hole mining leads to severe environmental degradation, including deforestation and water contamination. These practices disrupt local ecosystems, resulting in habitat loss and pollution of water sources, which can affect both wildlife and human populations. An interesting fact is that the abandoned mine openings left behind can pose ongoing risks, including accidents and further environmental damage. Such impacts highlight the urgent need for effective regulation and sustainable practices in mining industries to protect the environment.

Loggerhead turtles are known to perform a behavior termed the 'turtle dance' when they encounter locations linked to food. This fascinating behavior highlights their remarkable learning ability and memory, particularly concerning the magnetic signatures of specific areas they navigate. Interestingly, loggerhead turtles utilize the Earth's geomagnetic field for long-distance navigation, showcasing their incredible adaptation and evolutionary skills in the ocean environment.

The primary goal of a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is to disrupt the normal operations of a targeted server or network. This is achieved by overwhelming the target with excessive internet traffic from multiple compromised systems, which collectively form a botnet. Unlike a traditional Denial of Service (DoS) attack, which comes from a single source, a DDoS attack utilizes many systems to create a larger impact. It's important to note that while DDoS attacks do not directly steal data, they can serve as a diversion for other malicious activities, such as data breaches. An interesting fact about DDoS attacks is that they can be launched for various reasons, including political protests, extortion, or simply to demonstrate the attacker's capabilities.

Implementing rate limiting on user requests is an effective strategy to prevent system overload during a DDoS attack. Rate limiting restricts the number of requests that a user can make in a specified time frame, which helps manage traffic flow and ensures that the system remains operational even under stress. This approach prevents any single user or bot from overwhelming the system, thereby preserving its availability. Interestingly, many modern web applications and APIs use rate limiting not only for security purposes but also to ensure fair usage among all users.