Daily Current Affairs MCQs: 24th May 2025 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

India experienced a significant increase in rainfall of 68.4% above the average for May. This substantial rainfall is attributed to the influence of western disturbances and moisture-laden winds, which resulted in continuous showers across many regions. Such weather patterns are crucial for agricultural productivity, especially during the pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, as they help replenish groundwater and support crop growth.

Heat lows in Northwest India act like a vacuum, attracting moisture-laden southwesterly winds from the Indian Ocean, which is essential for initiating and sustaining the monsoon. This mechanism plays a vital role in ensuring timely and uniform rainfall, which is critical for agriculture. Without the proper development of heat lows, the monsoon can be delayed or weakened, leading to adverse effects on crop yields.

The INSPIRE scheme is primarily aimed at enhancing India's scientific research capabilities by building a robust human resource base in science and technology. This initiative was launched to attract and retain talented individuals in scientific fields, ensuring that India develops a strong research community. By selecting candidates based on merit rather than entrance exams, the scheme encourages more students to pursue careers in basic sciences.

The Deqing Pearl Mussel Fishery is celebrated for its 800-year-old integrated farming system that combines pearl farming with rice and silk production. This unique system not only promotes biodiversity but also enhances ecotourism and contributes to water purification. Recognizing such systems under GIAHS highlights their importance in preserving traditional practices while ensuring sustainability in agriculture.

The Zudpi Jungles are recognized for their ecological role as wildlife corridors, which are crucial for the safe movement of animals between fragmented forest patches. This characteristic is vital for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring that wildlife can access different habitats for feeding and breeding. Despite having low-quality vegetation, these lands play a significant role in ecological balance, emphasizing the importance of even small forested areas in larger conservation efforts.

Keoladeo National Park was designated as a national park in 1981. This designation followed its establishment as a bird sanctuary in 1956, reflecting the growing recognition of its ecological importance and the need to protect its diverse avian and turtle populations. The park's transition from a hunting preserve to a protected area highlights the change in societal values towards conservation and biodiversity preservation.

Nearly half of infectious animal diseases, specifically 47%, are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. This statistic highlights the potential risks these diseases pose to public health, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and controlling animal health to prevent outbreaks that could affect human populations. Zoonotic diseases are a major concern in the context of global health security.

The GENIUS Act requires stablecoin issuers to maintain a full reserve backing at a 1:1 ratio with fiat currency or high-quality liquid assets. This provision is intended to ensure that stablecoins remain stable and trustworthy, thus enhancing market confidence. The legislation represents a significant regulatory framework aimed at increasing accountability in the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

A positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) significantly strengthens the monsoon by leading to warmer waters near Africa and cooler waters near Indonesia, which enhances the monsoon winds and increases rainfall in India. This phenomenon can counteract the negative impacts of El Niño, as seen in 2019 when a strong positive IOD contributed to above-normal rainfall despite the presence of El Niño conditions. Understanding the interplay between IOD and the monsoon is crucial for predicting weather patterns and ensuring agricultural planning.

To be eligible for the INSPIRE Fellowship, candidates must be first-rank holders in postgraduate courses in science, applied sciences, or engineering. They should also have excelled in their undergraduate studies and be among the top 1% in Class XII board exams or national-level examinations like IIT-JEE. This rigorous selection process ensures that the fellowship is awarded to the most promising students in scientific fields, thereby fostering excellence in research careers.