Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 14th March 2025 - UPSC MCQ

1. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) - Predominantly occurs in Asia and Europe: Incorrect. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is predominantly seen in the Americas, not Asia and Europe.

2. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) - Affects the kidneys and can cause internal bleeding: Correct. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) does affect the kidneys and can cause internal bleeding, mostly occurring in Asia and Europe.

3. Promotion of Global Tech Leadership vs. Linguistic Nationalism - Seen in India's dual education system: Correct. This pair is accurately matched as the conflict between promoting global tech leadership and linguistic nationalism is evident in India's dual education system, where private schools emphasize English and government schools often focus on regional languages.

4. Human-to-Human Transmission of Hantavirus - Commonly occurs globally: Incorrect. Human-to-human transmission of hantavirus is extremely rare and has been reported mainly with the Andes virus in South America, not commonly globally.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

1. Nucleus Accumbens: Incorrectly matched. The nucleus accumbens releases dopamine, not serotonin, which reinforces pleasurable behaviors. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter commonly associated with the brain's reward system and is manipulated by addictive substances to promote compulsive use.

2. Extended Amygdala: Correctly matched. The extended amygdala is indeed activated during withdrawal, leading to stress and anxiety. This activation plays a significant role in the emotional distress experienced during withdrawal, pushing individuals towards substance use as a means to alleviate discomfort.

3. Prefrontal Cortex: Incorrectly matched. The prefrontal cortex matures last, not early, which makes adolescents particularly vulnerable to addiction. Its late maturation means that decision-making and impulse control are not fully developed in adolescents, increasing their susceptibility to the effects of addictive substances.

4. Neuroadaptations: Correctly matched. Neuroadaptations resulting from addiction can persist even after periods of abstinence, which indeed heightens the risk of relapse. These changes in the brain's structure and function are part of what makes addiction a chronic and relapsing condition.

Two pairs are correctly matched: the Extended Amygdala and Neuroadaptations.

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Union Budget for 2025-26 has indeed allocated ₹4.49 lakh crore for women-centric schemes, representing a 37.25% increase from the previous year's allocation of ₹3.27 lakh crore. This increase is significant even when considering an estimated inflation rate of 3.61%, indicating a substantial real increase in allocation for these schemes.

2. Statement 2 is correct. The Kudumbashree mission in Kerala is noted for its community-led participatory approach, which has proven effective in enhancing the relevance and resource allocation of gender budgets. By involving grassroots participation, it ensures that schemes are tailored to actual community needs, thereby improving their effectiveness.

3. Statement 3 is incorrect. While digitalization of welfare schemes has the potential to improve access, it has not universally improved access for marginalized SC/ST women. Many from these groups face digital literacy barriers, which can hinder their ability to benefit from digitalized welfare services, as evidenced by issues in schemes such as Rajasthan's PVTG Development Programmes.

Hence, only statements 1 and 2 are correct, making Option B the correct answer.

To determine the correct statement(s), let's analyze each one:

Statement 1: The 2024 World Air Quality Report is published by the World Health Organization.

- This statement is incorrect. The World Air Quality Report is published by the Swiss organization IQAir, not by the World Health Organization.

Statement 2: Delhi is reported as the most polluted capital city globally, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³.

- This statement is correct. According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report, Delhi holds the title of the most polluted capital city globally, with the specified PM2.5 concentration.

Statement 3: India is ranked as the most polluted country in the world according to the 2024 report.

- This statement is incorrect. The report ranks India as the fifth most polluted country in the world, not the most polluted.

Hence, only Statement 2 is correct, making Option D the right answer.

The Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Udaipur holds historical significance due to its connection with the construction of the Sajjangarh Fort by Maharana Sajjan Singh in 1874. This fort, situated on Bansdara Hill, adds a rich historical layer to the sanctuary, making it not only a haven for wildlife but also a place of historical value.

The primary mode of transmission of Hantavirus to humans is through direct contact with infected rodent waste. This can occur through inhalation of particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face, or through open wounds that come into contact with the virus. It is crucial to take preventive measures when handling areas where rodents may have been present to avoid exposure to this potentially deadly virus.

Statement-I correctly highlights the allocation of ₹4.49 lakh crore for women-centric schemes in the Union Budget for 2025-26, showcasing a significant increase from the previous year. On the other hand, Statement-II accurately mentions India's successful undocking of satellites as part of the SpaDeX mission, a notable achievement in space technology on March 14, 2025. The two statements are unrelated but individually correct in their contexts. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer as both statements are accurate, and Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.

- Statement 1 is incorrect. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is primarily prevalent in the Americas, not in Asia and Europe. In Asia and Europe, the predominant hantavirus-related illness is Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which affects the kidneys.

- Statement 2 is correct. The Andes virus, a specific type of hantavirus found in South America, is one of the few hantaviruses known to be transmissible from human to human, although such transmission is extremely rare for hantaviruses in general.

- Statement 3 is correct. Hantavirus can indeed be transmitted to humans through contact with contaminated rodent waste such as urine, droppings, or saliva. Additionally, while rodent bites are a rare mode of transmission, they are possible. However, this statement emphasizes the more common transmission routes, which are through contact and not primarily through bites.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 2 and 3 Only.

1. Delhi - The most polluted capital city globally with an average PM2.5 concentration. This pair is correctly matched. According to the 2024 World Air Quality Report, Delhi is indeed the most polluted capital city with an average PM2.5 concentration of 91.8 µg/m³.

2. Byrnihat - Located on the Assam-Meghalaya border, identified as the most polluted city in the world. This pair is incorrectly matched. Byrnihat is mentioned as the most polluted city in India but not the world. The report highlights that 13 out of the 20 most polluted cities globally are in India, with Byrnihat being the most polluted in India.

3. Bari Lake - Also known as Tiger Lake, located on the western slope of Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary. This pair is correctly matched. Bari Lake, also known as Tiger Lake, is indeed located on the western slope of the Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

4. India - Ranked as the most polluted country in the world by the 2024 World Air Quality Report. This pair is incorrectly matched. India is ranked as the fifth most polluted country in the world as per the 2024 report, not the most polluted.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct. Statement-I highlights that addiction impacts a network of brain regions, which aligns with the findings presented in Statement-II. The research mentioned in Statement-II supports the idea that addiction disrupts a circuit responsible for craving and emotional regulation, emphasizing the interconnected nature of brain regions in addiction. Therefore, Statement-II provides a detailed explanation that supports Statement-I.