Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 21st August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. NHS in the U.K. - Zero-tolerance approach towards violence against healthcare workers: Correctly matched. The NHS in the U.K. maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against healthcare workers, supported by dedicated security teams and a robust reporting system.

2. U.S. states - Assaults on healthcare workers categorized as misdemeanors: Incorrectly matched. In some U.S. states, assaults on healthcare workers are categorized as felonies, not misdemeanors. This serves as a strong deterrent against such behavior.

3. Australian hospitals - Security staff and de-escalation training mandatory: Correctly matched. Australian hospitals have implemented safety measures including security staff, panic buttons, and mandatory training on de-escalation techniques.

4. India - Central Protection Act for healthcare workers: Incorrectly matched. India currently does not have a Central Protection Act for healthcare workers, although there is an urgent need for such legislation to ensure a safer working environment.

Hence, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.

1. Shiveluch Volcano - Located in Kamchatka Peninsula: Correct. Shiveluch Volcano is indeed located in the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia.

2. NASA's InSight Lander - Discovered water on Mars: Incorrect. NASA's InSight Lander provided data that helped researchers discover liquid water on Mars. However, it wasn't the lander itself that made the discovery; it was the researchers analyzing the data from the lander.

3. Kamchatka Peninsula - Bordered by the Sea of Japan: Incorrect. The Kamchatka Peninsula is bordered by the Sea of Okhotsk to the west and the Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea to the east, not the Sea of Japan.

4. Liquid Water on Mars - Found at depths of 10 to 20 kilometers: Correct. The recent study found liquid water at depths of 10 to 20 kilometers beneath the surface of Mars.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement 1 is correct. Under Section 16 of the Advocates Act 1961, advocates are indeed classified into two categories: Senior Advocates and Junior Advocates.

Statement 2 is incorrect. A Senior Advocate cannot appear in court without an Advocate-on-record or a junior advocate. This is a restriction imposed on Senior Advocates to ensure they act primarily in a supervisory role and provide expert legal advice.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The 2023 guidelines for the designation of senior advocates do assign weightage to publications, personality, and suitability as assessed through interviews, although this weightage has been reduced from the previous guidelines. Specifically, marks allocated for publications have decreased from 15 to 5 for academic articles, teaching experience in law, and guest lectures in law-related institutions.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option A: 1 Only.

The key change introduced in the new guidelines for designating senior advocates in the Supreme Court in May 2023 was the increase in the weightage for reported and unreported judgments. This change aimed to place more emphasis on an advocate's judicial contributions through judgments, highlighting the significance of their legal expertise and impact in the field. It reflects the evolving criteria for assessing and designating senior advocates based on their judicial track record and contributions to the legal landscape.

Statement-I correctly describes the key features of the Shaheen-II Missile, including its specifications and capabilities. On the other hand, Statement-II talks about the Bengal slow loris, its conservation status, and legal protection, which is unrelated to the Shaheen-II Missile. The two statements are independent of each other and do not have any explanatory relationship. 

Statement-I correctly highlights the potential implications of the discovery of liquid water on Mars, suggesting that it could create environments akin to deep-sea habitats on Earth where life can thrive even in harsh conditions. This is supported by the fact that water is essential for life as we know it.
Statement-II accurately points out the challenges that the discovery of liquid water on Mars poses for potential human colonization efforts. Accessing water from depths of 10 to 20 kilometers on Mars would indeed present significant obstacles, complicating plans for sustained human habitation on the planet.
Therefore, both statements are correct, and Statement-II logically explains the context set by Statement-I, making option (a) the correct answer.

The main responsibility of the national task force (NTF) is to develop comprehensive safety protocols for healthcare workers, particularly focusing on preventing gender-based violence and creating dignified working conditions. This initiative aims to ensure a safer working environment for interns, resident doctors, and non-resident doctors, emphasizing the critical need for standard safety protocols in healthcare settings.

1. Correct: The Shaheen-II Missile is indeed a two-stage, solid-fueled missile with a range of 1,500-2,000 km. This specification aligns with the detailed description provided in the text.

2. Incorrect: The missile is capable of carrying both nuclear and standard (conventional) warheads. Therefore, the statement that it can carry only nuclear warheads is incorrect.

3. Correct: The missile is launched using a 6-axle Transporter Erector Launcher (TEL). This is a specific feature mentioned in the description of the Shaheen-II Missile.

Hence, the correct statements are 1 and 3, making Option C the right answer.

Slow lorises are unique among primates as they are the only venomous primates in the world. They possess a gland located in their elbow that produces a toxin, which they mix with their saliva to create a venomous bite. This venom can be harmful and even lethal to other animals and insects, making slow lorises distinctive in the primate world.

1. Shaheen-II Missile: Two-stage, liquid-fueled missile - Incorrect. The Shaheen-II missile is a two-stage, solid-fueled missile, not liquid-fueled.

2. Shaheen-II Missile: Range of 1,500-2,000 km - Correct. The Shaheen-II missile indeed has a range of 1,500-2,000 km.

3. Slow Loris: Found only in South and Southeast Asia - Correct. Slow lorises are indeed found only in South and Southeast Asia.

4. Slow Loris: Produces venom from a gland in its mouth - Incorrect. The venom of the slow loris is produced from a gland located under its arm, not from its mouth.

Thus, pairs 2 and 3 are correctly matched.