Daily Current Affairs MCQ- April 19, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

A recent study shows that Epstein-Barr virus that is primarily spread through saliva can evolve into cancer.

About Epstein-Barr virus (EBV):

• It is one of the most common human viruses in the world.
• It spreads through bodily fluids, especially saliva (spit). 
• Symptoms: Fatigue, fever, inflamed throat, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, enlarged spleen, swollen liver, rash.
• EBV can cause infectious mononucleosis, also called mono, and other illnesses.
• There is no vaccine to protect against EBV infection.

Hence both statements are correct.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare recently hiked consultation charges and room rents under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

About Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS):

• It gives healthcare facilities to registered employees and pensioners of the Central Government of India. 
• The enrolled members are provided reimbursement and cashless facilities under this scheme.
• Some of facilities offered under CGHS are: OPD treatment and medication costs, indoor treatment and/or investigations at government or CGHS empanelled hospitals, maternity and child health services and family welfare, medical consultation and dispensing medicines for AYUSH. 
• It covers health care under different systems of medicine, such as Allopathy, Homeopathy, Ayurveda and Unani.
• CGHS beneficiaries can undergo treatment at any empanelled private hospital of their choice.

Hence both statements are correct.

At least 56 civilians have been killed and 595 people, including combatants, have been wounded in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.

About Sudan:

• It is located in northeastern Africa.
• It is bounded on the north by Egypt, on the east by the Red Sea, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, on the south by South Sudan, on the west by the Central African Republic and Chad, and on the northwest by Libya.
• Capital: Khartoum
• Sudan is mainly composed of vast plains and plateaus that are drained by the Nile River and its tributaries.
• The country is dominated by Muslims, most of whom speak Arabic and identify themselves as “Arabs.
• Arabic is the primary language of much of the population and is the most common medium for the conduct of government, commerce, and urban life throughout the country.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has come up with a set of guidelines to streamline foundation stone laying ceremonies and inauguration functions of national highway projects.

About National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):

• NHAI is India’s premier highway infrastructure creator entrusted with developing, maintaining, and managing National Highways.
• It is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• It was constituted under National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998 and made operational in February 1995.
• Composition: It consists of a full time Chairman, and not more than five full time Members and four part time Members who are appointed by the Central Government.
• The part time Members are the Secretary (RT&H), Secretary (Expenditure), Secretary (Planning) and DG (RD) & SS.
• NHAI has technical, Finance, Administrative and Vigilance Wings at its Headquarters. 

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the G7 countries pledged to quit fossil fuels faster and urged other countries to follow suit, but failed to agree to any new deadlines on ending polluting power sources like coal.

• It is an intergovernmental organisation of leading industrialised nations formed in 1975.
• Member countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United State.
• It meets annually to discuss issues such as global economic governance, international security, and energy policy.
• The host of the G7 summit, also known as the presidency, rotates annually among member countries.
• It was formerly referred to as the G-8 until Russia was suspended from the group in 2014 after annexing Crimea.
• As of 2022, G7 countries make up 10% of the world’s population, 31% of the global GDP, and 21% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Recently, the Chhattisgarh forest department has carried out a successful translocation of four sub-adult wild buffaloes from Assam to Barnawapara wildlife sanctuary. 

• It is located in the district of Raipur in Chhattisgarh.
• The rivers Balmedhi, Jonk and Mahanadi are the lifeline river which runs along the sanctuary.
• River Balamdehi forms the western boundary and Jonk River forms the northeastern boundary of the Sanctuary.
• Flora: The sanctuary contains major vegetation of Teak, Sal and Mixed forest.
• Fauna: Cheetal, Sambhar, Nilgai and Wild Boar, Sloth Bear, Wild Dog, are commonly seen.
• The Indian Wild Buffalo is the state animal of Chhattisgarh (India) and is a large species of bovine native to the Indian Sub-continent and South East Asia. 
• Habitat:  is mainly found in the alluvial grasslands, marshes, swamps and river valleys.
• Conservation Status
• IUCN: Endangered
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule 1 

Hence both statements are not correct

The United States Congress recently made an attempt to create a legislative framework for the increasingly popular stablecoins.

About Stablecoins:

• They are cryptocurrencies whose value is pegged, or tied, to that of another currency, commodity, or financial instrument.
• Stablecoins aim to provide an alternative to the high volatility of the most popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC).
• Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, stablecoins’ prices remain steady, in accordance with whichever fiat currency backs them.
• Eg: USDC stablecoin is backed by dollar-denominated assets.
• Benefits:
• They are open, global, and accessible to anyone on the internet.
• They’re fast, cheap and secure to transmit.

Hence both statements are correct.

Taiwan recently decided to buy 400 U.S. land-launched Harpoon missiles in the face of rising threat from China.

About Harpoon Missiles:

• It is a U.S.-designed subsonic antiship cruise missile that has been in service since 1977.
• Numerous variants have been produced since its inception, including air-, ship-, and sub-launched versions. 
• It is currently in service with the armed forces of more than 30 countries including India.
• Features:
• It is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system.
• Propulsion: Turbojet, solid prpellent.
• It has a low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory with active radar guidance.
• It is capable of executing both land-strike and anti-ship missions.
• This missile is fitted with a heavy 221-kilogram penetration blast warhead. 
• It uses GPS-aided inertial navigation to hit a designated target aimpoint.
• Range: 90-240 km

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Odisha forest officials have recently sighted 179 mangrove pitta birds in the first ever census conducted of these exotic and colourful birds in the country.

About Mangrove Pitta:

• It is a species of passerine bird in the Pittidae family native to Southeast Asia and South Asia.
• Scientific Name: Pitta megarhyncha
• Distribution: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand (primarily the west coast of the southern Thai peninsula).
• Habitat:  It is found in mangrove and nipa palm forests where it feeds on crustaceans, mollusks and insects. 
• Features: They are colourful birds which have black head with brown crown, white throat, greenish upper parts, buff under-parts and reddish vent area.
• Conservation Status:
• IUCN: Near Threatened

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

World Hemophilia Day was recently observed to raise awareness about the rare blood disorder and help those suffering from it lead a better life.

About Hemophilia:

• What is it? It is a genetic disorder that affects the body’s ability to form blood clots.
• People with hemophilia have deficiencies or abnormalities in certain clotting factors, which are proteins that help the blood clot.
• Causes: It is caused by a mutation or change, in one of the genes, that provides instructions for making the clotting factor proteins needed to form a blood clot.
• Symptoms: Signs and symptoms of hemophilia vary, depending on the level of clotting factors.
• Males are much more likely to have hemophilia than are females.
• Treatment:
• It typically involves replacement therapy, which involves infusing clotting factor concentrates into the bloodstream to help the blood clot. 
• Other treatments may include medications to promote clotting or surgery to repair damage caused by bleeding.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.