Daily Current Affairs MCQ- July 21, 2023 - UPSC MCQ

Researchers have recently developed an mRNA-based vaccine that can effectively target and stimulate protective immune cell responses against the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium.

What is mRNA?

• Messenger RNA (a mRNA) is a type of single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis.
• mRNA is made from a DNA template during the process of transcription.
• The role of mRNA is to carry protein information from the DNA in a cell’s nucleus to the cell’s cytoplasm (watery interior), where the protein-making machinery reads the mRNA sequence and translates each three-base codon into its corresponding amino acid in a growing protein chain.
• So mRNA really is a form of nucleic acid which helps the human genome, which is coded in DNA, to be read by the cellular machinery.

About mRNA Vaccines:

• mRNA vaccines work by introducing a piece of mRNA that corresponds to a viral protein, usually a small piece of a protein found on the virus’s outer membrane.
• By using this mRNA, cells can produce the viral protein. 
• As part of a normal immune response, the immune system recognizes that the protein is foreign and produces specialized proteins called antibodies.
• Once produced, antibodies remain in the body, even after the body has rid itself of the pathogen, so that the immune system can quickly respond if exposed again.
• Antibodies help protect the body against infection by recognizing individual viruses or other pathogens, attaching to them, and marking the pathogens for destruction. 
• If a person is exposed to a virus after receiving mRNA vaccination for it, antibodies can quickly recognize it, attach to it, and mark it for destruction before it can cause serious illness.
• Individuals who get an mRNA vaccine are not exposed to the virus, nor can they become infected with the virus by the vaccine.
• How are mRNA vaccines made?
• To make an mRNA vaccine, scientists must first identify a protein on the outside of the virus that the body’s immune response will respond to (the “target” protein).
• The protein they choose must be sufficiently different from proteins on the outside of the body’s own cells, so the immune system only attacks the virus. 
• They then identify the DNA that has the information for making the target protein.
• Scientists use the DNA to produce the mRNA for the target protein.
• Once enough mRNA has been made, the DNA is broken down to ensure that only the mRNA is packaged in the vaccine.
• The speed and efficiency of this process can make large amounts of mRNA in a short period of time.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Opposition parties in Rajya Sabha recently gave notices under Rule 267 to discuss the Manipur matter. 

About Rule 267:

• According to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), Rule 267 relates to the suspension of rules.
• It says, “Any member may, with the consent of the Chairman, move that any rule may be suspended in its application to a motion related to the business listed before the Council of that day, and if the motion is carried, the rule in question shall be suspended for the time being; provided further that this rule shall not apply where specific provision already exists for suspension of a rule under a particular chapter of the Rules.”
• Simply put, under Rule 267, Rajya Sabha MPs can submit a written notice to suspend all listed business in the House and discuss an issue of importance that the country is facing.
• A motion under Rule 267 indicates that a matter was serious enough for the House to suspend its normal business to take it up.
• The rule further says, "The Chairman alone has the power to give consent for moving of a motion for suspension of a rule, and it is for the House to decide whether a particular rule should be suspended or not."
• Thus, it is the discretion of the Chairman to decide whether to allow a motion under Rule 267, as it states that “the consent of the Chairman" is required for a member to bring such a motion.
• However, this rule does not apply where specific provisions already exist for the suspension of a rule under a particular chapter of the rules.
• Who can issue Rule 267?
• Any member of the Rajya Sabha can issue a notice to the Chairperson for a discussion on any subject under Rule 267.
• When was Rule 267 last invoked?
• The last time it was used was in November 2016, when the Upper House invoked Rule 267 to discuss demonetisation. 

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, in a historic move, Rajya Sabha Chairman reconstituted the panel of vice chairpersons of the Parliament's Upper House with half of them being women.

• Under the Rules of Rajya Sabha, the Chairman nominates from amongst the members a panel of vice-chairpersons.
• Any one of them can preside over the House in the absence of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman.
• He/she has the same powers as the Chairman when so presiding.
• He/she holds office until a new panel of vice-chairpersons is nominated.
• When a member of the panel of vice chairpersons is also not present, any other person as determined by the House acts as the Chairman.
• It must be emphasised here that a member of the panel of vice chairpersons cannot preside over the House, when the office of the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman is vacant.
• During such time, the Chairman’s duties are to be performed by such member of the House as the President may appoint for the purpose.
• The elections are held, as soon as possible, to fill the vacant posts.

Hence both statements are correct.

Scientists believe that bacteriophages, which hunt and kill bacteria, could treat bacterial infections as antibiotic resistance increases.

• It is also called phage or bacterial virus, any of a group of viruses that infect bacteria.
• It was discovered independently by Frederick W. Twort in Great Britain (1915) and Félix d’Hérelle in France (1917).
• D’Hérelle coined the term bacteriophage, meaning “bacteria eater,” to describe the agent’s bacteriocidal ability.

What are the Characteristics of bacteriophages?

• Thousands of varieties of phages exist, each of which may infect only one type or a few types of bacteria or archaea.
• Phages are classified in a number of virus families; some examples include Inoviridae, Microviridae, Rudiviridae, and Tectiviridae.
• Like all viruses, phages are simple organisms that consist of a core of genetic material (nucleic acid) surrounded by a protein capsid.
• The nucleic acid may be either DNA or RNA and may be double-stranded or single-stranded.
• There are three basic structural forms of phage: an icosahedral (20-sided) head with a tail, an icosahedral head without a tail, and a filamentous form.

Hence both statements are correct.

As global temperatures rise, fires are also spreading farther north and into the Arctic, which is causing an increase in "zombie fires."

• It is a fire from a previous growing season that can smoulder under the ground which is made up of carbon-rich peat.
• These smoldering fires also produce more smoke because of their lower temperature of combustion.
• Why it occurs?
• As the organic-rich Arctic soils dry up because of changing climate conditions, they can burn slowly and release vast amounts of smoke into the atmosphere.
• One major culprit is the rising temperature: The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world, a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification.
• Among the changing conditions that favour wildfires are changes in atmospheric circulation that create periods of extreme heat, dry out vegetation and reduce moisture in soils, and, importantly, lead to more frequent lightning strikes that can spark blazes.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India (TRAI) recently announced to change the rules regarding fake, promotional calls and SMS to customers.

About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):

• It is a regulatory body set up by the Government of India under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
• It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.
• Composition:
• It consists of a Chairperson and not more than two full-time members, and not more than two part-time members.
• The chairperson and the members of TRAI are appointed by the Central Government, and the duration for which they can hold their office is three years or until they attain the age of 65 years, whichever is earlier.
• Government Control over TRAI:
• TRAI is not a completely independent telecom regulator.
• Under section 25 of the Act, it has the power to issue directions which are binding on TRAI.
• The TRAI is also funded by the Central Government. 
• Functions:
• Making recommendations on various issues;
• General administrative and regulatory functions;
• Fixing tariffs and rates for telecom services; and
• Any other functions entrusted by the Central Government.
• The recommendations made by the TRAI are not binding on the Central Government.
• Central Government has to mandatorily ask for recommendations from TRAI with respect to the need and timing of new service providers and the terms and conditions of the licence to be granted to the service provider.
• TRAI also has the power to notify in the official gazette the rates at which telecommunication services are being provided in and outside India.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways recently said that as per the National Hydrogen Mission of the country, Green Hydrogen/Ammonia bunkers and refuelling facilities will be established in all major ports by 2035.

About National Green Hydrogen Mission:

• It was approved by the Union Cabinet on 4 January 2022.
• Aim: To make India a Global Hub for the production, utilization and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.
• The mission outcomes projected by 2030 are:
• Development of green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT (Million Metric Tonnes) per annum with an associated renewable energy capacity addition of about 125 GW in the country;
• Over Rs. Eight lakh crore in total investments;
• Creation of over Six lakh jobs;
• Cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports over Rs. One lakh crore;
• Abatement of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions;

Types of Hydrogen based on Extraction Methods:

• Grey Hydrogen: It is produced via coal or lignite gasification (black or brown), or via a process called steam methane reformation (SMR) of natural gas or methane (grey). These tend to be mostly carbon-intensive processes.
• Blue Hydrogen: It is produced via natural gas or coal gasification combined with carbon capture storage (CCS) or carbon capture use (CCU) technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
• Green Hydrogen: It is produced using electrolysis of water with electricity generated by renewable energy. The carbon intensity ultimately depends on the carbon neutrality of the source of electricity (i.e., the more renewable energy there is in the electricity fuel mix, the "greener" the hydrogen produced).

Hence both statements are correct.

According to recent research, people who have insomnia are 69 per cent more likely to experience a heart attack than those who don’t during an average nine years of follow-up.

About Insomnia:

• What is it? It is a common sleep disorder that can make it hard to fall asleep, hard to stay asleep or cause you to wake up too early and not be able to get back to sleep. 
• The condition can be short-term (acute) or can last a long time (chronic). It may also come and go.
• Acute insomnia lasts from 1 night to a few weeks. Insomnia is chronic when it happens at least 3 nights a week for 3 months or more.
• It affects women more than men and older people more than younger ones.
• Insomnia may play a role in the development of chronic diseases, such as: obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression.
• Types of Insomnia:
• Primary insomnia: This means your sleep problems aren’t linked to any other health condition or problem.
• Secondary insomnia: This means you have trouble sleeping because of a health condition (like asthma, depression, arthritis, cancer, or heartburn); pain; medication; or substance use (like alcohol).
• Causes:
• Stress-related to big life events, like a job loss or change, the death of a loved one etc.
• Things around you, like noise, light, or temperature
• Changes to your sleep schedule like jet lag, a new shift at work, or bad habits you picked up when you had other sleep problems.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD) project has achieved a new record of 153.97 lakh units in single-day power generation from its four units.

About Ranjit Sagar Dam (RSD):

• The Ranjit Sagar Dam, also known as the Thein Dam, is a major water reservoir and hydroelectric power project located on the Ravi River in the state of Punjab.
• It is located about 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the international border with Pakistan.
• The dam was constructed to harness the waters of the Ravi River and was completed in 2000.
• It is a concrete gravity dam with a height of about 162 meters (531 feet) and a length of approximately 518 meters (1,699 feet).
• The dam creates a vast reservoir known as the Ranjit Sagar Lake or Thein Lake. The reservoir has a storage capacity of around 0.97 billion cubic meters (789,000 acre-feet) and helps regulate water flow for various purposes.
• It has an installed capacity of 600 megawatts (MW) .

Hence option a is the correct answer.

A tigress that had been captured after it killed two persons and injured another in Chhattisgarh’s Surajpur district was recently released into Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.

About Achanakmar Tiger Reserve:

• Location: It is located in the Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.
• It was declared a tiger reserve in 2009.
• It is a part of the huge Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
• Maniyari River flows right from the centre of this reserve, which is the forest's lifeline. 
• It has a corridor connecting to Kanha and Bandhavgarh Tiger reserves and plays a critical role in the dispersal of tigers among these reserves.
• Vegetation: Tropical deciduous forest.
• Flora: Sal, bija, saja, haldu, teak, tinsa, dhawara, lendia, khamar and bamboo bloom here along with over 600 species of medicinal plants.
• Fauna: Wild fauna includes the tiger, leopard, bison, flying squirrel, Indian giant squirrel, chinkara, wild dog, hyena, sambar, chital and over 150 species of birds.

Hence option b is the correct answer.