Test: Weekly Current Affairs: December 15th to 21st - CLAT MCQ

INS Nirdeshak is primarily tasked with mapping sea floors and aiding in maritime navigation. This role is crucial for enhancing naval operations and ensuring safe passage for vessels. The ship's capabilities also support a variety of other functions, including aiding diverse naval operations, which contribute to India's strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region. An interesting fact is that such survey vessels are vital in understanding the underwater topography, which can influence naval strategy and operations.

Visa-free travel for Indian tourists to Russia is expected to commence in spring 2025. This initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen tourism and bilateral relations between Russia and India. The implementation of such travel arrangements signifies a growing trend towards enhancing global mobility for Indian citizens, who currently have access to visa-free travel in 62 countries.

The primary goal of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) is to mobilize over USD 1000 billion for solar energy projects by 2030. This initiative is crucial for enhancing solar energy deployment and addressing various challenges related to technology and financing in the renewable energy sector. The ISA's focus on solar energy reflects a global shift towards sustainable energy solutions, which is critical for combating climate change and fostering energy access in underserved regions. An interesting fact is that the ISA also emphasizes capacity building, providing technical training to experts from member countries to enhance their solar energy initiatives.

The primary objective of SLINEX 2024 is to enhance maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. This bilateral exercise, which started in 2005, aims to build mutual trust and collaboration in maritime security, thereby contributing to the stability of the region. Strengthening ties through such exercises is crucial for both nations, particularly in addressing security challenges in the Indian Ocean region.

Chirality refers to the property of asymmetry in molecular structures, meaning that certain molecules exist in two forms that are mirror images of each other, much like left and right hands. This property is crucial for biological functions because the specific 'handedness' of molecules, such as the right-handed nucleotides in DNA and left-handed amino acids in proteins, determines how they interact with one another and perform their biological roles. An interesting fact is that even small changes in chirality can lead to significant differences in how a molecule behaves in a biological context, potentially leading to the development of new drugs or the emergence of harmful pathogens.

The Boltz-1 AI model is specifically designed to improve the efficiency of predicting protein structures, which is a crucial step in pharmaceutical development. Accurate predictions of protein structures enable researchers to understand how proteins function and interact, which is essential for drug design. This advancement is particularly important as it directly impacts the speed and effectiveness of drug discovery processes, ultimately benefiting healthcare outcomes. Interestingly, the model's open-source nature fosters global collaboration, allowing researchers worldwide to build upon its capabilities.

The Goa Assembly ST Reservation Bill 2024 primarily aims to adjust the representation of Scheduled Tribes within the Goa Assembly. This adjustment is essential due to significant demographic changes, particularly the increase in the Scheduled Tribe population from 566 in 2001 to 149,275 in 2011. The bill seeks to empower the Census Commissioner to accurately assess the ST population, which is crucial for fair political representation and ensuring the voices of these communities are heard in governance. An interesting fact is that the inclusion of communities like Kunbi, Gawda, and Velip in 2003 significantly impacted this demographic growth, reflecting the evolving identity and representation of tribal groups in Goa.

The implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) aims to enhance security and ensure compliance within tax-related processes. By requiring MFA, tax authorities can better protect sensitive information and reduce the risk of fraud and tax evasion. This measure is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the integrity of the tax system and ensure that only authorized users can access and process tax-related data.

Delhi-NCR is the leader in cryptocurrency investments, accounting for 20.9% of the total contributions in India. This indicates a strong presence and interest in crypto investments within this region, highlighting its role as a significant player in the national market.

Artificial intelligence has played a crucial role in speeding up the development of the mRNA cancer vaccine, reducing the time required to design personalized vaccines from several hours to just 30 minutes to an hour. This advancement allows researchers to analyze data and simulate outcomes much faster, making the process of creating effective treatments more efficient. This highlights the transformative potential of AI in the medical field, particularly in oncology.

Salaried employees can withdraw up to 50% of their provident fund balance during emergencies. This provision is designed to provide financial relief when individuals face urgent monetary needs, thus enhancing the accessibility of their savings. It's an important feature that reflects the EPFO's aim to make fund withdrawals more user-friendly and immediate.

The XPoSat is dedicated specifically to studying X-ray polarization, a key method to understand cosmic phenomena such as black holes and neutron stars. By measuring X-ray polarization, scientists can gain insights into the environments around these extreme objects and how they emit radiation. This focus enhances our understanding of fundamental astrophysical processes in the universe.

As of December 2024, India has overtaken China to become the largest buyer of Russian oil. This shift is significant because it reflects changing dynamics in global oil markets, particularly the increasing energy cooperation between India and Russia. This development is likely to influence geopolitical relations, especially concerning trade dependencies and energy security.

Over 80% of the components used in INS Nirdeshak's construction are sourced from India, reflecting the Indian Navy's commitment to self-reliance and indigenous manufacturing. This approach not only boosts the local economy but also enhances the country's defense capabilities by reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. As a result, it fosters technological development and innovation within the Indian maritime industry, which is essential for national security.

In 2023, approximately 9,500 e-visas were issued to Indian citizens, which accounted for about 6% of all e-visas issued by Russia. The introduction of e-visas has significantly improved travel convenience for Indian tourists, with a processing time of only four days. This reflects the growing interest of Indian travelers in visiting Russia, particularly for business purposes, as the number of visitors has notably increased.

The membership agreement for Moldova to join the International Solar Alliance was signed by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Popsoi. This formal signing emphasizes the collaborative efforts between countries in promoting renewable energy and sustainability. Such partnerships are essential for fostering international cooperation in addressing the global challenges of energy access and climate change. Additionally, Iran's involvement in the ISA represents a strategic move towards enhancing solar energy initiatives in developing nations, showcasing the growing global commitment to sustainability.

SLINEX 2024 consists of two distinct phases: the Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase. The Harbour Phase focuses on professional and social activities to foster mutual understanding among naval personnel, while the Sea Phase includes various joint exercises such as Special Forces operations and navigation drills. This structured approach allows for comprehensive training and collaboration between the naval forces of India and Sri Lanka, enhancing their operational effectiveness at sea.

Scientists are concerned that mirror bacteria, which are synthetic organisms with molecular structures that are the reverse of those found in nature, could disrupt the natural molecular design of biological systems. This disruption may lead to the emergence of harmful pathogens, thus posing unpredictable risks to ecosystems and human health. The scientific community emphasizes that while the probability of adverse outcomes may seem low, the potential consequences could be catastrophic, underscoring the need for stringent oversight in synthetic biology research. An additional fact is that the development of such organisms challenges our understanding of life itself, as it raises ethical and safety considerations about manipulating fundamental biological processes.

Boltz-1 builds upon the advancements established by AlphaFold2 and AlphaFold3, which are known for significantly improving the accuracy of protein structure predictions through advanced machine learning techniques and diffusion models. This progression reflects the ongoing evolution of AI in the field of biomedical research, where each iteration aims to refine and enhance the predictive capabilities concerning complex biological structures. The development of these models highlights the importance of leveraging existing technologies to push the boundaries of scientific research further.

Members of Parliament expressed concerns regarding the adequacy of the Census budget, stating that only ₹1,000 crore had been allocated, while the estimated requirement was ₹12,000 crore. This significant shortfall raises doubts about the feasibility and timeline of the Census, which is vital for accurate demographic data that influences political representation and resource allocation. The delay in completing the Census is particularly notable, as it marks the first such delay in 150 years, highlighting the importance of timely and sufficient funding for comprehensive population assessments. An additional fact is that there is ongoing advocacy for a nationwide Caste Census to better understand the demographic dynamics across India.

The final deadline for all taxpayers to comply with the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) requirements is April 1, 2025. This phased approach allows taxpayers with higher annual turnovers to adapt to the new regulations earlier, while ensuring that all taxpayers are ultimately included by the final deadline. This strategic rollout helps manage the transition and ensures that compliance measures are effectively implemented across the board.

In Pune, an impressive 86% of investors reported positive returns from their cryptocurrency investments. This high percentage suggests a favorable investment environment and a growing confidence in the crypto market within this city. It also reflects the potential for profitability in crypto investments, especially in regions that are increasingly adopting digital currencies.

The primary purpose of therapeutic cancer vaccines is to enhance the immune system's ability to fight existing cancers. Unlike preventive vaccines, which aim to stop cancer from developing, therapeutic vaccines are designed to treat patients who already have cancer by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. This approach represents a significant shift in cancer treatment, focusing on harnessing the body's natural defenses to combat disease.

To access their provident fund savings through the new ATM withdrawals, members must complete various steps, including activating their UAN, linking their Aadhaar and bank accounts, and ensuring their PAN is current for tax purposes. However, having a credit card is not a requirement for this process. This initiative reflects a significant advancement in how individuals can manage and access their savings efficiently in a digital age.

The XPoSat was launched using the PSLV-C58 rocket. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has an impressive track record, having been used in various successful missions, including the Chandrayaan-1 and the Mars Orbiter Mission. Notably, during the XPoSat launch, ISRO performed a unique maneuver by firing the fourth stage of the rocket twice, demonstrating their engineering prowess and capability in space missions.