Daily Current Affairs MCQ- May 1, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

Recent lava spewing from La Cumbre volcano on Galápagos Islands destroying habitat of rare land iguanas.

• It is located on Fernandina Island – the third largest island in the Galápagos Islands.
• It lies directly atop the mantle plume, or hot spot, that produced all of the Galápagos Island.
• It is located around 1,125 kilometres off mainland Ecuador and erupted for the first time since 2020.
• The volcano has a large crater, or caldera, at its summit that harbors a permanent crater lake.
• This lake attracts a wide variety of animals including tens of thousands of Galápagos land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) that lay their eggs in nests within the caldera.

Key facts about Galápagos land iguana

• It is one of three species of land iguana endemic to the Galapagos Islands (the others being the Santa Fe land iguana and the Galapagos pink land iguana).
• It is a very large species of lizard in the family Iguanidae. It is primarily an herbivores species.
• This large cold-blooded reptile has a mutualistic relationship with finches, which can often be seen sitting on their backs, picking ticks from between their scales. 
• It is active during the day spending their time foraging or basking on rocks; at night they sleep in burrows.
• Conservation status
• IUCN: Vulnerable

Hence option (b) is the correct answer.

Recently, AstraZeneca (AZ) has admitted its Covid vaccine may cause Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS). 

• It is characterized by blood clots (thrombosis) combined with low levels of platelets (thrombocytopenia), which are necessary for blood clotting.
• It often involves unusual blood clot locations, such as in the brain (cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) or abdomen.
• Symptoms of TTS: Severe or persistent headaches, blurred vision, Shortness of breath, Chest pain, Leg swelling, Persistent abdominal pain and Easy bruising or tiny blood spots under the skin beyond the injection site etc.
• It is classified into two tiers based on the location of the blood clot and the severity of the symptoms.
• Tier 1:
• Uncommon site of thrombosis (like the brain-cerebral venous sinus thrombosis or the gut such as splanchnic vein, associated with bowel ischaemia and surgery, portal vein or other rare venous and arterial thromboses)
• Thrombosis in more common locations (deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism)
• Platelet count is less than 1,50,000 per microlitre
• A positive anti-PF4 ELISA result is supportive, but not required for diagnosis.
• Tier 2:
• Common sites of thrombosis include leg or lungs (venous thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism)
• Platelet count is less than 1,50,000 per microlitre
• A positive anti-PF4 ELISA result is required.
• Tier 1 TTS carries a higher risk of mortality and morbidity than Tier 2. Tier 1 could be more common among younger age groups.

Hence both statements are correct.

Underlining that the state and central consumer courts incorrectly applied the ‘eggshell skull’ legal principle, the Supreme Court restored the compensation of Rs 5 lakhs awarded by the district consumer forum in a medical negligence case.

• It is a common law principle applied in civil litigation.
• It states that all victims should be fully compensated for their losses, even in situations where the victim was more-susceptible to injury due to a predisposing condition or preexisting injury.
• This rule ensures that a defendant (the person being sued) cannot escape liability for exacerbating a pre-existing condition due to their negligence. 
• The eggshell skull doctrine is named after a hypothetical situation where a person with a fragile skull, akin to an eggshell, suffers a head injury.
• If the victim’s skull fractures more easily than the average person, the defendant is still fully liable for all resulting damages, despite the victim’s unusual vulnerability. 
• Despite its name, the eggshell skull rule applies to all types of injuries, including physical, emotional, and psychological harm. 
• The rule is applied for claiming an enhanced compensation — for damage that is more than what could have been ordinarily anticipated to be caused by the defendant.
• The eggshell skull rule has consequently also been referred to as the ‘thin skull rule’ in many of the cases
• Origin: The origins of the eggshell skull rule are most often traced back to an 1891 Vosburg v. Putney case in Wisconsin, US.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Alok Shukla, convenor of the Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan and founding member of the Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, has been awarded the 2024 Goldman Prize from Asia.

• The Prize recognizes individuals for sustained and significant efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment, often at great personal risk.
• It is also known as the Green Nobel.
• It recognizes grassroots environmental heroes from roughly the world’s six inhabited continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Islands & Island Nations, North America and South & Central America
• The Goldman Prize views “grassroots” leaders as those involved in local efforts, where positive change is created through community or citizen participation.
• The first Goldman Environmental Prize ceremony took place on April 16, 1990. It was timed to coincide with Earth Day.

Key facts about Hasdeo Aranya region

• It is a sprawling forest in the northern part of Chhattisgarh which is known for its biodiversity and also its coal deposits.
• The forest falls under Korba, Surajpur and Sarguja districts with sizeable tribal population.
• The Hasdeo River, a tributary of Mahanadi, flows through it.
• It is the largest un-fragmented forests in Central India consisting of pristine Sal (Shorea robusta) and teak forests.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Daryapur-based arachnologist recently identified a green lynx spider, named Peucetia chhaparajnirvin, which was never discovered earlier.

About Peucetia chhaparajnirvin: 

• It is a new species of green lynx spider.
• The spider was found in Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary in Churu district of Rajasthan.
• The spider species has been named Peucetia chhaparajnirvin after the area in Rajasthan, Tal Chhapar, where it was discovered.
• This spider is found on the green leaves of the Vachellia nilotica (babul) tree.
• Their green hue aids in blending with their surroundings and ambushing prey, while their long legs allow them to move quickly.
• This spider is nocturnal and feeds on small insects.

What are Lynx Spiders?

• Lynx spiders, (family Oxyopidae) are any of several groups of active spiders (order Araneida) that do not build a nest or web but capture their prey by pouncing upon them.
• They are among the major predators of insects occurring in low shrubs and herbaceous vegetation.
• The eyes are arranged in a hexagon, and the abdomen usually tapers to a point.
• Many Lynx spider species have colorfully striped abdomens and spiky legs.

Hence option b is the correct answer.

The Bombay High Court recently held that public sector banks (PSBs) cannot recommend or request the issuance of Look Out Circulars (LOCs) against loan defaulters.

About Look Out Circulars (LOCs):

• A LOC is an instrument issued by the government as a directive to its immigration authorities to restrict and regulate the physical movement of a person. 
• The immigration department is tasked to stop any such individual against whom such a notice exists from leaving or entering the country.
• Law enforcement agencies often use LOCs as a coercive measure to stop any individual wanted or under suspicion by the police or an investigating agency from leaving or entering the country through designated land, air, and sea ports.
• LOCs are usually issued by the police, intelligence agencies, or other government agencies authorised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 
• LOC does not have express statutory backing in legislation, the power to issue LOCs and their regulation stems from the executive in the form of an Office Memorandum issued by the MHA in 2021, which provides consolidated guidelines for opening LOCs against Indian citizens or foreigners.
• Guidelines:
• The guidelines categorically provide that LOCs can only be opened in criminal or penal cases, and the reason for the LOC must be indicated with the issue of the circular. 
• If there is no criminal or penal case pending, the LOC cannot be issued, and agencies can only request that they be informed of departure or arrival.
• However, the guidelines provide that in exceptional cases, an LOC may be issued against an individual even when the case is not a criminal case. This is in specified circumstances, such as when it is detrimental to the “sovereignty, or security, or integrity of India”, the “bilateral relations with any State”, or to the “strategic and economic interests of India”.
• LOCs are also permitted in cases where the individual is likely to engage in terrorism or offences against the State or when such departure would not be “in the larger public interest”.
• LOCs cannot be issued unless basic details — including name/parentage, passport number, and date of birth — are available, and such requests must be constantly monitored.
• It is the responsibility of the originator to constantly review the LOC requests and proactively provide additional parameters to minimise harassment to genuine passengers.
• It is also required that any LOC issued must be reviewed on a quarterly and annual basis by agencies that request such restrictions, and the result of the review must be informed to the MHA.
• MHA has categorically transferred the legal consequences of issuing an LOC to the originating agency, even though such OMs are issued by the Bureau of Immigration.
• The power to issue such OMs and LOCs is sourced from The Passports Act, 1967, the key legislation for the grant of passports, travel documents, and “endorsements” to travellers at the time of emigration or immigration.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The first-generation women patachitra artists of West Bengal’s village of Naya sell their work online and are recognised the world over, encouraging future generations to stay in the profession.

About Patachitra Painting:

• Patachitra, or Pattachitra, is a general term for traditional, cloth-based scroll painting based in the eastern Indian States of Odisha and West Bengal.
• It is believed to have originated as early as the 12th century.
• In the Sanskrit language, "Patta" literally means "cloth" and "Chitra" means "picture".
• It is known for its intricate details as well as the mythological narratives and folktales inscribed in it.
• Most of these paintings depict stories of Hindu deities.
• Pattachitra is one of the ancient artworks of Odisha, originally created for ritual use and as souvenirs for pilgrims to Puri, as well as other temples in Odisha.
• Patachitras are a component of ancient Bengali narrative art, originally serving as a visual device during the performance of a song.
• Making:
• Pattachitra paintings are made on a special canvas where cotton sarees are layered with tamarind paste and then coated with clay powder. 
• Traditionally, cotton canvas was used; now, both cotton and silk canvas are used for paintings.
• Once the canvas becomes sturdy, colours are filled in directly without any initial sketches. It is a tradition to complete the borders of the painting first. 
• All colours are obtained from natural sources like lamp soot and powdered conch shells.
• Each painting can take up to weeks or months to be prepared.

Hence option c is the correct answer.

The International Monetary Fund has approved an immediate disbursal of USD 1.1 billion to Pakistan as part of a bailout package supported by the IMF's Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).

• The Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) provides short-term financial assistance to countries facing balance of payments problems.
• Historically, it has been the IMF lending instrument most used by advanced and emerging market countries.
• Eligibility: All member countries facing actual or potential external financing needs. Most often used by advanced and emerging market countries, but low-income countries sometimes use the SBA together with the Standby Credit Facility (SCF).
• Conditionality
• Countries’ economic policies must address the problems that led the country to seek funding. 
• Disbursements conditional on the observance of quantitative performance criteria.
• Progress in implementing structural measures that are critical to achieving the objectives of the program is assessed in a holistic way, including via benchmarks.
• Duration of loan: Flexible. Typically covers a period of 12–24 months, but not more than 36 months.

Key facts about IMF

• It fosters economic growth and employment by providing temporary financial assistance to countries to help ease the balance of payments adjustment and technical assistance.
• Foundation: Formed in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference with the goal of reconstructing the international monetary system.
• Important Reports: World Economic Outlook and Global Financial Stability Report
• Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA

Hence both statements are correct.

Recently, the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and the Global Leaders Group (GLG) on AMR jointly organised a high-level event, ‘Forging partnerships between science and policy’, in Barcelona, Spain. 

• It consists of world leaders and experts from across sectors working together to accelerate political action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
• The group performs an independent global advisory and advocacy role and works to maintain urgency, public support, political momentum and visibility of the AMR challenge on the global health and development agenda. 
• Background 
• The Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance was established in November 2020 following the recommendation of the Interagency Coordination Group (IACG) on Antimicrobial Resistance to strengthen global political momentum and leadership on AMR.
• The inaugural meeting of the Group took place in 2021. 
• Secretariat support for this group is provided by the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat (QJS) on Antimicrobial Resistance, a joint effort by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

• It is the ability of bacteria and other microbes to resist the drugs used to inhibit or kill them.
• These microbes are sometimes referred to as ‘superbugs’ and are responsible for causing drug-resistant infections that are difficult to treat.
• Causes of AMR
• AMR is a naturally occurring phenomenon, the main cause of resistance to antimicrobials is antimicrobial drug use.
• Current high usage of antimicrobial drugs in humans, animals and plants is leading to a concerning rise in drug-resistance and making infections harder to treat.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Google’s DeepMind developed and evaluated TacticAI in a multi-year research collaboration with experts from Liverpool Football Club.

• It is an AI system that can provide experts with tactical insights, particularly on corner kicks (football), through predictive and generative AI.
• This AI tool can be used by football team managers as an assistant for tactics.
• It has been incorporated both a predictive and generative component to allow coaches to effectively sample and explore alternative player setups for each corner kick, and to select those with the highest predicted likelihood of success.
• It is developed by Google’s DeepMind.

Why specifically corners?

• Corner kicks are apt for strategising by leveraging AI tools primarily because they are moments when the game is effectively frozen — and always starts from the same kind of position at the corner of the pitch while giving players an immediate opportunity to score.
• Strategies for corners are usually also decided long before the players actually go on to the pitch, so that there is no confusion on match day.
• What is a corner shot in football? A corner is awarded when the ball passes over the goal line after touching a player of the defending team. 

Hence option (b) is the correct answer.