Test: Science and Technology MCQs (July2024 Current Affairs) - UPSC MCQ

The primary advantage of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) over the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is that IPV does not require multiple doses to achieve full immunity, unlike OPV. While OPV typically necessitates multiple doses for adequate protection, IPV offers long-lasting immunity with fewer shots, making it a convenient option for vaccination programs.

Statement-I correctly describes the primary purpose of the PraVaHa software developed by ISRO, which is to simulate external and internal flows on various aerospace vehicles. However, Statement-II inaccurately suggests that PraVaHa is designed primarily for academic institutions and government labs. In reality, while PraVaHa is flexible enough to support collaborative development with these entities, its main goal is to replace current CFD simulations for aero characterisation, regardless of the user, be it academia, government labs, or commercial entities. Hence, Statement-I is correct in describing the software's function, while Statement-II is inaccurate in its portrayal of PraVaHa's target users.

The primary goal of the Human Genome Project was to create the first sequence of the human genome. This monumental scientific endeavor, which began in 1990 and was completed in 2003, aimed to discover all the estimated 20,000-25,000 human genes and make them accessible for further biological study. By achieving this goal, the project laid the foundation for understanding the genetic basis of human health and disease, paving the way for numerous advancements in genetics and personalized medicine.

Statement 1 is correct. The study highlighted that microdroplets of water can break down minerals like silica and alumina into nanoparticles by applying a high voltage to mineral microparticles suspended in water, resulting in the formation of nanoparticles within 10 milliseconds.

Statement 2 is correct. The International Space Station (ISS) indeed orbits the Earth at approximately 400 kilometers above its surface, serving as a unique science laboratory for astronauts and cosmonauts.

Statement 3 is correct. Whole genome sequencing is not suitable for larger genomes primarily because they contain numerous repetitive DNA sequences which complicate the assembling process.

Thus, all three statements are accurate, making the correct answer Option D: 1, 2 and 3.

1. Gaganyaan Astronauts - Selected for Axiom-4 Mission: Correct. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has shortlisted two of its trained astronauts for the Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station.

2. IndiGen Programme - Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO): Incorrect. The IndiGen Programme is endorsed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), not ISRO.

3. Earth BioGenome Project - Aims to sequence genomes of all eukaryotic biodiversity on Earth: Correct. The Earth BioGenome Project aims to sequence, catalogue, and characterize the genomes of all eukaryotic biodiversity on Earth.

4. International Space Station (ISS) - A collaboration between NASA, Roscosmos, ESA, JAXA, and CSA: Correct. The ISS is a collaborative project involving NASA (United States), Roscosmos (Russia), ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).

Thus, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 3, and 4.

Statement-I suggests that satellite communications primarily rely on ground-based stations, which is inaccurate. In contrast, Statement-II correctly explains that satellite communications involve the use of both orbiting satellites and ground stations to transmit and relay information via microwaves between points on Earth. Therefore, the correct answer is option (a) as both statements are correct, and Statement-II explains Statement-I.

- Statement 1: This statement is correct. PraVaHa is designed to simulate both external and internal flows on various aerospace vehicles, including launch vehicles and re-entry vehicles, as mentioned in the provided text.

- Statement 2: This statement is incorrect. The text clearly states that PraVaHa is operational for simulating airflow under both Perfect Gas and Real Gas conditions, which means it is already capable of handling Real Gas conditions.

- Statement 3: This statement is correct. PraVaHa is expected to replace most of the CFD simulations for aero characterisation that are currently being conducted using commercial software. This aligns with the objective of making the software an integral tool in aerospace applications.

Thus, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 3 Only.

The primary aim of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) is to bridge the global AI divide and promote the development of human-centric AI. GPAI members work towards supporting research and activities on AI-related priorities to ensure a balance between theory and practice. By emphasizing the transformative potential of AI and committing to human-centric AI development, GPAI seeks to address emerging risks posed by AI systems and promote responsible AI development in alignment with global standards and ethical frameworks.

The PraVaHa software developed by ISRO primarily focuses on simulating external and internal flows on aerospace vehicles like launch vehicles, winged and non-winged re-entry vehicles. It is designed for aerodynamic analysis, including validating simulations for various conditions encountered during 'earth re-entry' and 'combustion' in vehicles like scramjet vehicles. This software aims to replace many of the current commercial CFD simulations for aerodynamic characterization, offering a secure and flexible tool for collaborative development with academic and government institutions.

Statement-I is accurate as it defines genome sequencing correctly as the process of determining an organism's DNA sequence. Statement-II is also correct in stating the goal of the Human Genome Project to sequence the human genome. However, Statement-II does not explain or elaborate on Statement-I; it provides additional information related to a specific project rather than explaining the general concept of genome sequencing. Therefore, the correct answer is option (b).

- Statement 1: This statement is incorrect. The Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) was developed by Jonas Salk, not Albert Sabin. Jonas Salk's IPV involved the use of inactivated (killed) poliovirus.

- Statement 2: This statement is correct. The Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), developed by Albert Sabin, contains live, weakened poliovirus strains and induces a powerful protective mucosal immune response in the gut, which is the primary site where the virus begins its infection.

- Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. Jonas Salk's vaccine did not use live, weakened poliovirus strains; it used inactivated poliovirus. The OPV developed by Albert Sabin used live, weakened strains.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option C.

Statement 1 is correct. Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites are positioned at an altitude where they orbit the Earth at the same rotational speed as the Earth, making them appear fixed relative to a specific location on the Earth's surface.

Statement 2 is correct. Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites are indeed used for GPS and other global navigation systems. They operate at an altitude ranging from approximately 2,000 to 35,000 kilometers.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites actually provide lower latency compared to GEO satellites due to their closer proximity to the Earth's surface. GEO satellites are positioned much higher, leading to higher latency.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option B: 1 and 2 Only.

Statement-I correctly highlights that IPV provides long-lasting immunity and indeed does not require multiple doses to maintain protection, which is a key advantage of IPV. On the other hand, Statement-II incorrectly suggests that OPV is more cost-effective to produce and administer compared to IPV. However, in reality, IPV is more expensive to produce and administer compared to OPV, making Statement-II incorrect.

1. Geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) - Correctly matched. Satellites in this orbit remain fixed relative to a specific point on Earth, providing consistent communication with that region.

2. Medium Earth orbit (MEO) - Incorrectly matched. Satellites in MEO do not necessarily provide higher bandwidth compared to GEO satellites. They typically offer a balance between coverage area and latency, often used for GPS and some communications.

3. Highly elliptical orbit (HEO) - Correctly matched. Satellites in this orbit are used for high-latitude regions and experience varying altitudes, making them suitable for covering polar areas.

4. Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index (AIPI) - Incorrectly matched. The AIPI evaluates countries based on their digital infrastructure, human capital, labor policies, innovation, integration, and regulation, not on natural resources and economic policies.

Pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched. Thus, the correct answer is Option B: Only two pairs.

1. PraVaHa Software - Developed by ISRO for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD): Correctly matched. PraVaHa is a CFD software developed by ISRO for simulating external and internal flows on aerospace vehicles.

2. High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) - Developed by ISRO for telecommunications: Incorrectly matched. While HAPS is an unmanned aerial vehicle tested in India, it was developed by CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), not ISRO.

3. Donanemab - New Alzheimer's drug developed by Eli Lilly: Correctly matched. Donanemab is indeed a new Alzheimer's disease therapy developed by Eli Lilly.

4. Space MAITRI Mission - Collaboration between India and Japan in space research: Incorrectly matched. The Space MAITRI Mission is a collaboration between India and Australia, not Japan.

Thus, only pairs 1 and 3 are correctly matched.