MCQ - Current Affairs (May - 2020) - UPSC MCQ

Statement 1 is incorrect: CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organization (CSIR-CSIO), Chandigarh, has designed and developed an innovative technology (Electrostatic Disinfection Machine) for effective disinfection and sanitization to fight with corona pandemic. 
Statement 2 is correct: Electrostatic Disinfection Machine is developed based on the electrostatic principle. It produces uniform and fine spray droplets of disinfectants in the size range of 10-20 micro-metres to kill microorganisms and viruses. Due to the small size of droplets, the surface area of spray droplets increases thereby enhancing the interaction with harmful microorganisms and coronavirus. 
Statement 3 is correct: The machine uses very less disinfection material as compared to conventional methods, which helps to save natural resources with negligible increase of chemical waste in the environment. 

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC’s 21 Member Economies are the United States; Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; The Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Republic of Korea; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and Viet Nam. 

Rating agencies are companies that rate a debtor's ability to pay back debt by making timely principal and interest payments and the likelihood of default. All except Goldman Sachs, which is an investment banking company, are rating agencies. 

Statement 1 is incorrect. Chak-Hao is a scented glutinous black rice variety, it is a centuries old cultivation of Manipur. Statement 2 is correct. It has been given a GI tag under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. 

The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The industry-wise weights indicated in the ICI are Coal 10.33 %, Crude Oil production 8.98 %, Natural Gas 6.88%, Petroleum Refinery 28.04 %, Fertilizers 2.63 %, Steel 17.92 %, Cement production 5.37 % and Electricity generation 19.85%.
A similar question has been asked by UPSC in 2015 prelims. 

National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science & Technology (DST) has launched a programme on health and risk communication ‘Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH)’ with focus on COVID-19. It is a comprehensive and effective science and health communication effort for promoting grass-root level appreciation and response on health and would help saving and shaping the lives of people at large, as well as build confidence, inculcate scientific temper and promote health consciousness among them. 

The Economic Survey 2010–11, cites many reasons for the less developed bond market in India-
• Predominance of banks loans;
• FII’s participation is limited;
• Pensions and insurance companies and household are limited participants because of lack of investor confidence; and
• Crowding out by government bonds. 

Both statements are correct.
Cytokines are a category of small proteins important in cell signaling. These are small proteins released by many different cells in the body, including those of the immune system where they coordinate the body’s response against infection and trigger inflammation. Sometimes the immune response goes into an overdrive, an uncontrolled level of cytokine leads to more and more immune cells attacking the infection, immune cells spread beyond infected body parts and start attacking healthy tissues. It can be fatal and has been seen in COVID-19 cases.

Statement 1 is correct. Chief of Defence Staff is the rank of a four-star General with salary and perquisites equivalent to a Service Chief.  
Statement 2 is correct. The Chief of Defence Staff heads the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), created within the Ministry of Defence and functions as its Secretary.
Other duties and functions of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) include:
To act as the Principal Military Advisor to Raksha Mantri on all Tri-Service matters.
To function as the Permanent Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee
To administer the Tri-Service organizations/agencies/commands.
To be a member of Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Raksha Mantri.
To function as the Military Advisor to the Nuclear Command Authority. 

Statement 1 is correct. The GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data) platform was launched on the occasion of the Sixty-first World Health Assembly in May 2008. It promotes the international sharing of all influenza virus sequences, related clinical and epidemiological data associated with human viruses and provides public access through its database (named EpiFlu).  
Statement 2 is incorrect. In 2010 Germany became the official host of the GISAID platform and EpiFlu database. 

International Financial Services Centres (IFSC)
Statement 1 is correct: International Financial Services Centres (IFSC) is a jurisdiction that provides financial services to resident and non-resident Indians in foreign currencies. They are intended to provide Indian corporations with easier access to global financial markets, and to complement and promote the further development of financial markets in India.
Statement 2 is correct: GIFT (Gujarat International Finance Tec-City) located in Gandhinagar is India’s first International Financial Services Centre. 

Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary is located in the Begusarai district of Bihar and was founded in the year 1987. It is spread over an area of about 68 sq km and is the largest freshwater oxbow lake in Asia. Yes, you read that right. It is generally known for its beautiful population of migratory as well as indigenous birds. 

Statement 1 is incorrect. It is part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program, it is scheduled to launch on 17 July 2020, and touch down in Jezero crater on Mars on 18 February 2021.
Statement 2 is correct. The Perseverance rover will seek signs of ancient life and collect rock and soil samples for possible return to Earth. 

Statement 1 is incorrect. UGC was formally established in 1956 as a statutory body of the Government of India through an Act of Parliament for the coordination, determination and maintenance of standards of university education in India.
Statement 2 is correct. It allocates and disburses, out of the Fund of the Commission, grants to Universities. It has been vested with two responsibilities: that of providing funds and that of coordination, determination and maintenance of standards in institutions of higher education. 

Statement 1 is incorrect.  SVAMITVA scheme is a new initiative of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
Statement 2 is correct. This scheme will help in streamlining planning and revenue collection in rural areas and ensuring clarity on property rights; the scheme will also enable creation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plans engaging Drone Surveying technology. 

Global Energy Transition Index is released by World Economic Forum which has rank the economies on how well they are able to balance energy security and access with environmental sustainability and affordability. 

NIAB, Hyderabad is aimed to harness novel and emerging biotechnologies and take up research in the cutting edge areas for improving animal health and productivity. The Institute's focus of research will be on Animal Genetics and Genomics, Transgenic Technology, Reproductive Biotechnology, Infectious Diseases, Bioinformatics and Nutrition Enrichment. Researchers from the National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB) have developed a biosensor named “eCovSens”. eCovSens detects the presence of novel coronavirus antigens in human saliva within 30 seconds using just 20 micro-litres of the sample. 

Both statements are correct. National Institute of Animal Biotechnology (NIAB), Hyderabad, has developed a biosensor ‘eCovSens’ that can detect the novel coronavirus in saliva samples. The biosensor consists of a carbon electrode and the coronavirus antibody. The antibody is capable of binding with the spike protein found on the outer layer of the virus. An electrical signal is generated when the antigen and antibody binds. 

Statement 1 is correct. The first jute mill was established at Rishra (Bengal), on the river Hooghly near Calcutta in the year 1855, by Mr. George Aclend. Mr. George Ackland brought jute spinning machinery from Dundee (U.K). In 1959, the first power driven weaving factory was set up.
Statement 2 is correct. Geotextiles are permeable fabrics which, when used in association with soil, have the ability to separate, filter, reinforce, protect, or drain. Jute being ecofriendly has distinguishing features such as: High moisture absorption capacity, flexibility and drainage properties. Geo jute is used in erosion control, separation, filtration and drainage in civil engineering work, and agricultural uses.
Statement 3 is correct. The hessian, a finer quality of jute is called Burlap. Burlap bags are used to ship and store grain, fruits and vegetables, flour, sugar, animal feeds and other agricultural commodities. 

Statement 1 is correct. The CITES Secretariat is administered by UNEP and is located at Geneva, Switzerland. CITES was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN, in 1975 CITES entered in force.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Appendix I contains about 1200 species, these are threatened with extinction and are or may be affected by trade. Commercial trade in wild-caught specimens of these species is illegal (permitted only in exceptional licensed circumstances).
Appendix II contains about 21,000 species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with the survival of the species in the wild. No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES.
Appendix III lists about 170 species, these are species that are listed after one member country has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling trade in a species. 

All are the factors that have potential to increase the zoonoses (disease or infection transmissible from animals to humans).  

Statement 1 is incorrect. Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver tissue. It is commonly caused by a viral infection.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Vaccine is available against hepatitis A and hepatitis B but not against hepatitis C. Hepatitis B vaccine also prevents hepatitis D. There is no globally recognized and available vaccine for hepatitis E, a vaccine to prevent hepatitis E virus infection has been developed and is licensed in China, but is not yet available elsewhere. 

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect. A supermoon is a new or full moon closely coinciding with the moon's position on perigee.
Statement 2 is incorrect. Perigee is the closest point while apogee is the farthest position on the moon's orbit with respect to earth. 

Statement 1 is incorrect. Indonesia has decided to move its capital from Jakarta (Java island) to Borneo island. The current capital, Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, sits on swampy land and is sinking almost 25cm per year.
Statement 2 is correct. The equator passes through the following countries: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Sao Tome & Principe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia and Kiribati. 

Producer Organization can be registered under any of the following legal provisions: 
• Cooperative Societies Act/ Autonomous or Mutually Aided Cooperative Societies Act of the respective State  
• Multi-State Cooperative Society Act, 2002  • Producer Company under Section 581(C) of Indian Companies Act, 1956, as amended in 2013
• Section 25 Company of Indian Companies Act, 1956, as amended as Section 8 in 2013  
• Societies registered under Society Registration Act, 1860
• Public Trusts registered under Indian Trusts Act, 1882