Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 8th August 2024 - UPSC MCQ

1. Correctly Matched: Candida auris was first discovered in Japan. - Candida auris was indeed first discovered in Japan in 2009.

2. Correctly Matched: Common symptoms of Candida auris include persistent fever and chills. - The symptoms of C. auris are similar to common illnesses, with persistent fever and chills even after antibiotic treatment being common signs.

3. Incorrectly Matched: Neutron stars can only exist alone. - Neutron stars can exist both alone and in binary systems (with a partner).

4. Correctly Matched: Magnetars are neutron stars with immensely powerful magnetic fields. - Magnetars are a type of neutron star with extremely powerful magnetic fields, far exceeding Earth's magnetic field strength.

Thus, three pairs are correctly matched.

- Statement 1 is incorrect. Candida auris was first discovered in Japan in 2009, not the United States.
- Statement 2 is correct. Most C. auris infections can indeed be treated with antifungal drugs known as echinocandins. These are the primary drugs used to treat such infections, although some cases are resistant and may require multiple high-dose antifungals.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. The mortality rate of C. auris infections ranges from 30% to 60%, not 10% to 30%.
Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 2 Only.

Vinesh Phogat faced disqualification at the Paris Olympics for the women's 50kg wrestling final because she exceeded the weight limit during the final weigh-in. Despite weighing 49.9kg in the morning and achieving victories, she gained weight during the day, surpassing the allowed limit, which resulted in her disqualification before the final bout. Weight management is crucial in wrestling competitions, as exceeding the specified weight can lead to disqualification, impacting the athlete's performance and outcomes.

The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh has recently been approved as the third largest tiger reserve in India. This newly formed reserve covers an area of 2,829 square kilometers, created by merging the Guru Ghasidas National Park and the Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary. It will be the fourth tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, aiming to connect the Bandhavgarh and Palamau Tiger Reserves and promote eco-tourism, offering employment opportunities and additional funding for livelihood development projects in nearby villages.

Neutron stars are unique celestial objects that are typically around 20 km wide and weigh between 1.18 and 1.97 times the Sun's mass, with the most common mass being around 1.35 times that of the Sun. These incredibly dense and compact remnants of massive stars hold a fascinating place in astrophysics, showcasing the extreme physics at play in the universe.

The Yen Carry Trade strategy involves borrowing money in Japanese yen at low-interest rates and then investing it in assets with higher yields in countries with higher interest rates. The goal is to profit from the interest rate differential between Japan and other countries. However, this strategy comes with risks, particularly related to currency fluctuations, as changes in exchange rates can impact the profitability of the trade.

1. Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve is correctly matched with Chhattisgarh.

2. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve is incorrectly matched; it is in Madhya Pradesh, not Jharkhand.

3. Palamau Tiger Reserve is incorrectly matched; it is in Jharkhand, not Madhya Pradesh.

4. Achanakmar Tiger Reserve is correctly matched with Chhattisgarh.

So, only pairs 1 and 4 are correctly matched.

1. The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, located in Chhattisgarh, is indeed the third largest tiger reserve in India. The reserve covers an area of 2,829 square kilometers.

2. According to the structure of Tiger Reserves in India, a Tiger Reserve consists of a core or critical tiger habitat, which is managed as an inviolate area, and a buffer or peripheral area, which may have a lesser degree of habitat protection.

3. Section 38W of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 stipulates that no changes in the boundaries of a tiger reserve shall be made without the recommendation of the Tiger Conservation Authority and the approval of the National Board for Wild Life.

All the given statements are correct. Therefore, the correct answer is Option D.

Statement-I correctly describes Candida auris (C. auris), a fungus that can cause severe infections in humans and was indeed first discovered in Japan in 2009. On the other hand, Statement-II talks about neutron stars, which are dense remnants of massive stars and form through a different astrophysical process, not related to the discovery of Candida auris. 

Statement-I correctly describes the situation where Vinesh Phogat was disqualified from the wrestling final at the Paris Olympics due to her failure to meet the weight requirement, even though she initially weighed in at 49.9kg. This fact is accurately represented in the statement.

However, Statement-II suggests that athletes in the Olympics face a strict weight restriction without a 3kg tolerance during the second weigh-in which is wrong, it's 2 kg