Test: Weekly Current Affairs: May 22nd to 31st, 2024 - UPSC MCQ

• Context: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), through a circular, has directed all device license holders and manufacturers to report any adverse events on the Materiovigilance Programme of India (MvPI) platform to mitigate risks and ensure public health safety.
• About MvPI:
  • It was launched in 2015, and has been overseen by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission since 2018. It serves as the National Coordination Centre, focusing on monitoring Medical Device-associated Adverse Events (MDAE) and raising awareness among healthcare professionals. MDAE reports can be submitted by various stakeholders, including clinical specialists, biomedical engineers, nurses, pharmacists, and patients.

• Context: Giant viruses, dating back 1.5 billion years, discovered in Yellowstone’s geothermal springs shed light on Earth’s early conditions.
  • A giant virus, also known as a “girus,” is notably large, with some exceeding typical bacteria in size. They are classified within the phylum Nucleocytoviricota.
• S1: All viruses contain either DNA or RNA as their genetic material, but not both.
• S2: Viruses cannot replicate independently; they require a host cell to reproduce.

• Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
• Context: Astronomers at the University of Liège in Belgium discovered an Earth-sized exoplanet, SPECULOOS-3 b, orbiting an ultra-cool red dwarf, 55 light-years away.
• S1: Red dwarfs are indeed the most common type of star in the Milky Way galaxy, making up the majority of stars.
• S2: Red dwarfs have much longer life spans compared to larger stars like the Sun. Their nuclear fusion processes occur at a slower rate, allowing them to burn their fuel more efficiently and last much longer, often tens to hundreds of billions of years.
• S3: Red dwarfs are cooler and less luminous than the Sun. Their surface temperatures are lower, and they emit less light, which makes them less visible from a distance compared to brighter stars like the Sun.

Materiovigilance Programme of India (MvPI) was launched in 2015, and is overseen by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission since 2018.

• Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) updated its Bacterial Pathogens Priority List (BPPL), highlighting critical priority pathogens that pose significant global health threats due to their resistance to treatment and ability to spread resistance.
• About BPPL:
  • The Bacterial Pathogens Priority List (BPPL) is a crucial tool in combating antimicrobial resistance. Introduced by the WHO in 2017, it initially listed 13 bacterial pathogens to guide research and development efforts for new antibacterials.
  • The 2024 list categorizes 15 families of antibiotic-resistant bacteria into critical, high, and medium-priority groups to aid in prioritizing responses. Some high-priority pathogens, like Salmonella and Shigella, burden low- and middle-income countries, posing challenges in healthcare settings.
  • Antibiotic resistance, driven by misuse and overuse of antimicrobials, makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of severe illness and death.
• The WHO Bacterial Priority Pathogens List serves as a vital tool in combating antimicrobial resistance, updating rankings to address evolving threats.

The Antarctic Treaty, signed on December 1, 1959, and in force since June 23, 1961, is an international agreement governing activities in Antarctica. It designates the continent as a scientific preserve, ensuring it remains exclusively for peaceful purposes. Initially signed by 12 countries, the treaty now includes 56 signatories, with India joining in 1983. Key provisions prohibit military activities, promote scientific cooperation, and ban nuclear explosions and radioactive waste disposal.

Explanation:

- Venus is the second planet from the Sun: This statement is correct. Venus is indeed the second planet from the Sun in our Solar System.

- Venus has the longest rotation period of any planet in the Solar System: This statement is incorrect. While Venus does have a very slow rotation, it is not the longest. Venus actually has the longest day of any planet in the Solar System, with one day on Venus lasting longer than one year on Venus.

- Venus has no moons or rings: This statement is correct. Venus does not have any moons or rings orbiting around it.

• Context: The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) requested arrest warrants against leaders of Hamas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel about the October 7, 2023 attacks and the war in Palestine.
• Statement 1 is correct: The ICC is indeed a permanent international court established to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression.
• Statement 2 is correct: The ICC can prosecute crimes committed by nationals of non-member states if the crime occurred on the territory of a member state. This principle is known as territorial jurisdiction.
• Statement 3 is incorrect: Not all countries in the world are members of the ICC. As of now, there are 123 member states, but some countries, including major powers like the United States, Russia, and China, are not members.
• Statement 4 is incorrect: The ICC is an independent institution and is not part of the United Nations system. While the ICC may receive referrals from the UN Security Council, it does not report directly to it.

• S1 is Correct: Doppler radar can indeed measure the velocity of an object towards or away from the radar. This is one of its primary functions, especially in weather forecasting where it measures the speed of precipitation particles.
• S2 is Incorrect: Doppler radar is not only used for weather forecasting; it is also used in various other fields such as aviation, police speed enforcement, and even astronomy.
• S3 is Correct: Doppler radar works by emitting microwave signals and analyzing the frequency shift of the returned signals. This frequency shift occurs due to the Doppler effect, which helps in determining the speed and direction of the moving objects.

Biohydrogen refers to hydrogen gas produced through biological processes, such as the fermentation of organic matter by microorganisms. This process utilizes biological materials and microorganisms to generate hydrogen. On the other hand, green hydrogen is produced by the electrolysis of water, where electrical energy from renewable sources like solar, wind, or hydro power is used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. This makes green hydrogen environmentally friendly and sustainable, as it relies on renewable energy sources and produces no greenhouse gases during production.

• Statement 1 is incorrect: The Arab League was indeed founded in 1945, but its primary goal was to promote political, economic, cultural, scientific, and social programs designed to promote the interests of the Arab countries, and to coordinate political action and safeguard their independence and sovereignty, rather than focusing solely on economic cooperation.
• Statement 2 is correct: The headquarters of the Arab League is located in Cairo, Egypt. This has been the case since its establishment, with a brief relocation to Tunis from 1979 to 1990.

Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists

• Released by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
• The report examines the relationship between rangelands and their human communities, particularly pastoralists, to identify protection strategies.
• Rangelands, comprising ecosystems like grasslands, savannahs, and deserts, cover over 54% of the Earth’s surface, with 78% in drylands.
• Up to 50% of rangelands are degraded due to factors like land use changes, excessive grazing, and urban expansion.
• In India, rangelands cover about 121 million hectares, with 100 million hectares underutilized.
• The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), adopted in 1994, is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. India has ratified it.

• Context: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) approved a record transfer of ₹2,10,874 crore to the Union government for 2023-24, more than double the ₹87,416 crore transferred last year. The RBI also increased the Contingent Risk Buffer (CRB) to 6.50% from 6%. This surplus is based on the Economic Capital Framework (ECF) adopted in 2019.
• What is Economic capital?
  • Economic capital is the amount of capital that a firm (in this case RBI), usually in financial services, needs to ensure that it stays solvent given its risk profile. It includes both realized and unrealized reserves.
  • Economic Capital Framework Objective: The framework aims to balance the RBI’s autonomy with the Government’s development goals.

• Statement 1 is true. The International Booker Prize is awarded annually to a single book that has been translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.
• Statement 2 is true. The prize money for the International Booker Prize is indeed split equally between the author and the translator, recognizing the contribution of both in bringing the work to an English-speaking audience.
• Statement 3 is false. The International Booker Prize used to be awarded for an author’s body of work when it was first established, but since 2016, it has been awarded for a single book.
• Statement 4 is false. The International Booker Prize and the Booker Prize for Fiction are distinct awards. The Booker Prize for Fiction is awarded to an original novel written in English, whereas the International Booker Prize is awarded for a translated work.

• Context: India is discussing with Sri Lanka to acquire graphite mines, aiming to meet the rising demand for graphite, crucial for battery anodes, especially lithium-ion batteries.
• China is the world’s largest producer of natural graphite, accounting for two-thirds of global supply.
• While Mozambique, Madagascar, and Brazil are significant non-Chinese producers, China also refines over 90% of the world’s graphite for use in EV battery anodes.
• It is among 30 critical minerals declared by India.

The Constitution of India does not define the term ‘tribe’. Article 342 (i) empowers the President to specify Scheduled Tribes. Fifth Schedule establishes Tribes’ Advisory Councils. STs constitute 8.6% of the Population (census 2011). Draft National Tribal Policy, 2006 records 698 STs in India. Bhil is the largest tribal group (38%) followed by Gonds. Madhya Pradesh has the highest tribal Population in India. Santhal are the oldest Tribes in India.

• Context: Ireland, Norway, and Spain plan to formally recognize the state of Palestine, highlighting a shift in international opinion. Recently, 143 countries, including India, called for UN recognition of Palestine. The International Criminal Court has sought arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and Hamas for war crimes.
• S1: The Palestinian territories include the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which are geographically separate and have distinct political and administrative contexts.
• S2: The Oslo Accords, signed in the 1990s, were a series of agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) with the goal of achieving a peace treaty and establishing a framework for future relations.
• S3: Although Palestine is not a full member state of the United Nations, it has been granted non-member observer state status since 2012, which allows it to participate in General Assembly debates and activities.

• Context: The Pre-packaged Insolvency Resolution Process (PPIRP) has successfully facilitated the full settlement of operational creditors’ claims for five companies.
• Consolidation and Amendment: The primary objective of the IBC is to consolidate and amend laws related to reorganization and insolvency resolution for corporate persons, partnership firms, and individuals in a time-bound manner. This helps in promoting entrepreneurship, availability of credit, and balancing the interests of all stakeholders.
• Enactment in 2016: The IBC was enacted in 2016 to provide a streamlined, efficient process for resolving insolvencies. This helps in protecting the value of the debtor’s assets and ensuring their optimal use.
• Resolution Timeframe: The IBC stipulates that the insolvency resolution process for a corporate debtor should ideally be completed within 180 days, which can be extended by an additional 90 days if necessary, making a total of 270 days.
• Role of NCLT: The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) is designated as the adjudicating authority for the insolvency resolution of companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), playing a crucial role in the implementation of the IBC.

• Context: The economic toll of climate change is staggering, with recent UN studies revealing that global GDP could have been 37% higher without warming since 1960.
• The Global Climate Risk Index is published annually by Germanwatch, a non-governmental organization based in Germany. This index analyzes and ranks countries based on the impact of weather-related events such as storms, floods, and heatwaves, considering factors like fatalities and economic losses. The objective is to highlight the need for political and policy measures to address climate vulnerabilities and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.

The Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) is a system designed to facilitate voting for certain categories of voters who cannot vote in person. This includes service voters (such as members of the armed forces), their spouses, and other eligible individuals like those in diplomatic missions. The key feature of ETPBS is that it allows these voters to receive their postal ballots electronically. Once they receive the ballot, they can mark their choices and return the ballot via postal mail. This system aims to make the voting process more accessible and efficient for those who are unable to vote in person due to their service obligations or location.

• Statement 1 is correct: The primary objective of KABIL is to enhance India’s self-reliance in critical and strategic minerals through overseas acquisition. This aligns with India’s strategic goals to secure raw materials for its industries.
• Statement 2 is correct: KABIL was formed by the collaboration of three state-owned companies: National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), Hindustan Copper Limited (HCL), and Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL).
• Statement 3 is incorrect: KABIL is not focused exclusively on the domestic mining sector; rather, it is aimed at acquiring mineral assets abroad to ensure a steady supply of essential minerals to India.

• Context: IUCN launched the Global Species Action Plan Online Knowledge Platform, known as GSAP SKILLS, at the Fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, Convention on Biological Diversity.
• About GSAP Skills:
  • The Global Species Action Plan (GSAP) SKILLS platform brings GSAP content online, enabling real-time updates of technical tools and resources. Its purpose is to facilitate global collaboration and partnerships by connecting decision-makers, species conservation practitioners, and experts at all levels. The platform’s objectives include providing real-time updates on technical resources and ensuring their accessibility and relevance. It also offers information on species conservation interventions, actions, and sub-actions for each Global Biodiversity Framework target, along with details on actors and technical tools.
  • Managed by IUCN, the platform meets the needs of governments and stakeholders for species conservation actions. Additionally, it receives support from the Ministry of Environment, the Republic of Korea, and the Tech4Nature Initiative launched by IUCN and Huawei in 2020.

About the Arab League:

• It is a regional organization of Arab states in the Middle East and parts of Africa. Formed in Cairo on March 22, 1945, it aims to promote Arab interests and coordinate political, cultural, economic, and social programs among its members. The League also seeks to settle disputes among member states and provide mutual military support. Its headquarters is in Cairo, Egypt, and its official language is Arabic. The League has 22 members, with founding members including Egypt, Syria, and Iraq. Four nations have observer status: Brazil, Eritrea, India, and Venezuela.

• Article 329(b) of the Constitution, found in Part XV alongside articles 324-329, governs electoral matters.
• Article 324 grants the Election Commission powers to oversee elections, while Article 329 addresses the judiciary’s role in electoral affairs.
• Article 329(a) prohibits the judiciary from challenging laws regarding electoral district boundaries or seat allocation.
• Article 329(b), as amended by the Constitution (19th Amendment) Act, 1966, mandates that elections can only be questioned through an election petition presented according to laws made by the appropriate Legislature.
• The Representation of the People Act, 1951, further establishes the authority of high courts to hear and decide on election petitions, with Supreme Court review possible.
• In past rulings, the Supreme Court clarified that “election” in Article 329(b) encompasses the entire electoral process, from notification to result declaration, and barred judicial interference at intermediary stages.

• An urban heat island is a local and temporary phenomenon experienced when certain pockets within a city experience higher heat load than surrounding or neighbouring areas on the same day. The temperature variation can range between 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.
• Rural areas have relatively larger green cover in the form of plantations, farmlands, forests and trees as compared to urban spaces. This green cover plays a major role in regulating heat in its surroundings.
• On the contrary, urban areas lack sufficient green cover or gardens and are often developed with highrise buildings, roads, parking spaces, pavements and transit routes for public transport. As a result, heat regulation is either completely absent or man-made.