Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 3rd January 2025 - Bank Exams MCQ

Manu Bhaker, a double Olympic medallist, was awarded the prestigious Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award in 2024. The Khel Ratna is India's highest sporting honour and recognizes exceptional achievements in sports. This year, Manu Bhaker, along with other prominent athletes such as World chess champion D. Gukesh, men’s hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh, and Paralympic gold medallist Praveen Kumar, received the award. The initial controversy surrounding Bhaker’s exclusion from the award list was later resolved, with the final decision on the awards being made by the Union Sports Minister.

Cotton is the only genetically modified (GM) crop that has been approved for commercial cultivation in India. The Indian regulatory framework currently allows for the commercial cultivation of Bt cotton, a genetically modified variant that is resistant to certain pests, particularly the bollworm. This approval is managed by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), which oversees the environmental and safety aspects of GM crop regulation in India.

The Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award is presented to individual athletes for their exceptional performance in sports over the last four years. It is the highest sporting honor in India and includes a medallion, certificate, and a cash prize of ₹25 lakh. The award aims to acknowledge athletes who have achieved outstanding success in their respective sports disciplines, and it also serves to inspire future generations of athletes.

One of the significant environmental concerns regarding genetically modified (GM) crops is their potential impact on non-target species and biodiversity. Despite the many benefits of GM crops, such as increased yield and pest resistance, there are concerns that these crops could harm ecosystems. For example, the pollen from GM crops could affect non-GM plants or other wildlife, leading to unintended ecological consequences. This concern has led to a push for more stringent regulations and transparent testing before the approval of new GM crops.

SEBI's regulations aim to prevent unethical trading practices such as front-running, where brokers or traders trade based on non-public information regarding large client orders. Front-running is illegal because it allows individuals to capitalize on price movements expected from large trades before those trades are executed. This undermines market fairness and transparency. SEBI’s regulations, particularly under the Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices (PFUTP), aim to ensure ethical trading in the securities market.

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves burning hazardous materials at high temperatures in an incinerator. This process effectively destroys many harmful chemicals and contaminants present in the waste. The high temperatures facilitate the complete combustion of organic substances, and the resulting gases are often treated to remove harmful pollutants. Incineration is commonly used for the disposal of hazardous waste, such as chemicals, medical waste, and certain industrial by-products.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) tracks the price changes of goods sold in bulk by wholesale businesses. It includes three main components: Primary articles (22.62%), Fuel & Power (13.15%), and Manufactured goods (64.23%). However, consumer goods are not a part of the WPI; they are instead included in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which focuses on the price changes experienced by households.

Droughts are one of the concerns where genetically modified crops with enhanced drought resistance may provide significant benefits in food security.

The Winter Char Dham initiative in Uttarakhand aims to promote tourism during the off-season winter months by relocating the deities to lower-altitude "winter seats." This allows devotees to continue visiting the Char Dham shrines during the winter months when the traditional pilgrimage routes are closed due to heavy snowfall. The initiative seeks to boost local tourism and economic activity during this off-season period.

The Brazilian Velvet Ant exhibits a unique form of ultrablack pigmentation that absorbs nearly all visible light. This rare pigmentation provides several advantages, including better regulation of body temperature, increased predator evasion, and potentially attracting mates through the contrast with brighter colors. The discovery of ultrablack pigmentation in this species highlights the incredible adaptations organisms can develop in response to their environments.