Daily Current Affairs MCQ - November 5, 2021 - UPSC MCQ

To enhance the productivity of cattle, the Rashtriya Gokul Mission was initiated in 2014 with a focus on the genetic upgradation of the bovine population through widespread initiatives on artificial insemination, sex-sorted semen, and in vitro fertilization.

India is the highest livestock owner of the world.

As per the Economic Survey-2021, the contribution of Livestock in total agriculture and allied sector Gross Value Added (at Constant Prices) has increased from 24.32% (2014-15) to 28.63% (2018-19).

The census of one of the world’s most threatened cetaceans, the Indus river dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor) — a freshwater dolphin that is found in river Beas, is all set to commence in the winter as part of a project by the Centre.

The Indus river dolphin is classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and, until recently, it was believed that these dolphins were endemic to Pakistan. But in 2007, a remnant but viable population of Indus dolphins was discovered in Punjab’s Harike wildlife sanctuary and in the lower Beas river.

The Indus river dolphin was declared the State aquatic animal of Punjab in 2019.

The Government kept the interest rates on small savings schemes unchanged for the September-December period. Small savings rates are reviewed every quarter and this is the sixth consecutive quarter that the government has maintained the rates.

The small savings schemes basket comprises 12 instruments including the National Saving Certificate (NSC), Public Provident Fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and Sukanya Samridihi Scheme. 

• About Molnupiravir:
  • Recently, it is claimed that Molnupiravir, an oral drug, can cut the risk of hospitalisation in Covid-19 patients by half, in phase 3 trials.
  • It belongs to a class of broad spectrum antiviral drugs called nucleoside analogues.
    • They act by interfering with the function of viral RNA (Ribonucleic Acids) polymerases – which are enzymes that make new viral RNA in infected cells.
    • RNA is a polymer of ribonucleotides and an important biological macromolecule that is present in all biological cells.
      • It is principally involved in the synthesis of proteins, carrying the messenger instructions from Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which itself contains the genetic instructions required for the development and maintenance of life.
  • It works by causing viruses to make errors when copying their own RNA, introducing mutations that inhibit replication.M
  • It was initially invented as a drug for the influenza virus.
• Hence, option C is correct.

• The Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework enables supervisory intervention of RBI over Banks at an appropriate time and ensures effective market discipline. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• The framework applies to all banks operating in India, including foreign banks operating through branches or subsidiaries based on breach of risk thresholds of identified indicators. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • However, payments banks and small finance banks (SFBs) have been removed from the list of lenders where prompt corrective action can be initiated.

• Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common viral infection of the reproductive tract. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• There are more than 100 types of HPV.
  • More than 40 types of HPV are spread through direct sexual contact.
  • Out of these 40, two cause genital warts, while about a dozen of HPV cause different types of cancer including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar and vaginal.
• Recently, new research has found that the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Cervarix) reduces the risk of Cervical Cancer significantly in women.
• In India about 77% cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV 16 and 18.
  • In India, bivalent and quadrivalent HPV vaccines were licensed in 2008 and a non valent vaccine was licensed in 2018.
  • Officially, the HPV vaccine has not been recommended for boys and males in India. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

A key indicator of an economy’s long-run debt sustainability is the differential between interest paid on government debt and the economy’s nominal growth rate. When the cost of raising debt is lower than the gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, public debt comes with low fiscal costs. In such a situation, the debt-to-GDP ratio of the economy declines as debts are rolled over.

A new study has found under-reported debts to the tune of $385 billion in projects carried out in dozens of countries under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with a rise in “hidden” debt on account of an increasing number of deals struck not directly between governments but structured through often opaque arrangements with a range of financing institutions.

The total debt, was “systematically under-reported to the World Bank’s Debtor Reporting System (DRS) because, in many cases, central government institutions in LMICs [low and middle income countries] are not the primary borrowers responsible for repayment”.

Debtor Reporting System (DRS) is a statistical reporting system maintained by the World Bank to monitor the debt of developing countries. Information is supplied through reports from debtor countries.

• East Asia Summit, established in 2005, is a forum of 18 regional leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation on the key political, security, and economic challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region.
  • It comprises the ten member states of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) which are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
    • It also includes 8 other countries; Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia and the USA.
  • It is an ASEAN-centred forum so it can only be chaired by an ASEAN member. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
    • Brunei Darussalam is the chair for 2021.
• India and EAS:
  • India is one of the founding members of the East Asia Summit. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • At the East Asia Summit in Bangkok in November 2019, India had unveiled India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which is aimed at forging partnerships to create a secure and stable maritime domain.

• Recently, the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports announced the National Sports Awards 2021 which comprises six different awards given to sportspersons of India by the Central Government. The awards are:
  • Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award: Formerly known as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, it is the highest award bestowed to a sports person in India and was instituted in the year 1991-1992. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched.
    • It is given for the spectacular and most outstanding performance in the field of sports by a sportsperson over a period of the previous four years.
  • Arjuna Award: It was instituted in 1961 by the Government of India to recognise outstanding achievement in national sports events.
    • It is given for good performance over a period of previous four years and showing qualities of leadership, sportsmanship and a sense of discipline.
  • Dronacharya Award: It was instituted in 1985 by the Government of India to recognise excellence in sports coaching.
    • It is given to coaches for doing outstanding and meritorious work on a consistent basis and enabling sportspersons to excel in International events.
  • Dhyan Chand Award: It was instituted in the year 2002 and comprises a Dhyan Chand statuette, a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a certificate and a ceremonial dress.
    • It is given to honour sportspersons who have contributed to sports by their performance and continue to contribute to promotion of sports events after their retirement.
  • Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Trophy: It was instituted in the year 1956-1957.
    • It is for university-level sports performances. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
    • It is given to a university for "top performance in the inter-university tournaments" over the period of the last one year.
  • Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar: It was instituted in the year 2009
    • It is given to corporate entities (both in private and public sector), sports control boards, NGOs including sports bodies at the State and National level who have played a visible role in the area of sports promotion and development. Hence, pair 3 is correctly matched.
• Hence, option C is correct.