Daily Current Affairs MCQ- May 24, 2022 - UPSC MCQ

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has issued guidelines easing norms for research into genetically modified (GM) crops and circumventing challenges of using foreign genes to change crops profile.

• The GEAC functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
• As per Rules, 1989, it is responsible for appraisal of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle.
• In India, all activities related to Genetically Engineered organisms (GE organisms) are regulated as per the “Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous microorganisms/GE organisms Rules, 1989” notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• The committee is also responsible for appraisal of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.
• The committee or any persons authorized by it has powers to take punitive action under the Environment Protection Act.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

Mozambique identified its first case of wild poliovirus Type 1 this week after a child contracted the disease. It is the country’s first such case since 1992 and the second imported case of wild poliovirus in Southern Africa this year. An outbreak was reported in Malawi earlier this year.

• Polio is a crippling and potentially deadly disease that affects the nervous system. Because the virus lives in the faeces (poop) of an infected person, people infected with the disease can spread it to others when they do not wash their hands well after defecating (pooping).
• People can also be infected if they drink water or eat food contaminated with infected feces.
• The virus multiplies in the intestine, from where it can invade the nervous system and can cause paralysis. Once that happens, the patient is crippled for life because there is no treatment for the affliction. That is why polio is so dreaded.
• Polio infection, however, is easily preventable by a vaccine.
• There are three variants of the poliovirus, numbered 1 to 3. For a country to be declared polio-free, the wild transmission of all three kinds has to be stopped. For eradication, cases of both wild and vaccine-derived polio infection have to be reduced to zero.
• India launched the Pulse Polio immunisation programme in 1995, after a resolution for a global initiative of polio eradication was adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) in 1988. India was declared polio-free in January 2014.

Hence only statement 1 is correct.

The World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week was observed from May 15 to 21.

• Retinoblastoma is the most common eye cancer (malignant tumor) occurring in young children.
• It can occur in one or both eyes and may be hereditary or sporadic. It can be life-threatening as well as take away vision if not treated timely and is detected by seeing White Reflex (WR).
• Nearly 1,500-2,000 children are diagnosed with retinoblastoma every year in India.
• Symptoms
  • White Reflex in the eye: Pupil that looks white or yellow instead of red when light hits it.
  • Squinting: A crossed eye, looking either toward the nose or towards the ear.
  • Poor vision with or without WR. The eye may be red or painful also.
• Treatment: Chemotherapy can be delivered intravenously or intra-arterial and is given by the paediatric oncologist and is the most common modality of treatment. This has to be followed up with local therapy, which is managed by the ophthalmologist using various modalities.

Hence only statement 2 is correct.

Union Culture Ministry will commemorate the 250th Birth Anniversary of Raja Ram Mohan Roy till 22nd of May next year under the aegis of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav'.

• Ram Mohan Roy (1772 – 1833) was an Indian reformer. He is considered to be the "Father of the Bengal Renaissance" by many historians.
• He crusaded against Hindu customs such as sati, polygamy, child marriage and the caste system. He demanded property inheritance rights for women.
• In 1830, Ram Mohan Roy travelled to the United Kingdom as an ambassador of the Mughal Empire to ensure that Lord William Bentinck's Bengal Sati Regulation, 1829 banning the practice of Sati was not overturned.
• He who was one of the founders of the Brahmo Sabha in 1828, the precursor of the Brahmo Samaj, a social-religious reform movement.
• In 1817, in collaboration with David Hare, he set up the Hindu College at Calcutta.
• His most popular journal was the Sambad Kaumudi. It covered topics like freedom of the press, induction of Indians into high ranks of service, and separation of the executive and judiciary.
• He was given the title of Raja by Akbar II, the Mughal emperor.

Hence both statements are correct.

• The State of the Climate Report for 2021 is published by the World Meteorological Organization. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• According to the World Meteorological Organization Extreme weather has resulted in fatalities, sickness, migration, and economic losses.
• Carbon dioxide concentration is increasing in the atmosphere due to continuous growth in fossil fuel combustion. Hence statement 2 is correct
• Carbon cutting commitment is not achieved by Nations except India. other nations are not able to make carbon-cutting commitments taken at the United Nations climate meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.
• India is a member nation of the World Meteorological Organization. Hence statement 3 is not correct.

• New Space India Limited (NSIL) is the commercial arm of ISRO with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities.
• Antrix Corporation Limited (ACL) is a wholly owned Government of India Company and was incorporated as a private limited company owned by Government of India in September 1992 as a Marketing arm of ISRO.
• Antrix will handle ISRO’s commercial deals for satellites and launch vehicles with foreign customers. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
• NSIL will deal with capacity building of local industry for space manufacturing. Hence statement 2 is not correct.

• The Mahayana sect of Buddhism believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and believes in Idol Worship.
• It originated in northern India and Kashmir and then spread east into Central Asia, East Asia and some areas of Southeast Asia. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
• Mahayana believes in Mantras.
• Its main principles were based on the possibility of universal liberation from suffering for all beings. That's why this sect is called Mahayana (The Great Vehicle).
  • Its principles are also based on the existence of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha nature. It allows salvation through having faith and committing oneself to Buddha. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
• Hinayana Buddhism believes in the original teaching of Buddha.
  • It does not believe in Idol worship and tries to attain individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation.
  • Theravada is a part of Hinayana sect. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

• The World Forestry Congress is held every six years. This year's event, hosted by the Republic of Korea and co-organized with FAO, was the second congress held in Asia. Hence, both statement 1 and statement 2 are not correct.
• Indonesia hosted the first Congress in Asia in 1978.
• Congress has been providing a forum for inclusive discussion on the key challenges and way forward for the forestry sector.
• Theme for 2022: Building a Green, Healthy and Resilient.

• The Kanheri Caves are a group of caves and rock-cut monuments located on the western outskirts of Mumbai. The caves are located within the forests of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The name Kanheri is derived from ‘Kanhagiri’ in Prakrit and occurs in the Nasik inscription of the Satavahana ruler Vasisthiputra Pulumavi.
• Kanheri was mentioned in the travelogues of foreign travellers.
  • The earliest reference of Kanheri is ascribed to Fa-Hein who visited India during 399-411 CE and later by several other travellers. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.
• The Kanheri caves comprise more than 110 different rock-cut monolithic excavations and is one of the largest single excavations in the country.
• The excavation of these caves was primarily undertaken during the Hinayana phase of Buddhism but also has several examples of the Mahayana stylistic architecture as well as few printings of the Vajrayana order. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
• Kanheri flourished under the patronage of Satavahana, Traikutakas, Vakatakas and Silaharas and through donations made by the wealthy merchants of the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in U.S. President Joseph Biden’s unveiling of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) in Tokyo, a U.S. initiative for trade partnerships in the region.

• Mr. Modi’s attendance at the event is a significant step towards building economic ties among Quad countries (India, the U.S., Australia and Japan) in the Indo-Pacific.
• But officials were hesitant to bill the IPEF as a counter to the 15-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the 17-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that China is a member of.
• The IPEF would have a “very wide-ranging membership” and the programme was “designed to put workers at the centre with a focus on the digital economy, clean energy transition, infrastructure and resilient supply chains.
• India has not taken a decision on joining the framework, but is keen on understanding the “contours” of the American plan.

Hence both statements are not correct.