Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 18th September 2024 - Humanities/Arts MCQ

Under the AFSPA, 1958, any prosecution of armed forces personnel requires prior sanction from the Central Government. This provision aims to protect military personnel from legal proceedings in regions designated as disturbed areas, ensuring that military operations are not hindered by civil litigation. Interestingly, AFSPA has been a topic of significant debate in India, with critics arguing that it grants excessive powers to the military and can lead to human rights violations.

The civilian deaths were primarily caused by the Army mistakenly identifying coal mine workers as militants in poor visibility conditions. This tragic error resulted in the deaths of six villagers, which escalated into further violence. This incident highlights the complexities and risks involved in military operations in civilian areas, raising questions about operational protocols and the need for greater accountability.

Hezbollah is recognized as the most heavily armed non-state actor worldwide, equipped with a vast arsenal that includes rockets and missiles. Its significant military capabilities and political influence in Lebanon stem from its origins in the Lebanese Civil War and its support from Iran. The group's military strength poses a considerable challenge to regional stability and has led to several conflicts with Israel, emphasizing the ongoing complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics.

The economic performance of Indian states is primarily evaluated using two indicators: the share in India’s GDP, which measures a state's contribution to the national economy, and relative per capita income, which indicates the income level of an average individual in the state compared to the national average. These indicators help highlight disparities in economic performance and living standards among the states.

Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Jammu and Kashmir was restructured into a Union Territory that retains a Legislative Assembly. This change means that while the region has some legislative powers, it operates under a framework that limits its autonomy compared to a full state, with significant oversight from the Lieutenant Governor.

Since the economic liberalization in 1991, southern Indian states such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu have become prominent economic performers. By 2023-24, these states collectively contribute around 30% of India’s GDP, with significant improvements in their per capita incomes, surpassing the national average.

The primary cause of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This includes prescribing antibiotics unnecessarily, incorrect dosages, and self-medication without medical guidance. These practices allow bacteria to survive and adapt, leading to increased resistance. An interesting fact is that reducing unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions can significantly lower the rates of AMR, highlighting the importance of responsible antibiotic use.

The Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (GAP) was agreed upon in 2015 during the World Health Assembly. This plan aimed to create a strategic framework for countries to develop their own national action plans against AMR. This initiative is crucial as it promotes coordinated global efforts to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, which pose a significant threat to public health worldwide.

A significant milestone in Project Cheetah is the birth of cheetah cubs in India, with 17 cubs born so far, of which 12 have survived. This is noteworthy as it represents the first successful breeding of cheetahs in the country after their extinction in 1952. This success not only signifies a step forward in conservation but also demonstrates the potential for restoring cheetah populations in their native habitats.

Experts suspect that the pager explosions were the result of a sophisticated cyber-attack that infiltrated the supply chain, potentially introducing explosives into the devices. This theory points to the possibility that the pagers, which Hezbollah had turned to for secure communication, were tampered with to detonate remotely. This incident underscores the vulnerabilities in modern communication technologies and the evolving tactics used in asymmetric warfare, where non-state actors are increasingly targeted through technological means.