Daily Current Affairs MCQ: 20th April 2025 - UPSC MCQ

The cautious optimism within the scientific community regarding the exoplanet K2-18b stems from the evidence suggesting the presence of potential biomarkers in its atmosphere. This finding, based on observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), indicates the possibility of conditions that could support habitability. Biomarkers are indicators that scientists look for to assess the potential for life beyond Earth, making this discovery significant in the search for extraterrestrial life.

1. Dopaminergic progenitor cells - Derived from embryonic stem cells: This pair is incorrectly matched. Dopaminergic progenitor cells used in the context of the Kyoto University research are derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), not embryonic stem cells. iPSCs are reprogrammed from adult somatic cells to an embryonic-like state.

2. iPSCs - Generated from adult somatic cells: This pair is correctly matched. Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) are indeed generated from adult somatic cells, such as skin or blood cells, by reprogramming them to an embryonic-like pluripotent state.

3. Davis Strait - Located between Canada’s Baffin Island and Greenland: This pair is correctly matched. The Davis Strait is indeed a geographical location between Canada’s Baffin Island and Greenland.

4. Davis Strait proto-microcontinent - Formed due to strike-slip faulting along the Ungava Fault Zone: This pair is correctly matched. The Davis Strait proto-microcontinent resulted from the tectonic evolution involving strike-slip faulting along the Ungava Fault Zone, which contributed to the formation of the strait’s geological structures.

Therefore, pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, making a total of three correctly matched pairs.

- Statement 1 is correct. K2-18b is indeed located in the Leo constellation and is approximately 124 light-years away from Earth. This statement is based on the information about its location provided by astronomical observations.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. While the James Webb Space Telescope has detected carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere of K2-18b, the presence of these gases alone does not directly suggest the existence of liquid water oceans. The evidence points towards potential habitability features but not definitively to liquid water oceans based solely on atmospheric gas composition.

- Statement 3 is correct. The Hycean World Hypothesis suggests that planets with a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and potential liquid water oceans might exhibit moderate greenhouse conditions, which could be conducive to life. This theory provides a framework for understanding how such planetary conditions could exist.

Thus, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) used in Parkinson's treatment are derived from adult somatic cells and have the potential to differentiate into any human cell type. - This statement is correct. iPSCs are created by reprogramming adult somatic cells like skin or blood cells to an embryonic-like state, allowing them to differentiate into any cell type, including dopaminergic progenitor cells for Parkinson's treatment.

2. Traditional treatments for Parkinson's Disease primarily focus on restoring the lost dopaminergic neurons in the brain. - This statement is incorrect. Traditional treatments mainly involve dopaminergic medications that manage symptoms by increasing dopamine levels but do not restore or replace the lost neurons.

3. Stem cell therapy using iPSCs aims to replace the dopamine-producing neurons that are lost in patients with Parkinson's Disease. - This statement is correct. The goal of iPSCs in Parkinson's treatment is to generate new dopamine-producing neurons to replace those lost due to the disease.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3. Therefore, the correct answer is Option C: 1 and 3 Only.

1. Aryabhata: Launched with the assistance of the United States - Incorrect. Aryabhata, India’s first satellite, was launched with the help of the Soviet Union, not the United States.

2. INS Sunayna: Second vessel of the Saryu-class offshore patrol ships - Correct. INS Sunayna is indeed the second vessel of the Saryu-class offshore patrol ships in the Indian Navy.

3. Aryabhata's Mission: Conducted solar physics and X-ray astronomy experiments - Correct. Aryabhata was designed to conduct experiments in solar physics and X-ray astronomy.

4. IOS SAGAR: An initiative for uniting navies of the Indian Ocean Region - Correct. IOS SAGAR is an initiative aimed at uniting the navies and maritime agencies of the Southwest Indian Ocean Region on an Indian Naval platform.

Pairs 2, 3, and 4 are correctly matched, while pair 1 is incorrectly matched.

1. Statement 1: This statement is correct. The Karnataka High Court has indeed mandated the shutdown of all bike taxi services by mid-May, citing regulatory gaps. This decision affects the operation of bike taxis in the state and could influence similar regulations in other regions.

2. Statement 2: This statement is also correct. BluSmart has suspended its operations in major Indian cities like Delhi-NCR, Bengaluru, and Mumbai due to financial difficulties and regulatory scrutiny related to its associated firm. This has raised concerns about the company's future and its fleet of electric vehicles.

3. Statement 3: This statement is incorrect. The rise of subscription models in the ride-hailing industry has not yet led to a clear regulatory framework for GST collection. In fact, there are ongoing legal challenges and confusion regarding the application of GST to such models, as highlighted by conflicting rulings from tax authorities.

Thus, only statements 1 and 2 are correct, making Option B the correct answer.

1. K2-18b's Discovery: Incorrectly matched. K2-18b was discovered by the Kepler telescope in 2015, not the Hubble Space Telescope.

2. Hycean World Hypothesis: Correctly matched. The Hycean World Hypothesis indeed characterizes K2-18b as potentially having a hydrogen-rich atmosphere and possibly a liquid water ocean, which could support habitability.

3. Biomarker Detection: Incorrectly matched. While the presence of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) is significant, it is not confirmed as a definitive biological marker for life on K2-18b due to the complexity in differentiating DMS from dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) and the existence of non-biological sources.

4. Visa Revocation Issue: Correctly matched. The AI-assisted initiative related to visa revocations was indeed initiated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on identifying visa holders with views considered contrary to U.S. foreign policy.

Thus, only pairs 2 and 4 are correctly matched.

Statement-I correctly mentions the suspension of BluSmart's operations due to regulatory scrutiny, which aligns with the news about BluSmart's pause in services. Statement-II accurately reflects the action taken by the Karnataka High Court to shut down bike taxi services, which could have broader regulatory implications. Therefore, both statements are factually correct, and Statement-II provides additional context that supports Statement-I.

The major feature that sets embryonic stem cells apart from adult stem cells is their potency. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, meaning they have the potential to develop into any type of body cell. On the other hand, adult stem cells are multipotent and are limited to differentiating into specific cell types. This key difference in potency is crucial in understanding the diverse applications and capabilities of these two types of stem cells in research and regenerative medicine.

The primary purpose of launching the Aryabhata satellite in 1975 was to conduct experiments in solar physics and X-ray astronomy. These experiments aimed to study the sun and celestial objects using X-ray observations. By studying these phenomena, scientists aimed to gain a better understanding of our solar system and the universe beyond.