UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | January 21 to January 27, 2024

UPSC Weekly Quiz is a current affairs-based quiz on relevant topics from the past week, curated for the aspirants of competitive examinations. Attempt the weekly quiz every Saturday and find answers to the MCQs with explanations at the end of the article.

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With reference to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), consider the following statements:

1. For a new country to join NATO, the majority of the existing members have to approve it.

2. Sweden is a founding member of NATO.

3. If Finland becomes a member, almost all of the Baltic Sea coastline, except that in Russia’s control, will become NATO territory.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Which of the following countries has contributed to the development of Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP)?

(a) USA

(b) Germany

(d) U.K

With reference to the Bharat Ratna Award, consider the following statements:

1. It is the highest civilian award in India.

2. It is presented by the President of India and is intended to honor those who have left an indelible mark on the nation’s progress and development.

3. The award is not given posthumously.

4. The first recipient of the Bharat Ratna was Dr. Zakir Hussain.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Which of the following individuals did not get the Padma Vibhushan Award for 2024 in the Art category?

(a) Ms. Vyjayantimala Bali

(b) Ms. Padma Subrahmanyam

(d) Parbati Baruah

With reference to the POEM-3 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3), consider the following statements:

1. It is a three-axis-attitude controlled platform with power generation and telecommand and telemetry capabilities.

2. It was deployed with a PSLV-C58 vehicle.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

This species is one of 74 plants that scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London named last year as new to science, thrilling some in the botany world. It grows abundantly on Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, which includes parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. It flowers underground. The discovery of this plant subterranea is an example of conventional science catching up with Indigenous knowledge.

The above-mentioned lines refer to:

(a) Pinanga

(b) Rafflesia

(d) Begonia kinabaluensis

Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) was recently in the news due to melanistic tiger safari. The reserve is located in:

(a) Odisha

(b) Bihar

(d) Telangana

Consider the following pairs:

(Place) (Location)

1. Zhaotong South Korea

2. Philip Island Indonesia

3. Rafah Egypt

How many of the pairs given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

She is a research scholar, choreographer, teacher, Indologist and author. She is known to have evolved and popularised the dance form Bharata Nrithyam. She received the Padma Shri in 1981 and Padma Bhushan in 2003. She has been awarded Padma Vibhushan for the year 2024.

The above-mentioned lines refer to:

(a) Vyjayantimala Bali

(b) Chami Murmu

(d) Uma Maheshwari D

Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve Area was in the news. It is located in:

(a) Assam

(b) Meghalaya

(d) Arunachal Pradesh

Recently, experts now said that humanity could be faced with the threat of the next pandemic from an unlikely place — the melting permafrost in the X region could release ancient viruses– “zombie viruses,” also called Methuselah viruses that could potentially affect humans.

What is X?

(a) Arctic

(b) Antarctic

(d) Alps

With reference to ‘E Ink’, consider the following statements:

1. They are a specific type of E Paper.

2. E Ink displays cause less eye strain for the user.

3. They consume very little power compared to LCD and OLED displays.

4. They have a faster refresh rate compared to LCD and OLED displays.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

The protein X is produced by cells in the snail-shaped part of the inner ear called the cochlea. The cochlea is the place where sound waves are translated into electric pulses carried to the brain by nerve cells. The protein X helps transmit pulses from cochlear cells to nerves. Without it, sound would be translated to electric signals but they would never reach the brain.

‘X’ in the above lines is:

(a) Pendrin

(b) Otoferlin

(d) Cytokines

With reference to the India-France relationship, consider the following statements:

(1) 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the strategic partnership of India-France ties.

(2) 2024 was the sixth time that a French leader will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations.

(3) Rajasthan continues to lead among all Indian destinations for French tourists.

(4) The two sides have also agreed to establish a partnership on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR).

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) All four

Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

(a) Hikayat Seri Rama – Malaysia

(b) Ramakien – Myanmar

(d) Phra Lak Phra Ram – Laos

FYI:

— Sweden’s attempt to join NATO cleared a major hurdle after Turkey’s parliament supported its membership. Turkey and Hungary had been opposing Sweden’s entry for almost the past two years.

— For a new country to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), all the existing members have to approve it. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— Sweden hasn’t fought a war in two centuries, remaining neutral during the two World Wars and Cold War. In recent years, it joined the European Union and partnered with NATO, but it showed no intention of actually joining the military alliance of its formidable neighbour, Russia.

— Once a country is a NATO member, an attack on its territory is considered an attack on the US-led alliance, and all 31 members are obliged to defend each other.

— NATO’s founding member countries were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Once Sweden joins NATO, practically all of the Baltic Sea coastline, save for that controlled by Russia, will become NATO territory. This will give the alliance with critical sites close to Russia, streamline supply lines, and make it easier to defend maritime assets. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— In December 2023, when India invited French President Emmanuel Macron for Republic Day after US President Joe Biden was unavailable, Macron accepted despite knowing he was the second choice, showing the comfort between the French and the Indian system.

Major pillars of cooperation

Defence

— India and France have a strong and powerful defence relationship. Bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries is assessed by the Annual Defence Dialogue (Defence Minister level) and the High Committee on Defence Cooperation (Secretary level). In 2023, a DRDO office was established at the Embassy to strengthen technological cooperation.

— The procurement of Rafale jets as part of India’s air power is a testament to the deep defence ties.

Space

— ISRO and the French Space Agency, Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), have had a long history of space cooperation dating back over 50 years. France remains a key provider of components and equipment to India’s space programmes.

Civil Nuclear Programme

— During the PM’s visit to Paris in July 2023, both leaders welcomed the progress made during discussions related to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project (JNPP).

Economics

— France is one of India’s top investors, with FDI inflows of $659.77 million for FY 2022-23 (as of June 2023) and a total FDI stock of $10.76 billion from April 2000 to September 2023.

— India’s principal exports are engineering goods, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, electronic equipment, and ready-made clothing. The primary imports from France include aircraft products, machine equipment, electrical equipment, and chemical products.

— France has continued to support India’s claim for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council and the reforms of the United Nations. France’s support was vital in India’s accession to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and Australia Group (AG). France continues to support India’s bid for accession to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

— India and France have resolved to work together for adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) in the UN.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— The Bharat Ratna Award is the highest civilian award in India, bestowed upon individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the nation in various fields, such as arts, literature, science, and public service. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The award was instituted in 1954, it holds immense prestige and recognition in the country.

— It is presented by the President of India and is intended to honor those who have left an indelible mark on the nation’s progress and development. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Centre on January 23 2024 announced it would award the Bharat Ratna posthumously to Karpoori Thakur, former chief minister of Bihar. This is the birth centenary year of Thakur, also known as ‘Jannayak’, or the leader of the people. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954): The first recipient of the Bharat Ratna, Dr. Radhakrishnan was a renowned philosopher and statesman. He served as India’s first Vice President and second President and was known for his deep understanding of Indian philosophy and culture.

— Dr. C. V. Raman (1954): A Nobel laureate in Physics, Dr. Raman made significant contributions to the field of light scattering, leading to the discovery of the “Raman Effect,” which revolutionized the study of molecular and atomic structures.

— Dr. Bhagwan Das (1955): A prominent freedom fighter, scholar, and philosopher, Dr. Bhagwan Das was honored for his exceptional work in promoting Indian culture and philosophy.

— Jawaharlal Nehru (1955): India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s destiny. His leadership during the post-independence period was instrumental in laying the foundation for a democratic and secular India.

— Dr. Zakir Hussain (1963): A renowned educationist and the third President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain was honored for his contributions to the field of education and his efforts to promote communal harmony. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

— Indira Gandhi (1971): The first and only woman to hold the office of Prime Minister in India, Indira Gandhi was honored for her leadership during critical periods in the nation’s history, including the 1971 war with Pakistan and the Green Revolution.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, actress, dancer and parliamentarian Vyjayantimala Bali, actor Konidela Chiranjeevi, social worker Shri Bindeshwar Pathak and Bharatanatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam have been conferred the Padma Vibhushan this year.

— A total of 132 Padma awards have been announced — five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri.

— The five Padma Vibhushan Awardees for 2024:

FYI:

— ISRO said, its space platform, POEM-3, has successfully achieved all its payload objectives.

— POEM-3 is a three-axis-attitude controlled platform with power generation and telecommand and telemetry capabilities, for supporting payloads. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— POEM-3 (the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3) uses the spent PS4 stage of the PSLV-C58 rocket that launched XPoSat on January 1 this year. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— POEM-3 flew with nine Payloads from VSSC, PRL, Academia, and Space start-ups inducted through IN-SPACe. Over this period, each payload was put into operation, as planned and performance was demonstrated.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— The palm, Pinanga subterranea, is one of 74 plants that scientists from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London named last year as new to science, thrilling some in the botany world.

— The plant grows abundantly on Borneo, the third-largest island in the world, which includes parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

— The “discovery” of Pinanga subterranea is an example of conventional science catching up with Indigenous knowledge.

— It flowers underground.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Odisha will begin a melanistic tiger safari at Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR), Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said. The safari will be the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

— The rare and majestic “melanistic tiger species” is found only in Odisha.

— The state government’s plan has received in-principle approval from the technical committee of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the national body for the conservation of the big cat.

— Melanism is a genetic condition in which an increased production of melanin, a substance in the skin that produces hair, eye, and skin pigmentation, results in black (or nearly black) skin, feathers, or hair in an animal.

— Many Similipal royal Bengal tigers are members of a distinct lineage with elevated melanin levels, resulting in black and yellow alternating stripes on their coats. These tigers are not totally black, hence they are better described as pseudo-melanistic.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Padma Subrahmanyam has been awarded Padma Vibhushan Award for the year 2024.

— The multiple award-winning Bharat Natyam dancer, Padma Subrahmanyam, is also a research scholar, choreographer, teacher, Indologist and author.

— She is known to have evolved and popularised the dance form Bharata Nrithyam. She received the Padma Shri in 1981 and Padma Bhushan in 2003.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Tableaus of 16 states and Union Territories, nine central ministries and departments, and the three wings of the armed forces rolled out on Kartavya Path amid loud cheers from the audience that gathered to witness the 75th Republic Day parade in the national capital.

— The state’s tableau of Arunachal Pradesh showcased its Singchung Bugun Village Community Reserve, a 17 square kilometre biodiversity hotspot created in 2017.

— In the tractor portion, the new species of bird called Bugun Liocichla and other birds from the reserve in natural vegetation was depicted.

— The trailer portion was led by the Bugun folk dance, visiting tourists while adventure sports is depicted in the rear portion.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— We haven’t quite recovered from the last one, but experts now say that humanity could be faced with the threat of the next pandemic from an unlikely place — the melting permafrost in the Arctic region could release ancient viruses that could potentially affect humans.

— These “zombie viruses,” also called Methuselah viruses after the biblical figure, have already been isolated by researchers who have raised concerns about a new global emergency, according to The Observer. To counter the potential of diseases from the distant past coming back to haunt us, scientists are proposing an Arctic monitoring network that could pinpoint early cases of a disease caused by ancient micro-organisms.

— Permafrost refers to the soil or underwater sediment that has been at temperatures below freezing for long periods of time. Some of the oldest permafrost has been frozen for around 7,00,000 years. It covers about one-fifth of the globe’s northern hemisphere and it is cold, dark, and lacks oxygen.

— This makes permafrost excellent at preserving biological material. Last year, scientists brought microscopic worms back to life after they were frozen in the Siberian permafrost for 46,000 years.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— E Ink displays are a special type of screen technology often used in e-readers like the Amazon Kindle.

— The technology was originally developed in the 1990s at MIT and is now owned by E Ink Corporation.

— The screens work using tiny microcapsules filled with positively charged white particles and negatively charged black ones suspended in fluid inside the display. By applying positive or negative electrical charges to different areas of the screen, the white or black particles can be made to rise to the surface, creating the text and images on the display.

— E Paper is a broad term for any display designed to mimic the appearance of real paper. Meanwhile, E Ink is a specific type of E Paper display that uses millions of tiny microcapsules filled with positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— E Ink displays have several key advantages that make them well-suited for certain applications. First, they consume very little power compared to LCD and OLED displays. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— Second, E Ink displays cause less eye strain for the user. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— However, E Ink displays also have some downsides. The biggest is their slow refresh rate compared to LCD and OLED displays. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— After receiving an experimental treatment consisting of an injection into the ear, six children who were born deaf can now hear. The researchers behind the novel gene therapy approach believe that it may be useful in other treatments as well.

— The research was conducted in Fudan, China but the team was co-led by Harvard Medical School researchers at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear. They treated six children between the ages of one and seven suffering from a type of inherited deafness. This was caused by the mutation of the OTOF gene, which manufactures a protein that plays an important role in transmitting signals from the ear to the brain.

— The OTOF gene is responsible for the otoferlin protein, which is produced by cells in the snail-shaped part of the inner ear called the cochlea. The cochlea is the place where sound waves are translated into electric pulses carried to the brain by nerve cells. Otoferlin helps transmit pulses from cochlear cells to nerves. Without it, sound would be translated to electric signals but they would never reach the brain.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— Macron’s visit caps a milestone year for India-France ties — the 25th anniversary of their strategic partnership. The India-France Strategic Partnership, the first that India signed with any western country, has seen considerable progress in bilateral, regional and international contexts. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— This will be the sixth time that a French leader will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— About 2.5 lakh French travelled to India in 2019 while about 7 lakh Indians went to France for tourism. Rajasthan continues to lead among all Indian destinations for French tourists. Foreign tourist arrivals into Rajasthan are growing at a double digit since 2016. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— The two sides have also agreed to establish a partnership on Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR). Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

FYI:

— The Ramakien, a version of the Ramayana, is Thailand’s national epic.

Therefore, (b) is the correct answer.

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