UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 08 to December 14, 2024 | UPSC Current Affairs News

1. It has a mass equal to about 10 million stars the size of our sun.

2. The European Space Agency’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has spotted Firefly Sparkle, a distant galaxy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) discovered a faraway galaxy that provides a glimpse into what the Milky Way may have looked like in its infancy. The galaxy, named Firefly Sparkle because of its shining star clusters resembling bioluminescent bugs (a collection of fireflies is called a “sparkle”), is around 13 billion lightyears away, which means light took 13 billion years to travel from the galaxy to. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— According to researchers, the galaxy, which is still assembling, formed 100-400 million years before the evolutionary stage witnessed by the JWST.

— Firefly Sparkle has a mass equivalent to around 10 million stars the size of our sun and is made up of 10 densely packed star clusters embedded in a diffuse arc of stars. Its primary visible section is around 1,000 light-years across. It shares space with two smaller galaxies, Firefly-Best Friend and Firefly-New Best Friend. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— “The Milky Way began forming very early in the universe’s history, most likely around the same time as Firefly Sparkle,” astronomer Lamiya Mowla, co-lead author of the study published in Nature, told Reuters.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

The Central Water Commission (CWC) in its study titled ‘Assessment of Water Resources of India 2024’ assessed the average annual water availability based on:

1. Annual net-runoff using precipitation

2. Evapotranspiration

3. Land use and land cover

4. Soil datasets

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

— The Central Water Commission (CWC) calculated that India’s average annual water availability between 1985 and 2023 was 2,115.95 billion cubic meters (BCM) in their report titled ‘Assessment of Water Resources of India 2024’.

— The CWC investigated the average annual water availability based on yearly net-runoff employing precipitation, evapotranspiration, land use, land cover, and soil information as key inputs.

— Water availability has been analysed for all river basins in the country, with the exception of three western tributaries of the Indus (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab).

— According to the CWC report, the top three basins with the highest water availability in the country were the Brahmaputra (592.32 BCM), Ganga (581.75 BCM), and Godavari (129.17 BCM), while the bottom three basins were Sabarmati (9.87 BCM), Pennar (10.42 BCM), and Mahi (13.03 BCM).

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

Consider the following statements:

1. The ‘atomic spins’ are formed when magnetic elements – iron or manganese or chromium – mix in tiny proportions with non-magnetic elements such as gold or copper or silver.

2. A ‘spin glass’ carried by magnetic elements freezes in random directions and locations, few and far between in the host lattice of nonmagnetic elements.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— A ‘spin glass’ is formed when magnetic elements – iron or manganese or chromium – mix in tiny proportions with non-magnetic elements such as gold or copper or silver. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— The ‘atomic spins’ carried by magnetic elements freeze in random directions and locations, few and far between in the host lattice of nonmagnetic elements. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

— They interact and influence each other’s orientation in a’strange’ way, leaving them ‘frustrated’ due to opposing commands for their orientation.

— This generates a vast number of randomly orientated spin patterns, reducing the spin glass’s energy.

— Hopfield compared the’spins’ to neurones, which, like binary entities, can fire or remain inactive. Neurones communicate with one another by exchanging electrical impulses, and the connecting synapses change plastically in accordance with Hebb’s principle.

— This was matched to the interaction of spins in a spin glass. Spin patterns that use the least amount of energy are identified as memories.

— Recording information causes frenzied electrical impulse exchanges between neurones via synapses, which are then plastically transformed.

— The information is saved as a pattern of firing/non-firing neurones, represented by changes in synaptic efficacies. As memories accumulate, the network of synapses undergoes significant changes. A stored pattern can be retrieved from this pile ‘associatively’ by displaying it in its original, partial, or deformed form.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Who among the following personalities has become the youngest universally recognised champion in the history of chess?

(a) Gukesh Dommaraju

(b) Emanuel Lasker

(c) Ding Liren

(d) Viswanathan Anand

Explanation

— At 6.37pm IST on Thursday, the official FIDE account posted on X: “Gukesh D is the YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION in history!” After all, Gukesh’s aim has always been to win the crown before anyone else in the sport’s history.

— There have been 17 individuals who have claimed the title of world chess champion before Gukesh, dating back to 1886. Gukesh, 18, became the first adolescent to achieve so, becoming the 18th champion.

— Gukesh officially broke the record set by Garry Kasparov, who was 22 years, six months, and 27 days old. Magnus Carlsen, a five-time World Champion who has lately decided not to compete in future World Championships, was 22 years, 11 months, and 24 days old when he defeated Viswanathan Anand in Chennai in 2013.

— There is one little catch to Gukesh’s record. It bears the name Ruslan Ponomariov.

— According to Chess.com, Gukesh’s achievement is best described as the “youngest universally recognised champion in chess history.” Ponomariov won a separate FIDE world title in a knockout event in 2002 at a little younger age, but not by defeating the current champion in a match.”

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the Durgadi Fort, consider the following statements:

1. The earliest references to the Durgadi Fort date to the 16th century under the Bijapur-based Adil Shahi Sultanate.

2. The fort stands next to the Ulhas River.

3. In 1760, the Marathas renamed the fort Durgadi Killa.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The Durgadi Fort was first mentioned in the 16th century, when Kalyan, about 50 km northeast of present-day Mumbai, was a major commercial port for the Bijapur-based Adil Shahi Sultanate. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— The fort, which covers around 70 acres, is located in the northeastern corner of the city, on elevated land adjacent to the Ulhas River. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— According to historical papers gathered by the former British government, the fort has existed since 1570, with British accounts saying that it held a “Musalman tomb, prayer place, and other buildings”.

— In 1760, the Marathas seized Kalyan and made significant changes to the fort. Notably, they constructed a tiny wooden temple dedicated to the goddess Durgadevi on the premises and dubbed the fort Durgadi Killa, a name that still exists today. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— “In the citadel, the Marathas built a small wooden temple of Durgadevi behind the mosque and named the fort Durgadi Killa in honour of the goddess, a name it still bears.” “They also converted the Jama mosque into Ramji’s temple,” the 1892 gazetteer stated.

— The British acquired possession of Kalyan in 1818, and by the later half of the nineteenth century, the Durgadevi temple was no longer a centre of worship.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 6

The Nayakkarpatti block which includes Arittapatti, a biodiversity-rich area is famous for mining of ore of:

(a) Iron

(b) Copper

(c) Coal

(d) Tungsten

Explanation

— The Centre’s recent decision to give tungsten mining privileges in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district has caused significant protests throughout the state. On Monday, the state Assembly voted unanimously to reject the move.

— On November 7, the Union Ministry of Mines announced the successful completion of the sale of eight vital mineral blocks, including the Nayakkarpatti tungsten block in Madurai’s Melur taluk.

— The Nayakkarpatti block, which covers 2,015.51 hectares, is rich in scheelite, a main tungsten mineral that is important for aerospace, defence, and renewable energy applications.

— The planned mining site contains Arittapatti, a biodiversity hotspot of historical and cultural significance. The Tamil Nadu Assembly decision said that the area contains historical monuments such cave temples, Jain symbols, Tamil Brahmi writings, Panchapandavar beds, and is home to endangered animals.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 7

Consider the following diseases:

1. Cholera

2. Dengue

3. Hepatitis

4. Snakebite

5. Tuberculosis

Which of the diseases given above are included in the list of notifiable diseases?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5

(c) 3 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 5

Explanation

— The Union Health Ministry has urged states to make snakebites a notifiable disease — a disease that is legally required to be reported to the government by both private and public hospitals.

— Usually, infections that are likely to cause an outbreak, lead to deaths, and those that need to be investigated quickly to take appropriate public health measures, are declared as notifiable diseases.

— While the list of notifiable diseases differs from state to state — state governments are responsible for bringing out the notification — most of them consider infections such as tuberculosis, HIV, cholera, malaria, dengue, and hepatitis among others to be notifiable.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 8

Consider the following statements:

1. More than half of the Indian population lives in areas where the air quality does not meet the country’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

2. Air pollution, especially PM2.5 affects the respiratory system and also increases the risk of causing spikes in blood pressure.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— According to a new study published in Lancet Planet Health, no one in India lives in locations where annual average pollution levels are below the levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and high levels of PM2.5 are linked to 1.5 million deaths each year.

— In fact, 81.9% of the Indian population was living in places where the air quality did not even satisfy the country’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of 40 µg/m³ of PM2.5, which is far higher than the WHO’s recommendation of 5 µg/m³. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— According to the study, even if the air quality fulfilled these guidelines, long-term exposure to air pollution would have resulted in 0.3 million deaths.

— Air pollution, particularly PM2.5, has been linked to not just respiratory problems, but also an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, blood pressure rises, and developmental delays in children. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 9

With reference to the mule bank account, consider the following statements:

1. A mule account is a bank account that criminals use for illegal activities.

2. The criminals from their original users typically buy over a mule account.

3. MuleHunter.AI, has been developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

— The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that it has created an artificial intelligence (AI) powered model that could reduce digital fraud by helping banks deal with the increasing problem of “mule” bank accounts. The model, called MuleHunter.AI, has been developed by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH), Bengaluru, a subsidiary of the central bank. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— A mule account is a bank account that criminals use to carry out illegal acts such as money laundering. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— A mule account is generally purchased by criminals from its original users, who are often from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or have less technical proficiency. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The related term “money mule” is used to describe the innocent victims who are used by the criminals to launder stolen or illegal money via their bank accounts. When such incidents are reported, the money mule becomes the target of police investigations, because it is their accounts that are involved, while the actual criminals remain undetectable.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 10

Consider the following countries:

1. Norway

2. Switzerland

3. Ireland

4. Germany

How many of the countries given above are members of the European Free Trade Association?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— India stated that its double taxation treaty with Switzerland may need to be renegotiated in light of its trade agreement with EFTA member states.

— The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson’s statements came after the Swiss government suspended the most favoured nation status (MFN) clause in the India-Switzerland Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

— India and the EFTA members Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein signed a free trade agreement in March. Under the huge trade accord, the four European countries want to invest USD 100 billion in India over the next 15 years.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Previous Weekly Quiz

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | December 01 to December 07, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | November 24 to November 30, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | November 17 to November 23, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | November 10 to November 16, 2024

UPSC Weekly Current Affairs Quiz | November 03 to November 09, 2024

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