Current Affairs MCQs for UPSC & State PSC Exams (06 November 2023)

Current Affairs MCQs Quiz for UPSC, IAS, UPPSC/UPPCS, MPPSC. BPSC, RPSC & All State PSC Exams

Date: 06 November 2023

1. Consider the following statements, with reference to Dollar/Rupee Swap:

1. In a dollar–rupee sell/buy swap, the RBI sells USD in exchange for INR and promises to buy dollar from banks after some years.
2. Only the Authorised Dealers (ADs) Category 1 banks are eligible entities to participate in this auction.
3. It is a forex tool that helps in the liquidity management.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (C)

Explanation: It is a forex tool used by the RBI uses to sells USD in exchange for INR and promises to buy dollar from banks after some years. Only the Authorised Dealers (ADs) Category 1 banks will be the eligible entities to participate in the auction of USD/INR Sell Buy Swaps. Swaps under the auction, once undertaken with the Reserve Bank, cannot be cancelled and no request for any modification or revision to the same will be entertained.
RBI has the following rights for the Dollar/Rupee Swap:
1. Decide on the quantum of US Dollar amount to be sold in the swap auction.
2. Accept bids for less than the aggregate notified US Dollar amount.
3. Accept marginally higher than the notified US Dollar amount due to rounding-off effects.
4. Accept or reject any or all the bids either wholly or partially without assigning any reason.
Forex swaps help in liquidity management and in a limited way, helps in keeping the currency rates in check. A dollar–rupee buy/sell swap injects INR into the banking system while sucking out the dollars and the reverse happens in a sell/buy swap. Hence, all statements are correct.


2. Consider the following statements, with reference to Rabies:

1. It is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease affecting the central nervous system.
2. Rabies is present on all continents except Antarctica and it can affect only domestic animals.
3.Bhutan is the first country to sterilise all stray dogs in its country.\

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation: Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease affecting the central nervous system. It can affect both domestic and wild animals. It is present on all continents except Antarctica, with over 95% of human deaths occurring in Asia and Africa. Rabies is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects already marginalized, poor and vulnerable populations. Bhutan becomes first country to sterilise all stray dogs after 14-year-long project. Initial symptoms of rabies include generic signs like fever, pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensations at the wound site. People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch from an animal with rabies, which is, in 99% of the cases, a dog. Transmission can also occur if saliva of infected animals comes into direct contact with mucosa (e.g. eyes or mouth) or fresh skin wounds. Vaccinating dogs, including puppies, is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people because it stops the transmission at its source. Rabies is included in WHO’s 2021–2030 Roadmap for the global control of neglected tropical diseases, which sets regional, progressive targets for the elimination of targeted diseases. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

3. UNESCO Michel Batisse Award, sometimes seen in the news is related to which of the following?

(a) To recognize operations that have a significant impact on the humanitarian assistance provided during war.
(b) For a political person who provide Policy leadership for conservation of the nature.
(c) Highest civilian award by UNESCO for person in any field of human endeavour.
(d) For outstanding achievement in management of biosphere reserves across the globe.

Answer: (D)

Explanation: Recently the director of Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve was selected for UNESCO Michel Batisse Award for 2023. UNESCO Michel Batisse Award is a 12,000 USD award that is given every 2 years during the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) Council, in memory of Dr Michel Batisse. It is awarded for outstanding achievements in the management of the biosphere reserves in line with the recommendations of the Seville Strategy. Jagdish Bakan is the Wildlife Warden and Director of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve in Tamil Nadu. Jagdish Bakan won the Award for creating ‘green’ jobs and microcredit in Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. He has implemented several projects designed to motivate the community to take greater care of their environment. Example, the community members have created plastic-free zones in the Dhanushkodi and Ervadi areas, where they have set up checkposts to collect plastics from passing motorists. Hence, option (d) is correct.

4. Consider the following statements regarding “NexCAR19”:

1. NexCar19 is a sort of gene therapy developed in India that is designed to target cancer cells and treat them.
2. NexCAR19 therapy is beneficial for patients with B-cell lymphomas who have not responded to traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy.
3. The therapy is only available to people over the age of 30, as it did not provide effective outcomes in teens.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Answer: (B)

Explanation: NexCar19 is a type of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) and gene therapy developed indigenously in India by ImmunoACT, which is a company incubated at IIT Bombay. It is designed to target cancer cells that carry the CD19 protein. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
NexCAR19 therapy is intended for people with B-cell lymphomas who have not responded to standard treatments like chemotherapy and have experienced relapse or recurrence of cancer. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Initially, the therapy is approved for patients aged 15 years and older and also proves beneficial for adolescents. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

5. Consider the following passage:

The country lies to the south-west of the Indian mainland. It comprises nearly 1,200 low-lying coral islands sprawled across 90,000 sq km in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy initiated “Operation Cactus” in 1988 in response to a coup attempt.

The above-mentioned passage refers to which of the following countries?

(a) Mauritius
(b) Fiji
(c) Maldives
(d) Madagascar

Answer: (C)

Explanation: ‘India Out’ was a campaign slogan for Maldives president-elect Mohamed Muizzu, who will take over the country’s reins on November 17. Yet, 35 years after the fact, India’s intervention in the 1988 coup attempt in Malé codenamed Operation Cactus continues to be remembered with gratitude and fondness. Maldives lies to the south-west of the Indian mainland, with its capital Malé slightly more than 600 km away from Thiruvananthapuram. It comprises nearly 1,200 low-lying coral islands sprawled across 90,000 sq km in the Indian Ocean. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (born 1937) was elected president of the Maldives in 1978, amid economic and political turmoil. Gayoom eventually went on to rule his country for 30 years, but in the 1980s, he faced three attempted coups (in 1980, 1983, and 1988), all of which were led by Maldivians who were dissatisfied with his rule. Hence, option (c) is correct.