Q1 . Consider the following statements with respect to Multi-Drug Resistant-TB (MDR-TB) :
1 . India has the highest burden of Multi-Drug Resistant-TB (MDR-TB) bacteria.
2 . India has set the target of 2030 for elimination of Tuberculosis.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 & 2 both
(d) None of the above
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Why in news?
A group of scientists led by CSIR-Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology (CCMB) director has, in a new study, established that mutations in DNA repair genes could be used for the early diagnosis of MDR/XDR-TB.
What is tuberculosis (TB)?
Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. In most cases, TB is treatable and curable; however, persons with TB can die if they do not get proper treatment.
What is multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB)?
Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR TB) is caused by an organism that is resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, the two most potent TB drugs. These drugs are used to treat all persons with TB disease.
What is extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB)?
Extensively drug resistant TB (XDR TB) is a rare type of MDR TB that is resistant to isoniazid and rifampin, plus any fluoroquinolone and at least one of three injectable second-line drugs (i.e., amikacin, kanamycin, or capreomycin).
Because XDR TB is resistant to the most potent TB drugs, patients are left with treatment options that are much less effective.
XDR TB is of special concern for persons with HIV infection or other conditions that can weaken the immune system. These persons are more likely to develop TB disease once they are infected, and also have a higher risk of death once they develop TB.
What is India’s TB elimination target?
Although elimination of Tuberculosis is one of the sustainable development targets to be achieved by 2030 by the world, India has set the target of 2025. The national strategic plan 2017-2025 sets the target of India reporting no more than 44 new TB cases or 65 total cases per lakh population by 2025. The estimated TB incidence for the year 2021 stood at 210 per lakh population.
Q2 . With reference to Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) consider the following statements:
1 . It is the world’s largest regional organization in terms of geographic scope and population.
2 . Heads of State Council is the top decision-making body of SCO.
3 . Afghanistan is one of its member states.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 & 2 only
(b) 2 & 3 only
(c) 1 & 3 only
(d) 1 , 2 & 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Why in news?
Recently meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) took place in Goa.
Ten important facts about SCO
1 . It is the world’s largest regional organization in terms of geographic scope and population, covering approximately 60% of the area of Eurasia, 40% of the world population.
2 . Its combined GDP is around 20% of global GDP.
3 . The SCO is the successor to the Shanghai Five, formed in 1996 between the People’s Republic of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.
4 . There are eight members of SCO : China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan,Uzbekistan,India and Pakistan.
5 . There are four countries having observer status at SCO: Afghanistan, Belarus , Mongolia and Iran
6 . Its headquarter is at Beijing, China.
7 . The SCO is governed by the Heads of State Council (HSC), its supreme decision-making body, which meets once a year.
8 . The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Executive Committee, headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism.
9 . The official languages of the SCO are Chinese and Russian.
10 . In 2007, the SCO signed an agreement with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe, to broaden cooperation on issues such as security, crime, and drug trafficking.
Q3 . Consider the following statements :
1 . India is the world’s largest producer of cotton.
2 . United States is the world’s largest cotton exporter.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 & 2 both
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Why in news?
Experts predicted that this year, there may be an increase in the acreage for cotton plantations in the Northern States due to the recent untimely rain.
The top two cotton producers, India and China, contribute approximately 45-50 percent of the world’s production, while the top four producers comprise 70-75 percent of global cotton production. Currently, India is the world’s leading producer of cotton, surpassing China recently.
The United States is the third-largest producer of cotton globally.
United States is the world’s leading cotton exporter, providing approximately 35 percent of global cotton exports in recent years.
As with production, China and India are the top two users of raw cotton. However, China is by far the world’s leader in processing raw cotton fiber into textiles and apparel.
India’s cotton consumption is second globally, accounting for about 20 percent of the total.
Q4 . With reference to PM’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) consider the following statements:
1 . It does not form a part of the Government of India’s accounts.
2 . Minister of Defence; Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance are the ex-officio trustees.
3 . Donations to PM CARES Fund qualify for 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 & 2 only
(b) 2 & 3 only
(c) 1 & 3 only
(d) 1 , 2 & 3
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Why in news?
The PM’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) received Rs 535.44 crore as foreign donations during the last three years.
Ten important facts about PM CARES Fund
1 . It was created in 2020.
2 . It is a private fund used at the discretion of the PM and the Fund’s trustees.
3 . PM CARES Fund has been registered as a Public Charitable Trust.
4 . It does not form a part of the Government of India’s accounts.
5 . Donations to PM CARES Fund would qualify for 100% exemption under the Income Tax Act, 1961.
6 . Donations to PM CARES Fund to be counted as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expenditure under the Companies Act, 2013.
7 . Donations to PM CARES Fund has also got exemption under the FCRA
8 . A separate account for receiving foreign donations has been opened.
9 . The PM of India is the ex-officio chairman of the fund and the ex-officio trustees include the Minister of Defence; the Minister of Home Affairs and the Minister of Finance.
10 . The fund consists entirely of voluntary contributions from individuals/organizations and does not get any budgetary support.
Q5 .Consider the following statements:
1 . The Constitution of India a special provision with respect to the State of Manipur under Article 371C.
2 . Manipuri or Meitei is one of the officially recognized languages of India.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 & 2 both
(d) None of the above
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Why in news?
Around 60 innocent people have lost their lives, 231 people suffered injuries and around 1700 houses burnt down in the unfortunate incident of violence in Manipur.
Article 371C
Under Article 371C of the Constitution of India a special provision with respect to the State of Manipur was made providing for:
constitution and functions of a committee of the Legislative Assembly of the State consisting of members of that Assembly elected from the Hill Areas of that State,
for the modifications to be made in the rules of business of the Government and modifications in the rules of procedure of the Legislative Assembly of the State and for any special responsibility of the Governor in order to secure the proper functioning of such a committee.
Article 371C was not a part of the Constitution of India 1950. It was inserted by the Constitution (Twenty-seventh Amendment) Act, 1971.
Manipuri or Meitei language was added to the list of languages in the Indian Constitution in 1992 by the 71st amendment of the constitution.
