Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 01 August 2020

Q1 National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director presenting the global comparison on daily cases, deaths and growth rate in the top 10 countries with the highest case load, said the overall recovery rate for India was 64.54%. Which of the following statements with respect to the NCDC stands true ?

1) The NCDC previously known as National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) was established in July 1963 for research in epidemiology and control of communicable diseases.
2) The institute was, in addition, expected to provide expertise to the States and Union Territories (UTs) on rapid health assessment and laboratory based diagnostic services.
3) It is also a national level institute for training specialized manpower for public health, laboratory sciences and entomological services and is involved in various applied research activities.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q2 Pollutants often originate far inland and are transported to the ocean via rivers or through the air.Which of the following includes the common man-made pollutants that reach the oceans ?

1) Pesticides
2) Fertilizers
3) Detergents
4) Industrial chemicals
5) Sewage
Options :
a) 1,2 & 3 only
b) 2,3 & 5 only
c) all the above
d) 1,3 & 4 only

Q3 Recently, Scientists at the UK's University of Sheffield's Neuroscience Institute examines how the routine use of AI ( Artifical Intelligence )in healthcare could help to relieve the time and economic impact that common neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Which of the following statements with respect to AI technology application in medical fields stands true ?

1) Machine learning algorithms can be trained to recognise changes caused by diseases in medical images, patient movement information, speech recordings or footage showing patient behaviour, making the AI a valuable diagnostic aid.
2) It can be used by trained professionals in radiology departments to analyse images more quickly and highlight critical results for an immediate follow-up.
3) However most neurodegenerative diseases in Indiaeven though they have molecular complexity can be cured using radiology techniques like X-ray spectrometers.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q4 Union Housing Ministry has released Affordable Rental Housing Complexes (ARHC) Knowledge Pack on Friday. This includes MoUs to be signed with States and Union Territories to provide ease of living to urban migrants in the country. Which of the following statements regarding the scheme stands true ?

1) The Union Cabinet had approved ARHC as a sub scheme under PradhanMantriAwasYojana (Urban) earlier this month to provide housing facility to migrant workers and urban poor.
2) Government has said that continued cooperation towards successful implementation of ARHC Scheme will not only benefit urban migrants and poor but will also accelerate entrepreneurship and investment in rental housing market giving boost to the economy.
3) Agencies will be chosen by the panchayats/urban local bodies for the development of the premises. Under this, there will be an agreement of 25 years, after which it will be handed over to the local body or a decision will be taken regarding its use in future.
Options :
a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3 only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above