Current Affairs MCQ for UPSC Exams - 14 September 2020

Q1. As India rises rapidly in the global innovation index, government efforts are rapidly promoting a culture of innovation among young people who are daring to experiment with their ideas. Which of the following statements regarding the initiatives taken by the government stands true ?

1) The Million Minds Augmenting National Aspirations and Knowledge (MANAK) programme was launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in partnership with the National Innovation Foundation (NIF) in 2017.
2) Aiming to harness the power of bright minds spread across 6 lakhs school in the country, DST invites students from government and private schools to send original and innovative ideas having potential to solve common problems.
3) These ideas go through a tough screening and mentoring process at the school level, district, and state level to be selected for the National level competitions.

Options :

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q2. Which of the following pairs of Indian Indigenous breed names& the corresponding animals are correctly matched ?

1) Bhadawari : Goat
2) Gir : cow
3) Duroc : Pig
4) Landrace : horse
5) Brahma : buffalo

Options :

a)1,2 & 3 only
b) 2 & 4 only
c) 3,4 & 5 only
d) 2 & 3 only 

Q3. The Union home ministry is examining amendments to Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, that will allow law enforcement agencies to collect DNA, iris scans, voice samples and biometrics of an arrested or convicted prisoner. Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) The law currently permits obtaining photographs and measurements of any person convicted or arrested for an offence in which the quantum of punishment is seven years or more.
2) In 2018, the home ministry launched the National Database of Sexual Offenders (NDSO) that includes names, aliases, PAN and Aadhaar number, information on date of birth, criminal history, fingerprints and palm prints, and various other details of sex offenders.
3) Whenever details of a convict are entered into a prison database anywhere in the country, the name will be uploaded to the registry. Appeals against a conviction will have to be updated by state prisons.

Options :

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q4. Scientists have recently found that the Coronavirus genomes in India have 5.39% mutation similarity with 72 nations. Which of the following statements regarding the same stands true ?

1) Mutations in an organism's genetic material are natural 'errors' in the cell replication process that may give the virus new 'powers' of survival, infectivity, and virulence. 
2) It can affect the ability of vaccines and drugs to bind the virus, or to create a specific immune response against it.
3) As per Darwin’s theory of natural selection,if a mutation gives thevirus an advantage in a particular environment, this virus will grow better than its neighbours and can increase in numbers – it is selected for. Only viruses and not bacterias undergo mutations as per this theory.

Options :

a) 1 & 2 only
b) 2 & 3only
c) 1 & 3 only
d) all the above

Q5. Recently, Global Economic Freedom Index 2020 report India witnessed a sharp fall of 26 spots and landed to the 105th position. Which of the following countries topped the list ?

a) China
b) Switzerland
c) Germany
d) Japan
 

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