Question:

Consider the following statements vis-à-vis the Damini App:

1. The app is intended to keep a check on the Trafficking of Women.
2. The app has been launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Home Ministry.

Choose the correct answer from the code given below:

A. Only 1
B. Only 2
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: D

Explanation:
• IITM Pune has developed a mobile application called “DAMINI” to give alerts on impending lightning activity over the area. This app is quite useful, as during the previous pre-monsoon season, lightning and thunderstorms took lives of nearly 200 people.
• This app has nothing to do with trafficking and is developed under the supervision of Ministry of Earth Sciences and not Ministry of Women and Child Development.

Source: PIB

Question:

Consider the following statements vis-à-vis ‘Gaganyaan Mission’:

1. India will become the second country after US to send an astronaut in space.
2. This mission will be launched by PSLV-XL.
3. Human space flight centre has been set up in Odisha to aid the Gaganyaan Mission.

Choose the correct answer from the code given below:

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 3 only
C. 1, 2 and 3
D. None of these

Answer: D

Explanation:
The Gaganyaan Mission:
• The mission was announced by the Prime Minister during his 72nd Independence Day speech. It will be India’s first manned space mission in which three Gaganyatris will be sent to space.
• The mission is scheduled to happen before December 2021. If this mission becomes successful, India will become the 4th country after US, Russia and China to send astronauts to space.
• Three Gaganyatris will be sent in Low Earth ORBIT (Approx. 400km). This mission will be launched by GSLVMK-III and not PSLV.
• Recently, ISRO has set up a Human Space Flight Centre at Bengaluru to aid the Gaganyaan mission.

Source: The Hindu

Question:

Consider the following statements with reference to Silica:

1. Silica is an odourless and a non- irritant compound.
2. Exposure to large amounts of silica dust can cause Silicosis, bronchitis and Emphysema.

Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both 1 and 2
D. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: C

Explanation:
• Silica and silicates constitute the bulk of most kinds or rocks, clays and sands. Silica is an odourless and non-irritant compound and does not cause any immediate noticeable effect and hence is confused with ordinary dust.
Inhaling Silica dust for a prolonged period can lead to silicosis, bronchitis or lung cancer.

Question:

Sometimes “Bot” is seen in news. This is related to:

A. Drone that can be used for rescue purpose.

B. Software application that runs automated tasks.

C. Robot that is used in Computer aided Manufacturing.

D. A form of Cobots.

Answer: B

Explanation: An internet bot or simply a bot, is a software application that runs automated tasks (scripts) over the Internet. Typically, bots perform tasks that are both simple and structurally repetitive, at a much higher rate than would be possible for a human alone.

Source: Indian Express

Question:

Consider the following statements about “Virus” ?

1. Virus can naturally reproduce outside a host cell.

2. Virus is a living organism.

3. A single Virus contains both RNA and DNA.

4. Microcephaly is caused by Zika Virus.

Choose the correct answer from the code given below:

A. 1, 3, 4 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1, 2, 3 and 4
D. 4 only

Answer: D

Explanation:
• A virus is a biological agent that reproduces only inside the cells of living hosts. When infected by a virus, a host cell is forced to produce thousands of identical copies of the original virus at an extraordinary rate.
• Viruses are not living organisms and their genes have either RNA or DNA. So, statements 2 and 3 are incorrect.
• Microcephaly in children is caused because of Zika Virus. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
Source: Improvisation of Articles from IE

Question:

“M13 Bacteriophage” sometimes seen in the news is

A. Drugs that deal with anti-microbial resistance

B. Virus

C. Bacteria

D. Protozoa

Answer: B

Explanation: Recently, scientists have developed a Virus M13 Bacteriophage that is used to speed up the computers.
How this VIRUS Works?
There is a time delay between transfer and storage of information between a traditional RAM chip and a hard drive. This M13 Bacteriophage reduces that milliseconds time delay as low temperature construction memory can be achieved by this.
Source: Science Direct, TH