Prelims Daily Quest - 11 September 2024

1.Which of the following statements about montelukast is/are correct?

1. Montelukast is approved by the FDA as a first-line treatment for asthma.

2. The drug has been associated with neuropsychiatric adverse effects such as depression and aggression.

3. Montelukast is widely used in India in combination with antihistamines despite the drug’s approval as a long-term controller medication.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

A) 1 and 2 only

B) 2 and 3 only

C) 1 and 3 only

D) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: B) 2 and 3 only

Explanation:

1. Montelukast is not considered a first-line treatment for asthma; inhaled corticosteroids are preferred.

2. The drug has indeed been linked to neuropsychiatric adverse effects, including depression and aggression.

3. Montelukast is often used in India in combination with antihistamines, which is against its intended use as a long-term controller medication.

2. Consider the following statements about the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project:

1. The project aims to divert water from the Nethravathi River to seven arid districts in southern Karnataka.

2. It was initially recommended in a report by Dr. G.S. Paramashivaiah for providing permanent irrigation facilities.

3. The project has faced opposition due to environmental concerns and disputes over the actual water yield.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 3 only

d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation:

1. Statement 1: The Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project aims to divert water from the Nethravathi River to seven arid districts in southern Karnataka. This statement is correct as the project is designed to provide drinking water to regions suffering from water scarcity.

2. Statement 2: The project was indeed initially recommended by Dr. G.S. Paramashivaiah in his report on providing irrigation facilities by diverting excess water from west-flowing rivers. This statement is accurate as the project is based on his recommendations.

3. Statement 3: The project has faced significant opposition due to environmental concerns about its impact on the Western Ghats and local communities, as well as disputes regarding the actual water yield. This statement is correct as there have been concerns about environmental damage and discrepancies in projected water availability.

Thus, all three statements are correct.

3. Which part of the hair is living and sensitive to pain?

A. Hair shaft

B. Hair root

C. Hair follicle

D. Hair papilla

Answer: B. Hair root

Explanation: The hair root is the living part of the hair, where cells are actively dividing and receiving nourishment. Cutting the hair does not cause pain because the hair shaft, which is cut, is made of dead cells and lacks nerves. However, pulling out hair affects the hair root and the hair papilla, which contains sensory nerves, causing pain.

4. Consider the following statements:

1. Madhya Pradesh has recently approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for soybean.

2. Madhya Pradesh is the largest soybean-producing state in India, contributing over 50% of the nation’s production.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

A) 1 only

B) 2 only

C) Both 1 and 2

D) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

1. Madhya Pradesh has recently approved an increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for soybean: The Madhya Pradesh government has indeed approved a proposal to increase the MSP for soybean to ₹4,800 per quintal from the current price of approximately ₹4,000. This decision was made to provide better compensation to farmers and comes amidst demands for a significant MSP hike from various farmer outfits and political leaders.

2. Madhya Pradesh is the largest soybean-producing state in India, contributing over 50% of the nation’s production: Madhya Pradesh is known as the ‘Soya bean State’ and is the largest producer of soybean in India. The state accounts for more than 50% of the country’s total soybean production, confirming its leading role in the sector.

Thus, both statements accurately reflect the current situation regarding soybean production and MSP adjustments in Madhya Pradesh.

5. Which of the following tribes or communities from Odisha have had members recently secure admission to medical colleges, highlighting significant achievements in overcoming educational barriers?

1. Kandh tribe

2. Bonda tribe

3. Lanjia Soura community

Select the correct answer using the code below:

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 1 and 3

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1, 2, and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation:

Recent success stories from Odisha showcase significant achievements by members of various tribal communities in securing admissions to medical colleges despite facing numerous challenges:

1. Kandh Tribe: Kalakar Pradhan, a member of the Kandh tribe, successfully secured admission to SCB Medical College in Cuttack after overcoming personal and educational obstacles.

2. Bonda Tribe: Mangala Muduli became the first person from the Bonda tribe to gain admission to a medical college, marking a historic milestone for this particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG).

3. Lanjia Soura Community: Nabesh Sabar from the Lanjia Soura community broke new ground by becoming the first from his tribe to enter medical education, studying at VSS Medical College in Burla.

These examples highlight the significant progress and achievements of these tribes and communities in overcoming educational barriers and gaining access to higher education in medicine.

6. Consider the following statements regarding the Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT):

1. The CSTT operates under the Union Ministry of Education.

2. The website launched by CSTT provides technical terms in all 22 official Indian languages.

3. The platform offers over 450 dictionaries and three million words for users.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 only

b) 2 and 3 only

c) 1 and 2 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is correct: The Commission for Scientific and Technical Terminology (CSTT) operates under the Union Ministry of Education.

• Statement 2 is correct: The newly launched website shabd.education.gov.in provides technical terms in all 22 official Indian languages.

• Statement 3 is correct: The platform offers over 450 dictionaries, amounting to around three million words, allowing users to search technical terminology in Indian languages.

7. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding the Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyut Yojana (2005) based on the recent study published in the Journal of Political Economy?

1. Larger villages with populations over 2,000 people benefited significantly from electrification, with an increase in per-capita monthly expenditure by ₹1,428.

2. Smaller villages with fewer than 300 people experienced substantial economic returns from electrification.

3. The study suggests that alternative solutions like solar home systems or minigrids may be more cost-effective for remote, smaller communities.

4. Electrification in larger villages was found to be less cost-effective compared to smaller villages.

Select the correct answer using the code below:

a) 1 and 3

b) 2 and 4

c) 1 and 2

d) 3 and 4

Answer: a) 1 and 3

Explanation:

1. Larger villages with populations over 2,000 people benefited significantly from electrification, with an increase in per-capita monthly expenditure by ₹1,428: This statement is correct. The study found that electrification in larger villages led to a significant increase in per-capita monthly expenditure.

2. Smaller villages with fewer than 300 people experienced substantial economic returns from electrification:This statement is incorrect. The study showed that smaller villages saw minimal economic gains from electrification.

3. The study suggests that alternative solutions like solar home systems or minigrids may be more cost-effective for remote, smaller communities: This statement is correct. The study recommended considering alternative, cost-effective solutions for smaller, remote communities due to limited economic returns from traditional electrification.

4. Electrification in larger villages was found to be less cost-effective compared to smaller villages: This statement is incorrect. The study concluded that electrification in larger villages was more cost-effective and yielded higher returns.

Thus, the correct statements are 1 and 3.

8. Which of the following statements are correct?

1. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu's visit includes participation in the U.S.-India “2+2” dialogue and economic discussions with Bangladesh’s interim government.

2. Southeast Asian countries are set to decrease coal imports despite global shifts towards renewable energy.

3. Brazil has reported nearly 160,000 fires this year, including in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.

4. SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission involves a four-member civilian crew led by Jared Isaacman, aiming to conduct the first spacewalk by non-professionals at an altitude of 1,400 km.

5. The German Luftwaffe's participation in the Tarang Shakti air exercise represents a significant increase in Germany's defense presence in India.

a) 1, 3, and 4

b) 1, 3, and 5

c) 2, 4, and 5

d) 1, 2, and 4

Answer: a) 1, 3, and 4

Explanation:

1. Correct: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu's visit includes participation in the U.S.-India “2+2” dialogue and economic discussions with Bangladesh’s interim government.

2. Incorrect: Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, are set to increase coal imports, not decrease, despite the global shift towards renewable energy.

3. Correct: Brazil has reported nearly 160,000 fires this year, including significant fires in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park.

4. Correct: SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission features a four-member civilian crew led by Jared Isaacman, aiming to conduct the first spacewalk by non-professionals and reach an altitude of 1,400 km.

5. Incorrect: While Germany participated in the Tarang Shakti air exercise, its defense presence in India is currently minimal compared to the U.S., France, and Russia, and is not significantly increased by this exercise alone.