Daily Quiz

Solution (c)
Explanation:
• Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is located in Rajasthan and is famous for its rich biodiversity and prominent tiger population.
• Kanha Tiger Reserve, located in Madhya Pradesh, is known for its successful conservation efforts of the Barasingha (swamp deer). The Bargi Dam is on the Narmada River and is near Kanha, providing irrigation and hydroelectric power.
• The Daudhan Dam is part of the Ken-Betwa River Linking Project, which involves transferring water from the Ken River to the Betwa River. The dam is proposed to be built inside the Panna Tiger Reserve, located in Madhya Pradesh. Significance:
o It aims to address water scarcity in Bundelkhand but has drawn criticism due to its potential impact on the biodiversity of Panna Tiger Reserve.
o An estimated 9,000 hectares of land, including parts of the tiger reserve, will be submerged, threatening its ecosystem. (Option (c) is correct)
• Bandipur Tiger Reserve is situated in Karnataka and is not associated with the Daudhan Dam project. The Kabini Dam is located near Bandipur and supports irrigation and drinking water needs for surrounding regions.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/pushed-through-on-the-ken-betwa-river-interlinking-project/article69029968.ece

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• China pursues its influence in Central Asia through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which focuses on infrastructure development, trade connectivity, and energy cooperation. The Silk Road Economic Belt, part of the BRI, aims to enhance connectivity with Central Asia, leveraging China’s geographic and economic power. (Option (a) is incorrect)
• The ‘Connect Central Asia’ Policy is an initiative by India announced in 2012 during the first India-Central Asia Dialogue in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Key Features:
  • Strengthen political, economic, and cultural ties with Central Asian nations.
  • Focus on areas such as energy security, trade, connectivity, IT, healthcare, and education.
  • Use platforms like the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar Port to improve trade links with the region.
  • Example: India’s engagement in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project reflects its energy security interests in Central Asia. (Option (b) is correct)
• Russia has its own geopolitical interests in Central Asia, it pursues these under the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) framework. The EAEU, led by Russia, aims to create a common market among Central Asian countries to ensure economic integration and counter Western influence. (Option (c) is incorrect)
• Iran plays a role in Central Asian geopolitics due to its proximity and shared cultural ties. Iran promotes its Central Asian ties through Chabahar Port development, positioning itself as a gateway for landlocked Central Asian countries to access global markets via the Indian Ocean. (Option (d) is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/tapping-into-kazakhstans-rare-earths-potential/article69029785.ece#:~:text=India%2DKazakhstan%20collaboration%20can%20enhance,through%20partners%20in%20closer%20proximity.

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• In 2018, the Supreme Court of India, in the landmark case Common Cause vs. Union of India, upheld the constitutional validity of passive euthanasia and recognized the right to die with dignity as a part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21. Key Points:

1. The judgment allowed individuals to execute a living will (advance medical directive) specifying their decision to refuse medical treatment in the event they become terminally ill or are in a vegetative state.
2. The judgment emphasized the concept of dignity and autonomy, making it a part of the broader interpretation of Article 21. (Option (a) is correct)

• In the Gian Kaur vs. State of Punjab (1996) judgment, the Supreme Court held that the right to life under Article 21 does not include the right to die. However, the Court acknowledged the concept of dignity in death, laying the groundwork for later rulings.
• The Aruna Shanbaug case (2011) was pivotal in opening discussions on euthanasia in India. The Supreme Court permitted passive euthanasia under strict guidelines for the first time in India.
• The Court distinguished between active euthanasia (not permissible) and passive euthanasia (permissible under regulated circumstances). This judgment became the foundation for the Common Cause vs. Union of India case but did not directly recognize the ‘right to die with dignity’ as integral to Article 21.
• The K. S. Puttaswamy case (2017) primarily dealt with the right to privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21.

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/should-assisted-dying-be-legalised-in-uk-explained/article69029754.ece#:~:text=The%20story%20so%20far%3A&text=The%20step%20signals%20a%20seismic,dependence%20on%20the%20immediate%20family.

Solution (b)

Explanation:

• The Matsya Seva Kendras (MSK) are envisioned as a one-stop solution under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to provide extension services by trained aquaculture professionals, not silviculture professionals (related to forestry). (Statement 1 is incorrect)
• Under the PMMSY, financial assistance of up to 60% is provided to women and weaker sections to establish Matsya Seva Kendras. This initiative promotes inclusivity in the fisheries sector. (Statement 2 is correct)
• The Government encourages a ‘whole of government approach’, advising MSKs to involve start-ups, cooperatives, fish farmers’ producer organisations (FFPOs), joint liability groups (JLGs), and self-help groups (SHGs). This approach ensures knowledge sharing, technology infusion, and sustainable management of fisheries, including addressing climate change impacts. (Statement 3 is correct)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-is-strengthening-fisheries-extension-services-crucial-explained/article69029156.ece#:~:text=Experts%20contend%20that%20such%20extension,based%20training%20to%20promote%20sustainable

Solution (a)

Explanation:

• The polio Sabin vaccine, also known as the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), is a live-attenuated vaccine. It contains weakened poliovirus strains that replicate in the intestine, stimulating immunity without causing disease. This characteristic makes it effective in generating long-lasting immunity. (Statement 1 is correct)
• The World Health Organization (WHO) adopted the Sabin vaccine globally because of its easy administration (oral drops) and cost-effectiveness, which were critical for large-scale immunization campaigns during the global fight to eradicate polio. (Statement 2 is correct)
• While effective, the oral polio vaccine (OPV) has a drawback: in rare cases, the live-attenuated virus in the vaccine can mutate into vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs). These mutated viruses can cause outbreaks in under-immunized populations, making this a significant limitation of the OPV. (Statement 3 is incorrect)

Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/a-global-polio-resurgence-and-the-need-to-reevaluate-the-basics/article69026816.ece#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organization%20(WHO,Kingdom)%20since%20September%20this%20year.