Daily Current Affairs (MCQ) | Date 23.06.22

Q1. ‘Heal by India’ initiative includes   

a. Export of vaccines   

b. Export of Ayurveda specific medicines and nutraceuticals    

c. Export of trained Indian healthcare workers   

d. Healthcare package to least developed countries   

Answer (c)   

Explanation   

Q2. Consider the following statements   

1. All states in India have more than one doctor per thousand population    2. North Indian states have more deficiency of doctors compared to South India   

Which of the above statements is/are correct?   

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2  

d. Neither 1 nor 2   

Answer (b)

Explanation:

Statistics of health care in India:            

2019: the position in the States

Q3. Consider the following statements   

1. Santhal is the third largest Scheduled Tribe community in the country after Gond and Bhil   

2. Santhals speak Santhali which has its own script called Ol  Chiki     Which of the above statements is/are correct?   

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2  

d. Neither 1 nor 2   

Answer (c)

Explanation:   

• The Santhal community is in the spotlight after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominated one of its leaders, Droupadi Murmu, for the election to the highest Constitutional post in India.   

• Santhal is the third largest Scheduled Tribe community in the country after Gond and Bhil. The Santhal population is mostly distributed in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal.   

• According to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI), Bhubaneswar, the word Santhal is derived from two words: Santha meaning calm and peaceful and ala meaning man.   

• Their literacy rate is very high compared with that of other tribes in Odisha. If one sees in terms of prosperity in the community, and its members playing key roles in national and international spheres, Santhals have few parallels.  

• Santhals speak Santhali which has its own script called Ol Chiki invented by Pandit Raghunath Murmu. Santhali in the Ol Chiki script has been included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution. Ol-Chiki is the medium of instruction in many schools across the State. Santhal is a subject for postgraduate study.   

Q4. Consider the following statements about azooxanthellate corals   

1. The azooxanthellate corals are a group of corals that do not contain zooxanthellae    

2. These derive nourishment not from the sun but from capturing different forms of planktons   

3. They are deep-sea representatives with the majority of species being reported from depths between 200 metres and 1,000 metres.    

4. They are not reported from shallow waters    Which of the above statements is/are correct?   

a. 2, 3 and 4 

b. 2 and 4 

c. 1, 2 and 3 

d. 1, 2, 3 and 4   

Answer (c)

Explanation: 

Four new corals recorded from Indian waters   

• Scientists have recorded four species of corals for the first time from Indian waters. These new species of azooxanthellate corals were found in the waters off the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.   

• The azooxanthellate corals are a group of corals that do not contain zooxanthellae and derive nourishment not from the sun but from capturing different forms of planktons.   

• They are deep-sea representatives with the majority of species being reported from depths between 200 metres and 1,000 metres. They are also reported from shallow waters, unlike zooxanthellate corals that are restricted to shallow waters.    Solitary corals   

• Azooxanthellate corals are a group of hard corals and the four new species recorded are not only solitary but have a highly compressed skeletal structure.    

• Most studies of hard corals in India have been concentrated on reef-building corals while much is not known about non-reef-building corals. These new species enhance our knowledge about non-reef-building solitary corals.   

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Indian Architecture   

1. Jataka stories are depicted on the relief of Buddhist monuments like a stupa   

2. Mythical scenes of Puranas are depicted on Brahmanical  Temples   

Which of the above is/are correct?   

a. 1 only 

b. 2 only 

c. Both 1 and 2 

d. Neither 1 nor 2     

Answer (c)

Explanation:   

Railing pillars and other parts of stupas decorated with Jataka tales and scenes from the Buddha’s life are found in great numbers and are of the most exquisite quality throughout  India.    While construction of stupas continued, Brahmanical temples and images of gods also started getting constructed in the early common era. Often temples were decorated with the images of gods. Myths mentioned in the Puranas became part of the narrative representation of the Brahmanical religion.   

Q6. Which of the following is correctly matched?    

Select the answer from codes given below   

a. 1 and 2 only 

b. 2 and 3 only 

c. 1 and 3 only 

d. 1, 2 and 3    

Answer (d)

Explanation:   

Aryabhatta   

Aryabhatta was the greatest astronomer and mathematician of the time. He was the first to measure the radius of the  Earth, explain the shape of the Earth and also the formation of solar and lunar eclipses. He wrote the famous Surya Siddhanta and Aryabhatiyam.   

Varahamihira   

Varamihira was another great astronomer who introduced Romaka Siddhanta which became the basis for the lunar calendar. He also wrote the famous Brihatsamhita, Brihatjataka and Panchasiddhanta.    Brahmagupta    Brahmagupta preceded Newton in founding the Theory of Gravitation. He wrote Brahmasputa Siddhanta and Kandakadyaka.