Daily Current Affairs (MCQ's) | 23-05-2023

Q1. Cervarix and Gardasil are mentioned in the context of

a. COVID-19 Vaccine

b. Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

c. Dengue Vaccine

d. Malaria Vaccine

Answer (b)

Explanation:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) comprises more than 100 viruses worldwide, of which at least 14 cause cancer. HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70 per cent of the global disease burden. It is the most common sexually transmitted infection.

• The higher rates of cervical cancer incidence and mortality in India are not attributable to differences in cervical infection with HPV types. Instead, they are because of the absence of the HPV vaccination programme, the relative lack of high-quality cervical cancer screening and the lack of access to cervical cancer treatment.

• Cervarix and Gardasil are the currently available HPV vaccines:

o Cervarix is a bivalent vaccine that protects you against HPV types 16 and 18.

o Gardasil is available in quadrivalent and non-valent forms that protect you against HPV strains 6, 11, 16 and 28 (and 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 in nine-valent or Gardasil 9).

• The WHO now recommends one or two-dose schedules for girls aged between 9 and 14 years, one or two-dose schedules for girls and women aged between 15 and 20 years and two doses with a six-month interval for women older than 21 years.

Q2. Consider the following statements

1. Web 3.0 allows for peer-to-peer transactions.

2. It can create decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts.

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

a. 1 only

b. 2 only

c. Both 1 and 2

d. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer (d)

Explanation:

• Web3 is built on top of existing Internet infrastructure and not in competition with previous versions of the web platform. It allows for the creation and exchange of digital assets, decentralized applications (dApps), and smart contracts in the blockchain system.

• Web3 is that it provides users with greater control over their data and digital assets. Instead of relying on centralised intermediaries, it offers options and mediums for an individual to have more privacy and, more importantly, security of the content and transactions.

• It allows for peer-to-peer transactions and interactions, which means that users can control their data and choose whom they share it with.

• Web3 has the ability to create and use decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. These dApps can be used for various purposes, such as social media, finance, gaming, and more.

• In Web 2, large corporations like Facebook and Google have significant control over user data and can monetise it in ways that users may not be comfortable with. In Web2, users must trust intermediaries to secure their data and transactions.

Q3. Which of the following minerals are present in fortified rice?

1. Folic acid

2. Zinc

3. Vitamin B-12

4. Iron

Select the correct answer using the code given below

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 3 and 4 only

c. 1, 2 and 3 only

d. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer (d)

Explanation:

• The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defines fortification as “deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefits with minimal risk to health”.

• The fortified rice kernels are blended with regular rice to produce fortified rice. Under the Ministry’s guidelines, 10 g of FRK must be blended with 1 kg of regular rice.

• The fortification of food is considered to be one of the most suitable methods to combat malnutrition. Rice is one of India’s staple foods, consumed by about two-thirds of the population. Per capita rice consumption in India is 6.8 kg per month. Therefore, fortifying rice with micronutrients is an option to supplement the diet of the poor.

• According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg of fortified rice will contain the following:

• Iron (28 mg-42.5 mg)

• Folic acid (75-125 micrograms)

• Vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram).

• Rice may also be fortified with zinc (10 mg-15 mg), vitamin A (500- 750 microgram RE), vitamin B-1 (1 mg-1.5 mg), vitamin B-2 (1.25 mg-1.75 mg), vitamin B-3 (12.5 mg-20 mg) and vitamin B-6 (1.5 mg-

2.5 mg) per kg.

Q4. Which of the following States/U.T. has got the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Basholi Paintings?

a. Sikkim

b. Himachal Pradesh

c. Maharashtra

d. Jammu and Kashmir

Answer (d)

Explanation:

• The famous Basohli Painting from the Kathua district of Jammu

division has received the Geographical Indication (GI) Tag. The Pahari School of Art developed in the mountainous regions of Basohli, Kulu, Guler, Kangra, Jammu, and Garhwal between the 17th and 19th centuries.

• The first centre of the Pahari school materialised at Basohli with its own bold and flamboyant style. The style is toned down in the Guler paintings with its finer drawings and calmer colours.

• Subsequently, the paintings from Jammu portrayed more clarity and simplicity of individualisation and ultimately transformed into rhythmic, graceful paintings from Kangra.

• Basohli, nevertheless, gave birth to the Pahari styl