UPSC Current Affairs Quiz: April 29, 2025
April 29, 2025 April 29, 2025
1. Consider the following objectives of the Kerala’s digital PLA initiative:
- Reducing physical dependency on legal centres
- Promoting inclusivity in the judicial process
- Enhancing criminal justice efficiency
- Lowering cost of legal access for rural citizens
Which of the above objectives are intended to be achieved with this initiative?
[A] 1, 2 and 4 only
[B] 1, 3 and 4 only
[C] 2, 3 and 4 only
[D] 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1, 2 and 4 only]
Notes:
The digital PLA initiative focuses primarily on civil and public utility disputes, not on enhancing criminal justice efficiency. Therefore, it aims to reduce physical barriers, promote inclusivity, and reduce costs for rural citizens, making the statements 1, 2, and 4 correct.
2. Consider the following statements regarding the role of e-Sewa Kendras in the digital justice system:
- They provide physical support and internet access for digital legal services.
- They are only available at the High Court and Supreme Court level.
- They facilitate online access to Lok Adalat and court services for citizens unfamiliar with digital tools.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 1 and 3 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 and 3 only]
Notes:- Statement 1 is correct – e-Sewa Kendras provide both physical support and internet access for digital legal services and help bridge the digital divide.
- Statement 2 is incorrect – e-Sewa Kendras are not only available at the High Court and Supreme Court level but they are also available at district and taluk levels.
- Statement 3 is correct – e-Sewa Kendras facilitate online access to Lok Adalat and court services for citizens unfamiliar with digital tools.
3. Given the following statements about the discovery of the “plucking mechanism” of the immune system by IIT Bombay researchers:
- It reveals a mechanical method by which human cells destroy bacteria.
- It offers potential alternatives to antibiotics in combating bacterial infections.
- It involves the study of immune system responses to viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] 1 and 2 only
[C] 2 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]
Notes:
The first statement is correct as the discovery has revealed a mechanical method used by human cells to destroy bacteria. The second statement is also accurate because it offers potential alternatives to the use of antibiotics against bacterial infections. The third statement is incorrect because the discovery’s focus was on bacterial infections, not viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2.
4. Consider the following roles of Ubiquitin in the newly discovered immune mechanism:
- It produces antimicrobial peptides to destroy bacteria.
- It signals immune cells to undergo apoptosis.
- It tags bacterial invaders as hazardous for targeted immune attack.
- It inhibits DNA replication in bacterial cells.
Which of the above statements best describes the role of Ubiquitin?
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2, 3 & 4
[C] Only 2 & 3
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 2 & 3]
Notes:It produces antimicrobial peptides to destroy bacteria. Incorrect. Ubiquitin does not directly produce antimicrobial peptides. Instead, its primary role is to tag proteins for degradation or modification within cells, which could be part of a broader immune response. The production of antimicrobial peptides is generally a separate immune function carried out by other molecules.
It signals immune cells to undergo apoptosis. Correct. Ubiquitin plays a role in signaling processes that can lead to apoptosis (programmed cell death). It can tag proteins involved in the apoptosis pathways, thereby influencing the survival of immune cells and maintaining the proper immune response.
It tags bacterial invaders as hazardous for targeted immune attack. Correct. Ubiquitin plays a crucial role in marking unwanted or harmful proteins, including those from bacterial invaders, for degradation by the proteasome. This tagging can help the immune system identify and attack bacterial invaders more efficiently. This process is part of the immune response to bacterial infections.
It inhibits DNA replication in bacterial cells. Incorrect. Ubiquitin is not directly involved in inhibiting DNA replication in bacterial cells. Its primary role is in cellular protein regulation and immune system signaling, not in interfering directly with bacterial DNA replication.
5. With reference to a recent discovery at IIT Bombay regarding the human immune system, consider the following statements:
- Researchers identified a host protein that functions like a mechanical tweezer to kill bacteria.
- The host protein operates by tagging harmful bacteria with a protein known as Ubiquitin.
- The newly discovered mechanism enhances the production of antibiotics within human cells.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 2 and 3 only
[C] 1 and 3 only
[D] 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1 and 2 only]
Notes:
The researchers at IIT Bombay discovered a host protein that acts like a mechanical tweezer, dismantling bacteria – statement 1 is true.
The host protein does so by tagging harmful bacteria with a protein called Ubiquitin – statement 2 is also true.
However, the study does not mention that this mechanism enhances the antibiotic production within human cells, so statement 3 is incorrect.
Thus, the correct answer is ‘1 and 2 only’.
The above questions are part of Daily UPSC 20 Current Affairs MCQs Series in GKToday Android Application. This series can be subscribed in the app only for user friendly test with detailed answers and explanations.
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