Daily Quiz 27 June 2024

Answer: D

Explanation:

• Both the statements are Incorrect:
  • Nalanda is recognized as the most ancient university on the Indian Subcontinent.
  • Founded by Kumaragupta of the Gupta dynasty in Bihar in the early 5th century.
  • It thrived for 600 years, from the 5th to the 12th century.
  • Gained prominence during the reigns of Harshavardhan and the Pala monarchs.
  • Served as a centre of learning, culture, and intellectual exchange with a profound impact on Indian civilization and beyond.
  • Primarily a monastic institution where monks and nuns lived and studied.
  • Nalanda was not an average Buddhist vihara; it was a major centre of learning and spiritual training.
  • Attracted students from regions like China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia.
  • Students followed a strict code of conduct, including daily meditation and study sessions.
  • Subjects taught included medicine, Ayurveda, religion, Buddhism, mathematics, grammar, astronomy, and Indian philosophy.
  • Destroyed in the 12th century AD, in 1193, by Turkish ruler Qutbuddin Aibak’s general Bakhtiyar Khilji.
  • Rediscovered in 1812 by Scottish surveyor Francis Buchanan-Hamilton.
  • Identified as the ancient university by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1861.
  • The chronicles of the 7th-century Chinese traveller Huan Tsang provide the most detailed description of ancient Nalanda.
  • Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Correct: The World Migration Report (WMR) is a flagship publication by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
  • The World Migration Report is produced by the Migration Research and Publications Division (MRPD), in collaboration with some of the leading academic and applied researchers and other migration experts from across the world.
• Statement 2 is Correct: The WMR responds to a clear and growing need for rigorous, balanced and evidence-based research and analysis on migration at a time of heightened interest in the topic.
  • It has been produced binneally since the year 2000.
• Statement 3 is Correct: The World Migration Report 2024 is the twelfth in the flagship series.
  • According to the 2024 report, India is the origin of the largest number of international migrants in the world (nearly 18 million), with large diasporas in countries like the UAE, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
  • According to the report, India has a slightly higher share of female immigrants than males. Countries with a significantly high proportion of male emigrants include India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
  • Additionally India was the top country receiving remittances in 2022 followed by Mexico.

Answer: C

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH) is a Network of Networks managed by the World Health Organization (WHO), launched in October 2023.
  • This network of organizations, institutions, development partners, and governmental agencies, is dedicated to supporting digital health transformation in countries worldwide
• Statement 2 and 3 are Correct: The GIDH is aplatform for sharing knowledge and digital products among countries, aimed at enhancing the digital transformation of health systems globally.
  • It acts as a vehicle to facilitate the implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025.
  • The Initiative aims to achieve the following objectives through collaborative efforts:
    • Assess and prioritize country needs for sustainable digital health transformation.
    • Increase the alignment of country-level digital health resources and unfunded priorities.
    • Support the accelerated achievement of the strategic objectives of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025.
    • Build capacity and converge efforts to encourage local development, maintenance, and adaptation of digital health technologies to continuously changing needs.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Correct: As per Article 169 of the Constitution, states can have a Legislative Council in addition to the Legislative Assembly.
  • Six states currently have a Legislative Council: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka.
    • In 2019, the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Council was abolished through the J&K Reorganisation Bill, 2019, which converted the state into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
  • Parliament can abolish or create a Legislative Council by a simple majority if the legislative assembly of the concerned state passes a resolution by a special majority.
    • However, a resolution passed by the legislative assembly of the state for creation or abolition of its council is not binding on the Parliament.
  • Special majority means:
    • A majority of the total membership of the assembly.
    • A majority of not less than 2/3rd of the members present and voting in the assembly.
  • Statement 2 is Incorrect: According to Article 171, a state’s Legislative Council must have no more than one-third of the total strength of the State Assembly, and no fewer than 40 members.
    • The Legislative Council is a continuing chamber, meaning it is a permanent body not subject to dissolution.
    • The tenure of a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) is six years, with one-third of the members retiring every two years.
    • Election:
      • 1/3rd of the MLCs are elected by the state’s MLAs.
      • Another 1/3rd are elected by a special electorate consisting of members of local governments such as municipalities and district boards.
      • 1/12th are elected by an electorate of teachers, and another 1/12th by registered graduates.
      • The remaining members(1/6th Members) are appointed by the Governor for distinguished services in various fields, including literature, science, art, cooperative movement, and social service.
    • Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Chairperson of the legislative council is chosen from within the members of the Council itself.
      • Legislative Councils have limited legislative powers compared to Rajya Sabha, which has significant influence over non-financial legislation.
      • Assemblies can override suggestions or amendments made by the Council.
      • MLCs cannot vote in elections for the President and Vice President.

Answer: D

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are Incorrect:

• Bird flu or avian influenza primarily infects poultry and wild birds, with strains like H5N1 becoming highly pathogenic when they jump from wild birds to farmed birds.
• The H5N1 strain originated from a virus on a goose farm in Guangdong, China, in 1996, killing over 40% of the infected farm birds.
• The new H5N1 variant emerged in Europe in 2020, spreading to Africa, Asia, and then to North America by late 2021 and South America by fall 2022.
• Millions of chickens and turkeys have been culled on poultry farms to prevent the spread, and thousands of wild birds like gulls and terns have died.
• The virus has jumped to 26 mammalian species, including cattle, and has now been proven to infect humans.
  • Between 2003 and 2024, it registered 889 human cases in 23 countries, resulting in 463 deaths or 52% of cases fatalities.
  • However there is a low risk of transmission to humans (mostly through close contact with infected birds).
  • Scientists note that the virus currently lacks changes for efficient human-to-human transmission, keeping the risk to human health low, though it may evolve.
• Antarctica has reported its first bird flu case (Feb. 2024).
• Exposure to avian influenza viruses can lead to infection and disease in humans, ranging from mild, flu-like symptoms or eye inflammation to severe, acute respiratory disease and/or death.