Daily Quiz 7 October 2024

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Row 1 is incorrectly matched: NASA has cancelled its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission to the moon due to delays and cost overruns. It is NASA’s first mobile robotic mission to the Moon. It is designed to map the distribution and concentration of water ice deposits in the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) of the lunar south pole and to collect and analyse samples of the lunar soil and rocks to understand the geology of the south pole region.
• Row 2 is correctly matched: The Artemis program, named after Apollo’s twin sister in Greek mythology, is NASA’s plan to go back to the Moon. It will send humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972, including the first woman and the first person of color. Artemis also includes plans for a longer-term, sustained presence in space that will prepare NASA for eventually sending people even farther – to Mars.
• Row 3 is incorrectly matched: AstroSat-2 is a proposed multi-wavelength space telescope from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It will be the successor to the current AstroSat, which has been in operation for over six years. AstroSat-2 will help astronomers and astrophysicists study distant celestial bodies. AstroSat was ISRO’s first astronomy mission, launched in 2015. It was designed to operate for five years, but has continued to function. AstroSat’s unique feature was its ability to simultaneously observe multiple wavelengths of astronomical objects. X-ray Universe mission was launched on January 1, 2024 and is India’s first X-ray astronomy satellite.

Additional Information: Artemis accords are established by the U.S. State Department and NASA in 2020 with seven other founding members: Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. They set common principles to govern civil exploration and use of outer space, Moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes.

Answer: A

Explanation:

• Option (a) is correct: The Arctic is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. HIMADRI ‘the abode of snow’ is India’s first research station located at the International Arctic Research base, NyÅlesund, Svalbard, Norway. It is located at a distance of 1,200 kilometres from the North Pole. India’s only Arctic research station is  The station can accommodate up to 8 scientists and includes laboratories and living quarters. India’s first winter expedition to the Arctic was launched on: December 18, 2023, It allows researchers to conduct studies during polar nights, characterised by nearly 24 hours of darkness and extreme cold (temperatures as low as -15°C). India also has research stations in Antarctica, including Maitri, Bharati, and Dakshin Gangotri.

• Statements 1,2 and 3 are correct: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation is India’s national regulatory body for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. It is headed by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). It releases a monthly list of drugs that fail quality checks. Nodal Ministry is Ministry of health and Family welfare. Functions of CDSCO under the Drugs & Cosmetics Act (1940):
• Controlling the import of drugs and their quality.
• Approval of new drug
• Conduct of Clinical Trials Laying down the Standards for Drugs
• Coordination of activities of the State Drug Control Organizations.

Recently the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has flagged around 53 medicines as being of Not of Standard Quality. This includes well-known medications such as paracetamol, metformin and pantoprazole. These are the drugs that are not of standard quality & they don’t meet the quality standards set by national or international authorities.

Explanation: Recently a profiling initiative of people involved in hazardous cleaning of sewers and septic tanks across Indian cities was conducted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the NAMASTE programme.

• Statement 1 is correct: NAMASTE Scheme was launched in 2022 which is a joint initiative of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). It is a Central Sector The scheme has replaced the Self-Employment Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Manual Scavengers (SRMS), which was started in 2007. It aims to eliminate hazardous cleaning practices, prevent fatalities among sewer and septic tank workers and uphold their safety and dignity.
• Statement 2 is correct: The scheme has following features:
• Identification: Systematic identification of Sewer/Septic Tank Workers (SSWs) across ULBs. (Urban local bodies)
• Training and Safety Gear: Provision of occupational training and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to SSWs.
• Safety Devices: Assistance in acquiring safety devices for Sanitation Response Units (SRUs).
• Health Insurance: Extension of health insurance benefits under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) for identified SSWs and their families.
• Livelihood Support
• Awareness Campaigns

Statement 3 is incorrect: National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) was established in January 1997 as a non profit company under section 8 of Company Act, 2013). It is not a Statutory Body. Nodal Ministry is Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. Its functions include  Mechanization of cleaning works, Training of Sanitation workers, Providing free skill development training to sanitation workers, Providing Loan facility to beneficiaries etc.

Answer: B

Explanation:

• Statement I is correct: Switzerland’s laws on assisted dying and assisted suicide have made it a preferred destination for “death tourism,” wherein people come there to end their lives. Assisted dying is understood to rely on self-administration of the lethal substance, with medical involvement restricted simply to the procurement of the drug. It means intentionally helping another person end their life, and does not stipulate that the person is terminally ill.
• Statement II is correct: Active euthanasia is the intentional killing of a patient by a medical professional or other person using a lethal substance or procedure.It’s sometimes called “aggressive” euthanasia. In contrast, passive euthanasia is when a patient dies because medical professionals withhold or stop providing necessary life-sustaining treatments, such as a ventilator or feeding tube.

Statement II is not the correct explanation of statement I: Both euthanasia and assisted dying are ways in which a person may intentionally choose to end their life. Active euthanasia is banned in Switzerland. However, assisted dying and assisted suicide are legal as long as the person ends their life without any “external assistance”. Therefore, while both statements are independently correct, statement II doesnot explain statement I.