Day-713 | Daily MCQs | UPSC Prelims | CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS

Answer: A
Context: Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology has announced Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar at par with the Padma and other national awards.
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect: These are usually open to a range of participants, including private institutions and independent researchers. It also recognizes the participation of persons of Indian origin abroad, recognizing the global impact of Indian scientific talent. The award recognizes scientists, technologists, and innovators working in government, private sector organizations and external organisations. It is also meant for a wide group of working people. The RVP also includes a set of team awards (Science Team) to acknowledge the increasingly collaborative, transdisciplinary, translational, and interactive nature of scientific research.
Statement 2 is incorrect: National Science Award (RVP) will include four awards: Vigyan Ratna Award, Vigyan Shri Award, Science Team Award, and Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (VY-SSB). Under these awards, there will be a Vigyan Yuva-Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award. The maximum age limit for this award has been stated to be 45 years, and it has been termed the highest multidisciplinary science award in India.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP) awards will begin in 2024 and will be presented by the President or Vice President. The awards are announced every year on May 11, which is National Technology Day.
Statement 4 is correct: The Award Ceremony for all categories of awards shall be held every year on the National Space Day on 23rd August.

Answer: D
Context: The recent news of a baby born in the UK with three parents’ DNA has sparked curiosity and discussions about the scientific breakthrough behind this remarkable achievement.
Explanation:
The “three-parent baby” technique, the donor woman provides mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This method is used to prevent mitochondrial diseases, which are passed on through the mother’s mitochondrial DNA. Nuclear DNA (which contains most of the genetic material) comes from the mother and father, while mitochondrial DNA comes from the donor woman.

● Changes in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alter energy metabolism in the brain and contribute to AD. mtDNA may reflect the status of mitochondria and therefore play an essential role in AD.
About mitochondria:
A mitochondrion is an organelle found in the cells of most eukaryotes, such as animals, plants, and fungi. Mitochondria have a double membrane structure and use aerobic respiration to generate adenosine triphosphate, which is used throughout the cell as a source of chemical energy.
● Mitochondria are membrane-bound organelles found in the cells of most eukaryotic organisms.
● They are often referred to as the “powerhouses” of cells.
● They generate most of the cell’s energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
Hence, option (D) is correct.

Answer: B
Context: The recent protest by Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers in Bengaluru underscores persistent concerns surrounding their working conditions and pay, shedding light on challenges within India’s rural healthcare system.
Explanation:
Statements 1 is correct: ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers are usually required to be female from the village, and being married, widowed, or divorced is often a criterion. Its age group is generally between 25 to 45 years.
Statement 2 is correct: Minimum prescribed qualification for AWW/AWH shall be 12th Standard and age limit shall be 18-35 years for engagement of AWWs and AWHs
Statement 3 is incorrect: Both ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers receive honorarium and not fixed salaries. There has been a demand to regularise their payments or atleast substantially increase their honorarium payments along with relevant incentives.

Answer: B
Context: Recently, the Government has clarified that Aadhaar of Husbands is not mandatory under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) to facilitate the inclusion of single mothers and abandoned mothers.
Explanation:
Statement 1 is correct: Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. It is a maternity benefit program which was implemented in all the districts of the country from 1 January 2017.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana are provided only on the birth of the first living child. There is no provision regarding the gender of the second child. Cash benefits are provided directly into the bank accounts of pregnant women to meet their increased nutritional needs and partially compensate for wage loss.
● Beneficiaries will receive Rs 5,000 in three instalments subject to fulfilment of the following conditions Get cash benefit of Rs.
✔ Early registration of pregnancy
✔ prenatal checkup
✔ Registration of birth of child and completion of first cycle of vaccination for the first living child of the family.
Statement 3 is correct: The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) has been integrated as a component of the Sambal sub-scheme under Mission Shakti.

Answer: A
Context: India’s Constitution has been translated into Ol Chiki script for the first time.
Explanation:
The Ol Chiki script, also known as Ol Chemetʼ, Ol Ciki, Ol, and sometimes as the Santali alphabet, is the official writing system for Santhali, an Austroasiatic language recognized as an official regional language in India.
About Ol Chiki script:
● It was created in 1925 by Raghunath Murmu (1905-1982), writer and teacher from what is Mayurbhanj State (now part of Odisha) in India as a way to write Santali a Munda language.
● Ol Chiki is also known as Ol Cemet’, Ol Ciki, Ol or the Santali alphabet.
● It was created as a way to promote Santali culture.
● The script was first publicized in 1939 at the Mayurbhanj State exhibition.
● Murmu published over 150 books in Santali in the Ol Chiki script, including novels, poetry, drama, grammars, dictionaries and other information about the language and script.
● Santali is also written with the Latin, Odia, Bengali and Devanagari alphabets.
● Santhali language is spoken mainly in Jharkhand and West Bengal states in northern India, and also in northwestern Bangladesh, eastern Nepal, and Bhutan.

Hence, option (A) is correct.